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Post by bookworm on Dec 7, 2008 14:03:17 GMT -5
The Hatching had been filled with trouble and surprises, but they still had eighteen healthy weyrling pairs, and that was something to celebrate. As the last eggs were hatching, Tarana hurried down to the kitchen to check the progress of the meal, then fell to cooking herself. Within a few hours, the feast was ready.
The Hall had been decorated with gold, bronze, brown, blue, and green banners. Unfortunately, there were no banners for the white gold or the blue-green dragons, but that should be remedied in time for the next Hatching. There were many tables set up for the weyrlings, their families, and the rest of the weyrfolk, as well as as stage for the Harpers (who would be extra busy tonight without H'rik!), and an area had been cleared for dancing. Tarana supervised as drudges carried out platters heaped with food: roast wherry, barbeque heardbeast, shellfish, greens, pasta, a dozen kinds of bread, candied tubers, sausages, vegetable soup, brown rice and white rice, exotic fruits, fruit juices, klah, herbal teas...and of course wine! The bubbly pies would be brought out later, warm and fresh.
The platters were set down on a huge buffet table that groaned under the weight. Tarana checked everything over a final time, then went to join the head table and wait for one of the Weyrleaders to open the feast.
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Post by ShadowReine on Dec 7, 2008 15:14:27 GMT -5
Yselka stepped into the hall. She had taken the time to change into a Gather gown of blue, ornamented with gold threads that perfectly matched her dragon's shade.
Her hair, still long for now, was pulled up into a neatly intricate style. After such a bittersweet Hatching, the Feast had to be...special. Enough to take people's mind off the loss. Lorisette was ensconced in a cell. SHE would not be getting any bubbly pies.
She walked to the head table, but did not move to sit down, rather, she turned to face the gathered people.
"I offer everyone welcome and Ista's duties and hospitality. I am sure everyone is absolutely starving, so I will keep this brief."
She smiled at H'zu, presumably there somewhere. "I have knots for each of our new weyrlings. Those who did not make it to the feast will receive theirs from the weyrlingmaster staff tomorrow."
She paused. "This has been, perhaps, the most bittersweet of Hatchings. We honor the bravery of W'ska and we will remember and acknowledge her as an Istan dragonrider." She would be placed in the records as such, as were all weyrlings who died before graduation.
"At the same time, we accept the hope that nineteen healthy dragonets and *two* queens gives us. Ivria and Tuyeth will be transferring to High Reaches. We wish them the best and we honor and respect their choice."
She had no doubt that other Weyrs would try to seduce away the platinum...or would they? Benden's weyrleader had already murmured doubts that a mutated queen would be fertile. It would be, ultimately, Nebrona's choice.
"So, without further ado...if the weyrlings could please come forward. Yes, all at once." It was faster that way. Of course, she didn't have a 'real' knot for Nebrona...she was going to have to lend the girl one of hers until a correct one could be made.
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Post by yamamoto on Dec 7, 2008 15:33:49 GMT -5
And'l sat at one of the tables though he made sure it was near the back. He sat there eating. Topaz sat on his shoulder. Leaf was sleeping with Gopeth. And'l was hear for one reason only. Gopeth had promised him that if he went then the blue would not brother him about socializing for a few days. Though he knew that when Gopeth got older it would be harder to make deals with the blue who would probelry bring him to things like this anyway. So he sat there eating his food quitly. Waiting until the event was over. When heard them call for the weyrling he flinched alittle. Though he stayed in his seat and decided to pretend that he had not heard. They said that they could get them later anyway. He was gald Gopeth was asleep becuase he knew the blue would have dragged him up there. Topaz though was paying attention. The bronze began to chirp at And'l in a scolding manner which And'l was trying his best to ignore.
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Post by tariala on Dec 7, 2008 16:42:14 GMT -5
Nebrona watched the sleeping white dragon curled up on the cot, resisting the urge to reach out and stroke that soft hide one more time. Not that Allirth would notice, she was sleeping so soundly. It would be more for her benefit than the dragon’s, and she was afraid that if she did so, she’d never leave. Which was allowed, she knew, but not smart. It would have mattered less if she’d Impressed green, but Nebrona felt it important she go make her presence known tonight. Both as a ‘queen’ rider, and that of a mutated dragon, she didn’t want to possibly be seen as a coward for hiding away. She hoped that the other mutant’s rider, and that female bluerider, had the good sense to come too.
