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, Weyrleaders/dragons, K'yasu, and Nagisa

Tarr steps onto the sands with his usual shuffle.. which is soon altered to a fast high stepping as the heat makes its way through his sandals. He stops in front of Lilleth and manages a half bow, before heading nearer to the galleries. Safer there.

Lilleth rises at the entrance of the Candidates, her throat swelling with the hum that is erupting from inside. She stares at the incomers, pacing behind her eggs. Occasionally, she glares up at the bustling galleries, but most of her attention is on those whitethings.

Caraline looks over with an expression of supreme relief as the candidates begin to stream in. Assured of their presence, she turn her attention back to the Lilleth and the eggs, watching them intently.

Maciah dips a more or less graceful bow to Lilleth as she hustles through the sands to join the half-ring of candidates that's forming.

Sabin bows to Lilleth as politely as can be, then joins the loose half-circle of Candidates.

Qiesen gives a careful bow and walks over toward Maciah.

Zandira fallows along behind the other candidates, pausing when she reaches an out of the way place and bows respectful to the clutch sire dand dame and there riders. She steps forward, joining in the semi circle of candidates and looks at the eggs before them..so this is it.

Sylvera lifts her chin as she steps onto the sands, her quick stride swiftly devolving into that mincing step favored by anyone on the sands. She sketches a bow as the others in her group catch up with her.

Trisqam shuffles onto the sands behind several other candidates. His eyes are wide open, a flicker of excitment running through him he shivers reaching in front of Lilleth and stops. His bow is deep and respectful before he turns and takes up a position amid the growin circle of candidates.

Nokoru keeps his eyes warily on Lilleth, moving with the rest of the group to take a place in the currently rather crowded semicircle.

Flowery Unusual Egg is just sitting there amongst the other eggs. It's just there. It's not doing anything exciting, so don't think there's any point in picking it out with your eyes. Boring boring. Look somewhere else.

Tyvarre steps out onto the sands, nervously, trailing behind some of the other candidates. Quick but respectful bow is given to the clutchparents and their riders, before she shuffles off to join the loose semi-circle.

B'ran takes a step towards Caraline, reaching over to give her hand a squeeze. He smiles at her reassuringly before turning his attention, like everyone else, to the eggs.

Winifred shuffles into place toward the far end of the half-circle, taking a spot near some of the younger candidates.

Well fine. DON'T look at Flowery Unusual Egg. See if it cares. Hmf.

Tarr doesn't look at the egg. Nope, not him. His eyes are firmly fixed on his feet.

Lilleth suddenly lowers her head, stopping her humming to rumble softly, toward the Candidates. Its not threatening, exactly. But she doesn't seem too impressed yet, either.

Amongst the other rocking eggs, the Dots and Dashes Egg decides to make a break for it, rolling away from the others at a breakneck pace -- the pace continues for only a few seconds before the shell entirely breaks apart, leaving the hatchling within rolling along herself. The little green so suddenly dumped onto the sands comes to a halt at the feet of a dolphineer boy, and he reaches down to help her up with a brilliant smile. "I don't think anyone was watching," he reassures her. "Not at all, Kagoeth."

Trisqam is on the sands, but now what? Watching hatchings is one thing but being here gives him a whole new perspective. His gaze shifts down the line of candidates, his feet picking up as the heat begins to soak through the thin leather sandals and then there's the eggs, and their mother...he swallows.

Caraline walks over and gently lays her hand on Lilleth, looking up at the gold with a comforting smile.

Tyvarre's eyes dart around the sands, nervously, shifting from egg to egg. At the golden dragon's rumble, she startles a little, but warches her respectfully. That is, until the first egg hatches, to reveal a green. Smile. First Impression.

The Flowery Unusual Egg stays completely still amongst the rocking eggs. So there.

Zandira is wide eyed for the first time in her life, or for a very long time. Eyes moving about from one egg to another. She blinks at the suddenness of the hatchling coming and impressing, feeling a small hand slip into hers she looks down and smiles at a young candidate. "Fast..arent they?"

Don't think that the Flowery Unusual Egg is going to move. Because it's not. It's just going to sit here.

Sylvera blinks at the speed of the first impression as she stands next to her friend Sabin. Her eyes rove the clutch as she lifts a sole off the sands to ease it slightly. THen switches to the other.

Well OK, maybe Flowery Unusual Egg /will/ move. But just once. So look impressed.

Qiesen watches the first impression silently, just giving a smile when the former dolphineer comes up for air.

Sabin looks over cautiously at the flowery egg. It moved? Oh! It moved!

The Flowery Unusual Egg has to move AGAIN?!? Well fine. There. Watch out for those shards flaking everywhere!

Tarr can't help looking up as he sees the lad impress the green. A shrug, and his eyes go back down to his feet. With perhaps just a tiny sideways flick to the non-moving egg.

Nokoru keeps his eyes on the eggs, mainly, and dragonets once they begin hatching, rather than the other candidates.

Enough of the moving already! The Flowery Unusual Egg shatters into a million pieces, spilling a Sundappled Forest Green onto the sands. Happy now??!?

As though the gentle midmorning sunshine has suffused a well-tended garden in golden sunlight, this green's lush gold-bathed hide is imbued with the radiance of healthy foliage. Deep forest green trails down her gently-arching neck-ridges, melding with mellifluous emerald haloed by an amber nimbus, which warms to glorious hues over her wingsails, mimicking the very sunbeams that warm this peaceful grove. Her gently rounded flanks are as aestheticly moulded as carefully-pruned rose-bushes, the golden variegation over them reminiscent of the blooms. Vines of ivy curl in elaborate spirals up and around her legs, breaking off in tiny shoots here and there, and clinging to the delicate ivory of her underbelly.

Tyvarre , now that Impression has occured for one, allows her eyes to wander once more, this time resting on the Flowery Unusual Egg. Move or not move. That's the question. Riddle is solved as it shatters, spilling a forest green hatchling to the sands. With an appreciative 'o', she nudges the candidate next to her. "Beauty, yes?" she asks, though her eyes don't turn to look at the subject of her speech. The nudged candidate doesn't stand, just smirks.

Sabin ohs softly, even as he takes an unconscious half-step back.

Sundappled Forest Green does a clumsy but very happy little dance. She did it! She looks down at herself, appearing to be quite impressed what she sees. She extends a wing to one side. Perfect. Another. Perfect. All perfect. And oh oh oh! What's that over there?

Xaarynnh finds her place - that is, a place where she's out of the way and won't cause undo attention to herself - and tries to avoid any eyes directed towards her.

Lilleth resumes humming, happily watching the hatchings of her daughters. She croons encouragingly to them, motioning with her head toward the ring of candidates.

Caraline just grins as she watches the green just shelled. "Lilleth, look!" she points, as if the gold wasn't looking already.

Tarr glances up at the green once more, his upper lip curling as he sees her unfurl her wings. But he's not smiling. Nope.

Sylvera looks at the second green to hatch, a smile on her features still, even as her hair starts to get a little bit more frizzy in the heat, her face sweaty. A hand instinctively rises behind Sabin, as if she was making sure he didn't trip and fall.

Trisqam misses the first hatching, so quick his roaming eyes catch the second, another green. He shuffles, but that doesn't take his gaze from the green for even a second.

The Teddy Bear Picnic Egg trembles slightly.

The Teddy Bear Picnic Egg begins to shiver markedly, though no cracks appear.

Zandira arches an eyebrow, watching the greens little dance. She cant help a soft chuckle and squeeze to her fellow candidates hand. Pursing her lips as she watches the dragon admire her own perfection, wincing a little and shifting from one foot to the other, trying to avoide the sand coming in about her sandles.

The Teddy Bear Picnic Egg begins shaking and shuddering in turn, yet still the hatchling is unable to break or even crack it.

The Teddy Bear Picnic Egg starts to spin wildly, bouncing almost as if storm-tossed. A small crunching sound indicates that the imprisoned dragonet may have finally gained the needed purchase.

Nokoru spots his sister and edges over in her direction, flashing Xaarynnh a faint smile. "Nervous?" His gaze flickers frequently to the dragonets, so as not to miss any that might be heading that way.

Chips fly off of the Teddy Bear Picnic Egg and hairline cracks widen until finally a small blue form is flung onto the sands.

Delicate pale blue, the kind which colors the high sky on freezing days, also colors this small dragonet. Like the sky, though, there are some variations; subtle shadings of increasingly lighter blue wash over him from his midsection on up, segueing into a chalky tint near his upper extremities. Flurries of white speckles fleck the tips of his ridges, swirling as if wind-driven down to the tip of his tail. His wings are darker, yet not opaque; the effect which would occur when looking through a window at the brooding grayish-blue clouds which portend the fiercest of winter storms. Meanwhile, eyes with the deadly beautiful ferocity of fire whirl urgently, a beacon home in the storm.

Sundappled Forest Green prances over to a bunch of girls, showing off happily. Just LOOK at her! Look! Isn't she lovely? But they don't appear to be /quite/ right. Hm. She prances over to yet another girl. Nope. Oh well...

Qiesen looks from the lovely green to the newly hatched blue, and murmurs plaintively to Maciah "How are we supposed to keep track of everythint at once?"

Twelve Dancing Ladies Egg wiggles a bit. It's not about to be outdone by the others. Besides, it's hot!

Tyvarre watches the green pass her by, hatching of the blue barely noticed. Hopeful icy-blue eyes follow the dragonet in her motions, a light sigh escaping as she's looked over.

Sabin's nervousness falls away in the commotion. He looks back to Sylvera with a grateful smile, just in time to see the wintry blue break shell. So much for concentrating...

Winter Sky Hatchling lies there, stunned, for a few moments, before stumbling to his feet.

Xaarynh smiles shallowly at Nokoru. Someone at least she doesn't have to avoid, although she looks a bit like she wishes she were inside an egg herself.

B'ran just stares, transfixed by the hatchlings suddenly breaking shell everywhere. "Oh, Cara, look at the blue. He's perfect."

Sundappled Forest Green scoots up to a young boy and butts at him. Oooh! He fell over! What a fun game! She dances off.

Maciah grins at Qiesen, as baffled as the other girl. "I don't know. But it's rather fun to try, don't you think?" She steps to one side as another green barrels by.

Zandira looks from green to blue, then back and forth, smiling and leans down to whisper to her little fellow candidate, "Handsome fellow..isn't he?" She says in soft tones, not trying to attract any direct attention.

Tarr looks up from his feet. But not to the dragonets on the sands, oh no. Nor the rocking eggs. His eyes scan the galleries, and latch onto his sister. He swallows once, and then it's back to those fascinating sandals of his.

Sylvera looks between the green and the blue, her head not shifting, but her eyes bouncing back and forth to look at each. She hisses faintly as she shifts her weight again, easing one foot.

Tyvarre, since she seems so devoted in tracking the green's every move, gracefully as the are, watches the green nudge a boy over, and can't help but emit the slightest chuckle at her antics.

The Twelve Dancing Ladies Egg gives a little shudder, then goes still. After a long moment of quiet, it abrubtly rolls over onto its side.

Sundappled Forest Green prances up to Tarr. Look at THIS. She prances around and around him. Around and around and around. This really is a lot of fun. And isn't he lovely?

Twelve Dancing Ladies Egg shivers and wiggles on the sand, digging itself deeper into the fine grains. Unable to roll now, a slow bulge begins to develop at the top.

Fine, tiny cracks begin to run down the side of Twelve Dancing Ladies Egg, starting at the bulge at the top. It looks as if it will shatter completely at any moment.

Winifred points out the blue to a boy she's standing with, and chuckles as he yells excitedly. "Shh, don't startle them. They're skittish before they impress, and they don't really know how big they are."

Nagisa stands out of the way on the edge of the sands, one arm wraped around her midesection, the other hand fanning ineffectually at her face. "At least they're all hatching at once. Is it always this fast?" she asks K'yasu. "It didn't seem like it when I was standing."

Twelve Dancing Ladies Egg goes totally still, even the bulge at the top disappearing. One small flake of shell breaks off and falls to the sand.

Tarr stares. Sandals. Sand. And.. green? /Prancing/ green?

Without any further movement, Twelve Dancing Ladies Egg seems to collapse into a heap around the Winter Starlight Blue Hatchling, leaving him to look around with confusion.

Midnight blue, a master's mix of the darkest of night lightened only by icy starshine, flows and swirls across the lithe body of this hatchling. The shading is vivid and unbroken, only starting to falter as it is overcome by a color that can only be described as silvery moonlight shining off new fallen snow. This shimmering iciness lines the outside of the hatching's delicate wings, sculpted tail, and climbs up his throat to encircle regal headknobs. This hatchling is very well proportioned for just having cracked shell. It might be noted that his wings are a bit large and ungainly when extended, and that his tail is just slightly to big for his body, but really, those things just add to his charm. A pair of eggs collide in their pre-hatching frenzy, shattering both shells and leaving a dazed little brown and blue staring at each other across the remains of their shards. After blinking for several long seconds, each moves in a separate direction, seeking a lifemate and eventually finding the perfect match. Winter Sky Hatchling creels, the sound plaintive and lonely, like a desolate wind whipping in a blizzard. He begins forward, however, stumbling toward a group of candidates.

Trisqam watches as more hatchlings make their way onto the sands. He looks betwee green and blue, blue and green and then another blue! Oh...he sighs tryign to keep track of them all.

Caraline is bouncing from foot to foot, more from excitement that the heat, really. "B'ran, just /look/ at all of them!!"

K'yasu nods, "It's like a sea of confusion isn't it?" He has a kind smile for a new pair as they approach.

Sylvera's eyes go wide, and a small ooo is heard as her eyes alight on the latest blue to hatch, but she then flicks her glance at the green and the other blue, then her gaze returns to the darker blue.

T'rian swallows. And looks rather overwhelmed. "Umm.. Yes Caileath. You.. you can dance. And eat. And..." his voice trails off as he sinks to his knees and hugs the little green. And that is definitely a smile on his face.

Sabin remembers, this time, to talk. "Pretty, isn't he... Oh! Oh, no! Look at Tarr!" What follows is probably, arguably, laughter.

Winter Sky Hatchling is actually moving toward Sabin and Sylvera. Just before he reaches them, he takes a spill, plowing through the sand and looking up at both imploringly.

Sundappled Forest Green butts at T'rian. Butt. Butt. Butt.

Winter Starlight Blue Hatchling very carefully steps away from the shattered remains of his former home. He arches his neck back to look up at Lilleth, coming alarmingly close to toppling over backwards.

Zandira takes a deep breath, maybe if she just steps behind the little girl none of the hatchlings will see her. No..that wont work she is to small. She snaps her head about and narrows eyes at Tarr, chuckling sfotly as the green dances around him. "Congradulations!" She calls out to him and grins, her eyes moving back to the blue.

T'rian moves backwards at the butt, giving the little green some space. He's still looking very dazed.

Lilleth leans down toward the little blue, rumbling sweetly, encouragingly.

Nokoru rakes his fingers through his hair, and his eyes widen a bit as he sees Tarr -- T'rian -- impress. "That's two of our siblings now who're greenriders. Think we should hope for green too?" he says to Xaarynnh, sotto voce, before calling his congratulations over to his half-brother.

Tyvarre smiles at the green and her choice, calling out a congratulations to the new pair before her gaze shifts back to the eggs ahead of her. Whoa. Okay, maybe eggs and blue dragonets. The triplet of blues are looked over with an examining eye, before she looks past them, at the eggs as yet unhatched.

Sylvera flicks a glance at Sabin, hesitating, taking her own step back this time.

Bouncy Toy Egg trembles. Just a bit, at first. then is quiet again. Wait. Did it really move?

Nagisa smirks at K'yasu before she moves away from him to join the growing gang of weyrlings feeding their dragons. "Not so fast," she murmurs to one girl, reaching out to slow her hands down. "He's not starving, even if he claims he is."

Winter Starlight Blue Hatchling croons softly to Lilleth before staightening and peering out across the sands. He seems to be looking for someone as he solemnly contemplates his next move.

S'bin's laughter trails off as he turns, a look of shocked, pleased disbelief on his face, to see what's in front of him. "Me, Vesoth? You really mean me?" The other side of that merriment is the tears that are suddenly gleaming in his eyes as he kneels down to throw his arms around the blue's neck.

Xaarynh blushes a little at Nokoru's suggestion, and doesn't seem sure whether she should nod or shake her head. She opts for just staring at T'rian for a good, long moment, then looking away at the hatchling again. Does her expression look maybe a little more hopeful than before?

Sundappled Forest Green does something that might appear to be a little dance, if it didn't end with her falling in a heap.

T'rian stiffles a giggle. T'rian? Laugh? Yep, sure enough. And gently helps the little green back to her feet. "Come on Caileath. There's food. Over this way."

A tiny shudder runs through the Bouncy Toy Egg. Or maybe it was just an illusion.

The Bouncy Toy Egg shudders again, hard enough to make a tiny bulge appear. Then it disappears just as quickly.

Several more bulges appear and disappear in the Bouncy Toy Egg, increasing in force until the egg makes a little hop.

Sylvera smiles as Sa... S'bin steps forward, a quiet smile for her friend, then she returns her attention to the rest of the clutch, that other blue out there, the eggs which are rocking.

The Bouncy Toy Egg hops a few more times, and cracks are becoming visible along its surface.

Winifred doesn't call any congratulations, not expecting them to be heard, although she tries to note each impression. As the half-circle starts to thin out, she herds the group she's with closer to the rest of the candidates.

K'yasu calls to a few of the new weyrlings, "Tarrian, Sabin... congratulations. Come on over."

Winter Sky Hatchling croons softly as S'bin helps him up, then gives him a proper nuzzle.

Maciah pushes her hands through her hair, moving back some of the strands that stick to her face as she watches the chaos that engulfs the sands.

Winter Starlight Blue Hatchling makes a straight path for one particular candidate. His balance isn't great, but he manages to wobble across the sands with a minimum of fuss.

Bounce, bounce, bounce. In its eagerness to get out of its shell, the hatchling inside the Bouncy Toy Egg causes it to bounce several feet across the sand. Then the egg explodes suddenly in a flurry of shards, leaving the Goofy Green Hatchling standing on the sands.

Two colors make up this little hatchling's hide: green, and lighter green. Dark green, the color of a forest in deep summer, begins at the tip of her snout, moving down her long neck. At her shoulders it blends with a lighter, more yellowish green, until it becomes a solid stripe of the yellowish color. Then it blends again, going back into the dark green. This pattern continues across her small back and down her tail, ending once more in the dark green. The two colors swirl across her damp wings, but another color is added to give her wings a shimmering, iridescent look.

B'ran grins at Caraline, then goes back to watching attentively.

Trisqam looks over at Sabin...S'bin? and the blue at his feet. Perhaps feeling a little overwhlemed he shifts closer to anothe rcaniddate, finding support standing with him and looks back out to the hatchlings still searching for their lifemates.

Zandira slips her free hand into a..slip slip, there is no pocket there to slip it into. She frowns slightly and then gives a slight shrug, casual and calm for all but nervouse underneath the tough exterior. She watches the dragonets progress to there lifemates, smiling with each impression.

Goofy Green Hatchling stands there, shaking her head for a moment, trilling noises escaping her and sounding a great deal like laughter. Then she peers about, not quite hopping as she stands there. Where to, where to....oooh, look at those! She charges toward the ring of whitethings, that trilling laugh-type noise preceding her.

S'bin looks up at K'yasu, blinking at the words -- spoken; how inefficient! -- before helping Vesoth over to the side of the Sands.

Vesoth follows, becoming steadier by the moment, but still leaning against S'bin.

Winter Starlight Blue Hatchling comes to a stop right in front of Sylvera and peers up at her.

Tyvarre allows her eyes to dart some more, icy blue catching almost every movement in her search across the sands. Blues are noted, as the eggs behind them are. Yet the third green catches her eyes faster and with more hold, so Tyv results in watching the goofy hatchling. Trill-laugh is chuckled at.

Sylvera looks down at the blue she had admired from afar. Without any further ado, or regard for her knees, the girl falls to them, staring, her jaw seeming plopping down into the sands with her. Words fail her as she stares and stares. "T... Tirdrioth... oh, at last... I understand. Tirdrioth!" she shouts in joy suddenly, very off key.

Maciah finishes fussing with her hair, holding it back away from her face with one hand now as she dances from foot to foot. "This is all so exciting," she murmurs to anyone nearby. "I'd watched before, but.."

Nokoru looks down the shrinking semicircle, shifting from foot to foot. "Is there anybody you want to go stand with?"

Tirdrioth croons happily as he nuzzles Sylvera.

Goofy Green Hatchling goes charging about the sands, tearing up to one group of Candidates, bouncing and moving about the girls, who can't help but giggle at her antics. But no, they aren't it, and she just continues moving, looking, searching. Giggling.

Zandira takes another deep breath, narrowing her eyes a little over the heat of the sands. She looks about and pauses watching the happy little green bounce along her way. Its hard not to crack a smile while watching one with such joy as that.

Sundappled Forest Green just LOOKS at T'rian. She's splayed on the ground. She bats her eyelashes.

Sylvera puts her arms around the most beautiful blue, no, the most beautiful dragon on Pern!

Winifred points out the energetic green, but the boy who was so enthusiastic about the blues makes a face. "Well, how about browns?" "Browns are okay. Blues are better."

Xaarynh assumes that Nokoru is speaking to her. She looks back at the other candidates as well, considers, then shakes her head without saying anything. She's fully aware of the numberof eyes staring in their general direction. But she does at least smile at Nokoru in gratitude for the invitation.

Trisqam shakes his head watching the goofy green. "That one's..." he doesn't quite find a word to match but the candidate next to him seems to understand nodding in reply. "Yeah, interesting."

Caraline reaches over and grabs B'ran's hand as she watches the hatchlings impress. Each new pair gets a happy cheer, whether they hear it or not.

T'rian looks at the sprawling green, his face almost unrecognisable, it's so happy. He bends down and helps his lifemate to her feet. "Come on. Slowly. Food's that way. And yes, of course I'm excited."

Feline in the Hat Egg shivers ever so slightly. So slightly, in fact, that someone would have to be observant to catch it.

Tirdrioth nudges Sylvera gently, his croon sounding a little more demanding.

Maciah dodges a rather zippy little blue, her eyes resting more often on the greens that stray near. The goofy giggling one, for instance, is hard not to watch.

Goofy Green Hatchling continues her charge about the sands, almost more amused by her trailing wings and lasing tail than anything else. She is moving so quickly that she almost doesn't understand that her feet can't move to keep up with her. Eek! Down she tumbles, lying at the feet of a girl. Oooh, look at her. She'll be perfect. Yes. Lots of fun just....She straightens, looking directly at Maciah. Hello!

Sylvera picks herself off the sands. "It's over this way... I just ate something, but suddenly I'm famished," she natters on to the wondrous Tirdrioth. "I'll help you over there, if you need." She walks slowly in the correct direction.

Sweet Gingerbread Egg sits there quietly amongst the other eggs, just cooking away. It's not doing anything until it's fully baked.

Sundappled Forest Green almost drags T'rian off his feet she's in so much of a hurry.

Tirdrioth leans against his wonderful, beautiful, perfect lifemate and hums softly at her kindness.

Feline in the Hat Egg falls over. Oops.

T'rian lets himself be dragged over to where the food is, shaking his head softly at the green's antics. "No, Caileath, this food's just for you. I don't want any. Really. It's.. umm.. raw."

Zandira looses the smal hand so tightly clutching her own, she watches the candidate move in with a group of younger girls and smiles softly, hands slipping around behind her back and clasping there as she watches. Eyes resting a moment on the Feline egg as it tips over and she winces slightly, does that hurt?

Maciah laughs out loud as she drops to her knees, reaching out to the giggling green. "Hello, Parabeth," she beams. "Of /course/ we can eat now." And with that, she scrambles to her feet again, leading the happy dragonet over to the other weyrlings.

The Sweet Gingerbread Egg seems just about done to a turn, and starts wiggling a little, letting everyone know it's ready to be taken out of the heat.

The wiggling turns to more determined rocking as the Sweet Gingerbread Egg tries to get someone's attention. It wouldn't do to be overbaked!

Sylvera grins as she half-supports her new lifemate over to the meat. "You hum better than I do."

Fine lines start to show all over the smooth surface of the Sweet Gingerbread Egg as it slowly starts to burn -- the crust just can't stay together any longer now that all the moisture is baked out of it.

Parabeth lets out a strange little squealing noise of delight, nuzzling Maciah repeatedly, her pleasure evident.

Sundappled Forest Green gives T'rian another tug.

The lines turn to cracks as the Sweet Gingerbread Egg starts to crumble apart. What a careless baker it must have.

The ruined mass of what was once the Sweet Gingerbread Egg falls apart altogether, a victim of the baker's sad neglect -- or perhaps just an overeager filling. The Distractible Shadowed Bronze hatchling which tumbles out appears quite unrepentant about the mess he's created.

Even when polished to within an inch of its life, bronze is not a metal which easily attains a glittering surface. That deep orange-brown color just doesn't flash or reflect the light as some others do. The hide of this hatchling is no exception, though his personal lack of glow seems more because he stands constantly in shadow. Flanks, nose, and the very end of his tail show evidence of the pure color underneath, but the remainder of his well-proportioned body -- from wingtips to belly to talons -- is draped in a veil of light purple-grey, darkening his hide almost to brown.

Caraline leans against Lilleth's side. "You and Memnarth definitely make beautiful babies, love."

Qiesen steps back from Maciah, watching until the candidate looks at her again and saying "Congratulations" when she does.

Winifred's group finally loses the blue-happy boy to, of course, a cheerful blue. Fred and the rest of the candidates sidle out of their way and crowd together toward the center of the sands.

T'rian takes a small piece of meat and hands it to Caileath. "It's perfect for you my love. Just for you. Now eat it /slowly/." Yeah, some chance.

Lilleth rumbles in satisfaction, far more relaxed now/.

Tyvarre blinks a few times, head shaken to clear her mind. New weyrling pairs are peered at, as are remaining eggs and dragonets, before Tyv starts to worry at her robe.

Caileath snarfs the meat. Slowly? What's that?

Zandira turns attention to the splitting egg, here comes another, eyebrows shoot up at the sight of the bronze and she smiles faintly. She looks back toward the feline egg, obviously just a bit distracted, her attention being pulled in so many directions all at once.

K'yasu helps the new weyrlings get properly fed, inspecting each arriving pair for injuries. He tries to pick up the dragon names by listening carefully, but their lifemate's new names are going to take a little longer.

T'rian hands her another piece. "Here you go. There's lots more. But you've got to chew it. Chew. That's those teeth things in your mouth."

Distractible Shadowed Bronze Hatchling looks at the shattered egg with some satisfaction. He showed /it/. And now look at what he's found! Making quietly happy noises to himself, he attempts walking, getting the hang of it after a few stumbling steps.

S'bin murmurs to Vesoth. "Slow down. You can eat your fill, but not all in the first two minutes."

Nokoru just nods back at Xaarynnh, "We're fine over here. Out of the main traffic, too." He turns back to scanning the sands, keeping a wary eye out for any hatchling that wants to head their way, and wipes at his forehead. "It's hotter than I remembered."

Tirdrioth looks up at Sylvera adoringly, although his attention is definitely pulled towards the food.

Feline in the Hat Egg is silent and still one moment, shivering violently the next. It seems as if the occupant has awakened to all the excitement going on around it.

Rock, rock, shiver, shiver. That's Feline in the Hat Egg, starting to look a little frantic. But the surface of the egg still appears to be smooth and pristine.

Uncaring Sand Egg blends into the sands around it. Nothing interesting to see here.

Trisqam looks relieved that the goofy green has found her lifemate. The next hatchling is pointed out to him "He's beautiful, well they all are. Lookit that egg rock..." he winces, the price of forgetting his feet and resumes his shifting from one to the other, watching between rocking eggs and walking hatchlings.

With a faint popping sound, a large crack begins to run down the middle of Feline in the Hat Egg, from top to bottom. There's another violent shiver, and then it stills, almost as if resting up for another onslaught of frenetic movement.

Feline in the Hat Egg shakes tentatively, but the sand piled around it keeps it from toppling over. One more shake sends a multitude of fine cracks sliding down its surface, from top to bottom.

Sylvera proffers her Tirdrioth his first bite to eat, carefully trying to pace it, even though she must feel the same urgency, putting a hand on her own rumbling belly.

A flake of the Feline in the Hat Egg falls to the sands, quickly followed by several more large piece of shell. Then, without further ado, Joyous Ebullient Brown Hatchling pokes his head through the opening, looking around with interest. He looks quite comical, sitting there with only his head poking out of the egg. This pose only lasts for a moment, though, before the rest of the shell shatters around him. A rich, swirling cacophany of shades from palest beige to deepest loamy brown flood over the hide of this hatchling. From his long neck to an absurdly short tail, his hide is the darkest, lightening considerably under his large, delicate looking wings. The shading over his sculpted headknobs is klah with cream, flowing down his back to melt into the depths of color that grace his underbelly.

Caileath munchmunchmunchmunchsnarf! Chew? The IDEA!

T'rian crouches down in front of Caileath, a piece of meat in his hands. He moves his jaw in exagerated circles. "Look. Watch me. See? Chew. That's why you've got teeth. Now try with this." He holds the meat out to the eager green.

Distractible Shadowed Bronze Hatchling comes to a halt all at once, lifting up his foot and examining the crunchy sand that clings to his still damp hide. Hmm. He steps with more caution now, shoving each foot into the sand, getting more of the warm stuff on him at every step. He soon tires of that game, though, so it's fortunate that he approaches the candidates at that time.

Uncaring Sand Egg flops over on its side, moving it even farther away from the other eggs.

Xaarynh nods quietly, and gives Nokoru another of her guarded smiles. She even speaks, finally: "Thank you."

Zandira catches her breath as the new hatchling bursts from he egg, each one is so exciting. But of course the surprised expression on her face leaves replaced by a pleasent calm as she continues to watch over the hatchligns.

Tirdrioth tries to take the meat delicately, but he's /so/ hungry. And the bit is gone before he even tasted it. He holds his mouth open hopefully.

Uncaring Sand Egg shudders slightly, hopping it farther away from the rest of the clutch. Not that it cares.

The Uncaring Sand Egg bounces obviously. So what if people see?

Joyous Ebullient Brown Hatchling picks himself up out of the remains of his shell, and gives himself a good, hard shake. His head darts from side to side, and suddenly takes off in the direction of one of those fascinating white things.

As the Uncaring Sand Egg bounces about, pieces of its shell are left behind on the sands.

Several more pieces of shell flake off the Uncaring Sand Egg revealing a sticky membrane underneath.

The Uncaring Sand Egg shatters in an explosion of shell and the Regal Swirling Blue Hatchling is left standing on the sands, proud of his accomplishment.

Standing regally despite the pieces of shell falling from his hide, this hatchling is a massive swirl of colors, dominated by a deep, dark blue. He is colored as an artist's palette: midnight blue as the base, while pinks, purples, and reds are mixed throughout. Swirled within the splashes of color is a steady steaking of a multitude of blues. It's not just midnight blue, but also navy blue, cyan, ocean blue, and many others. His muzzle, wingtips, and the tips of his feet are edged in a light, ice blue that borders on white, as if someone left him out in the cold, and he found himself frosted. It's a sharp contrast given the sweltering heat of the hatching sands.

Sylvera has plenty where the first came from. "No inhaling it," she says to Tirdrioth with a laugh. "Taste it, /chew/ it. See? Look at Sa.. .S'bin over there. See how they're doing it?"

Vesoth gives Tirdrioth a muffled warble around a mouthful of food.

Regal Swirling Blue Hatchling takes his first regal steps towards the nearest white robe in front of him. He also regally trips over his tail and falls foward onto his face.

Nokoru slows down from trying to keep track of everything at once, wiping sweaty palms on the sides of his robe and sighing quietly. Pausing seems to make him anxious, and he takes a quick tally of the number of eggs and dragonets left, counting on his fingers.

Trisqam shifts between watching the hatchlings and the breaking eggs. He doesn't see any to close to him and focuses on a vivdly rocking egg, sighing as the blue emerges. "Amazing." he murmurs to himself and then glances at small group of candidates.

Tirdrioth swings his head around to peer at his clutchbrother. He warbles back at Vesoth then creels at his lifemate. He doesn't want to be rude, but he's /hungry/.

Zandira blinks a little, two, together? This is all happening so quickly, fingers twining and untwining behind her back, the only outward sign of any nervous activity going on within the young womans mind. Another slight shofel of her sandle coverd feet, easing the heat from foot sole.

Xaarynh continues shuffling her feet, grateful for Nokoru's company, even for as short a time as the hatching will last. Still she remains silent. It'll all be over soon, and then... well, she'll deal with that when it comes.

Joyous Ebullient Brown Hatchling skids to a stop in front of a boy,one of the younger candidates, who has his very long bootstring untied. He grabs the string in his teeth and takes off again, yanking the boy off his feet, and the boot off his foot, as he charges across the sands.

Sylvera is quick to replace any piece of meat scarfed by her lifemate, but she quietly insists, every time, that he slow down. "You'll get a tummy-ache, like the first time I ate all of my dad's bubblies..."

Regal Swirling Blue Hatchling picks himself up. Noone saw that. His head swings around from side to side making sure noone saw. He looks relieved at the lack of attention and takes a more careful step towards the white robes.

Distractible Shadowed Bronze Hatchling pushes past a pair of boys, having noticed something.. something hard to define.. past the main line. Before that though, he's distracted by a boy standing in front of him, one with dark hair. He stares for a moment, thoughtful, but snorts and moves on. Not quite.

Caileath watches T'rian in fascination. Oh? Her turn? MunchmunchmunchmunchSNARF!

Distractible Shadowed Bronze Hatchling moves right on by, finally coming to a satisfied and absolutely positive halt right in front of a pair of siblings.

T'rian gives a sigh of relief. "That's it. That's chewing. Here's another piece. Chew that one too, alright?"

Winifred can't resist giggling at the sight of the brown racing across the sands with the boot still in his mouth. "You'll have to ask his weyrling for it," she advises the poor boy.

Caileath inhales it. Hey, a lady's hungry!

Xaarynh's eyes go wide when she sees a brown dragonet pulling someone's boot around, but relief washes over her when she realizes there is no foot inside. Still, she stands a little closer to Nokoru. Safer that way.

Joyous Ebullient Brown Hatchling steps on the boot, and sends himself sprawling end over end. He picks himself up and abandons the boot, unaware of the embarrassed, uninjured owner who retrieves it. He lopes across the sand in search of more interesting things, stopping here and there to try and play with various candidates.

T'rian shakes his head. "Slowly Caileath, slowly. Please. Otherwise you'll get sick. And that won't be fun, I promise." He hands the hungry green one more piece of meat. Sheesh, who'd have thought Tarr'd be so.. well... pleasant?

Zandira narrows her eyes at the brown as he dashes away from the candidate with the boot. Now that cant be to comfortable, having to fall in the sands like that, with such lack of clothing. She gives a sympathetic sigh and then looks at the brown, so silly.

Trisqam shuffles uncomfortably and looks sympathetic for the candidate who's at least able to retrieve the boot. The browns a little more interesting to watch however and that's where Tris's attention goes.

Maciah feeds Parabeth quietly, though she keeps breaking into giggles now and then. It's really hard to say /exactly/ why.

Nokoru blinks several times, looking around rapidly before his gaze fixes on the.. dragonet.. in front of him. He breaks into a purely brilliant smile, murmurring, "You certainly did, Kuraeth. And of course you can have a snack." At least, once he remembers to move instead of just staring at the little bronze.

T'rian shakes his head. "Eating's fun. Being sick isn't. So please, try and chew?" He demonstrates again, making himself look really rather ridiculous. But somehow, he doesn't seem to care.

Caraline shakes her head at how quickly everything is happening. "It seemed to take forever when I was waiting for you, Lilleth. It /can't/ have happened this fast."

Caileath watches T'rian, once again fascinated, and mimicks his movements, sans food.

Parabeth just chews, her mouth opening and closing in cheerful exaggeration. As if she's putting on a show for her new lifemate.

Lilleth watches the action, rumbling thoughtfully.

T'rian laughs, shaking his head. "No, silly. You have to have /food/ in it." He shoves another piece of meat her way, and continues his imaginary chewing. "With this."

Kuraeth trumpets, startling himself (and probably Xaarynnh) with the loud noise as he bounds off in the direction his nose tells him food is located. Snacksnacksnack.

Regal Swirling Blue Hatchling gets it together. He figures out the regal stepping thing and heads looks intently at a large brown haired lad. No, much to large. He walks off towards another grouping of white robes.

Xaarynh's smile grows marginally, and she takes a step back to give Nokoru room. "Congratulations," she says quietly, eyes down towards the sand.

Zandira tucks a strand of slightly sweaty hair behind her ear and turns her gaze to the roving royal blue as he picks his way about the sands.

T'rian grins, his eyes totally lost in the green. "No, silly. This is /dragon/ food for you. And you have to chew it. I have other food." He pauses. "Cooked food."

S'bin looks up from feeding Vesoth long enough to welcome Nokoru over. "Congratulations to you too! ...No, Vesoth, you wouldn't like my sandals."

Joyous Ebullient Brown Hatchling bounds from candidate to candidate, but none are interesting enough. Then he spots someone that /is/. He lets out a high-pitched, triumphant croon, and barrels towards Xarrynnh, consequently knocking her over. He nuzzles ecstatically at her face and neck, making sounds like joyful whimpers.

Caileath looks all disappointed and stuff.

N'koru unfreezes, turning a piece of his smile on Xaarynnh before following Kuraeth toward food. Luckily they miss the barrelling brown as he passes. