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Post by ShadowReine on Dec 6, 2008 20:31:19 GMT -5
Not that many eggs left now, a lot of shards on the Sands that would slowly crush down to become part of the Hatching grounds.
Precisely six eggs remained, and now three of them cracked, although one did not open enough to reveal its contents.
Two forelegs and then two hindlegs emerged from another, and the dragonet pushed itself up. For a moment, an egg with brown legs stood on the Sands, and then it broke out the rest of the way by pushing its wings outwards. Crack!
There. That was better. Now he could see his rider. Who was around here somewhere, but there was really no hurry. He stepped carefully out of his egg remnants, picking up his feet so he didn't step on any sharp pieces of shell. He lifted his tail, so it would not drag on the Sands, and then headed for the candidates. A girl was in his way. Politely, he stepped around her.
There. There was his. Sorry I kept you waiting, my Uu'an. I am Tebeth, and we have work to do.
The other egg that had cracked now broke all the rest of the way to reveal a particularly handsome blue, his color shading from light to dark. This one made quick work of his choice, and, perhaps to everyone's relief, went right to the boys. And surprise, surprise, chose shy, prudish Woaden, now W'den. "His name is Taysirth," the boy whispered.
Taysirth, for his part, struck a pose right there on the Sands that any bronze would be proud of. Standing over by her dragon, Yselka could not help but giggle...for a moment, for it took her a moment, only, to remember W'ska's death...
The third egg that cracked seemed to stop now, as if the dragonet inside needed a breather.
Brown Tebeth Rider: Uu'an (Uureian) Dragon name: Tebeth Dragon color: Brown Dragon age: Hatchling Color code: 995533
Dragon appearance:
Tebeth is smaller than average for a brown, although still larger than any blue. He is a medium brown, even except for dark, almost black streaks, that run along his neck and out onto his wings. His talons are also almost black. His tail is on the long side, noticeably so.
He falls precisely in the middle range as far as stamina and maneuverability, there is nothing unusual about this brown in that respect. However, his rather thin wings make gliding hard and he is definitely not a 'soarer'...fortunately, he has learned how to compensate for this on long sweeps.
Dragon personality:
In the place for 'brown' in the encyclopedia, there is a picture of Tebeth. On the surface he is everything a brown dragon should be. Eminently sensible, utterly loyal, level-headed and polite to both human and dragon.
Underneath is a faint insecurity only his rider can solve, and he will be unusually possessive as a weyrling, not wanting to let Uu'an out of his sight until convinced that he will always return. On the other hand, it is Tebeth who will, from an early stage, be the partnership's voice of reason, speaking up for common sense.
Not lacking in courage, he is, nonetheless, not a risktaker. One fights Thread, but one does not pull stupid stuff or try to perform stunts more suited to a green. He is not the kind of dragon likely to ever be a hero, but then, isn't a good life expectancy more important?
Tebeth does have one quirk, that is, he finds small creatures of all kinds utterly fascinating...insects, firelizard hatchlings, feline kits... He might well harass his rider to go to firelizard hatchings and keep Impressing more of the cute little creatures. Or try to get him to buy one of those simply adorable puppies. You got it. Tebeth is vulnerable to cute.
Blue Taysirth Rider: W'den (Woaden, male adoptable NPC) Dragon name: Taysirth Dragon color: Blue Dragon age: Hatchling Hatching season: Summer Dragon description: Very light, but definitely blue, his color shades from blue-white on his extremities to royal blue along his neckridges. On the large size for a blue, he is a particularly handsome dragon...and he knows it. He's vain, and thinks of himself as Faranth's gift to greens. Dragon personality: Taysirth is, as mentioned, vain. He thinks he is Faranth's gift to greens. He demands that his rider makes him look perfect at all times, and likes to wear fancy, colored or chrome decorated straps. He does focus when he has to...but grumbles about it. Rider paragraph: W'den is a prude, totally. He tends to avoid relationships outside of flights, and he doesn't really like flights much either...shame his dragon has a different opinion. Quiet and shy, he is a fairly typical bluerider. He never puts himself forward and has absolutely no ambition.
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Post by bookworm on Dec 6, 2008 20:43:58 GMT -5
Tarana gasped when yet another strange dragon hatched, this one a mix of blue and green. Beside her, R'nul chuckled when the blue-green went to "Teirik."
"What's so funny?" She asked, glancing away from the sands to address him. "Like rider, like dragon," he answered cryptically, grinning. "Look, there's another brown." "Actually, I should probably go check on the feast. Now that Wynec has Impressed, I don't mind leaving as much. Do let me know if anything else odd happens," Tarana said. She hurried off to the kitchen, wondering if the drudges had heard about what had happened at the Hatching yet.
Salye quickly counted the eggs. Six left, and then two hatched into a brown and blue. The brown gingerly made his way across the sands. She watched as one girl stepped in front of him, wondering if she had Impressed, but then it was clear she hadn't. Salye winced, expecting a mauling, but instead the brown politely went around her. Well, that was good. She looked to the third cracked egg, wondering what it held.
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Post by phlysolo on Dec 6, 2008 20:54:49 GMT -5
Now Lenia stood almost alone on her side of the Sands. A few girls remained, though there were fair few of them now. Most of them, like her, seemed to be disappointed by the turn of events, but at the same time still largely hopeful. Lenia supposed, though it was hard to say exactly, that she was leaning towards the 'hopeful' side. Six eggs remained and one just one the contents could be all for her.
Her distraction a few moments before, getting an all too good view of free show a newly Impressed girl's wardrobe malfunction offered, had done wonders for her morale. She certainly wasn't moping anymore. Her attention had caught on the...what in Faranth's name was THAT?! It was blue...No, it was green...Her mind flashed back to a swirled bronze-blue flit, Impressing to H'zu. Was it the same thing? No, couldn't be. It had both male and female in it, obviously. Would that mean that it couldn't reproduce? Or could it produce both ways?
No, Henerik doubted it would be able to both sire and Clutch. Indeed, he figured that this oddity would never Rise...Never Chase, it's genetic codes far too incompadable for it to decide what it truly wished to be. All eyes focused on the unique Hatchling and its Impression. A male...was it a male? From his angle Henerik couldn't quite tell the gender of the Candidate, his face partially obscured by an unHatched Egg.
But Lenia didn't care about some freakish gender confused dragonet! She was far more interested in what would come next, what could come to her! And she felt a stir of excitement not unlike the jolts she had been experiencing all evening. Another brown broke shell! And he was eying the female line!
Quickly, she stepped in front of him, this time absolutely sure that Impression would be made, just as she was about to look the brown full in the face, he gazed at her and, without a second sniff, moved around her with such politeness that Lenia was taken aback. Drat it all! Not again! The blue's Impression passed unnoticed to her, as he didn't even look towards the remaining gals.
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Post by ShadowReine on Dec 6, 2008 21:31:33 GMT -5
Four eggs left, and Yselka slowly let out a breath. Surely, with four eggs left, there could be no more drama.
And, the hesitant egg suddenly became a shower of shards that settled around a green of gorgeous shade and...well, her shade was the only thing gorgeous about her.
Picking herself up, she glanced at her mother, then, reluctantly at the Candidates. Aww, mom, do I have to pick one? That was what her manner seemed to say. Aww...and some of the best ones gone already. She even glanced towards the gathering of weyrlings, wistfully. Then, she settled her mind to the important task of, well. Choosing.
She looked at all of them. Then she seemed to shrug, walk towards the nearest girl and stand next to her. I guess I will just pick you, H'ka. You'll look after your Uhilath, right? Her tone did not indicate there was a problem with Helka herself, more...more as if she didn't really *want* a rider that much.
At the same time, all three of the remaining eggs were showing cracks, but the first to reveal its occupant showed a lighter colored brown...and another *big* brown. Yes, Lyeth seemed to throw good-sized browns. This one padded around, and then chose the Candidate class' most notorious flirt, Antolin, whom everyone said should Impress green...if he wasn't so definitely preferring women. A'tolin blinked, then smiled and pushed out his chest. "Nayuth!" he announced, clearly.
Green Uhilath Rider: H'ka (Helka) Dragon name: Uhilath Dragon color: Green Dragon age: Hatchling Hatching season: Summer Color code: 00CC33
Dragon description:
Uhilath is the most gorgeous shade of green, rich and deep. This covers up the fact that she is, for a green dragon, more than a little bit...homely. Plain. Not ugly, you must understand, but she lacks the feminine grace so often associated with her color.
Her body is short and stocky and a little heavy, which affects her agility in the air, although her stamina matches a blue's despite the fact that she is only of average size. Her head shades to a rather lighter shade of green, making it almost look as if she is wearing some kind of hood.
Dragon personality:
Uhilath might be accused of being boring. She places duty and responsibility above all things but one...that one being mating flights which are, after all, important. Or at least, keeping the males...satisfied is. Isn't that part of a green's job.
As long as she isn't proddy (at such times she becomes a terrible flirt), she's a reliable, dutiful and disciplined dragon. The problem is, she often has to be encouraged to step outside those bounds, to let her metaphorical hair down and have some fun every once in a while. She's the dragon who is noticeable for *not* starting a water fight when being bathed.
Uhilath has the sensitivity for Search, but her aloofness sometimes makes her miss a good candidate and she can be picky about who she brings back to the Weyr. She never, repeat never, speaks to any human other than her rider. She also thinks firelizards are pains and while she will tolerate any that look to H'ka, is not affectionate towards them and tends to chase off ones she doesn't know.
She is also a serious morning, er..dragon...she wants to be up with the lark, and then ends up wearing herself out by early evening...and will force her rider onto this schedule, will she, nill she.
Brown Nayuth Rider: A'tolin (Antolin, adoptable male NPC) Dragon name: Nayuth Dragon color: Brown Dragon age: Hatchling Dragon description: Nayuth is large with short, broad wings, a gliding dragon who's flight is efficient, but who sometimes has problems with short bursts of speed...make that, he just isn't a sprinter. He is a light sandy color with darker speckles across his back and shoulders. Dragon personality: Nayuth is a bit of a ladies man, he likes his greens (and golds, if they'll pay attention to him). He often has to be discouraged from chasing simply because he'd wear himself out. 'Not another one, Nayuth!'. He even sometimes gets distracted during drills, although he is a good dragon when he does focus. Rider paragraph: A'tolin is also a skirtchaser, and like his dragon, has to be reined in at times. Although he claims to be straight, he certainly doesn't seem averse to ending up in the arms of another man. He is a big, burly man who is, sadly, not the best looking in the Weyr. In fact, he's outright homely.
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dotta
Greenrider
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Post by dotta on Dec 6, 2008 21:34:10 GMT -5
Another egg jolted into life. Whoever was left was hoping that egg belonged to them. The number of candidates had dwindled over the time spent in the warm cave. However, they still out numbered the eggs, which many few-maybe many of them would be leaving empty handed. Would Talo be among the many who left empty handed? From the recent encounters, she believed so, but she still had hope.
The egg spun on its rear, its shell falling away as this was one. The fallen shards of shells were propelled away from the egg as they fell to the sands. This sound revealed a dragonet decorated in swirls of blue and green-turquoise, it was. Talo eyes gleamed in admiration at the beauty. However, received it would be might lucky in deed.
Much like the previous dragons, this one didn't take time to ponder the candidates. It made it tread, tail swishing behind her. One boy had managed to be tripped her this tail and plowed into the sands. Talo wasn't paying any mind to this being. Her eyes were on the creature which sat before her.
It looked at her and her it. What was to happen next, she thought? After toying with her heart, would the dragon merely move on to the person beside her or behind her. No, it not do this. Instead it...spoke to her:
I am Aenarith. I am yours, T'ik, and you are mine.
Talo could only stare at him, her dragon. But it wasn't just a him, was it? It was also a she. He was like her. Uncertain of who she really was. She opened her mouth as if about to speak, then closed it. This processed continued a second time as the words rang through her mind.
Just like her
She throw her head back than and let out a hysterical laugh, a laugh which lacked humor. Her lids welled up with tears then and before they fell, Talo threw hand hand to her eyes, to hide them from the world around her, but one had escaped.
He was like her
Her laughs had now turned to weeps as her lips grew too tired to hold her smile. She slowly fell to her knees and bowed her head, not caring who saw her eyes, but still needed to hide them.
The dragonet stepped forth, nudging her face as he did so. His wings expanded and draped around Talo like a curtain, a veil so none would see her. They spent those moments in silence, words not being meant to be said. Aenarith was so understanding. Despite the fact that the creature was starving, it comforted her.
When Aenarith's wings receded the face of a grinning Talo had emerged. Her eyes were still red from her sorrow, but she had a glow. Perhaps some burden had been lifted?
Talo, now T'ik rose to her feet and with Aenarith by her side, went out the cave to commence the feeding.
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Post by phlysolo on Dec 6, 2008 21:50:59 GMT -5
Lenia couldn't believe it, Henerik in the stands couldn't believe it. Only four Eggs left. The incredible journey that had begun just candlemarks ago had seemed part of another lifetime. Lenia was staring at each of the remaining Eggs, feeling much more numb to the whole experience than she'd been just when the second brown bipassed her. She still was hoping a dragon, any dragon, would Impress to her, but...With only four Eggs left. But with only four Eggs left! They'd be bound to choose her, right? What other choice would they have? Lenia was the best remaining Candidate here on the Sands.
In the stands, Henerik was idly gazing at the female who had been so determined to Impress a male dragonet. He would have thought she was being stubborn, but in light of all the hysterics, the surprises, the mutations, the, well, freak Impressions, he couldn't see why she shouldn't try. He could understand her desperation to Impress, possibly more keenly than she did herself...A green and a brown burst out of their Eggs. He kept his eyes trained on the girl, but saw that this time she made no attempt to go after the dragonet. Was she losing spirit? He hoped not...it would be a terrible thing for this girl to give up her Candidateship, even after so many 'close calls.'
But fear not! Lenia was still determined to Impress, she'd just given up on the browns. A blue. A blue would do nicely! There was no blue in this particular bunch of Hatchlings. Just some lame green who Impressed to some girl who was probably equally lame.
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Post by ShadowReine on Dec 6, 2008 22:25:37 GMT -5
Two eggs left. And, as if they had decided just to get this over with, they both broke at once. As if reading Yselka's mind about this being light on greens...
...both were green. And, one might note, oddly, that there had as yet been no male greenriders. That was rapidly corrected.
One of the greens, the brightest color yet, almost neon in her brilliance...she looked ready to fly clean out of the egg. And she made her way straight to the males. Her choice was ordinary, even expected, the extremely homosexual Wasil became W'sil and, with no look of surprise on his face declared her name to be "Oihanath!"
Which left one green on the Sands. One green who looked around herself slowly. There were still lots of Candidates, but no. Those girls? They didn't want her, they had wanted the gold, they pushed her out of their minds. Another was too gay. Most of the males were too *straight* for this one. No, there was...
She lifted her head and keened a little. There wasn't anyone here for her! For a moment, she gathered herself to go Between.
But, wait. There were lots more minds. Lots more! She had to be thorough, she had to check those first. Slowly, the last green, the least green (in the sense that she was the smallest hatchling in the clutch), the green with feather markings on her wings padded to the edge of the Sands, padded along the edge of the galleries. The barrier between her and them was too much for her.
She sat there, and then it occurred to her that if she couldn't get to Hers... H'rik. Get your butt down here. Asanith chooses you, and wants to know why you aren't where you're supposed to be!
She chooses from the Stands
Joy Yselka sent back. If she chooses somebody's heir or prized daughter, we're in trouble...can you see who it is?
Not yet...
Green Asanith Rider: H'rik (Henerik) Dragon name: Asanith Dragon color: Green Dragon age: Hatchling Hatching season: Summer Color code: 99DD77
Dragon description:
Asanith is one of the smallest greens hatched in recent times, and definitely the smallest dragon in the clutch. A very soft green, her hide almost seems to resemble dyed green leather, especially from any distance. She has light, almost yellow-lime markings, across her wingsails that almost make her seem feathered.
Being so small, she is also one of the most agile of dragons, and it is highly unlikely that she will ever be caught by a bronze or large brown in flight. She flies very easily, although she lacks stamina...she doesn't seem to care. She can fly rings around those bronzes, after all.
Dragon personality:
Asanith is crazy. Not insane crazy, but Faranth what is that dragon going to do next crazy. She has to be restrained from pushing things so hard she strains her rider's nerves and his straps. A true daredevil in the air, she enjoys nothing more than to show off just how neat a flyer she is.
She also has another love. Music. She'll even try to sing...and she has a decent sense of pitch, even if a dragon singing is completely ridiculous. If she hears music coming from the lower caverns, she might try to poke her head in to hear better. Especially if it's her rider, who is, of course, the best Harper on Pern.
Asanith is not as flirtatious as most greens, and flies a little less often. That is not to say she acts like anything but a green, only that it's more subdued with her. She's more likely than most to find a male she likes and stick with him for flight after flight, especially if her rider is happy with his rider.
Finally, Asanith has a peculiar loyalty to Ista. She would absolutely refuse to transfer elsewhere, even temporarily, no matter what the provocation...which might frustrate a Harper's wandering heart, but she is a dragon of home and hearth.
Green Oihanath Rider: W'sil (Wasil, male adoptable NPC) Dragon name: Oihanath Dragon color: Green Dragon age: Hatchling Hatching season: Spring Dragon description: Oihanath is such a bright green as to make one want to shade one's eyes, and when proddy...well, you really can't look at her. The color is even except for dark stripes that run along the sides of her tail. She is of average size, with slightly long wings. Dragon personality: Oihanath is even flightier than most greens, and her memory is so poor as to actively constitute a handicap. Her rider will have his work cut out just to keep her focused. However, she is a brave fighter and, oddly, a decent Search dragon, even if she does forget which Candidates are hers. Rider paragraph: W'sil is an effeminate boy in personality, who cares about his appearance, but he is not a 'flaming greenrider'. Not quite. He's not the type to, say, wander around in women's clothing. He is very gay, openly so, and not at all defensive about it, perhaps because he is weyrbred.
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Post by bookworm on Dec 6, 2008 22:43:02 GMT -5
R'nul grinned when one of the remaining eggs hatched into a bright green who Impressed to one of the boys. Finally, a male greenrider! He watched as the final egg crumbled to reveal another green. He grew concerned as she wandered, finding candidate after candidate unsuitable.
"Do you think she'll find someone?" Tesin murmured, frowning. "I don't know. It's those stupid girls! They only wanted gold, so the green won't Impress to them." Rare anger flashed in R'nul's eyes. "Wait...she's heading for the stands! Right in our direction..." R'nul glanced at his brother. He had always wondered if Tesin belonged in the Weyr after all...
"What are you looking at me for?" Tesin asked, shaking his head although it did seem like the green was headed for them.
Then, R'nul saw the expression on Henerik's face and laughed. "Go to your dragon, Harper!"
***
Salye watched the two greens desperately. True, she had walked onto the sands wishing for gold, but now she would take anything. She dreaded the months of waiting that would come with being left standing. And she was 19, almost too old to stand.
A lump formed in her throat when one green Impressed to a boy. The other wandered, then meandered towards the sands. No! It was over. She was left standing. She stared at the shattered shells for a moment, as if willing another egg to materialize into existence. Then, she turned and began to stride off of the sands, her posture dignified as ever.
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Post by phlysolo on Dec 6, 2008 23:21:46 GMT -5
Two Eggs and...two greens. Lenia was crestfallen. She knew at that exact moment of their births that neither dragonet could possibly Impress upon her. In that horrible instant, she conceeded that she would leave here empty handed, the empty space in her very existence. She would be alone. All alone. Nebrona was Impressed; she'd have no time whatsoever for Lenia or what little company she could offer against that of her dragonet. Honestly, what Weyrling would want to be anywhere near a Candidate now? Why would even Nebrona trade her free time for Lenia when she had that...queen for herself?
Jealousy and an acute sense of the most severe loneliness she'd ever felt was coursing through every inch of her. She didn't think she even had the spare emotion to cry about it, though. Her chest heaved and one very faint dry sob escaped her throat. A vivid image of a man who resembled her greatly, minus her bright blue eyes flashed in her face. Midna had finally calmed down and had gently swooped down, hovering in front of the Candidate. She made no sound but, once Lenia extended her arms the flit fell into her arms.
For one moment which could have spanned an eternity...or possibly just a few seconds, Lenia snuggled the firelizard to herself who remained uncharacteristically still in Her's arms, comforting her the only way she could. With the few Candidates left Standing, she left the Sands, Clutching the only creature to have ever Impressed to her to her chest.
In the Stands, Henerik had pitied the female he'd be watching, seeing that her last hope for Impressing had vanished with the unveiling of the two greens. On male rapidly Impressed one of the gals while the other...looked around.
"Come on, choose girl," He muttered, viewing her progress with a slight frown. What was wrong with her? She seemed completely with all the Candidates before her and, oh no! She was raising herself up on her haunches preparing to /between/! But wait! She halted her eyes whirling faster now as she seemed to realize something. His heart ached for her, hoping that whoever she wanted would be found quickly, the Weyr did not need another death...
And then she was rushing towards the Stands, rushing towards him and another group, obviously a family who were sitting close together. Oh, perhaps that young lad with-
She was scampering closer, trying to climb up, but it was too steep! She would hurt herself, scrape her neck raw! Where was Hers? He knew instinctively that her name was Asanith, he knew instinctively that she was hungry, that she was scared, that she needed help, that she needed him even before she actually spoke...
"Asanith, I'm coming! I'm coming love," H'rik called, knowing instinctively that his name was now different as well...
Hurry, H'rik! Why aren't you down here already? Didn't you know I was coming? She demanded, her tail flicking wildly back and forth in her annoyance.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm coming!" He replied, flinging himself, stupidly perhaps, over the stand's rim, throwing himself onto the Sands. Reflexively, he squealed, the Sands burning his unprotected skin.
Quit huuuurting yourself! She said, more annoyed that he hadn't pulled his stunt off more gracefully than she was worried. Asanith knew that SHE could have expertly leaped off that ledge and landed perfectly.
"I'm sure you're hungry!" He squawked, getting up and dusting sand off himself, all thoughts of harpering looong gone from his mind.
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Post by ShadowReine on Dec 6, 2008 23:43:54 GMT -5
Yselka glanced at Lyeth. "Well, one duty left to do." She started to walk across the Sands.
No, most beloved. Two.
She raised a quizzical eyebrow at her gold. "Candidates. Please, come with me." The Weyrwoman started to walk towards the staging area, trusting that those who had failed to Impress would follow her.
But she glanced over at Lyeth. The great beast set out across the Sands herself, egg shell crunching under her feet as she walked with the awkward gait of a dragon on the ground.
"I know," Yselka began, at the edge of the Sands. "How every one of you feels right now. How disappointed you are, how painful this is. All of you...all of you are welcome to remain here at Ista, either to Stand again for Lyeth's next clutch or in any other capacity. You may attend the feast if you choose, but if you feel that would be too much, you are not obligated to do so, but I do ask that none of you go anywhere on your own until morning."
Disappointed candidates did foolish things, sometimes, like midnight swims that went wrong because of alcohol...
Lyeth reached her goal. She stood, looking down at W'ska's body and crooned, mournfully. Her purpose would push anyone out of the way, and then, abruptly, the gold reached out with her fore talons. She lifted the girl's body, whirled on her hindquarters...
...and leapt.
...and flew out of the grounds through the dragon tunnel, out into the air above the bowl, higher and higher...
...and vanished.
...and when she reappeared, her talons were empty.
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