October 2007 Hatching
October 13, 2007
Ro's gold Rhadamanth by R'sul's bronze Hesketh
Impressees: R'dy and bronze Ceth, Candia and brown Cinrath, Meri and brown Vetrath, Tomi and green Abejath, Uta and green Marjiath, Illia and green Toriath
Rhadamanth's visibly vibrating with her humming as she leans over to touch her muzzle gently against an egg here and an egg there, giving them a final look of - well, approval. Ro's hurrying onto the sands, hands still hastily securing her hair with a few clips. Somehow, she's still managed to attire herself properly for the occasion, straightening her collar quickly as she slows to a striding walk. "That's it?" she all but pants, gaze momentarily wild as she stares from her dragon to the eggs. "Faranth. Where's R'sul? R'sul! Someone go get him!" Clearly caught between excitement and nervousness, even though she's undergoing this from quite a different perspective, the Weyrwoman is just a tad anxious, fidgeting from foot to foot. "And the candidates - goodness, I hope they make it out here before they crack!"
Hesketh paces. While Rhadamanth is touching eggs he apears to be frantically trying to bury them and stop them from hatching. Round and round he goes, recovering the sand that's fallen from them and glancing back to the door nervously. As the candidates file in his wings flare and he hisses at them, standing over the Unhappily Ever After Egg posessively. R'sul rushes in, damp and mostly clothed. "Bath. Was in... sorry." He babbles at Ro, before moving voer to try to calm Hesketh.
Gerundy keeps a tight hold on Hitomi's hand as he steps onto the sands and makes his bow to dam and sire, twitching at the too-small robe with his free hand.
Drawn is the word for the retired Weyrwoman; Hassaleah is present for this Hatching, lurking off on the edge of the Sands to observe, but she is a shadow of her former self, and it shows. She's seated, for once, in a folding chair with a table next to it and an attendant hovering nearby lest the heat become too much for her. But still, she is here, and offering a nod to the Candidates as they step out.
Candia seems calm enough as she emerges, bowing very deeply and very respectfully at both of the clutchparents, glancing around to make sure everyone else is all right. It's hardly the first time she's been on the sands, and it shows, both in her respect and in her general bearing.
Utaria shuffles behind Candia for a moment, the woman looking madly nervous and she bows towards the clutch parents before shuffling again. A wince forms and she takes an uneasy breath. "I hope this.. Goes fast..."
Keziah peers across the sands as she begins to move out but pausing before the dragons and sending a weary eye towards Hesketh. Please don't eat her, she's not tasty. She bows, holding her hands to her robe to keep it in proper position before moving along with the others and awaiting.
Hitomi heaves a brave sigh and grins to Ger before setting her self straight as they move out onto the sands. Her hand clings tightly to Ger's, bowing as he does to the clutch Dam and Sire awkwardly.
"R'sul! Thank goodness!" Ro's probably more frazzled than she's been in the past three turns as her fidgeting and wringing hands indicate. However, as the candidates finally emerge, she relaxes the tiniest bit, shoulders dropping ever-so-slightly. Rhadamanth sits up straighter as the young men and women enter, acknowledging each bow with a rumble and a momentary stare. Not quite a glare, but it's measuring nonetheless.
Felandre makes his way out onto the sands, just a taller spot among the sea of white, looking hastily put together but otherwise present and attentive as he steps to the edge of the grounds. Dropping into the customary bow with the rest of the candidates, and even an extra pause as he nods back to Hassaleah, he then moves forward out onto the sands with his mouth set into a tight, firm line, eyes especially going towards the hissing Hesketh that makes the tall lad seem rather... small.
The turbulent green-grays on the Whirlpool of Wrath Egg seem to churn and rotate - did the egg really move? It's a matter of opinion, really, for the egg remains situated snugly within its hollow, although it does seem to have resettled at a stranger angle.
Meridlyn obviously is not as calm as she usually is. Her hands tremble, and her cheek has taken on an unfortunate twitch. The heat doesn't help, and her bow comes across as more of a poorly executed dance move than a sign of respect. Fixing her eyes on Hitomi and Gerundy, two vaguely familiar faces, she moves over to them quickly as the first egg begins to rock.
Jayne heads out along the others in the crowd, following in place in a quiet march. As she squints her dark eyes to peer out across the hot sands, and upon the familiar forms of the eggs, a smile creeps along the edge of her lips. She gives a low, proper bow to the dam, and sire of this fine clutch, then continues on forward in her easy stride, tucking herself a bit closely to Hitomi.
Illiara minces along somewhere behind Hitomi and Gerundy. After bowing to dam and sire, the girl turns and moves carefully for a familiar face, Keziah. She wordlessly stands beside her, eyes a little wide as she stares out at the eggs.
Whirlpool of Wrath Egg fissures, cracks spreading over the entire shell. The patterns of shadowed ships and swirling seas are broken into fragments, revealing movement just beneath the egg's lamina. And then it stills again, gathering strength for a final assault.
R'sul backs off from Hesketh and gently pats Ro on the shoulder, "There, there." It's all he can think of under the circumstances. "It'll eb fine once it gets going." Quieter he adds, "I hope."
Gerundy looks down at Meridlyn and offers her his free hand, eyes caught by the first rocking egg and his breath caught and held, fingers tightening near painfully. "Oh Shells." He groans, dreadful.
Utaria squeaks as the egg cracks and twitches. She rubs a hand over her face and mumbles. "I /hate/ being like this.. It's so /girly/. Wringing my hands and the such." She casts a glance at Candia, shaking her head.
Hesketh glares at the wobbling egg, unwilling to move from the one he's guarding but wanting it to stop moving. Ordering it to stop.
City of Lights Egg starts to shift and turn, the blue-grey spot near the spire making the motion clearly visible as it seems to bounce this way and that upon the Sands.
Hitomi lifts her eyes to the egg, as if just now realizing the reality of what was happening. Her own grip tightens as the egg moves, well, here we go.
Meridlyn wordlessly takes Ger's offered hand, biting her lip in anticipation and nerves. Memories of mauled Candidates run through her mind, much as she would like to supress them. Squeezing her fellow Candidate's hand tighter, Meridlyn whispers "Do you think any of us are going to get...hurt?"
Whirlpool of Wrath Egg finally crumbles around a dark, egg-wet form, leaving the newly hatched dragon to crawl forth as though he were dredged up from the abyss.
Candia giggles at Utaria, still trying not to show her nerves, although it's getting harder as the eggs are rocking, and the first one is closer and closer to hatching. She grins at her friend, reassuringly, then glances over towards Kez.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Solitary Sea Wanderer Bronze Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rusted framework of something from an age bygone has twisted itself into the form of a dulled bronze, the hues of his hide apparently washed ashore from long-toiling seas. He's muscular and promises to eventually be strong, certainly, but there's an angular choppiness about his build that gives him an irregular appearance - neckridges a little too jagged, shoulders sharply defined and talons of faded ivory, a tad crooked. Despite all this, there's a hardiness about him, evident in his deliberate pace from the shell.
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Khi follows the last of the candidates out onto the sands, although she doesn't go nearly so far, steps slowing and stopping not far in on the edge of the sands at a position where she has a good vantage of the activity while waiting for the eventual hatchlings to find their destined partners. In the meantime a glance checks over the buckets of meat being brought to the edge of the sands from the cold stores, a warm nod to Hassaleah as she's spotted, and then her gaze searches to pick out where D'ion has settled.
Spider Egg, Spider Egg--whatever it's supposed to do, it's not doing it right now. It's sitting, in fact, very still, very silent, very deadly. Well, probably not deadly, but very still. There's a mob out there, and it seems to want no part of any of it.
Solitary Sea Wanderer Bronze Hatchling hobbles forth with a peculiar, deliberate gait, but his path is erratic nonetheless, carrying him unsteadily toward the candidates. Teetering first one way, then another, he finally settles in front of a young man from Tillek Hold, eyes spinning from red to blue. "Davoneth, " Calyson says aloud, surprised, reaching to touch the large bronze's muzzle with clear awe. "And I'm your C'lyso? Come on, we'll get you fed." It's a fortuitous first Impression.
Keziah catches that glance and moves quickly over to the other girls, hiding just behind them at first before slowly moving out in awe of the first hatching to make it's way out on the sands. "Wow..."
Felandre inches his way ever so slightly closer to the likes of Gerundy, Illiara, Jayne, and the others, perhaps feeling a bit left out in his somewhat open space of sand and heat and rocking eggs. The hatching of the first hatchling catches his attentions, and his eyes slowly get just a bit wider as a corner of his mouth pulls back. "Well...that went fast. He knew who he wanted."
Utaria gives Candia a look. "It's not funny." She mutters, squeaking as an egg hatches and there's a bronze. As he impresses quickly, she claps her hands and begins her nervous fidgetting again.
City of Lights Egg is caught up in the motion, the city upon its surface busy, and yet hardly invincible. Suddenly, a large crack appears, splitting the spire in two.
Hitomi catches her breath as the bronze hatches and impresses. Well that was fast. Her gaze shifts around the sands now, looking onto the other eggs nervously.
Candia grins broadly. "That's good luck, a bronze being first." She turns to Utaria. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that it was." She sighs, and relaxes slightly, until City of Lights egg splits apart, and swallows. "There's another one. I wonder what color it'll be..."
Gerundy's head jerks just a little between the hatching and Impression of the first bronze so rapidly, his eyebrows high on his long forhead. "Aw shards, aw shards." He whines nervously, shifting from foot to foot.
Illiara follows Keziah at a distance, pausing to grin over at Utaria -- she looks as if she might tease the girl for a moment, but thinks better of it, as the first egg splits. "Bronze first!" She hisses, watching him. "Must have." She agrees quietly with Felandre, crossing her arms across her chest a little nervously.
City of Lights Egg is beginning to fall into ruin, the perfect scene torn apart by the cracks that refuse to be stopped. The lights are broken apart, the great tower is left in pieces, and the dream seems to be lost. Yet, even as the shell falls to the ground, a brown hatchling finds himself unexpectedly exposed to a whole different world.
Hesketh is torn. Anger or pride? Pride wins and he greets his first son's Impression with a loud trumpet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Sugar and Spice Brown Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Warm brown sugar is melted and drizzled over his form like a rich caramel coating, gooey golden-browns sticking and curling around his headknobs. His muzzle has been dipped as well, only a single spot of auburn left between his eyes, peeking through the topping. His hide darkens to cocoa, flowing down over his serpentine neck, overtaking the lighter caramel, and coating his stout frame from one end to the other. A dusting of cinnamon flecks cling to his ridges and talons, while a pinch of nutmeg has been added to each of his creamy-chocolate wing sails. In between, a puff of chocolate powder has been applied to his stomach, a lighter band that runs between his limbs, completing the masterpiece.
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Utaria nods her head then offers Candia a smug grin. "It's okay. I'm just nervous.. This is /far/ worse than my firelizard hatching..." Trailing off, she looks towards the brown as he hatches and lets out a soft oh. "He's lovely!"
Rhadamanth straightens just that much more at the first Impression, humming increasing in volume as the eggs begin to wobble and twitch every which way. And Ro relaxes just a tiny bit more, managing a breathless, "Bronze first, R'sul! Oh, they've done well, indeed!" And then there's a newly hatched brown who earns an admiring glance.
Spider Egg, Spider Egg. Can it swing from a web? No, it can't, but it can careen from one side to another just as well as if it were, setting off on a bumpy rolling journey towards... someplace. Away. Unfortunately, being surrounded on all sides, there's no escape, and stress marks are beginning to show on the peachy-pink shell.
Felandre grins a bit lopsidedly as he overheards Utaria, "He is rather handsome, I bet he'll be a real looker to the ladies someday." But then, who is he to judge what a dragon-lady finds attractive?
Meridlyn barely has time to look over the bronze before he Impresses. Hands move up and down in what seems more like a reflex than a gesture of congratulations, and the splitting of one of her favored eggs steals her attention. Bronze and brown were the first dragonets, and they both were healthy. Surely that is good luck?
An instability bubbles up from within the Viridian Suds Egg, and it quivers in the place it has long occupied upon the hatching sands. The movement is just enough to dislodge it, but not far--it rolls only a few fingertips before coming to a stop once more.
Illiara's eyes widen at the second hatchling. "Oh!" She gasps, grinning. "He looks..." A nearby candidate distracts her for a moment, so the thought is left unfinished. The rocking eggs are eyed warily, as she shifts a little in the sands-dance.
Hitomi flashes a grin to Ger very quickly before turning to the new dragonet on the sand. "Oh, hes beautiful." She mentions quietly, bobbing her head as if to chase away her nervousness, unsuccessfully. She places her free hand on her chest to try and still her heart.
Sugar and Spice Brown Hatchling freezes for a long moment as he's suddenly upon the sands, and there he remains, dazed and somewhat confused. Yet, instinct does kick in, and he takes a few awkward steps, getting to his feet and surveying the new land before him. Exotic, perhaps. Different, most definitely. And so, its with short steps and dragging wings that he begins the trek towards a new life.
Utaria laughs at Felandre and winks. "Oh. You know he will." She teases to distract herself from her nerves and she fidgets. "He'll strut himself about.. And what not.." She trails off and glances at the brown again uneasily.
R'sul almost hugs Ro. Almost. There's a moment of widespread arms that's quickly turned into a stretch and an embarrassed, "Bronzes are always good luck, biased though I might be."
Candia nods in agreement with Utaria. "He's gorgeous. Look at the shades. I've never seen so many different shades of brown." She can't tear her eyes from the little one, following his progression towards the other candidates.
Fingertips begin to clutch upon the material of her robe, taking one slow deep breath after another as eyes shift across the heat of the sands. The moving of the eggs only catches this candidates attentions briefly but the movement of dragons is hard to ignore. Keziah takes in another deep breath, lightly biting upon her lip as she tries to fight back a grin at where she is. "That is one nice looking brown," she says quietly to whomever would listen, "Handsome." That's right, it's a male! She hopes.
Khi moves to greet the first pair, impression quicker than she remembered from her own hatching and with warm greetings C'lyso and Davoneth leads the pair back to where the hatchling's first meal awaits at the start of their journey.
Gerundy seems a little overawed as another dragonet slides free of it's shell prison. "Oh.." he breaths, rocking unconciously from one foot to the other from the heet through his sandles.
Hesketh keeps guard over his egg, the one that's not allowed to hatch. His anger has subsided though, and he croons encouragement to his brown son to find the one.
Felandre reaches past another candidate to give Utaria's shoulder a quick squeeze in reassurement as he catches the slight nervous appearance. He doesn't say anything save flash a grin before he removes his hand to pay mind once more to the hatchlings and rocking eggs.
Spider Egg, Spider Egg is unable to escape, so it does what any sensible egg would do under the circumstances. It implodes. This is difficult to do while being occupied by a small blue dragon, so the hatchling struggles out while the shell collapses around him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Adorably Irreverent Blue Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A gawky, small fellow--he's all boyish knees and elbows, boney wings and skinny legs, and a shade of blue so bright it's almost neon. His head seems almost too large for his body, and the head knobs and neck ridges stand out in stark relief. With all eyes on him for a moment, he straightens and stretches his wings out wide, hamming it up for the crowd, but his own big whirling eyes are on the Candidates.
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Sugar and Spice Brown Hatchling doesn't quite strut, so much as meander, but he does have a destination in mind, and its with a steady pace that he closes the distance with the white-robed people, stopping at a girl from High Reaches to look up at her, questioningly. And then, it seems that she has things in order around, for he's moving on. Something more exotic is in order.
After taking a little time to collect itself, the Viridian Suds Egg moves again, this time a small rock to one side followed by a single hard twitch the other way. The force sends it end-over-end, and when it stills again there's a fine lacework of cracks forming on what is now the upper curve.
D'ion glances over his shoulder as Khi moves to one of the first pairs and offers a light grin before minty eyes dart back to the sands. He can't help it, he stands tall and begins to wipe a little tear out of the corner of his eye as the little blue comes onto the sands. "Aw, Svodamirth used to be that small!" Silly blueriders and their emotions. He clears his throat and straightens up, watching and awaiting the next pair.
Utaria offers a grin back to Felandre, taking a breath. "Thanks." She mutters, then smiles at Candia. "He is.. I really like that. He'll be wonderful, I think." At the blue hatching, she smiles. "He's tiny.."
Adorably Irreverent Blue Hatchling is nothing if not decisive. If he wants something, he's going to have it. And what the blue wants, it turns out, is a boy with thick glasses from somewhere outside of Nabol, who he completely bowls over in his choice, nipping at the glasses. "Hey!" shouts the Candidate indignantly. "Those are mine! Let go! Cosoth!" The dragon romps off leaving his half-blind companion staggering after him, and an Assistant Weyrlingmaster sets about sorting them out.
Devourer of Worlds Egg shudders, bulging dangerously in places as if it were alive itself. Strange reflections in the shell are distorted giving an almost malevolent look to them.
Illiara smiles over at Keziah, glancing around. Her attention focuses for a moment on Hesketh, and she winces -- but then there's another egg...imploding. "Hesketh looks irritated..." The girl notes to anybody close, eyes darting from the tiny blue to yummy-looking brown. "Aw! Look at that..." She gigles at the blue's antics.
Candia laughs pleasantly as she watches the little blue's antics with his lifemate for a moment, then turns her attention back to the brown. "Who are you going to choose, little one," she says, almost at a whisper, not really intended to be heard by anyone, except perhaps the little brown himself...
The cracks along the surface of the Viridian Suds Egg stretch, widening to show the pale membrane beneath. It bulges, flexing under pressure from the occupant within, and then at last a dark claw slashes through. A damp bronze body wriggles out from the remains of the egg, and he lays panting for a moment on the sand.
Meridlyn clutches the hem of her robe, picking at a loose strand as her eyes follow the brown hatchling. The shades are most intriguing, and the girl tries to take in every detail for later entry into her notebook. Her gaze is torn between the newly Impressed pair and the other rocking eggs, and she is not sure which to look at. "That brown seems rather choosy.." She thinks aloud, not really caring if people stare at her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Earnest Obscenities Bronze Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not a small dragon to begin with, this bronze's girth is enough to be not precisely proportional to the rest of him. The rounded head lacks definition around the cheeks and jaw, the mottling of emerald and verdigris there swirling upwards into curls of color around the head knobs. The wing sails are a disorganized clash of pigments-the left is striated with malachite over the translucent hide, the right dotted with muddy splotches. The color darkens downwards so that the shoulders are the color of well-oiled saddle leather with a greenish cast, the gleam of light betraying there only a hint of the muscle beneath. By the time it reaches his swollen belly, the vastness is masked by black like wrought iron, only a vague suggestion of metallic luster left on the stout legs and plump tail.
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Cracks begin to run over the Devourer of Worlds Egg, spiralling out from a central point that bugles repeatedly. Surely the shell cannot stand up to much more of this pummelling from inside?
Utaria chuckles as the blue steals his new rider's glasses, shaking her head. "How strange..." She glances towards Candia and grins, her attention working to the brown but quickly vanishing as the bronze hatches. "Oh wow. He's pretty, too." Bah.. Pretty.
Felandre can't help but chuckle as the blue claims his rider - and his possessions. "Oh good, glad he didn't pick me. I can't afford to have my glass broken." Says the crafter with a wide grin even as he calls out congratulations before turning to regard this new bronze hatchling.
"Shouldn't he be happy that there's littles?" she asks with a brow quirked. Keziah shifts on her feet as the sand granuless are doing their best to make their appearance known. She catches her breath, "Another bronze! This is going to be a good hatching!" Or atleast she heard from the aunties. Seems it's a good betting day.
Life within the Resurrection Egg seems to have only begun - the barest of movements can be seen as it shifts experimentally in its hollow. Perhaps the results were not quite to its liking, for it soon falls still again.
Sugar and Spice Brown Hatchling pauses in his wandering, giving the small blue his moment of glory, before finally he seems to have found the goal he's had in mind all along. A whisper seems to draw him, like a winding road in a dream, and its to an auburn-haired teen that he's drawn, staring up at the young woman with abandon.
Hesketh's anger fades completely as another healthy bronze hatches. He takes a step away from the Unhappily Ever After Egg, and actually moves across to nudge those that are wobbling into more action. Finally he seems to have grasped this hatching concept.
Candia is still watching the little brown when his eyes meet hers. She can't help it, she loses her balance slightly. "Oh Cinrath.. Yes... I want to see everything with you....once you've eaten..."
Earnest Obscenities Bronze Hatchling takes a moment to get up. And another moment. And another. Finally, he lifts his head as though it were the heaviest thing in the whole world, and peers blurrily out towards the assembled Candidates. His eyes remain half-lidded, almost squinting, and finally he wrestles himself up to a standing position. With slow, stumbling steps, he approaches the ring of white-robed young people.
Utaria freezes as the brown finds his lifemate and she takes a breath, peeking to see who it is uneasily. "Oh! Congrats, Candia! He's so pretty."
Gerundy looks like he's going to hyperventilate as the blue hatches and moves on. "That brown seems to be having a hard time finding his." He remarks softly, and lets out another shuddery breath when the brown finally finds a mate, "Oh, there! Candia!" He would clap, but.. hands are occupied.
Devourer of Worlds Egg stills for a moment, then with a loud *crack* it shatters sending shards of silver eggshell towards the candidates. From the wreckage of his previous home a massive brown gets slowly to his feet and shakes his head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Unstoppable Force Brown Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rich terracotta coats this massive brown dragon from blunted snout to overlong tail. Everything about him seems slightly out of proportion, thickened or elongated, and dark lines run all over his hide giving him a permanent cracked appearance. Even his wings are not free from flaws, the spars are overly thick and the sails seem to have been dipped in mud and left to dry.
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Resurrection Egg surges with life, going from a standstill to an all out ruckus of shakes and wobbles. Cracks begin to form, mostly hidden against the dark hues of the shell but progressively widening under the assault of movement from within.
Hitomi gulps and her attention is caught by the blue. "Wow, hes very bright, and cute." She is babbling to her self nonstop as the little guy impresses to someone, she grins. Then the brown is at Candia and she grins. "Congratulations Candia!" She calls out.
Illiara watches with avid attention the rocking -- and, oh, hatching! -- eggs. "Shards," The new bronze gets a soft sigh of admiration. But, oh, what's this? The second-hatched..."Candia!" There's a pause. "Cinrath? Wow..." But there are just *so* many things that she has to pay attention to, so the girl wrenches her attention away to the newest hatchling.
D'ion takes one step closer towards Candia and guides her with a wide grin, "Alright Weyrling, bring your lifemate over and feed him well." The bluerider takes one look over to the brown and nods, "That's one fine dragon, indeed. Come now." Off to the side they go...
Earnest Obscenities Bronze Hatchling starts to investigate one of the Candidates in depth. Said Candidate is in fact a girl, which aside from being not especially appropriate leads to a blood-curdling shriek as a bronze muzzle slips under the edge of her robe. Hastily, he backs away and responds with a guttural stream of angry noises himself, turning warily towards the other young people in white. Is this going to be a pattern? Any more screamers? When no more seem to be forthcoming, he finally treks out to keep looking.
The Unstoppable Force Brown Hatchling wastes no time in picking a path and stomping towards the line of candidates before him. While many scatter from his path one stays in place, only moving when the brown thrusts a forefoot at his chest and knocks him to the ground. "Grith!" Jon struggles back to his feet and looks around for a weyrlingmaster, "Everybody out of the way! Wide load coming through! He's huge!"
Utaria blinks at the next brown, watching him quietly. "He's a lovely one, too." With that, she shuffles closer to Felandre.
Not a Good Idea Egg doesn't move. Nope. It sits there and does nothing. The very observant might have seen a very slight twitch, but it stills very quickly once more.
Felandre calls out his congratulations to Candia before he turns to regard the movements of the Resurrection Egg with a careful, judging eye. It would be hard to tell if it is an egg he favors or dislikes, from the tight and almost expectant set of his face.
Resurrection Egg can no longer hold back and with the dark hued shell giving way enough to show a glimpse of bright green, it soon crumbles apart entirely and a dazzling, bright green hatchling emerges.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Trauen Sie Zu Folgen Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Garishly bright and flecked with traces of copper as though she were unearthed from regions unknown, this dragon is predominantly an obnoxious shade of lime green, blinding in hue even from birth. Fairly compact in build, she makes up for her small stature with her eagerly defiant stance and coloration. Yellow-greens swirl along her angular head and jaw, tipping headknobs more blunt than rounded and spinning down to trail along her neck. No delicately feminine curves or limbs have she, but muscular shoulders and powerful legs, each ending in obsidian talons. Clearly anything but subtle, her wings are a bit of a surprise - when folded against her back, they blend in almost perfectly with the rest of her hide. Her wingsails, when opened, are softer, pastel-like greens, delicately shaded membranes rather at odds with her otherwise unsubtle appearance, all the way down to the tip of her sinuous, lime-streaked tail.
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Utaria lets out a soft oh at the green, watching her quietly. She glances at the eggs, looking for her favorite for a moment before the hatchlings wandering become the center of attention.
Keziah applauds her fellow candidates turned weyrlings but not without a cautious eye out upon the sands. As the next appears, her grin only grows wider. "That's a beauty!"
Khi follows out to gather up the next, smiling. "No worries. Just have Grith head this way." she indicates the side of the sands where the new pairs are being gathered and the brown and his rider follow obligingly.
Illiara can't help but giggle at the nosy Bronze, a hand going to cover her mouth. "Faranth..." She giggles, which only increases at the wandering Brown's impression. But, finally -- a female hatches! And here she'd been thinking it'd be an all-male clutch. "Oh," The little green gets a wide-eyed look of surprise. "My...she's bright."
A series of sharp cracks come from the area of the Not a Good Idea Egg, but still it doesn't move. Maybe it was one of the others that made the noise.
Hitomi squints her eyes as the green busts forth, that bright of a green can /not/ be missed. Every thing seems to move faster now as her head twists here and there.
Trauen Sie Zu Folgen Green Hatchling falls damply onto the sands the minute that she's out of her shell, squawking in surprise. When she rights herself, she does so with a certain fluidity, almost as though all of her limbs just fell perfectly into place. Surveying the white things before her with a quick glance, the hatchling tilts her head back to peer up at Rhadamanth and Hesketh. It's important that they're acknowledged, first. That done, she totters forth, tail flinging up sand in a wide arc behind her as she approaches the candidates, beginning her inspection with the first person she comes to - a girl from Ista. Apparently, she's found lacking, for the young dragon continues on, undeterred.
Gerundy's eyes bulge as the bronze goes for some poor girls' skirt, starting to go for the too-high hem of his own robe and realizing his hands are taken. Instead, he shifts uncomfortably and makes a little face, "That is one bright green!"
Earnest Obscenities Bronze Hatchling seems to be muttering to himself in terms that are none-too-friendly, a low rumbling as he trudges down the line of aspiring dragonriders, apparently finding none of them acceptable. But then, there's one after his own heart, one who did his own murmuring earlier of 'shards' and 'shells', an awkward adolescent with a nose that just might distract people from the bronze's waistline. He'll do.
Felandre glances to his fellow candidates, though none in particularly as he squints to the former Resurrection Egg. "Well, I wasn't expecting a green from that one. You wouln't miss her at night..."
Jordan is looking every which way, utterly unable to believe he's actually here -- on the sands, as a candidate! His brother Deran, also a candidate, has a more laid back attitude about it, seeming almost bored.
Keziah blinks at the antics of the green and giggles before straightening up and keeping her eyes peeled at the actions taking place. Best not to miss a thing less she get smooshed... or miss a bronze impression.
Utaria glances at the green and then is looking towards that bronze again. He's found someone and she lets out a cheer before her attention is going to the green.
Gerundy looks for a moment like he might be sick, turning green in the face and realing away from Hitomi and Meridlyn, looking down incredulously at the pudgy bronze at his feet. "Ceth.. er, um.. okay.. yes, yes, food, we'll get you food!"
Not a Good Idea Egg suddenly topples over - or more accurately it's lifted up and dropped by a small blue hatching that was lurking inside. He appears to have removed the base of the egg in a perfect circle before tossing aside his disguise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Man on a Mission Blue Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This little blue may be small, but even as a hatchling his muscles have potential. A dark navy is his main colouring, cloaking his form in darkness, though a brighter indigo star is placed high up on his front left flank. His taut belly appears to be flecked with brown, a colour echoed once more on the tip of his whip-like tail. His wings are perhaps a little small in comparison to his bulk, but show a little brighter blue over their mottled surface.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Utaria lets out another cheer for Gerundy. "He's wonderful, Gerundy." She takes a break and shuffles her feet and watches the blue. "He's small, too.."
Man on a Mission Blue Hatchling glances quickly round this new room, and then darts behind another egg. He peeks out twice, and then moves forwards through the remains of the clutch, stopping behind an egg each time. Once his cover runs out he races at the line of candidates, skidding into a tall girl from Boll. "Jaceth! Stop!" Lucys arms immediately go around her new protector.
Khi gets Grith and his rider settled into food and then looks back tot he eggs. At last, the lovely flash of green graces the sands and a soft sigh escapes her lips. Yet it is back to service soon enough as the bronze makes his own selection and she moves over to where Gerundy and his new mate are. "Congratulations, right this way..." she gestures
Hitomi glances back over toe the green with a grin. "She seems to know what to do right off the bat!" her attention is pulled to the bronze as he impresses. "Oh, congratulations!" She grins as her hand is freed, her attention dosen't linger long on the pair though, she would see them later, for now shes gazing at the new hatchling.
Illiara is torn from her inspection of the intensely bright green at Gerundy's Impression. Her eyes widen, and the girl smiles a little, hopping from one foot to the other. "Oh, good for you!" She laughs, then, as the skidding blue is stopped by Lucys -- but here, she keeps her cheers to a quieter tone, attention shifting here and there anxiously.
D'ion arrives just in time for yet another blue to grace itself upon the sands and his grin grows wide. "Another, this is a lucky clutch. Two blues already less I miss more." He peers over to D'ana and winks, atleast /he/ seems to think the blues are lucky ones. Especially at the speed of their impressions. They truely know what they want. Khi and the newest member is given a bow of his head and Svodamirth rumbles his own congratulations before he glances back upon the sands.
Jordan points excitedly at the blue, "Look, look, oh, look over there, did that bronze just impress? What about that green? Oh, there goes the blue." Excitement, confusion, and the tiniest hint of disappointment at the impressions. But there's still time, eggs, and hatchlings. Right? Right.
Trauen Sie Zu Folgen Green Hatchling maintains an alert sort of stance as she passes candidate after candidate. No, sorry, not quite what she inherently seeks. Each person is given an intent look, even the occasional sniff here and there. But some sort of inborn programming - we'll call it instinct - drives her onward. She's heading on a little farther down the line.
Unspoken Prediction Egg twitches, the swirls that coat the shell seeming to move as it rocks to and fro in it's little hollow of sand.
Night Under the Stars Egg trembles slightly from its nest in the sand, the dots of white on the upper half of the shell shifting just enough to make one wonder if the stars actually twinkled. A second later, it stills again.
Meridlyn slowly lets go of Gerundy's hand as he finds his lifemate. The now empty hand is used to cheer her fellow Candidate and acquaintance, as she smiles and mutters congratulations. The applause is extended by the second Impression, but soon she is silent once more, attention given once more to the eggs.
Utaria is distracted by the Night Under the Stars eggs and watches it carefully, her head tilting. "I hope that one hatches next. It was lovely when I was touching." She notes, her arms crossing over her chest.
Keziah begins to... shake her feet? Seems some grains of sand is giving her the run for her marks and she grumbles as they're shaken one after the other. Her eyes are pulled away from the sands to watch her progress on this whole mess. The green dragon moving is off her radar for now.
Felandre watches Gerundy's impression and that of the blue, and then his eyes are on the green moving about the sands and its all enough to make the candidate give his head a slow shake. A hand goes to his temples for a quick rub and then a swipe to clear the sweat from his brow before he goes back to egg-watching.
As a loud *CRACK* echoes into the hatching cavern, reverberating much like thunder, a sharp chasm splits the shell of the Night Under the Stars Egg asunder, running straight down to its base not unlike a jagged lightning bolt. A plaintive creel faintly sounds as the hatchling within begins to attempt to push the walls of the shell away. But alas, no such luck yet.
Illiara grumbles softly at the nearest person; Keziah, as it were. "Sharding hot..." She mutters, wincing as she keeps one foot on the sand for what's apparently too long -- she hops, no, bounces at that point, both leaving the scalding sand for a moment. Wince. "Oh," That entreating creel has her wincing. "Poor thing.."
Utaria makes a small face as the Night Under the Stars egg cracks loudly, but does not hatch. She continues to watch it carefully, her attention not leaving it.
Hitomi is partial panting now, the heat getting to her now. At least she wasn't outside in the cold. Her attention is on the eggs and impressions, clapping as each happen. That green still bobs in and out of her peripheral vision though occasionally, man she was bright. She scoots towards Mer with a grin as Gerundy leaves.
Trauen Sie Zu Folgen Green Hatchling comes to a sudden halt as she nears a grouping of candidates. Wait, that one there! With a curious little warble, she meets green eyes with her own and warbles cheerily, shifting momentarily from foot to foot so that it almost appears as though she's doing some sort of victory dance before crooning loudly. Mission accomplished!
Jordan jumps at the loud crack from the Night Under the Stars Egg, blinking at it curiously. "Wow." is all he can say. Wow indeed - something actually shut him up. Deran tilts his head at his brother and snickers, but doesn't say anything.
Keziah takes in a deep breath and bites down on her lower lip, her shaking stopping at that poor dragonets sound from within the shell. "Isn't someone going to help it?" she asks, peering around and saying it to no one inparticular as the concern sinks in deeper and deeper.
Meridlyn grimaces as the dragonet's sound reaches her ears, though she does not show much more emotion than that. After all, the poor thing would hatch eventually, right? Doing her best to smile at Hitomi as she edges closer, the girl starts to clap agin for the lastest Impression, though she cannot see who the new Weyrling is just yet.
Finally, the hatchling's efforts pay off: Night Under the Stars Egg is no more, shattered into fragments with the force of a final push from its former occupant, who finds herself blinking up at the world from a most undignified position.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Fairest Girl in Town Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soft sprays of color, evocative of the first, tender shoots of spring wash over this sleekly built green, crowning a delicate head with hints of muted honeysuckle that fall to brush against her neck and shoulders. Here, the colors fold smoothly over her limbs, blending into gentle hues of creamy cowslips that cascade down to sway against her belly like the ends of a delicate shawl. Gradually, the spring-greens darken over her wings into richer shades, sun-kissed foliage creating a smooth, even canopy of color upon her wings when folded against her back. Luxurious splashes of deep emerald and sparkles of peridot refract from her wings when open, belying her otherwise delicate appearance, even down to the washed-out, bone-hued talons. Lithe in step and elegant in frame, here is one who embraces her femininity in the demure arch of her pale neck, the manner of her movements and the way that she swishes her curvaceous tail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Utaria lets out a soft oh as the egg hatches, finally. "How pretty!" She lets out, flushing and laughing softly. "She looks delicate." The woman notes idly, then continues to watch that green.
Felandre grins aside to Utaria as he regards the newborn green, "Delicate for tonight, at least. When she's the one looking down at us I'm sure she'll look a lot different."
Unspoken Prediction Egg keeps up its rhythmic rocking - back and forth, back and forth. It's in no hurry, almost as if the dragon inside were actually enjoying itself.
Hitomi gapes down at the green, her hands falling to cup under her dragons chin. "Yes, food is our mission, Abejath!" She grins firmly, her mind flooded.
Finally the girl exhales as the dragonet is freed and her shoulders slump noticably before a nervous and relieve giggle escapes from her. "She's absolutely darling. Perfect." Keziah straightens up and peers over towards the new hatching...
Utaria laughs at Felandre, "I think all the boys will flock to her." She teases him. "Aye... That's true. When she's bigger.." Trailing off, her attention goes to Hitomi and she claps her hands. "Oh! Congrats Hitomi. She's pretty!"
Meridlyn finds her eyes widening not because of the latest hatchling, but because of the Impression that had occured right beneath her nose. "Hitomi..." she mutters, only able to stare for a moment. The girl quickly regains her composure, however. "Congratulations!"
Unhappily Ever After Egg does not move, but from it comes a very loud tap-tap, tap-tap, as the being inside begins to test the confines of its prison for a way out.
Illiara lets out an involuntary sound of delight as her friend Impresses. "Congratulations, Hitomi!" She giggles, smiling at the girls' bright new companion. Alas, her attention is then taken as the dark egg's occupant reveals herself. "Wow..." The girl breathes, shifting from foot to foot quickly. "Is it me or are they slowing down a little?"
Jordan bounces all around, both from excitement and to try and keep his feet off the hot sands as much as possible. The one green impresses, and another hatches. "She's a pretty one. Look, Deran!" Jo points again, prompting Deran to respond, "She's not my type." with a chuckle.
D'ion grins and slowly guides the next pair off of the sands hastily to allow the newfound pairs to settle down before returning moments later.
Unspoken Prediction Egg rocks too far and tumbles from its hollow. A myriad of cracks run over the shell and suddenly a small, thin, green is spinning from the shell with a quiet croon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Proud to be Different Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bright emerald green may be her colouring, but this little dragon is no gem. She has an almost emaciated look to her, only emphasised by the brighter tones that crown her head. Her wings are overlarge, sprinkled with a coating of yellowed stars that seem to drop from her wingspars. Her feet are perhaps the oddest part of her colouring -- each one appears to be a slightly different shade, one almost verging on black.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proud to be Different Green Hatchling stands up slowly, blinking several times before finally realising where she is. Turning her head upside down she peers at the line of candidates, then turns and walks towards her parents instead. Studying the older dragons for a moment she begins to back up. And up. And up. She's coming at the line backwards. Candidates scatter, but she knows exactly where she was headed and stops in front of a rather scared looking boy. As N'vil stammers out her name he seems to add extra o's to it, but eventually he manages to declare, "Oolath!"
Fairest Girl in Town Green Hatchling clambers onto her feet somewhat awkwardly, stretching her brilliant wings out to dry. She's a dainty thing, despite being a bit on the large side, even for a green, and it shows in the careful way that she plants first one foot, then the other into the hot sands. But before she can even begin contemplating the white-robed people that lie just beyond, she's distracted by something shiny near her foot and dips her muzzle down to nose at a shimmering fragment of eggshell. Oooh, pretty!
Khi wipes her brow from the heat of the grounds and moves out to he next, leading N'vil and his green Oolath to where the dragons first meal awaits. "It's not far, don't worry." she assures the new rider.
With a sharp exhale, Keziah watches yet another dragonet find it's mate but there's still hatchings wandering. The newest green earns another giggle and she too begins to peer down at the sand. She didn't notice it before, but small minerals are distracting. At the very least, she keeps one hopeful eye on her...
Utaria cheers as the green impresses to a boy, and she grins. Though, the Fairest Girl in Town Green still holds most of her attention. As the hatchling gets distracted, she blinks. "Hm.."
Meridlyn wrinkles her nose at the green. What an odd hatchling! The little one had to know that she needed to find a rider and eat, but yet she was distracted by an eggshell. That likely would not be a favorable asset later in life. Despite her nervousness, Meridlyn can't help but giggle at the green's name. Oolath..it's a bit strange.
Unhappily Ever After Egg shudders this time, some flecks of gold falling to the sands as cracks appear all over. Still the loud tap-tap, tap-tap, comes from inside as the shell is methodically sawn away at.
Illiara can't seem to help but giggle at the dainty green's distraction -- she, herself, is distracted by the emaciated Green who moves to newly-named N'vil. Frowning faintly, the girl sighs. "She looks so scrawny..."
Jordan is watching the odder green as it impresses, so Deran has to point out the fairer green becing distracted by ... something. "Looks more like /your/ type, Jo." he teases, in an older-brother-ly fashion.
Fairest Girl in Town Green Hatchling seems more interested in wandering amongst the pretty pieces of shell and sand than heading toward the candidates, and it takes a rumble from her mother to finally get her moving in the proper direction. Ending up near a lad from Crom, she peers up at him for a long moment, a loud snort escaping her as she catches sight of his dusty robe and ill-fitting shoes. Oh, ewww. Clearly disgusted, she dismisses him and turns to regard those who remain, flaring her wings every now and then just to make them flash.
Utaria squeaks softly as the green flares her wings and dismisses the boy without a second thought. "She seems kinda.." Chuckling, her head shakes and she uncrosses her arms as she shifts her feet.
Heart of Darkness Egg slides some upon its sandy bed, red and blue struggling to free itself from the black overlay, as the occupant within attempts to break forth from the darkness and the egg wobbles.
Felandre looks to Utaria once more, muttering in hopes of finishing her sentence, "Girly?" All said in the best way, mind you, with a lopsided grin upon his face as he turns once more to regard the young dragons.
Keziah darts down to her sandles and robe, thankfully she's been standing upwind of the others though that isn't necessarily a good thing. She takes a deep breath, keeping silent as she watches intently.
Unhappily Ever After Egg falls silent finally, and for a moment that appears to be all that is going to happen. Finally the shell bulges horribly at one side, and a green field-like patch gives way to a dark brown foot. A moment later the rest of the shell disintegrates, dream fading into reality, and a By the Stars Brown Hatchling stands up from the ruins of the shell.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< By The Stars Brown Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Faded beige forms a subtle base for this robust brown dragon, the colour darkening around eyes and mouth to give him an almost sunken faced look. His haunches are lean, toned, but oddly patterned -- waves of a darker chocolate colour streak across them giving him an illusory creased look all the way down to his almost black feet. His belly is likewise crumpled, its generous form dotted in places with tawny stars, which become more noticeable on his great wings. The wingsails are crowded with these tawny places, the colour soon taking over and enveloping each wing like a cloak. His long cane-tail could be said to finish his ensemble, for as his legs darken it instead pales to a decorative silvery tip.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jordan is watching the 'girly' green, and the just hatched brown, and five million other things, though Deran is quick to point out to Felandre ad Utaria, "Exactly. She's /perfect/ for my brother here."
Utaria laughs at Felandre, shaking her head. "I don't think girly is the word I was looking for. More like.. Mean or picky." Laughing, her attention goes to the brown. "Oh, he's nice, too.."
Illiara glances over at Deran, and smiles a little. A hand seems to move of its' own accord up to her hair, fretting with it anxiously as she turns back to the few remaining eggs, distracted Green, and -- new hatchling! "Oh, wow.."
Meridlyn can only watch as another brown hatchling is brought into the world from the egg that she had found most interesting during the touchings. The girl finds the brown's colors extremely interesting, even moreso than that of the brown before. He is but a few moments old, and yet...he seems much, much older than that. What caused this illusion?
Fairest Girl in Town Green Hatchling rapidly tires of the people that she runs across - this one, too young, that one, too old, that other one - too grimy! Nearing another cluster of candidates, an appraising sort of look is given them before she pauses, fixated on a tall girl with eyes as green as she is. In her excitement and haste to get to her, she launches herself at her chosen candidate-turned-weyrling, talons accidentally raking through the sides of Illiara's robe, perhaps gouging in briefly. Well, that's one way to Impress.
Heart of Darkness Egg cannot withstand the struggle within forever, and as the occupant continues its fight, causing a large crack down one side, splitting the shell and the blackness.
Jordan watches the green ... gouge Illiara? Or at least, her robe. The healer in him comes out, "Are you okay?" he asks, frowning. "She seemed so nice..." the green. Right. The one described by Utaria as mean and picky.
Keziah gasps and watches the green make her choice before shaking her head. "Now that's uh... affectionate." She swallows hard and takes a step /away/ just to be on the safe side before letting those eyes dart out towards the rest.
Felandre lets out a soft breath as his eyes settle worridly onto Illiara, "...they don't know their own strength." He murmurs in defense of the dainty green. "I doubt I would either." Remarks the young man who resists the urge to make sure she's alright - let those in charge, who know how, get near a hatchling and her new rider.
Utaria squeaks at Illiara being clawed at by the green. "See.. Mean..." She murmurs, shuffling slightly away. "Are you okay Illi?" She questions, a frown working onto her brows. Her lips press together and she looks at the last few eggs and she takes an uneasy breath.
A Key to Despair Egg doesn't seemed rushed at all, simply lying in wait for the right time, but it'll play a taunting game and give a good little wobble or two before going still.
Meridlyn turns her head from the brown hatchling and the rocking eggs in time to see a green maul Illiara. A terrified gasp escapes her, though her fear is lessened as the green Impresses to the girl. Well, the girl would need help, regardless of whether or not she now had a lifemate. Meridlyn begins to edge toward Illiara, but quickly changes her mind. No, she'd let the Healers handle that. It's too bloody for her liking.
By The Stars Brown Hatchling straighens up from his shell -- wings back, head held high. He turns to peer at the mess behind him, dropping his head so that he can investigate the remnants of his former home closely. A slight shake of his head and he turns his attention back to those white things that caught his eye before. Interesting.
Felandre spies that twitch, that bit of movement out of the corner of his eye and suddenly every focus of the candidate is turned upon that sinister shell. His eyes narrow and his mouth begins to frown as he stands taller, straighter, as if preparing to face down with it instead of welcoming the hatchling inside.
Ro's gradual relaxing throughout the course of the hatching seems all for naught as one of the hatchlings launches herself at a candidate. "Oh, no! Is she -- " And then there's a shift in the sea of dragons and candidates and the healer gasps. "Illiara! Shells, I should - no, wait, I can't. Yes, yes, I know, the baby!" All of this is spouted in a hurried breath in response to a rumble from her lifemate, the goldrider turning to R'sul agitatedly. "I think that was my niece!" And there's a frantic gesture, too, probably something that indicates 'do something, please?' Not that he exactly can, but at least there are healers on hand off to the side, procured just in case something like this did happen.
Keziah is nervous now but she keeps her position on the sounds despite the undying need to flee and hide. There's not many left so leaving would be of poor form, it's almost over. She peers over to Felandre and the others, inching closer and closer to the denser crowd of candidates that linger with her.
Nothing is invincible, and nothing can withstand prolonged rejection forever. And so, continuing to move as it has, finally the Heart of Darkness Egg is shed, pieces falling to the sands abandoned, leaving the green within free to make her own choice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Stealing the Show Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rich colors of a neatly cut emerald have been gathered upon her sleek hide, her glowing hue chiseled from the stone itself. The vibrant colors of a precious gemstone are reflected along her long, delicate snout, dancing over her eye ridges and head knobs, and sparkling as they slip seamlessly along her serpentine neck and body. Polished jade shines along her underside, set neatly amongst the rarer stone from beneath her chin, to between her limbs, extending to the end of her limber tail, stretching outwards from the centerline of her form, pulling attention to the center of the stage that is her body. Paler wing sails are tinted golden, as faceted gems reflect stage lights from between each emerald spar, width wide but graceful at their fullest extent. Each perfectly shaped ridge along her sleek back is patterned malachite, a darker stripe countering the jade of her belly, while each talon at the end of her long legs is a smooth, undisrupted black opal, contrasting with her lighter hide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Illiara's gasp of pain becomes quickly one of wonder, as she collapeses next to the dragonet, holding one arm. "I...I." She takes a deep breath, and nods stoutly. "Yes, Illia's better." She agrees, not noting the surprise around her. "Yes...of course, Toriath, we'll get you some...food." Never mind that she's got a good sized gash on one of her arms. "Toriath!" She repeats, getting slowly to her feet. "She's...Toriath." This is softer, with a cautious glance around.
Utaria watches the brown, humming softly as she watches him. A pause and she turns her head to the newly hatched green and her cheeks flush. "Ooh. I remember that egg." Sounds like she's got a grudge. Or, something. Her head turns to Illiara and her hands clap. "Congrats, Illia and Toriath." And, the two hatchlings get her attention.
Khi sucks in a breath as the green gets a bit to friendly in the excitement of finding her partner and Khi moves quickly enough over to check on this newest pair, growling to several other candidates as she passes "Pay attention now!" they've got better things to worry and fuss over lest they find themselves in a worse situation and the weyrlingmaster reaches the new pair, flashing a welcoming smile. "Quite a meeting there you two." a hand reaches to clamp over the gash as she indicates the side of the sands where food awaits Toriath and the healers to tend her new rider. "This way if you please, Illia was it now?" she chatters softly, distracting for the other as she helps.
Keziah's breath is nearly stolen from the sight of the new green. Concern still lits upon her face for Illia but she should be fine for now. Apparently turning your gaze is a bad idea in this place. Though... it's hard to do so with something so stunning upon the sands. "A beauty..." A small curve begins to form at the corner of her mouth as a smile but it fades as she hears the voice of the greenrider on the edge of the sands. She straightens, her eyes intent on the sands and all that goes on it. She wont let her gaze stray again.
Stealing the Show Green Hatchling is here, now! And then, upon a closer look, she seems to realize that all the attention is elsewhere - and that simply won't do. The gemstone green stretches within the remains of her shell, wings extended this way and that as she prepares for the performance of her life. And then, its time to visit the audience, and it is with a graceful step that she heads towards the candidates.
Meridlyn is distracted from the movements of the brown dragonet by the hatching of a new green one. The girl quickly looks the little one over, admiring her beauty and grace despite her being so young. Hands moving almost as if she were making notes in her journal, Meridlyn began to feel truly excited for the first time that night. So many specimens to analyze later on!
Utaria chuckles softly at the green who seems to be attempting to draw all the attention to her and she shakes her head.
By The Stars Brown Hatchling tilts his head to one side for a moment, then marches forwards. he pasues a little from the line, altering his course so that he runs parallel to them, inspecting wach and every candidate with a critical eye. One girl is backed away from quickly, and when he turns to go back down the line he gives her a wide bearth - not acceptable.
Jordan watches Illiara - Illia - carefully, finally exhaling when it seems that the situation is under control. "Erm, congratulations." he offers, suddenly not so sure that he wants to impress after all. It might hurt! Deran pokes Jordan in the ribs, "Hey. Look. Another green." the man offers, a clear and successful attempt to distract his brother.
Stealing the Show Green Hatchling knows that the proper way to steal the show is to act with speed. And, she passes by a pair of boys who seem to be looking at her, pausing to stare at Jordan, before swinging her tail at his knees distastefully, perhaps bringing him to his knees, before she's marking on. And then, a chuckling girl catches her attention, and a muzzle is stuck in her face. What's so funny?
A Key to Despair Egg bursts to life with a sudden jolt, almost sending itself spinning in place as cracks appear and spread - whatever it holds, it's definitely eager to be freed.
Illiara stares uncomprehendingly at Khi for a moment, then glancing down at Toriath for something. "Oh," The girl ducks her head, grinning a little. "Yes m'am...she's...oh...it doesn't hurt all that much." Sure is bleeding though -- she'd better not get that on the dragon! But then she's being led off to the side to be tended by the healers and feed Toriath.
Keziah digs her fingertips into her robe as she watches the hatching make we way across the sands. She takes one long breath and holds it, watching her every graceful movement and inspection upon the others. She pauses, tilting her head to her underarms and taking a light sniff of each just incase. You never know what the green's checking for. At least she bathed just moments before the hum of the dragons sounded. As another dragon finds it's mate, she exhales and straightens up once more, she'll worry about herself later.
Though Meridlyn tries to remain stoic, the scrutiny of the hatchlings is proving a bit much for her. Her previously emotionless face is broken by a nervous smile, as if she were trying to look eager and alert for the single dragonet remaining on the Sands. Insecurity bites at her, eventually blossoming into worry. With so few dragonets left, what are the chances that she would Impress?
Jordan gasps, eyes wide, as the green literally brings him to his knees... And then impresses someone else. Darn it all, it hurts to not impress, as well. He stands, and rubs his slightly burnt knees, moisture collecting in his eyes. From the pain, of course. Deran pats Jordan on the shoulder, murmuring, "There there..." though struggling to keep a straight face.
Utaria stares at the dragon before her, her eyes blinking dumbly for a moment. "Ah.. Yes.. I made it.." Trailing off, her cheeks flush almost angrily. "Marjiath.. There's nothing wrong with how I look... But, yes.. We can go get some food.." Uta smiles happily, and gently reaches out to touch her lifemate.
Felandre takes note of the impression, and though delight swells for Utaria, his eyes remain fixed on that last dark egg spinning out on the sands. "Come on... come out of there." He murmurs under his breath, his back teeth gritting slightly.
By The Stars Brown Hatchling is in no rush -- slow and steady gets the man... or should that be woman? His final pass of the line is slower this time, one or two candidates looked over more closely before he finally finds a solution to his problems. With a determined nod he stops dead in front of a young girl with brown hair, looking up into her eyes as he claims his new partner.
A Key to Despair Egg finally unlocks its secret as the shell buckles under the widening cracks and pulls apart just enough for an unusually pale blue to slither free from its hold.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Unleashed Nightmares Blue Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pale blue dominates the lanky, narrow and almost boney looking form of this newly hatched blue, while darker hued blues seem to be placed in a way only to exaggerate the sleekness of his form and the angular set of many of his features. And from the moment he slithers free of his shell, his movements jittery and awkward, it's apparent that this blue will be a handful, all right. And pity to whomever should be his prey, for even as he angles in on the row of candidates, his lips curl back in a near to silent hiss and gray misted wings twitch in agitation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keziah is growing anxious now at the movements of the hatchlings on the sands. The numbers around her are dwindling but it's not over yet. She takes a deep breath, tapping her sandaled foot upon the sands but stops when the grains begin to assault her feet once more. She mutters, shaking one foot and then the other, over and over. Seems like she's doing a little dance out there and those eyes do stray once more.
Meridlyn staggers suddenly, as if she were now blind to the lights of the Hatching Sands. It does not take her long to recover, and the girl finds herself at the brown's side, only having to look down slightly to see eye to eye with the magnificent dragonet. "I am ready, Vetrath." She manages, wincing slightly as a slight pain settles in her stomach. "I shall get you food."
D'ion steps forward with a grin and holds his hand out to indicate direction. "Right his way, Meridlyn. Vetrath is a handsome one, you'll both make us proud. Now time to feed your little one." Off he goes to the barracks...
Khi sees Illia well cared for and washes her hands in a bucket of water, returning to attention of the wandering hatchlings not long before the brown makes his choice known. As D'ion seems to have it well in hand she looks tot he last egg cracking nad the blue who emerges. Hmm.
Jordan blinks at the last hatchling - a nightmarish blue - and jumps back a little. "He's ... an interesting fellow." the harper candidate notes, his initial excitement having faded quite a bit since his knees got singed. Deran shrugs, "You're no oil painting yourself, Jo." To which Jordan snaps, "Neither are you. You look like an older version of me." With a smaller nose, lips, shorter hair, lighter hair...
Unleashed Nightmares Blue Hatchling takes no time in choosing which unfortunate candidate he'll be haunting for the rest of their Turns together. His jittery, awkward and somewhat unsettling movements bring him to the side of a young, golden-blonde lad who looks both overjoyed and slightly frightened at the pale blue. "Vreseth?" Isosilan, now I'silan, proclaims once he's recovered enough of his senses. "Just ... come with me, alright? We'll feed you." And carefully he begins leading the odd blue off to the side.
Khi moves out to gather the last as impression is made. "Vreseth... I'silan.. right this way please..."
Worn by the heat alone down to exhaustion, Hassaleah is finally able to stand after the last Impression is made, and she goes over to rest a hand on Ro's shoulder and murmur congratulations before slowly making her way off the Sands again.
Jayne watches the last candidate impress, then lets out a soft breath as she runs a hand back through her tangled dark hair. With a squint of her eyes, she offers up a slight smile as she side glances towards Felandre. "Better luck next time, huh? It's hot out here, I could go for a drink." She says, giving him a playful jab in the side.
Hesketh has traded anger for sadness. He noses at a few larger pieces of shell in case any more of his children are hiding there, but comes away disappointed. He shuffles over towards Rhadamanth, dropping a quick bow before her before extending his snout to gently touch hers.
Keziah shakes her heels off after the last of the weyrlings make their way to the barracks with their new lifemates. She sighs, slowly nodding her head as her eyes cast across the way to the watching crows and surrounding candidates left standing. Despite this, she smiles and straightens up. At the very least, there's pride knowing that she did stand upon the same sands as those new soon to be riders, and her wishes go out to them. There will be another opportunity in the future.
Ro is taken aback, to say the least, after the last Impression has occurred and the sands are suddenly littered with broken shards and leftover candidates. "Oh. Oh, my. That was all of them, wasn't it." It's not a question, and the Weyrwoman gives Hassaleah a tired smile in response before stepping forward, somewhat reluctantly. "Candidates, over here, please, " she beckons. "I - I know it's hard for you, being left standing here. Just because you weren't chosen doesn't mean that you will never Impress; your dragon probably just hasn't been shelled yet. We don't know exactly why dragons Search the people that they do, but we /do/ know that they Search the ones that they do for a good reason. You are all more than welcome to remain with us at High Reaches, but for those who wish to go home, we will provide rides for you in the morning. In the meantime, we welcome all of you - " and this is extended to the galleries, too, " - to join us in the living cavern for a feast in celebration of our newest riders."
Felandre watches the last egg hatch, and the final hatchlings impress. It takes a moment for it all to sink in, but, once more he is left alone. "Hm? Oh, yah. A drink sounds good." He murmurs in a quiet tone to Jayne. The crestfallen look on the young man's face is evident, try as he might to pluck himself up for one last bow of thanks to Ro and a murmur of, "Thank you for this chance, Weyrwoman" before he turns to depart the sands with the others left standing this day.
Jordan's shoulders slump, he can't really help it. He's disappointed. Deran pats him on the shoulder, comforting him with, "You're still young, next hatching." Meanwhile, Deran is 24, unlikely to stand again, not that he minds in the least. "As for me, back to the bar. Lot of people will be wanting drinks tonight!" the bartender-turned-candidate says, with the first hint of enthusiasm he's displayed all day.
R'sul keeps a low profile as speeches are delivered and candidates leave, lurking somewhere behind Ro and eventually moving off to go make peace with Hesketh.