She reluctantly turned away and pulled out her one good gather gown. It was a shame she didn’t have anything in white, and that would have to be corrected later. So for now she pulled on the simple, light blue gown, carefully straightened hatching-mussed hair, and strode off to the hatching feast.
And what a feast it was! Dinner had been ages ago, and Nebrona could practically feel her mouth water at the sight of the spread the cooks had come up with. It sure made up for missing desert- not that Impressing Allirth hadn’t done that already. She found a space where other new weyrlings were gathering, and joined them as the Weyrwoman began to speak.
Nebrona took a moment –like most there, she suspected- to join the Weyrwoman in remembering W’ska. It was such a sharding shame, when the dead Weyrling had been much worthier than either the murderess or the new goldrider. She just hoped that Ivria turned out to have and develop the hidden depths that Tuyeth had apparently seen in her, and prove that W’ska had died for someone worth defending.
She was glad to hear Allirth publicly acknowledged as a queen dragon, even if the Weyrwoman didn’t mention them by name. That was alright. She and Allirth would watch, and learn, and prove themselves with or without attention, and woe to those who underestimated them.
When the Weyrwoman called, Nebrona moved forward with the other weyrlings, curious as to what would be on offer for her. She knew it was customary to have the dragon’s color in the rider’s knot, but no one had anticipated either Allirth nor the turquoise dragon.
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Post by zenith on Dec 7, 2008 17:49:09 GMT -5
Malchan arrived at the dining cavern, more or less properly dressed for the occassion. his hair still stood in strange directions, however, as the Journeyman Healer had not had time to tame the locks in his hurry to get ready for the feast. He had been forced to change out of his regular wear after the fiasco that had gone down on the hatching sands. Heat, sweat, and grit really weren't nice things to wear to a Hatching Feast, now were they? After a quick but thorough bath and a change of clothes into something presentable, Malchan had made his way to the dining cavern to participate in the festivities that were following the wonderous and hope-filled hatching.
It was a shame one had been lost ... an irritating shame. But it was done, and there was nothing the healer could do about it. So, all that was left was to celebrate the ones that had survived!
Malchan really didn't know any of the candidates, but that was no nevermind. In time he might get to know them ... about as well as he got to know any rider.
He slipped into the crowd and took an empty seat where he folded his big hands together on the table top, watching the Leaders with interest. Yselka he watched with some interest, as well, as she spoke. Mal's eyes jumped to the weyrlings as they were summmoned forward, and watched them move as bidden.
There stood the next generation of defenders ... it was a moment to behold, really!
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Post by phlysolo on Dec 7, 2008 18:05:33 GMT -5
"Come on, you haave to go,"
"I really honestly don't."
"But everyone will be there!"
"Good. Let them rejoice with out me."
"But Lenia...You can't just sulk in your room forever."
"And why not, K'ton? Why aren't you with your pretty little bronze now, anyways? You're not even supposed to be in the girls area anyways," Lenia was standing defiantly in her room, leaning against the wall closest to her bed. Though she sounded calm and collected, her eyes were wild, blazing, with disappointment, with contempt for everything around her.
K'ton, on the other hand, was still afire from his Impression, Ytelth already asleep in their new room. He had seen Lenia marching out of the Hatching Grounds with such a hidden, enclosed facial expression that he had feared, perhaps melodramatically, that she would do something really really bad. As soon as Ytelth was nestled down into his small bed, K'ton was off to the Candidate quarters, checking up on the girl who had been left Standing.
Ironically, here they were standing again, K'ton hoping to do everything up to and including begging to get the depressed Candidate to come along. He didn't know why he cared so much, but he felt a deep sense of commitment to her. He didn't owe her anything and he owed her nothing; they would never ever look at each other as lovers, but still...If she would ever fight Thread alongside of him, then he needed to form a small truce between them.
"I know, but...I don't think it'd be right to leave you in here alone...Don't you...I mean, there's gotta be someone who Impressed who you'd wanna see," He whined, searching her beseechingly.
A face flashed in Lenia's mind and she lowered her head, shutting her eyes.
"No. Not really," She lied, shaking her head, clearing her thoughts.
"Liar. Come with," K'ton insisted and...by the First Egg, Lenia relented, muttering a small 'fine' as she crossed the room and exited before him.
The two entered the vast Hatching Cavern together, each simultaneously feeling their stomachs growl with the promise of good, delicious food. K'ton was gone from her side in an instant, leaving her to fend for herself while he chatted up some of his friends. Ugh. The loyalty astounded her.
Lenia made her way through the crowd as Yselka announced she was handing out the Weyrling ropes and clenched her teeth. She'd have to sit through this? Her blood boiled. She hated K'ton. From the crowd, she thought she spied Nebrona, but couldn't tell. There were too many people. Perhaps she'd find the newly Impressed Weyrling later.
Oh, there she was. K'ton right behind her as they formed a throng to accept their ropes. H'zu, by now, had appeared at the Weyrwoman's side, grinning to each of them and pausing them to shake their hands as they took the new symbols of their rank.
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Post by bookworm on Dec 7, 2008 19:20:41 GMT -5
Are you going to the feast now? What are you going to do there? Will there be good food?[/color] Neginoth was asking questions even as he was curling up to go to sleep. The brown yawned, his lids already falling down as he waited for the answer. W'nec smiled and scratched the brown's eye ridges affectionately. Yes, I'm going to the feast, and yes, there will be good food... he paused, realizing Neginoth was asleep. W'nec gave him a final pat and then headed to the feast.
W'nec eyed the food, his mouth watering, but he knew more important things would come first. He listened to Yselka's short speech, taking a moment to think of W'ska. He had disliked the girl, but she had redeemed herself on the sands. Her death was undeniably tragic.
He moved forward with the other weyrlings, a proud grin on his face. Finally, he would receive his weyrling knots!
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Post by yamamoto on Dec 7, 2008 20:41:11 GMT -5
And'l countied to sit where he was. Though Topaz was getting impactiace. He wanted his to go up there. Though it was obvious that he was not lisitining. Topaz knew that sinice Gopeth was around he would need to be alot harder on his pet. So as sat there on And'l shoulder. He just bent his head done and gentaly bit And'ls hear. Not hard egough to hurt him though hard egough to get his point across. And'l said " ow ow Topaz let go!" Though the bronze was not letting go till And'l was up there and get his wyerling knots in fornt of everyone. For anyone who as looking And'l problery looked alittle funny neverously walking along with his bronze flit clamped to his ear. Had Topaz been flying it would have looked like he was pulling And'l. When And'l reached where the bronze wanted him he stopped biting him. And'l though was as usal not just neverous. He was visiably neverous. He was shaking abit and he did not feel to good. He just hoped this would be over with quickly.
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Post by zenith on Dec 10, 2008 23:48:17 GMT -5
Tehnel arrived at the feast horribly late. She hadn't really wanted to come... mostly because she was suffering the typical let-down blues of not having impressed, herself. Still a candidate. It had taken her a while to peptalk herself into going to the feast ... there was always next time!
The best part, she had to remind herself, was that some of them had impressed!! They still had a viable queen! And if they were lucky ... two more had just hatched! So, yes ... there would be a next time.
Following hot on her heels was her large, long and lanky feline. Tail twitching ever so slowly, almost in time to his steps, the little beast followed Tehnel faithfully through the crowd. When she found herself an unoccupied seat to occupy, Spirit jumped up into her lap and curled up there, purring softly. She stroked his soft fur absently, grateful for his presence even as she watched the weyrlings receiving thier knots. She was glad for them all! She really was. But she just wished she was among them, stepping up to the plate.
Maybe next time. For now ... she would watch them grow to become the warriors that Pern needed. And maybe she would learn something from the watching, making her all the better prepared, the next time around!
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Post by Kisha-Ra on Dec 14, 2008 18:15:16 GMT -5
Ke’ran stood in the doorway of her new room and looked back at Cusyth in indecision. The newly hatched and fed dragonet was curled into a ball on her couch, sleeping the sleep of the stuffed, and totally unaware of anything going on around her, and yet… Yet Ke’ran looked back again wondering if she should stay. Then once again the girl shook her head and this time firmly stepped out of the door and closed it behind her.
