Legal stuff: This is not fanfic, but a record of roleplay done with permission from Anne McCaffrey.

The world of Pern is copyrighted to Anne McCaffrey © 1967.

The Dragonriders of Pern ® is a registered trademark.

Cast: Candidates, Hatchlings, K'yasu, Yida, Ilys, and spectators.

Berandon walks over to his press and flips it open, rifling through the contents as though looking for something.

Caraline glances over at Berandon, but just sits on the edge of her cot, swinging a foot pensively.

Suddenly, all through Southern Weyr, a humming can be heard. It starts softly, but soon grows louder until it resonates throughout the entire weyr.

Eachan comes stomping in. He looks upset about something. He goes to sit on the edge of his cot, pouting.

Winifred has been sleeping, is sleeping. Still. Someone's going to have to wake her up.

Sae seems completely calm about everything happening, emotionless as usual.

Berandon apparently doesn't find what he's looking for, and slams his press closed with a sigh. He starts to stand up, then stops suddenly. "You guys hear that?"

Eachan looks up, "The eggs?" His voice cracks and he still manages to sound sulky.

A slow smile grows across Cara's face. "Yeah," she breathes. "I do." Without another word, she pops up and opens her press, digging down to pull out the white robe.

Seihin is examining his shoes, frowning slightly at the state of disrepair when the humming begins to sound. "Finally," he sighs, allowing the shoe to drop and hunting for his robe.

Paesani mimics Caraline, though fortunately digging in her press, not the Telgari's.

Nokoru has been sitting on his cot writing something, but the loud hum gets his attention almost instantly. The slate is set down without a word, a quiet sigh the only sign of whatever he thinks about the hatching's arrival. "It's time."

Nagisa stops her quiet piping to stare at the door as the louder noise breaks her concentration. Expression set, she pulls her robe out from under her cot and starts to change.

Bearchan comes in at a run. He isn't the least bit collected, but at least he's not panicking. Nope, just rushing. He skids to a halt by his cot, and dives for his press, tugging the robe out, then plopping down on the cot to change.

Eachan pauses in his getting dressed in his robe to give his brother a good glare.

Berandon finishes changing, and looks around. He notices Winifred still asleep, and heads for her cot. "Hey, Winifred!"

Caraline shoots a wide grin over at Paesani, then goes over to give Fred a jiggle. "Come on sleepyhead, they won't wait all night," she grins. Another jiggle. "Fred, get up!"

Nagisa tugs at the robe, getting it straight before she slides her feet back into her sandals. By dint of ignoring everyone else, she finds time to fold up her old clothes and stack them neatly on her cot.

Bearchan yanks off his clothes without a thought, and slides on the robe. Has he been practicing? Uhm... let's not ask. "Look, Eachan," he says - yes, he noticed his brother's look - "I'm sorry, it's just I might not see Ilys again for a long time."

Sae slowly gets to her feet and slips around to Winifred's cot. She kneels beside the sleeping girl and puts a hand on her shoulder, leaning in to whisper something in Fred's ear.

Eachan snorts, "She's like all other girls. She'll suck your brains out." He sits on his cot to pull on his sandals.

Winifred mumbles in protest at all the noise, nevermind the /hum/ that's vibrating in her breastbone. Hrmph. Eyes blink open at suddenly. "Huh? Who?"

Jyuin runs in from the clearing, "Did you guys hear that?!"
 

Caraline shrugs and walks back over to her cot, pulling off her clothes to toss them into the open press. In a one swift movement, she pulls the robe over her head and steps into her sandals. After straightening the robe, she pulls the thong out of her hair, letting the mass swirl around her.

Paesani nods as she finishes binding her hair.

Nokoru digs in his press for his robe and sandals, a bit hurried, but appearing otherwise calm.

Berandon grins at Winifred. "The eggs are about to hatch, so you'd better get up!" The he goes back to his own cot, and pulls out a pair of thick-soled sandals.

K'yasu strides in from the clearing, all business, and looking a little annoyed at something. He lifts his voice as soon as he's inside, "Everyone into your robes as quickly as possible. And if you pause to worry about modesty, I'll take my last chance to embarrass you by flirting with you or kissing you or something."

Bearchan mashes the sandals onto his feet, then hops up to straighten his robe. "You'll figure it out in a turn or two," he says to Eachan. "And anyway, whatever else she was, she was also a friend. You've got friends who are girls, right?"

Sae spares one of her eerily near-evil smiles for Winifred, then stands and takes a place near her cot. She's already in her robe, of course.

Seihin glances over at Nagisa once his own robe is on, then at Nokoru, and finally at the group in general. He heads over to stand next to the younger girl who's sitting on her cot.

Eachan considers, "I suppose so, but I don't do /that/ to them. That was just gross." He sits on the edge of his cot. All dressed.

Caraline just idly pulls a brush through her hair, grinning to herself.

Kelsa zooms in, skirting past K'yasu in her mad dash for her press. Clothes off, robe on, hair in a quick (and messy) runnertail.

Winifred sits up, peering a bit oddly at Sae, then giggling a little as she pushes to her feet and grabs her robe. Modesty? What's that? She strips in a flurry of clothing and stretches briefly before pulling the robe over her head.

Bearchan gives his head a vigorous shaking, then pushes the hair out of his face. There, that's as tidy as it's going to get. "It's actually kind of nice when you ge used to it," he says.

Yida pads in after K'yasu, looking distinctly unflustered. A moment here, a moment there - she prefers to actually wade and help create order. One candidate shrieking over a a lost hair tie - that's settled and then her gaze sweeps the rest. "Stop panicking." is her only admonition.

Eachan peers at his brother, "Why would you want to? You just babble like an idiot after."

Nokoru busies himself getting out of his clothes and into his robe, paying no attention to the state of anyone else until he's ready with robe and sandals on and assured himself that he has it all together.

Bearchan shakes his head, a blush rising into his cheeks. "That was because of something else," he says to Eachan, plucking at the edges of his robe.

Eachan hmphs, "Yeah, girls. They make you brainless."

Seihin shoots at look at Eachan. "Only if you had none to begin with."

Sae turns her blank expression to K'yasu. Of course she would be ready. She's always on task and doing what she's supposed to do.

Bearchan gives up on the argument with his brother, and looks expectantly towards the Weyrlingmaster.

K'yasu scans the crowd of Candidates, "Alright, when you're ready, please line up near me."

Winifred pulls her hair back into a thick braid, tying it off with a bit of cord and then standing by her cot, awaiting further directions.

Eachan looks over at Seihin, "Well just look at him. He can't even speak right around her. Why would anyone want that?" He gets up and heads over to K'yasu.

Caraline sighs, and tucks the brush back into the press. She stands and looks to K'yasu and Yida with a nod, stepping in behind the Weyrlingmaster.

Nagisa heads over towards K'yasu at his latest announcement, hands clutched at her sides.

Seihin just shrugs at Eachan, not bothering to reply as he moves over to stand near Nagisa.

Paesani lines up as far from K'yasu as she can while still following directions.

Berandon calmly walks over to join the group of ready and waiting candidates. He is followed closely by his sister, who, while she isn't exactly neat, is ready and literally bouncing up and down with excitement.

Bearchan joins in with the throng, trying not to bump into anyone. Not even on the sands, and he's already showing a little perspiration around his hairline.

SOW - Hatching Sands

From the galleries, Thiyodota groans from Dakobena's other side, shaking her head again at the poor recipient of the Lord Holder's attentions.

From the galleries, Zyrrian says, "One we can remedy right now."

From the galleries, Tarr gives Zyrrian a look of mixed annoyance, horror, and outright embarrassment. Luckily, being male, he may not even get noticed.

Paesani heads over toward Caraline.

K'yasu hangs back as the Candidates file out ahead of him.

From the galleries, Dakobena gives him another obviously fake smile and turns back to the sands, not going to be the first to offer a name. She strokes Currow, who starts to hum once again.

Caraline steps over and grasps Paesani's hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

Seihin marches onto the sands, sticking close by Nagisa, but not holding her hand or anything. He doesn't react to the heat, but his eyes find the group of eggs and the large gold, moving to a spot well out of the way of both.

From the galleries, Trisqam shifts and leans onto the rail, ignoring anything around him for the moment and focusing on the candidates instead.

From the galleries, Right on! Zyrrian ignores Tarr for the purpose of casually putting an arm behind Dakobena. Not touching her... yet.

Yida merely shoos the last stragglers ahead of her, before moveing to the periphy of the Sands. Waiting until new pairs need her.

Nagisa trots after Seihin, quite content with his choice of location. She takes up a position with him partially between her and the queen.

Bearchan walks out pretty much by himself, although he keeps glancing at Eachan with a penitent expression. When he notices Caraline, he heads in her direction, but stops short, glances around, then turns to face the eggs.

Nokoru sticks by Seihin and Nagisa, only following along quietly across the sands.

Sae shuffles toward a random point in the group, impassible as always.

From the galleries, Dakobena leans forward in her chair to chitter in a firelizard-like manner at Currow.

Winifred decides to follow Sae, flipping her braid back and forth over her shoulder as she walks.

From the galleries, Ilys waves at Bearchan with her handkerchief, peering anxiously.

Jyuin tails after Nokoru, looking around with very, very bright eyes.

Berandon joins Caraline and Paesani, grinning at them before turning his attention to the eggs.

Caraline glances over her shoulder, just catching Bearchan's uncertainty. She motions him over with a smile.

From the galleries, Zyrrian moves his arm a little closer. "Did I introduce myself? I'm Zyrrian... Lord Southern. And you would be...?"

Eachan starts out ahead of his brother, but eventually falls back a bit so he's standing next to him. He doesn't look at Bearchan though.

From the galleries, Dakobena gently pokes Currow until he leaps into her lap, and uses the commotion he makes as an excuse to /accidentally/ kick her klah mug, which sails in the direction of Zyrrian's boots and pant-legs.

From the galleries, Dakobena looks shocked at the mess she's made, "Oh, dear! I'm sooo sorry."

From the galleries, Zyrrian picks up the mug. "I believe you dropped this," he says with a charming smile. So, another stain on his trous. All is fair in love, after all. "It can be cleaned," he says in his most smooth voice.

Bearchan manages to catch the gesture and the smile from Caraline. He glances over at Eachan, then, since he's not watching, makes a grab for his arm, in the hopes of pulling him along as he heads over for that particular cluster of candidates. He murmurs something to Caraline once he's near enough.

Bearchan whispers "I thought you might be mad at me still."

From the galleries, Ilys lets her handkerchief drift down from the galleries where it falls on the sand near Bearchan. Sniffle.

Eachan heys as he's suddenly pulled in a direction other than what he was expecting, "Brother! What are you doing?"

Bearchan senses "Caraline nods. I am, but you're still my friend, and this is a special day. If we're still around after tonight, I'll talk to you about it."

From somewhere within the Skittles Egg, a tiny, rhythmic tapping begins. Tap, tap, tap, over, and over, and over. It gets neither louder nor softer, nor does its tempo alter, nor does the quality of the sound change in the least. It is like a metronome, beating out perfect time, contrasting with the usual hatching sands chaos.

The tapping from Skittles Egg picks up its tempo; the sound slowly crescendos, as the surface of the egg begins to vibrate like the skin of a drum. The sand around the egg jumps in time with the beat, gradually giving way to expose more of the colorful shell.

A shiver of movement undulates across the surface of the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket egg, almost as if something had just brushed across it.

The Skittles Egg begins to slowly tilt as the sand loosens around it from the pounding on the inside. It is a subtle motion at first, but as the center of gravity passes the critical point, it becomes a cascade, rolling down from the mound to rest a few feet away. Along the way, the pounding from inside the shell becomes frantically fast, but does not lose its rhythmic quality, even as tiny cracks begin to appear in the multihued shell.

There is an almost violent shake of the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket egg and the surface seems to crumple, as if someone was in the process of discarding this precious golden ticket.

The Skittles Egg hops and jerks, its surface fragmenting noticeably now. What began as a subtle metronome tap has now become a furious thumping and cracking, reaching its climax when a small section of the shell, no bigger than a man's fist, springs free, sent flying a full dragonlength away to land with a puff in the sand. Then the egg falls oddly still.

A spiderweb-fine series of cracks covers the surface of the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket egg, eminating from a single point. The faint sound of tapping can be heard, a hatchling working to be freed.

The edges around the small opening in the Skittles Egg begin to bulge outward, pushed from the inside. The tiny fractures in the surface gradually widen, becoming a white spinner's web of fissures centered around that gap. Finally, with one final resounding crack, a large section of the shell breaks free, and soundlessly, Cheerfully Choosy Green Hatchling tumbles gracelessly onto the sand.

Cheerfully Choosy Green Hatchling
Her green hide is somewhat pale, although it's hard to tell if it's the glisten from her egg-dampness, or her natural color. From the top of her head down along her spine to her tail, the color seems fainter, and her headridges seem unusually prominent. She has an almost gangly appearance; neck, wings, legs and tail all seem overlong for the size of her body, yet there is an economy mixed with odd grace in her movements. She's unusually quiet as well, making no sound as her gaze coolly sweeps over the candidates, their coolness belied by the burning red color of her eyes. Even though she's out in the open now, there's a sense that she's really still inside the shell, and until she finally finds that one special person to open up to, she will keep herself hidden safely inside.

Fine pieces of golden riches tumble down onto the sands. The tapping from within the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket egg is unflagging, as are the movements. The hatchling within this golden container wants out.

The determination pays off: large golden shards fall away from the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket egg, revealing the Vivacious Sunshine Gold Hatchling, who almost seems to spring from the remains of her home, announcing her presence with a joyous trumpet.

Vivacious Sunshine Gold Hatchling
Feather-light touches of spun gold seem to dance down her length, accenting the pure sunshine shading. Supple hide covers a sinewy frame, all muscle, tendon and bone. She is a lean gold, built for speed, light gleaming off well-shaped wings, flashing across diaphanous membranes, illuminating the long length of her slender tail. There is a radiance to her features, an exquisite perfection that transcends the mere physical. Her movements are quick and precise, without an iota of wasted motion. That exactness fails to hide the nature of the mind within as a bomhomie seems to radiate like the rays of the sun.

From the galleries, Zyrrian grins at Dakobena and goes for the full arm-around her thing. It's a good sign that the gold hatches early.

From the galleries, Ilys sighs. "Well, he won't impress the gold," she murmurs to herself, wringing her hands.

Paesani looks back and forth, obviously bewildered, between the two dragonets which have hatched.

From the galleries, Tarr leans over, watching his sister with something between anticipation and (maybe?) jealousy.

From the galleries, Dakobena pretends to reprimand the brown, who looks clearly confused, and says in a hushed voice "I feel just aweful about that, you know, I think he's hungry. I'll just run and get him a bite to eat." She then proceeds to shrug off Zyrrian's arm, stand, exit, and enter again, sitting on the other side of the galleries without food for Currow.

Eachan stops in his tracks, "Bearchan, look!"

From the galleries, Trisqam oohs as two eggs hatch so close to one and another. Two females emerging and one the gold! "Ah, lookit that."

Caraline blinks in shock at the exploding eggs. "Oh my," she whispers.

Berandon blinks as suddenly there are two hatchlings standing on the sands. He grins at Caraline. "Pretty, aren't they?"

Bearchan gives Caraline a serene smile. "Come on, Eachan," he says, "they're not going to bite, and I'm not having you stand by your- ooh." Yes, he just caught sight of the newly opened eggs, and their former occupants now on the sand.

Without another word, he turns to face them, dumbfounded.

Vivacious Sunshine Gold Hatchling shakes herself off, getting a piece of shell off of claw and wingtip. Then, she raises her head and peers about her. What to do now? Where to go? A loud screech echos through the grounds.

Sae shows the first signs of emotion--an apprehensive curiousity--upon the bursting of the eggs. A small smile plays about her lips, again making her look rather ominous.

From the galleries, Thiyodota snorts to herself, tempted to poke the hand around Dakobena. But instead, she leans over the railing to cheer on her favorite Candidate. "Paesani!"

From the galleries, Zyrrian frowns, but the girls crowd him. "There's enough of me for all of you, ladies," he says expansively.

The Black Licorice Egg begins to roll in place.

The Black Licorice Egg becomes more insistent, rolling hard enough to leave its depression.

The Black Licorice Egg stops rolling and begins shuddering from the blows from within.

The Black Licorice Egg rolls once again, and the prisoner within overbalances. Still, no cracks appear, and once it has finished rolling it sits still.

Winifred watches calmly, offering Sae a grin. "I'd say I've never seen a gold hatch first, but I've never seen a gold hatch."

A resounding crack ricochets through the grounds, the echos bouncing off the walls. The Black Licorice Egg, meanwhile, shatters in one furious blow from the Twilight Blue Dragonet, which is suddenly standing in its place.

Twilight Blue Dragonet
At the moment of hatching, the velvety hide of the dragonet has a deep cast, one which is as dark as blue can be without being mistaken for black. The coloration remains uniform as he dries off, the tint of the sky between sunset and moonrise, a fathomless dusky shade which seems to swallow light. He is large even now for a blue, and his disproportion is such that there can be no doubt that his relative size will always place him among the largest of his color. Confounded both by size and awkward build, he soon extends his wings for balance, revealing sails which evoke the image of the night sky viewed through panes of glass etched with frost.

Jyuin gives a high-pitched little yelp at the hatching eggs. But the sound is rather cute.

Eachan's staring at the baby dragons, "Who won't bite?"

Yida tugs on a long braid, her gaze drifting over the new-hatched pair. Silent, she waits, watching the gaggle of white-robes patiently.

Kelsa has taken up a position beside Berandon, bouncing up and down with either excitement, anxiety, or the heat of the sands. Or maybe all three. She tugs on Berandon's sleeve as a third hatchling appears. "Lookie!"

Cheerfully Choosy Green Hatchling takes several careful steps away from her shell, swivelling her head smoothly to look towards her vociferous sister, before her attention goes back to the candidates arrayed before them. She takes a few more steps, then pauses again, flipping her wings out once to straighten them, then settling them smoothly to her back. Well, her manner seems to say, here they are.

From the galleries, Ilys just keeps wringing her hands, looking nervous. A man with the knot of a harper master approaches and murmurs something to her. She nods, frowning.

Nokoru's eyes go wide at the sudden appearance of dragonets in the place of eggs, stepping closer to Jyuin. "Keep alert," he advises quietly. "Watch where they go."

Caraline smiles as she watches the newly shelled dragons stumbling about, but she's utterly still, as if rooted to the spot.

Twilight Blue Dragonet gets up and shakes himself off, wasting no time. He pulls himself up and takes his first step almost before the shards have settled on the sand.

Vivacious Sunshine Gold Hatchling looks under her forearm. Wait. That's her wing. Her head moves upward and she peers toward her siblings, letting out an encouraging noise. Then she notices the Candidates standing on the sands and makes her way toward them, quickly and smoothly. Hello hello!

Bearchan just gives his brother's arm a squeeze, then lets go. Now that the hatchlings are out, there seems to be little danger he's going to bolt. "Just don't let them step on you," he murmurs to his brother, eyes on the moving hatchlings, ready to put his own advice to use.

Nagisa stares, frowning at the newly tumbled hatchlings, murmuring something to

Seihin that's likely inaudible to everyone else. Her second comment is louder. "They're bigger than I thought."

Jyuin nods once to Nokoru, "Please try to resist the urge to jump in front of a girl and get yourself mauled in her place, cousin."

Eachan looks at his brother in disbelief, "Of course not!" His eyes rivot back to the hatchlings.

Sae glances toward the candidates on either side of her briefly before again locking her gaze on the dragonets, each in turn. That ominous smile grows wider.

Seihin nods in agreement with Nagisa, though his attention drifts more to the candidates than the actual dragonets. "Just pay attention."

From the galleries, Zyrrian grins as a server brings some wine. One of his groupies holds the glass for him to drink from.

Vivacious Sunshine Gold Hatchling decides that she wants to be there, near the people. And away she goes, moving with surprising speed for such a large and newly-born hatchling. A girl from the Crafthall gets a once over, then the hatchling seems to shake her head. Wait. That girl over there. Yeah. Away she goes."

Nokoru nods quickly. "I'll pull both of us out of the way instead, of course."

Caraline just lets the various comments of the candidates standing around her flow past. She grips Paesani's hand, her eyes following the dragons. "Aren't they lovely?" she breathes softly.

Cheerfully Choosy Green Hatchling seems to decide on her next course of action, and picks her way across the hot sands towards the end of the line of candidates away from the galleries. Yes, she'll start here, but no need to get too close. Slowly she moves along the line, regarding the youths with an almost eerie calm. She almost looks like she may be smiling at them, but passing them by one by one.

Vivacious Sunshine Gold Hatchling stops at the feet of a girl with dark brown hair and looks up at her, her voice getting urgent. Hey--down here! Wings fanning back and forth she tries to get Caraline's attention. Hey!

A presence tickles across your thoughts, shades of mirth and joy echoing through your mind. So quickly, in fact, that you wonder if you really felt it.

Exhileration fills you, causing your heart to skip a beat. A low murmur lingers for a moment at the very edges of your mind, the sounds of another being intruding into yours.

Nagisa nods solemnly to Seihin's warning, moving away from him slightly, to give him some room to move. "I didn't think they'd be so much like babies, though, either.."

From the galleries, Trisqam watches the hatchlings move about "forgot how quick they could be. oh, is she looking at Caraline?" he leans even more on the railing.

An entity envelopes your mind suddenly and completely, bringing with it a joviality and gaiete du coeur never before experienced. Warmth and love flood your thoughts, filling corners and crevices of your mind that you never believed were empty. Sunshine-yellow thoughts are exultant, triumphant. << I have found you, my Caraline! You are mine and I am yours. I never want to be parted from you. You need me, though you don't realize it! >> The ebullient thoughts are instantly familar, as if this presence has been known forever. << Of course you know me. I'm Lilleth--I'm yours. And you are Caraline. And you are mine! >>

Berandon blinks at the gold, then glances at Caraline, who seems to have the little one's attention. He grins.

Jyuin blinks, "Uh.. thank you, cousin.. that would be.. acceptable.."

From the galleries, Ilys mutters "Hmf, that would be right. I knew the golds couldn't have as much sense as they say."

Twilight Blue Dragonet continues moving, the clumsiness of his youth counterbalanced by a single-minded notion of who he is and why he is here. Each well-considered step moves him closer and closer to his quarry.

Bearchan takes a few small steps away from Caraline, just for safety's sake. "Oh... my," he breathes, almost bumping into Eachan in his carelessness.

Caraline bites her lip, a joyous expression suffusing her face. "Her name is Lilleth!" she calls out, reaching towards the gold.

Paesani gasps and steps away from Caraline, letting go of her hand.

From the galleries, "Caraline!" Thiyodota's suddenly on her feet. She knows her! "Caraline's got the gold! I knew it, I knew it!" Stromy even lets out a joyous croak.

Eachan steps backwards quickly, "Careful Bearchan." He steps safely away from his brother.

Seihin, about to reply to Nagisa's somewhat alarming mention of babies, is distracted by Caraline's announcement. "Well." It's hard to say if he's surprised or not.

From the galleries, Dakobena leans forward in anticipation for the candidates, a happy laugh for Caraline and a thrilled squeak from Currow for the same reason.

From the galleries, Trisqam chuckles, a bit amazed at teh choice himself it seems but "Well the dragons know, they're always right. Must be more to her than...oh" hmm he grins and cheers the first impression.

From the galleries, Zyrrian raises his glass. "A toast! To Lilleth! And to that pretty little girl who impressed her! I should visit the weyr more often."

Lilleth lets out a victorious screech and throws her tiny body against Caraline. Screech turns to immature croons, as the little one tries to get closer to her lifemate.

Kelsa blinks, then beams at Caraline, continuing her hopping. "Yay, Caraline!" She tugs on Berandon's sleeve, though he doesn't exactly need it pointed out to him. "Congrats, Caraline!" he says. "She's beautiful!"

Paesani watches Caraline, her expression as wistful as it's ever been.

K'yasu's expression is carefully neutral as he waves a hand in an attempt to get Caraline's attention and direct her over towards the food.

Nokoru brightens, calling congratulations over to Caraline, though he seems to realize he will probably not be heard.

From the galleries, Tenkou is probably asking for it, but he makes his way down the galleries, shoving people and being otherwise obnoxious as he tries to get near his father, Zyrrian.

Sae, strangely enough, seems to lose her smile as she looks over at Caraline, attention focusing back on the dragonets still searching before any other emotion can be seen.

From the galleries, Ilys hmfs, and peers over to see what Bearchan's doing. The master makes another quiet comment to her, to which she nods. "I'm all packed," she mumbles. "We can go when it's over."

Caraline laughs happily and wraps her arms around Lilleth. "Alright, Lilleth, alright. We'll get you something to eat straighaway!" She begins to lead the little queen away from the line of candidates and towards the food.

Cheerfully Choosy Green Hatchling reaches the end of the line, and stops, looking back over the trail in the sand behind her. Something seems wrong. Her head twitches a little, and she takes in a breath. For a moment it looks like she's going to actually voice a sound, but then she turns her gaze towards the galleries, and seems to reconsider.

Twilight Blue Dragonet begins moving more quickly, though by now he has his initial balance. He indeed has someone worth living for, and he is fast approaching Sae.

Winifred takes a step closer to Sae, a hint of disappointment in her expression as she watches the gold, then she covers for it, quickly assessing the locations of the other hatchlings.

Nagisa giggles suddenly at Seihin's 'well'. "Can't quite see Imojine with one of those," she whispers. "Maybe she'll change now.." She tears her eyes away from the fascinating sight to pay more attention to the rest of the straggling group.

Lilleth waddles happily by Caraline's side, making little noises and croons, as if keeping up a running commentary.

From the galleries, Ilys smiles a little. "It looks like he won't impress the blue either," she's smug, yup.

Bearchan swallows, and relaxes again when the gold dragonet and Caraline are led away. He was eyeing those talons for a moment. He murmurs something that may have been congratulations, but it's too quiet for anyone but his brother to hear.

Sae's jaw drops, making one of the largest noises she's ever made. And it's a high-pitched squeak, followed by a bare whisper, "Drusoth.."

From the galleries, Zyrrian waves Tenkou over. "Have some wine! There's not much room here, but one of these lovely girls will let you sit on her lap!"

Eachan blinks and grips his brother's sleeve, "They're big babies."

Paesani beams over toward Sae. "Congratulations!"

Berandon turns his head at the sound of the squeak, and grins at Sae. "Congrats!"

Caraline drops to her knees next to Lilleth, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Of course I love you Lilleth," she sniffs, swiping at her eyes. "You are the most perfect queen!"

Raspberry Truffle Egg rocks, ever so slightly, then begins to bulge, almost imperceptably.

Winifred starts, blinking several times rapidly at Sae and then stepping away much faster than she had stepped toward her. No sense getting in the way. "Congratulations," she says quietly.

Raspberry Truffle Egg shudders more obviously this time, before suddenly shaking wildly, as if the occupant is frantic to get out. The egg stills, then starts the frenzied shaking again.

From the galleries, Dakobena smiles, another excited chirp from Currow.

Tiny cracks form in the Raspberry Truffle Egg, widening quickly as the dragonet inside tries to force its way out into the world.

Cheerfully Choosy Green Hatchling looks down towards the sand, then up towards the galleries again, and another moment of decision is reached. Without a sound, she ambles up, then squeezes in under the railing, perching at the edge of the gallery, her red eyes still searching.

Lilleth burbles, then looks wistfully in the direction they had been traveling in.

Raspberry Truffle Egg suddenly stops its violent shaking. The stillness is somehow ominous, even more so when a small, single patch of shell simply falls to the sand.

From the galleries, Trisqam grins clapping for Sae now and then he looks to teh green. "Wonder what she's looking for." a neighbor mumbles soemthign and tris shrug "Mayby. Wow look at that one hatch."

From the galleries, Tenkou gives a smug look to a master about to complain at having his foot stepped on. "What kind of wine? It better not be that Tillek swill!" A nearby Tillekian shoots him a look.

Raspberry Truffle Egg hasn't even so much as twitched since the one flake fell. But then, a slight bulge appears here, no, over there, no..... And before you can blink again, the egg explodes outward, pieces of shell flying in every direction. Engagingly Royal Bronze Dragonet rolls out onto the sand.

Engagingly Royal Bronze Dragonet
Deep bronze velvet runs over the back and wings of this dragonet as he tumbles from his broken shell. As he unfurls, silvery streaks are exposed, running down his belly and underside of his wings, melting into coppery patches that slowly darken to the deep, rich bronze at the base of those wings. The velvetly bronze color flows unblemished down this dragonet's well muscled back, ending in an /extremely/ long tail. A myriad of colors embrace his regal headknobs--a crown of shadowy silver, amber, and just the faintest touch of tarnished green. All in all, the picture this dragonet presents is one of imposing size, intelligence, and a regal bearing, even in the infancy of his life.

Drusoth's warble is very young, yet there is a certainty to it. Then he begins nudging Sae as he sees the gathering by the food.

Yida slips out, coming up beside Sae and Drusoth to herd the pair gently towards the side and food. "Come on Sae." she encourages. "Over here..."

From the galleries, Dakobena says, "Oh, my. What is she doing up here?"

At Lilleth's look, Cara immediately jumps back to her feet. "Just a bit further, dearest, and we'll have something for you to eat. I promise. See?" she gestures towards K'yasu.

Seihin shakes his head at Nagisa's giggling, though he looks somewhat amused himself. "They're going like mad," he comments, stepping sideways as a little green darts through. "It should be over soon, I'd say."

From the galleries, Thiyodota sits up in her seat, eyes gazing away from Zyrrian and his crowd to spot a wandering green. "They come up in the stands?" she asks no one in particular, though Stormy replies with a confused chirp.

From the galleries, Ilys peers over. "Well, that's worth a song, I guess," she eyes the green curiously.

From the galleries, Trisqam gacks as he's on the railing and glances around him ready to get out of the way for whoever the green wants. "Not usually." he is certainly surprised "just don't get in her way." he offers up.

From the galleries, Zyrrian smirks at the green entering the stands. "What can I say? All the ladies love me!" he grins. "A toast! To dragons who can't resist my charm!"

Kelsa tugs again at her brother's sleeve, drawing his attention over to the newly hatched bronze. "Look! Isn't he handsome?" Berandon just nods, seemingly captivated by the bronze.

Bearchan stays close to his brother. At least if they're gored, they'll be gored together. "Are you doing okay?" he asks him. Not that he's actually looked as his brother since this all began.

Winifred's eyebrows shoot upward as she spies the green climbing up into the galleries. "Where in the world is she /going/?"

From the galleries, Dakobena strokes Currow, who trills with a tone of scolding at the out of place green.

Lilleth follows her lifemate's gaze and finally seems to focus on the Weyrlingmaster. Oh! She almost tumbles over herself in her eagerness to get food.

Sae silently helps Drusoth toward Yida, keeping in tactile contact with the dragonet the entire way.

From the galleries, Ilys mumbles "And so he won't get the green either," peering back down at the sands. "And with a bit of luck, that bronze...." she shrugs.

Eachan nods, "That green's going up into the stands."

From the galleries, Thiyodota absently nods at Trisqam, keeping half an eye on that green while still trying to watch the other hatchlings on the sand. She's not becoming dragon-snack!

Drusoth follows, still occasionally stumbling as he gets used to this walkabout business.

From the galleries, Cheerfully Choosy Green Hatchling stares at the confused faces, and the little almost-version of herself making sounds at her. No, none of these are right. She has a little more difficulty moving through the gallery, with all its obstacles, but she's quietly determined. Finally, her gaze settles on Ilys, and she tilts her head thoughtfully.

Berandon stops studying the bronze at Eachan's comment, turning to stare into the galleries with a frown. "What's she doing up there?"

Engagingly Royal Bronze Dragonet shakes his head a bit as he gets through the egg in such a sudden matter. He looks about. First to the candidates, then to everywhere else on the sands, including the galleries. He looks to his fellow clutchsister who seems to be going to where the watchers are, but for what, he doesn't know. He now finds that he his hungry and decides that it's time to find the one he wants, the one he knows is out there, somewhere.

From the galleries, Ilys is busy looking at the sands, frowning in Bearchan's direction. "Go away bronze," she hisses.

From the galleries, Trisqam whews and then peers at the green and..Ily's?!?!

From the galleries, Tenkou blinks at the green in the stands and almost looks.. dumbstruck.

From the galleries, Dakobena smiles, realising what the green is after. Or, rather, /who/.

From the galleries, Cheerfully Choosy Green Hatchling continues staring at Ilys.

Yida leads the baby blue and his brand new lifemate over to the side, though her attention has also shifted to the galleries - and

Ilys and that green. "Oh dear." she mutters to herself, more dismayed at the inconvienice than the Impression.

Paesani glances up toward the stands, not even noticing the bronze, and chants softly "Oh, go to Ilys!"

Bearchan stopped watching the green when she left the sands. Obviously nothing he needs to worry about.

Caraline laughs again, the delighted sound not travelling very far in all the chaos. "Oh, we'll get you filled up, sweeting," she says. "But the others will be hungry too," she teases.

Lilleth looks abashed for a moment. Then her head jerks up a bit and she appears to consider something.

From the galleries, Ilys is busy watching Bearchan, a glance goes to the green. "What are you looking at? Go impress... one of the Lord Holder's girls. Shoo! Go on!"

Nagisa spies the general attention shift towards the stands, and cranes her neck, trying to see what's going on. "Seihin? What happened? Did Lord Zyrrian do something?"

Eachan pulls on Bearchan's sleeve, "Isn't that the girl who sucks out your brains, Brother? She's not being very nice to the baby green."

K'yasu mutters to himself and starts across the sands, careful to avoid both dragons and Candidates. He continues muttering rather loudly about fool hatchlings and how he's sure they Searched every possible person and this and that.

From the galleries, Zyrrian lifts up his glass again. "To the green in the stands, and that pretty little redhead she's staring at. Hm, I wonder how old she is?"

Caraline looks down at Lilleth, pride written all over her face. "Of course you are! And so you should be!"

Jyuin yelps as a distracted Candidate steps on his foot.

Nokoru eyes the galleries with a faint frown. "Do you think the green is okay up there?"

From the galleries, Thiyodota stares wide-eyed at Ilys and the green. "She shooed the dragon!" the girl whispers to her firelizard.

Seihin, who was staring rather hard at several of the searching dragonets, blinks first at Nagisa, then over at the stands. "Er.. I don't see him doing anything. There's a crowd up there, though, I can't really see."

Bearchan almost jumps away from Eachan -- who knows, maybe it was a dragonet pulling his sleeve, preparing to eat him. Oh. "What?" he says, then peers out towards the galleries, wiping his forehead with his hand. He blinks. His face turns white. Ulp.

From the galleries, Ilys rolls her eyes. "I'm a harper, but look, there's a lot of young people over there. Maybe one of the Lord's sons? Go on!' She shoos the green again."

Sae has eyes only for the blue that her hands rest on, not even noticing the commotion.

From the galleries, Cheerfully Choosy Green Hatchling tries to move a little closer to Ilys, but there are feet and bodies and things in the way. Nevertheless, her gaze doesn't waver.

From the galleries, Trisqam goggles at Ily's. What luck, and she shoo's it away? "I think she likes /you/ Ily's" he misses the action out on the sands as he pays attetion to the green and her shapr claws here.

Eachan glances around the sands. Nope, no dragons close by, "That girl. The one you were sucking face with."

From the galleries, Tarr perks up. Lord's sons? Oh.

A brilliant and almost glowing green bursts from an egg almost into the lap of a boy from the dolphincraft. "Zelth," he blinks, more startled than anything at the sudden impression. "You shouldn't move so fast, you'll trip."

Engagingly Royal Bronze Dragonet starts to stumble for the candidates, knowing that his isn't where his clutchsister is, it's amoung those there on the sands with him. He gets used to the leggs pretty fast, and starts at one end of the row of candidates and starts to go down, and every step he takes, he knows that the one for him is getting closer and closer. And with hunger pulling at him, he tries to find the one he wants fast.

Winifred eyes the stands with increasing aggravation. "Why in the world would a dragon want /her/?"

Caraline kneels on the sand next to Lilleth, closely watching the ravenous gold as she eats. "Slow down a bit, love. We don't want you to choke."

From the galleries, Ilys blinkblinks wide-eyed "But I have to be a HARPER Siseath!"

Berandon frowns at the spectacle in the galleries, and shakes his head. He turns his attention to more important things, namely the dragonets popping out all over the place. He eyes the bronze heading quickly in the direction of the candidates.

From the galleries, Zyrrian snickers. "Told you!" he crows. "Now she's a pretty young filly, and you know what they say about greenrider appetites!" he leers at Ilys.

Bearchan swallows again, and nods. "Uh, yeah," he says to Eachan, "that's her." He even forgets to watch for charging dragonets. Hopefully Eachan will deflect them.

From the galleries, Trisqam hmms and shakes his head, still amazed, and what a bit jelous perhaps too? "Not anymore. Congratulations Ily's."

K'yasu lets out a moan as he finally gets to the bottom of the galleries. He waits there until Ilys and lifemate are ready to be escorted towards the food.

Paesani just beams as she watches the galleries, not paying attention to the sands.

Seihin informs Nagisa, as if she couldn't tell from the noise, "Ilys impressed. A green."

Slipping out of his prison, another little blue sets off to find his mate. Three Candidates he marches straight past, only to turn his gaze on a handsome lad from the Minecraft. "Zeredyth!" comes the startled announcement.

Eachan pokes Bearchan. He's really not that interested in Ilys, "Look, a bronze."

From the galleries, Tenkou looks disappointed and slumps into a seat, not on anyone's lap thank you.

From the galleries, Thiyodota blinks, still dumbfounded at the green, the girl, the Impression, everything! Finding it easier to look back at the sands, Thiyo does so.

From the galleries, Siseath doesn't seem impressed by the argument. She does, however, seem impressed with Ilys. She waits, patiently, despite the ever-increasing intensity of the red in her eyes.

From the galleries, Tarr sags, disappointed, even if she _is_ just a green. Oh, well, maybe that bronze...?

From the galleries, Ilys looks around wildly. "The harper hall. I have to go. I'm going to walk the tables!"

Jyuin shifts on his feet and looks around, eyes not quite so bright anymore, but pretty excited still.

Nagisa blinks again, and then starts to giggle. "It's too bad we couldn't just sit and watch.. it would have been really amusing." With a quiet sigh she surveys the hatchlings, thoughtful.

Bearchan startles again, looks down at his brother, then looks where he's indicating. There are, he seems to concede, more pressing matters at the moment. "It's not headed this way, is it?" he asks, prepared to pull his brother to safety. So now he's the gallant big brother again.

From the galleries, Dakobena smiles widely to Ilys, even if she can't see it, and looks back to the sands. Currow continues his running commentary about the Hatching.

Eachan watches, "Sort of. It's hard to tell."

Nokoru turns his gaze back to the sands, wiping at his forehead and trying to keep track of all of the dragonets now.

From the galleries, Siseath still makes no sound. Perhaps she doesn't have a voice. But nothing has shaken her determination about Ilys.

From the galleries, Trisqam watches Ily's, no need to watch the sands though he wonder's on how long the hunger need will allow her to deny the inevitable, or how, or even why she ever could.

Berandon jerks in surprise, and his eyes widen. "Memnarth?" He says reverently, staring at the bronze.

From the galleries, Ilys sighs. "But we can't! You're too small and... oh, let's get you something to eat," her shoulders slump.

Purple Sweet-Tart Egg seems almost to shimmer or sparkle as it sits on the hot sands. Must be a trick of the light, or a heat mirage.

Purple Sweet-Tart Egg isn't sparkling, it's /moving/! Well, maybe that's a mirage too.

No, it's unmistakable. Purple Sweet-Tart Egg rocks rocks wildly once, off-center, then stills for a long moment, then picks up a steady motion.

Purple Sweet-Tart Egg makes audible crackling sounds as several visible fissures begin to zig-zag over its surface.

Seihin nods to Nagisa, swiping his hands against his robe. "It is too bad.. but this is a pretty good vantage point right here, wouldn't you say?"

Bearchan's eyes follow the bronze's path, all the way up to Berandon. An eyebrow arches upward. "Figures," he smirks, then grins. "Well done, Berandon."

Purple Sweet-Tart Egg finally splits open like a chrysalis, unfolding around the form of the Thoughtful Hazel Brown Dragonet which then steps from between the parted halves.

Thoughtful Hazel Brown Dragonet
A neat, compact frame in a rich brown shade reflects perfectly the calm and ordered manner of its owner as he regards the candidates. His smaller build and the graceful lines of slender limbs and sleek, streamlined body make the other browns on the sands seem clunky and oversized by comparison. The warm tones of his hide are washed and mottled with hints of clear ocean blue, dark non-metallic gold, and mainly a muted grass green shade that is particularly concentrated on his wingsails, giving them the appearance of green glass. The tilt of his head is thoughtful as his gaze sweeps the sands, eyes whirling in a thousand colors beneath the prominent ridge of his headknobs.

Jyuin shifts from foot to foot, impatient with something from all appearances.

Red Fireball Egg just sits there, stubbornly motionless.

From the galleries, Siseath makes the softest of sounds, all but inaudible in the murmuring about the gallery. Now that she's up here, she seems at a loss for where to go next.

Yida leaves the pairs already settled, traipsing back over the sand towards Berandon... B'ran. "Come on then, lad. Out of the way... he's hungry, I'm sure and there's food over in that direction." Warm but in truth, she pays little attention to her words as she starts to herd the new bronzeling and his lifemate off to the other new pairs.

Nagisa brightens at that point, though she doesn't fail to remark, "It's not terribly comfortable, though.. all hot, and somewhat crowded. And we're all the same level, so I can't see. What was that one?" She caught a flash of purple, then nothing.

Paesani glances over toward Berandon and smiles, her attention finally back on the sands. She glances around her and breathes a sigh of relief, then turns to watch the newly hatched dragonets.

From the galleries, Ilys puts her hand on the green tentatively. "It's down there.. I think, the food."

"A brown," Seihin replies, frowning at it slightly. "A pretty one, but.." he shakes his head. "I don't know where he's headed yet, but there's a blue one zooming this way."

Caraline smiles brightly as she notes Beran...B'ran coming over with a bronze. "Look Lilleth, a bronze," she laughs, dropping gobbets of meat into the little queen's mouth.

The Red Fireball Egg seems to shimmer. Maybe it's decided it's going to melt?

From the galleries, Dakobena leans over, resting her head in one palm, and smiles. Currow chitters excitedly at B'ran.

The Red Fireball Egg seems to ooze out of shape, rocking a little, like a pot placed unevenly on a stove.

K'yasu calls impatiently up to Ilys, "Ilys, get your fool self and your fool dragon down here."

The frenzied movements of its occupant cause Red Fireball Egg to jump around, making sounds like popping corn.

The Red Fireball Egg can't take the buildup of heat. Something gives, cracks erupting all over the scorching surface.

B’ran stands mesmerized by Memnarth a few more moments, before tearing his gaze away to look at Yida. "Yes...Of course. Come on, Memnarth, lets go get you fed!"

Suddenly, a resounding *CRACK* resounds as the Red Fireball Egg's battle with its occupant is lost. It flakes into large, uneven pieces, and a Shadow-touched Military Blue Hatchling swaggers out from amongst the shards.

Military Blue Hatchling
An officer in the armed forces with his neatly-pressed standard issue jacket and trousers could be no more immaculately clad than this dragonet. His hide the exact shade of blue that reflects that military image, the hue completely uniform and unrelieved but for the sinister encroachment of a deeper hue -- a navy so dark that appears to be black -- creeping silently up his legs, vanishing into the dominant shade, and then reappearing at irregular intervals to brand the upper neck ridges like a sigil of rank. The tips and leading edges of his wings are also stained with that inky hue, and his claws and wingspars are dull charcoal, all but camouflaged against the shadow. Stocky and large for a blue, although doubtless some of his colour will loom over him, the bulky muscles that support his wings and legs promise great strength on both land and in flight. His bone structure, while put together perfectly, certainly has none of the delicacy and refinement of his smaller clutchmates, and his left cheekbone is almost imperceptibly ridged, scar-like; nearly, but not quite reaching his ever-watchful eyes.

From the galleries, Ilys nods, dazed. "Yes, there." She heads down to the sands, her eyes as wide as saucers.

Thoughtful Hazel Brown Dragonet shakes his limbs one by one, turning his head slowly this way and that as he inspects what's before him.

Eachan ooos, "Look at the brown and blue too." He grins. He just likes watching the baby dragons.

Jyuin scans the sands and then scans the galleries. He spots something, and squints, then shades his eyes to be sure. Then he shouts joyfully, "Tousan!" Never mind that his mothers also are present up there.

Memnarth follows his new lifemate , grateful that he will get some food in his stomach. His eyes fall on the gold since he didn't notice her eariler, but turns his attention back to Berandon and the food.

Shadow-touched Military Blue Hatchling draws himself up, taking a moment to brush the remaining eggshell from the perfection of his hide. Hm. What have we here? He cases the area.

Nokoru follows Jyuin's gaze and grins faintly, shuffling his feet against the heat of the sands.

Bearchan gives Eachan a shallow smile, and a nod. "Certainly no shortage of dragonets tonight," he murmurs, putting his hand on his brother's shoulder in a.. well, brotherly fashion.

Yida hehs softly, marshalling B'ran and Memnarth into line beside Cara, at the next empty bucket. A moment and she corrals another greenling as well, the tearful girl still exclaiming over her new Gesaith.

Jyuin lifts a hand and waves madly. His mood is much improved. Not that it really needed it. It doesn't take him long to remember to watch out for wandering hatchlings though, and he goes back to doing that.

Nagisa finally wises up and bends down, instead of trying to see over people. "Oh, there he is. Yes, he is a nice one.. quiet, like some of the others have been."

Eachan grins up at his brother and watches the hatchlings.

Thoughtful Hazel Brown Dragonet moves forward with measured steps, cautious enough at first that he does not falter, then walking with more certainty. It isn't so hard. He progresses far enough that he can no longer be said to be still in his shells, and then pauses, surveying the candidates again from this new vantage point.

Paesani smiles over toward Ilys before once again watching the sands, especially the blue and brown dragonets.

Shadow-touched Military Blue Hatchling starts to prowl between the candidates. Hm, that one looks suspicious, better keep away from HIM. There's a likely victim. No, wait, too puffed up in himself. Hm.

Seihin, not having Nagisa's height problem, continues to watch over heads and shoulders, a proposal that grows easier as the crowd thins. "Here, watch out." He doesn't wait, though, just picking Nagisa up and lugging her a few feet to the left, out of the way of a passing dragonet. "Isn't it hot down there?"

Ilys seems to stumble as she hits the sands. "Yes, of course, we'll get you something to eat as soon as possible."

Grinning broadly, B'ran follows Yida to the food, and begins feeding Memnarth. When he manages to tear his attention away for a brief moment, he grins quickly over at Caraline. But just as quickly, his attention is focused totally on Memnarth.

From the galleries, Trisqam relaxes and gazes back out at the sands, silent except to cheer on the impressions as he catches them. His gaze finds many more shards then when he last looked and he seems to try and figure out who's missing from among those still standing around the eggs.

K'yasu keeps a watchful eye on the two fools, "Over with everyone else, Ilys."

Replaced on the ground in the same crouch as before, Nagisa hardly reacts to her sudden relocation. "Yes, but I can see so much better."

Nokoru dodges the same dragonet easily enough himself, nudging Jyuin to warn him.

Siseath has trouble getting back down onto the sands as well, but once she's there, she's fairly stable again, although she still moves slowly. She stays obediently close to Ilys, her gazed locked on her.

From the galleries, Zyrrian grins. "All those new riders, they're going to need an education, you know." He waggles his eyebrows suggestively.

Jyuin is warned and neatly steps aside, "They're all so pretty, aren't they, cousin?"

Shadow-touched Military Blue Hatchling continues to prowl. He almost... almost stops by a young baker, but no, apparently he's not worthy either.

Thoughtful Hazel Brown Dragonet starts forward again, heading for a cluster of candidates with the appearance of total certainty, since once he begins to walk, his gaze doesn't waver.

From the galleries, Tenkou asks drily, "What do think you're going to teach them, father?"

Bearchan blinks quickly, then twists his head to try to wipe some of the sweat off of his face onto the shoulder of his robe. What he wouldn't give for a handkerchief.

Memnarth eats hardily, glad to get some food in one of his two stomachs. He doesn't pay attention to the gold, but to eating. He tears at the meat given to him, but makes sure to leave B'ran's hands intact, knowing they will be needed later in this partnership.

Nokoru nods in agreement. "They're beautiful. Look," he points out the approaching brown.

From the galleries, Zyrrian grins at Tenkou suggestively "Why anything they like. I hear that a flight is a bad time to be with a man first time. I can certainly help with that."

Ilys leads Siseath over to the food. "Nobody ever told me about this," she mutters.

From the galleries, Tenkou ahhs, "I see. I'm sure the new bronzeriders will be very appreciative of your instruction, father."

Eachan says quietly, "It's hot. Is that brown coming this way? I can't tell."

Caraline strokes Lilleth's eyeridges gently as the gold's eating slows down. The dragon's stomach is beginning to bulge with food, her eyes beginning to whirl a bit slower. "That a girl," Caraline murmurs softly.

Seihin sighs resignedly at the girl's insistence, taking her momentary distraction as a chance to take stock of just who's left. Nokoru, Jyuin, Winifred.. his gaze slides over a number of the group.

Shadow-touched Military Blue Hatchling leans down near Bearchan, snagging a white handkerchief on the ground in his jaws delicately. Will this do?

Eachan pulls away from his brother, "The blue."

Nagisa eventually tires of frying her hands and straightens again, moving them through the air to cool them. "Where did.." she turns, trying to spot one of the other female candidates. "Oh, there she is."

Jyuin follows Nokoru's gesture to the brown and oos, "He's nice too. They all are. I just hope that they don't decide they want me to.." His gaze swings to the galleries briefly as he cuts off the end of his sentence.

Siseath pauses to press her head against Ilys' side affectionately. Even if she's hungry enough to eat an entire herdbeast alone - if she knew what one looked like, that is - she can still show a little gratitude. Then of course, she sits, opens her mouth, and waits for meat.

Ilys finally seems to work out what's going on, and offers Siseath some meat, pulling a face at the whole messiness of the task.

Paesani glances over toward those who've impressed, the dwindling number of candidates, and the even more dwindling eggs, then moves over toward Jyuin and Nokoru.

Another pair of greens spill from their shells. One stumbles straight to a weyrbred lad, crooning happily - "Keglaith!" is the delighted shout - whereas the other wanders in and about the Candidate line, creeling anxiously until sprawls before a solid looking lad from Ista who stumbles over the name, "Paishath!".

Thoughtful Hazel Brown Dragonet plods across the sands, producing a thoughtful churr as he sits down placidly in front of the group he's selected.

K'yasu goes back to herding other newly Impressed now that Ilys and her dragon are where they're supposed to be.

Bearchan mutters to his brother, "I don't know, I can barely see." Something white in the lower portion of his vision catches his eye, and he looks down to see the blue holding the handkerchief. "Uh," he says, tilting his head. "Can I have that?"

Rainbow Serpent Egg is alive, spasmodically shaking itself as striations intensify over the technicolor spirals.

Lilleth leans against Caraline, chewing and swallowing more slowly now that the edge is taken off her hunger. She lazily gazes around at her clutchsibs, then nuzzles her new lifemate.

Hairline fractures begin, following the lines of colors down the Rainbow Serpent Egg. One after another, they coil themselves about the fragile shell, divving up the rainbows.as they trail down from tiny marks.

Fractures to cracks is the inevitable procession. Rainbow Serpent Egg rocks and twitches as goo bubbles out of tiny holes and color dims away, lost in the crazy webbing of dark fissures envelope the shell.

Shards as big as fingernails are shaken off, drifting down to encirle the frantically disintegrataing Rainbow Serpent Egg.

Stillness reigns for a frozen moment before fissures give was and tiny fragments of shell rain on the sand about the newly revealed Reserved Idealist Green Hatchling

Reserved Idealist Green Hatchling
She's a supple form of elegance through slim shoulders and a narrow back, low slung over lithe limbs and burnished with rivulets of color. Pure green, deep and rich like a glowing forest or radiant as the softest aurora is speckled sensitively with points of iridescent ivory that sweep over neat neckridges like gems strewn through the cosmos. Sereneness imbues the figure, aloof grace characterizing the narrow wedge-shaped head and slender muzzle while 'sails of glistening ice fuse imperturbably to her frame.

Seihin eyes the brown, his brief lapse of alertness over with at the dragonet's arrival near the group. "What do you think he wants?"

Siseath bolts down the meat as quickly as it's offered to her, but she retains some sense of manners. At least she's not ravenous about it.

Eachan just stares at the blue, and then at Bearchan, "Aren't you supposed to get out of his way?" He doesn't sound too certain though.

Jyuin blinks at the brown and suggests, "Maybe he's lost."

Winifred wanders over by Eachan and.. well, maybe not Bearchan for much longer. She keeps clear of the blue, to be certain.

Nagisa blows on her hands, staring first at them, and then at the serenely sitting hatchling. "Maybe he wants us to move out of his way? What a polite dragon."

Nokoru peers curiously at the brown. "He doesn't really look lost."

Shadow-touched Military Blue Hatchling patiently holds out the hanky to Bearchan, his eyes never wavering from the candidate.

Reserved Idealist Green Hatchling shakes herself free of the last few shards, her gaze immediately sweeping the sand before her. When that reveals naught but sand and shards, she lifts her muzzle, tilting her head in an eccentric sort of way. There. White clad things - and she considers what to do next.

Ilys keeps on feeding the green. "you ARE hungry."

Bearchan takes the handkerchief delicately. "Ah... Daffith?" He quirks a brow, and gives his brother a quizzical look. "He says his name's Daffith. So no, I think I'll just stay put for the moment." He looks at the dragonet again, and a smile blooms across his face. "I'll change as soon as we get out of here, promise."

Paesani glances over toward the newest hatchling, and her eyes go wide. To no one in particular, she says "Oh...my; she's beautiful."

Eachan blinks and decides to smile, "Congratulations..." He thinks, "B'chan?"
 
 

From the galleries, Dakobena soothes the chattering brown 'lizard, grinning a congradulation to Bearchan.
 
 

Thoughtful Hazel Brown Dragonet bobs his head, a decisive gesture, and scrabbles forward the short distance to place himself squarely in front of Nagisa.

Shadow-touched Military Blue Hatchling rumbles in what sounds like amusement, and nudges Bearchan in the stomach, looking meaningfully in the direction where his clutchmates are being fed.

Siseath keeps up with Ilys' pace easily. Each time another piece of meat is offered to her, her mouth is already empty of the last one, and ready for it. Yes, indeed, she's quite hungry.
 
 

Ilys keeps it up, not really seeming too self-assured for once. "Er... how much will she eat?" she asks whoever is closest.

Seihin, in the middle of nodding in agreement with Nokoru, almost moves to put himself in front of her when the hatchling heads for Nagisa. "Er.." He stops himself in time, though.

Another blue appears from the mess of shards, floundering up to a lass from right here in the Weyr. "Oh Ipsayth!" she cries. "Of course I'm here!"
 
 

Jyuin begins to look a little worried, entirely for Nagisa. "Just.. don't move.. maybe he'll go away."

Reserved Idealist Green Hatchling can not very well sit here forever. A dainty moment and her wings are shaken free of shard, the glistening wetness drying swiftly. Then she scans her path, promenading determinedly in the direction she's chosen.

Nagisa blinks once at the dragon now sitting in front of /her/ and not the group in general. Seihin's half-extended arm is gently pushed aside as she crouches down again, bending her knees just slightly to bring herself to eye level with the little brown. "Hello, Tilzath," she says gravely, before turning a brilliant smile on the concerned boys. "I don't think he's going away."

B'chan puts a hand over his stomach with a quiet snicker. "I get it," he says, reaching out to lay a hand gently atop the blue dragonet's head. He looks back at Eachan, and says, "I have to go, Eachan. I'll see you after all this is done though, okay?"

Eachan nods, "All right." He moves away and finds safety in numbers since his big brother isn't going to be looking out for him anymore.

Daffith snorts in a 'Come on then' sort of way, and heads over to the food, making sure his lifemate is along side.
 
 

The Green Non-Melting Egg suddenly seems to be growing smaller, as if it were, in fact, melting. Closer inspection reveals that to be an illusion as its faint rocking creates a deeper crater of sand around it.

Perhaps it's not growing smaller, but the Green Non-Melting Egg is beginning to show some stress on that brilliantly green shell. Tiny striations have appeared, less noticable than the white markings for now, but growing larger over time.
As the stress fractures grow into full-blown cracks, the Green Non-Melting Egg no longer appears to glow or shine -- the irregularities in its shell now dull it to blend in with the other eggs. The rocking, however, growing stronger by the minute, guarantees that this won't be the case for long.

Now shifting wildly about, kicking up sand and flaking bits of shell, the Green Non-Melting Egg has surely proved that there is -something- in there. What exactly that is has yet to be revealed.

Paesani wipes some sweat from her eyes, then shakes her head somewhat groggily, looking around at the brown and blue, then at the green and the green egg.
 
 

Even an egg resistant to melting cannot withstand a determined assault from within, and the Green Non-Melting egg eventually fractures into a pile of glittering shards, leaving the Calculating Tarnished Bronze Hatchling standing free and triumphant among them.

Calculating Tarnished Bronze Hatchling
Even just out of the shell, this large bronze hatchling has an air of self-indulgence and pride. Holding high the patinaed head with its prominent backswept headknobs, he surveys the candidates with an eye for who will best serve his interests. With his damp wings folded primly behind him, he steps away from his shell, dignity not allowing him to stumble or show any signs of awkwardness. The egg-dampness makes him seem to glisten, but even this does not completely hide the slightly tarnished color of his hide. His sinuous tail trails through the sand behind him like the back edge of a long robe. He's cool and he's arrogant, but he's taking no chances either, keeping a safe distance between him and his clutchmates, those candidates, and anything else he's not familiar with.

Yida heads back to collect Ipsayth and his lass, finding B'chan along the way. "Over here. On the edge, out of people's way." Well, dragonet's way to be truthful.

B'chan chuckles again, and with a definite spring in his step, accompanies
Daffith towards Yida and the others. He can see what they're doing with the meat along the way, so he knows what to do when he gets there.

Seihin withdraws his arm as it's pushed, staring at Nagisa and Tilzath with open-mouthed astonishment. "I.. congratulations," he whispers, finally, meaning it.

Reserved Idealist Green Hatchling continues her promenarding, carefully orbiting the groups of Candidates. No, not him. Definately not hm - he doesn't feel right at all! Carefully, she goes sraight past one hopful boy before pausing, regarding the girls with more interest.

Eachan shuffles a little closer to whomever is in the group closest to where he and his brother were standing. It seems that's Winifred. He offers her a crooked smile, "Hello."

Calculating Tarnished Bronze Hatchling moves majestically across the sands. His tail, dragging behind him, leaves a trail in the sand showing where he's passed. He is already making his mark on the world.

Tilzath croons, turning his own regard on the group of boys, since his lifemate thought to.

Paesani glances over at the bronze once and takes an instinctive half-step away, then turns her full attention to the green dragonet.

Nokoru breaks into a smile, one that turns cautious as he watches Seihin, and finally offers his own quiet congratulations to Nagisa as well.

Caraline laughs out loud, probably at a comment from Lilleth. She gives the gold's headknobs a rub, still chuckling. "Silly! We have plenty of time to worry about that!"

Jyuin blinks at Nagisa and the dragon, taking a moment before realizing what happened. He glances at Seihin, then smiles to Nagisa, "Congratulations."

Daffith nudges B'chan again. Keep going.

B'chan hadn't stopped, so he speeds up, and dives his hand right in when they reach the meat. "I know, I know," he grins -- he can't seem to stop grinning -- offering the first morsel down to Daffith, other hand already going for the next.

Reserved Idealist Green Hatchling scans the collectiosn of Candidates, crounching there restlessly. She's there. Which one? Carefully, she continues, orbiting the humans as she slowly homes in on one girl, with brown hair. Nothing flashy, nothing gaudy and it seems like she has her eye on Paesani.

Calculating Tarnished Bronze Hatchling makes a wide circuit of the sands, surveying its occupants and also peering up into the galleries to see what that's all about. Finally he sits down in the sand and bellows to the world. He's here. Now bring him food.

Nagisa straightens from her crouch, a hand reaching out towards Tilzath. "Thank you," she murmurs, still with that same smile, maybe slightly more subdued. "Tilzath, I think we should go over with the others.. we can talk to them later."

Paesani shakes her head again, rubbing her eyes.

From the galleries, Trisqam leans harder against the rail, as though hoping for one candidate, and couild it be, yes! "Oh please" he crosses his fingers watching the green move towards one.

Siseath gradually slows her eating as her belly gradually expands. Finally, she simply refuses to take another bite, and she leans against Ilys, wearily.

Tilzath studies the three boys rather more closely for a moment, until his lifemate speaks. Tilting his head up into the touch of her hand, he makes a warbling noise of agreement.

Paesani suddenly looks down, then reaches out, dreamlike. "You're Uminath, then?"

Reserved Idealist Green Hatchling ends her orbiting, yes this is the one. Right beside Paesani, that's where she is - right where she belongs. Softly, softly, she croons, pressing her slim form close to her lifemate.

Eachan watches Paesani impress. He's gone fairly quiet, watching the action around him.

From the galleries, Dakobena smiles, eyes on Uminath and Paesani, while Currow croons happily.

Paesani gives the lovely little green a quick touch, then an impulsive hug.

Seihin swallows, straightening his posture and recovering his powers of speech. "Congratulations," he repeats, more warmly. "I.. we'll see you two later."

From the galleries, Tarr sits up straight. "Paesani? You actually... _impressed_?!" The it-should-have-been-me hasn't sunk in yet.

Calculating Tarnished Bronze Hatchling sits right where he is, a nice safe distance from the Candidates. He fixes his gaze on each of them, one by one.

Reserved Idealist Green Hatchling is that alright. She is what she is and where she is and all is right with the world.

Ilys leans just as wearily agaisnt Siseath. "Hmm, why am I so tired?"

From the galleries, Trisqam cheers happily for Paesani and Uminath. With a happy excited sigh he turns to look at teh bronze just sitting there. Hmm.

Nokoru takes a step closer to Seihin, quiet still. His gaze darts quickly around the sands to make sure that no other dragons are coming this way, but otherwise he doesn't appear to be paying much attention to the rest of his surroundings.

Daffith takes the food as his due, snarfing it down with as much rapidity as possible without appearing in a hurry.

Jyuin steps around to Seihin's other side, commenting quietly, "Not many left.."

Eachan looks around the hatching sands, looking for hatchlings to watch. His eyes settle on a bronze. "That's unusual. You'd think he'd be moving."

The last egg has hatched and the remaining dragons seek out their lifemates.

Nagisa starts walking, keeping contact with Tilzath by matching her pace to the little brown's. "Of course you can eat now," she tells him, angling towards the group of newly impressed weyrlings.

Calculating Tarnished Bronze Hatchling pins that gaze of his on Nokoru for longer than the rest. Finally he dismisses him with nothing more than a turn of his attention to someone else.

K'yasu comments to the new weyrlings, "We'll get you guys settled in the barracks shortly."

E'chan walks slowly towards the bronze, "Rokuth? Yes. Food. We could do that."

B'chan chuckles in spite of himself, with a look at Daffith, then K'yasu gets his attention for a moment. Meat, meat, more meat. He knows how to take an order.

Though not stared at by the remaining few dragons, Seihin gives that bold bronze a scowl. He's not totally unaffected by everything, it would seem.

Rokuth blinks slowly at E'chan, angling his head just so.

Nokoru looks plainly relieved as the bronze moves away, letting out an audible breath.

From the galleries, Trisqam gasps, wow Eachan?

Paesani guides Uminath over toward the other Weyrlings, albeit hesitantly.

E'chan reaches his hand out towards Rokuth, "Let's go." He waits for the bronze to move first.

Uminath is perfectly happy to be guided and her surprising steady steps are almost eagar, her eyes whirling with red from hunger.

Rokuth blinks yet again at E'chan. Go? Go? He shouldn't have to go anywhere. E'chan has two feet doesn't he?

From the galleries, Zyrrian leans over and thumps someone near him. "See that? That girl with the green is my daughter."

Tilzath tromps along beside Nagisa, moving as quickly as he feels he can manage without tripping on something in order to get to the food.

Caraline glances up from the limp-winged gold practically spawled over her to smile brightly at Paesani. She gives her friend a wink, and braces herself against the sand. They may not look very big, but even as babies, these dragons are /heavy/!

From the galleries, Tenkou suggests, "Maybe someone will teach her a few things in your stead, father."

E'chan blinks at Rokuth, "It would be quicker if you went to the food too you know. It'd take half the time to get it."

Daffith nudges B'chan again, looking up at him with some amusement.

Rokuth sits up straighter, as if trying to look imposing. He opens his mouth just a little to show those lovely pointed teeth of his.

Drusoth finishes eating and leans against Sae with a prodigious yawn.

E'chan doesn't seem impressed, "Those are nice teeth Rokuth, but wouldn't you rather eat than argue? Besides it's hot out here." He's beginning to look uncomfortable even.

Memnarth finishes eating, glad to have the food in him at last. And that was only one stomach. Now he's a little sleepy. Food does that to you, and the heat, doesn't it?

Rokuth stretches out his wings, finding them for the first time. He bellows loudly just because the day is /glorious/.

Nagisa darts in amongst the weyrlings, giving Tilzath a swift little smile as she hurriedly gathers up some of the meat chunks for him.

B'chan glances back at the candidates remaining on the sands, absently wiping his hands off on his robe. Ah well, it'll need to be cleaned anyway. "Someone'll have to tell them, I guess," he says with a shrug. He happens to notice his brother out there, arguing with a bronze dragonet. When that reality hits him, his knees almost buckle.

E'chan blinks a couple of times, "That was loud." He starts walking towards the food, "Are you coming?"

Daffith nuzzles B'chan affectionately.

Rokuth sighs ponderously and gets to his feet to follow after E'chan.

Siseath tilts her head back, and yawns expansively. There seems to be a lot of that going around now.

From the galleries, Zyrrian grabs a wineskin "A toast! To my daughter impressing and to Nokoru NOT impressing! Now perhaps that boy will get those Weyr notions out of his head, and find himself a real mate, like a girl."

E'chan somehow manages to keep his smile from becoming a chuckle, "You can meet my brother. He impressed a blue." He continues towards the food.

Ilys's eyes are drifting closed. "Hm? No, just Bearchan, she murmurs."

From the galleries, Tenkou is beginning to get a little annoyed at being ignored by his father, but persists. "You mean you heard about the ovine incident, father?"

From the galleries, Zyrrian glares at Tenkou. "My SON is NOT bringing Ovines home!"

Seihin, staring after Nagisa, turns his head as Zyrrian's bellows break through the happy murmur of the weyrlings. "What the..?"

From the galleries, Trisqam grins and then looks around for any other hatchlings not yet impressed but he doesn't see any. All done? His chin droops down to rest on arms crossed over the railing and watch the new pairs.

From the galleries, Tarr smirks at Zyrrian. Oh, sure, give him ideas.

From the galleries, Tenkou says, "Oh, he doesn't have to. Plenty of them already there."

Nokoru winces at his father's unmistakable shouting. "Seihin, Jyuin.. ah, perhaps we ought to go somewhere else."

Sae isn't smiling at Drusoth, but rather looking down at his head with a very possessive bemusement, hands lightly resting on his neck. "You're tired," she murmurs softly.

From the galleries, Zyrrian leans over the balcony and yells. "Nokoru! Get up here! WE're going home!" He still has his bevy, fancy that.

Jyuin nods a little, looking rather dazed, "I need to uh.. change.."

Drusoth warbles agreeably at his rider's statement, yawning again as he looks around.

Daffith eventually slows his eating down and rests his head companionably against B'chan.

Caraline seems to drooping further under the weight of the somnolent queen. She shifts so that she's sitting, Lilleth practically in her lap.

B'chan rests his hand on Daffith's shoulder. Okay, he's fed. Now he needs other instructions. He keeps looking between Ilys and E'chan, though, occasionally Caraline... well, really he looks at everyone in turn.

Memnarth, in his tired state, takes a quick look to the galleries, wondering what that human up there is yelling at. In any case, he looks to B'ran, seeing if his lifemate will lead him to where he can sleep, especially having had to break out of an egg then find him, with in return, a stomach full of food and nice place to sleep.

Paesani stifles a yawn of her own as she feeds Uminath with her other hand.

Siseath looks up towards Ilys, then lays her head against her hip, her eyelids heavy. She refuses to lay down, though. She has to stay up, yes.

Ilys scritches Siseath with loving tenderness "mm, I suppose. I don't think it really matters though."

From the galleries, Tenkou says, "Father, you should let him change clothes first. He probably wet himself out there."

Nagisa supplies Tilzath with the meat she procured, holding out the chunks one by one. She seems very absorbed in the procedure.

From the galleries, Zyrrian glares in the general direction of Nokoru. "My son had BETTER NOT have disgraced me."

Rokuth follows E'chan towards the food, dragging his feet slightly. Eventually they arrive and E'chan begins to feed the bronze.

Seihin manages to control his desire to wince at Zyrrian's continued shouting. "We have to go past the galleries to get out of here," he mutters. "We may as well go now."

From the galleries, Trisqam casts an annoyed glance at Zyrrian before he slips out of the galleries.

From the galleries, Dakobena stands, holding tightly to Currow, and makes her way to the exit.

Sae gently runs a hand along Drusoth's eye ridge. "You can't sleep out here."

Yida finishes coralling the new Weyrlings, patiently checking each one to be sure they're not needing help. "Hush... no, don't let him gobble it J'wam, it's give him a bellyache." Down the line she goes, her attention fully on her task.

From the galleries, Tarr just smirks at his father's remark.

Nokoru gets a resigned look, nodding to Seihin. "We'd better go quickly, then."

K'yasu begins the process of ushering the first fed towards the exit, "To the barracks with you guys."

Jyuin nods to Seihin and Nokoru. He'll go wherever they're going.

Caraline gently prods Lilleth to a semblance of coherence, leading the drooping queen towards the aforementioned exit.

Memnarth is done eating and ready to fall asleep any minute now. He practically doses off every now and then and then suddenly wakes up, looking around, not sure where he is.

Tilzath tries to eat slowly, although he doesn't really manage it all that well.

From the galleries, Zyrrian stomps out, bevy following.