Before she could change her mind Ke’ran trotted off to the hall, happy that her gather day best had a pair of trousers with it instead of cumbersome skirts. She was starving now and certainly didn’t want to have to worry about tripping as she dashed off to get some food. Ke’ran dropped into the nearest seat and twitched her foot impatient for the feast to begin so she could finally get fed. There was just the formality of a speech or two to get through and surely everyone would keep it brief today.
Ke’ran was one of those who moved quickly and willingly up to receive her knots, looking around her to see who she knew that had Impressed and who hadn’t.
You will definitely come back?[/color] Tebeth asked anxiously, his eyes starting to pick up yellow tones even as the lids started to fall. Of course, where would I go? Uu’an replied reaching out to give his dragonet a final scratch on the eyeridge as the brown dropped his head and finally slept.
Uu’an eyed the food with anticipation, it had been a long time since dinner and there were bound to be bubbly pies later. All he had to do was keep quiet through whatever the Weyrwoman had to say. Uu’an felt a bit guilty for that thought as he remembered Wiska, or rather W’ska since she had Impressed before her death. He hadn’t known the girl well but in a time when every dragon was especially precious it was a terrible thing to lose a new weyrling pair.
Just one last thing before the feast. Uu’an sprang up to join the group of new weyrlings, there seemed to be a lot of girls in the group, though maybe that was because there had been a lot of female candidates.
Zephan watched the new weyrlings despondently from his out of the way seat while Stardust resigned himself to being clutched like a talisman to ward off the worst of crushing disappointment, the blue firelizard would suffer a great deal if there was food about that might possibly come his way.
‘I was just too young this time Stardust, or maybe too nervous, or there were just too many other people. I’ll have a better chance next hatching, I’ll be older and if there’s no gold egg there’ll be less candidates for sure.’ Zeph whispered to his firelizard, attempting to convince himself.
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Post by ShadowReine on Dec 14, 2008 23:03:56 GMT -5
Yselka smiled as the weyrlings...most of them, anyway, approached. "The next two turns of your life will be a challenge and a beginning," she told them.
Her eyes flickered mostly to Nebrona, N'cia and T'ik. Those three would have the hardest time...they were set aside as different, now and forever. Perhaps one day female blueriders and weirdly mutated dragons would be normal. "But they will also be one of the best parts of your life." She moved along the line, giving each of the young people their weyrling knots. She'd have to make better ones for Nebrona and T'ik...the best she could do was gold and blue knots.
Ah well. It would be solved. "You, each and every one of you, represent the future of Ista. Each and every one of you. You will be pushed to your limits...and you will find out what those limits are. After tonight, you will be experiencing S'koin's tender mercies. For now?"
She smiled again. "This is your night and your celebration. Enjoy it...and don't eat *too* much."
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Post by zenith on Dec 30, 2008 19:34:15 GMT -5
Once the leave to eat was offered, Malchan tried to not too obviously make his way to the tables laden with food. He even generously ... allowed a half dozen or so others go first. No ... he didn't want to obviously be the first one through. But more than half a dozen people was enough ... he wanted there to still be some food when he got there. He was a hungry person, after all.
Being Malchan was hard work ... burned up a lot of fuel!
He happily filled his plate with quite a lot of food ... mostly protiens, but he did also go for a few starches and vegitables. Must keep it somewhat varied, after all. But then ... this heaped plate ful wasn't going to be the entirety of what he ate, either ... there would be other plates. And those could hold the green things. For now? The important stuff. Meat!
~~~
Tehnel sat there rather dejectedly as she watched people mill about her, moving here and there, talking, smiling, laughing. She idly stroked Spirit, who was seated in her lap now, peering over the tabletop with bright yellow eyes.
She was a remarkable person, wasn't she? She was smart, she was pretty, she was skilled and talented ... why in the world had not one of those dragons wanted her? She wasn't that bad! She even rather thought she was better than most of the people in the room ... and surely better than most of those candidate that had been blindly lucky enough to impress! Tehnel heaved a sigh, and scratched the top of Spirit's head, between his ears.
"Ow?" Spirit inquired, turning his head to look at his pet, the end of his long tail twitching slowly. He could smell that meat ... and wanted some. Tehnel just gave him a cross look.
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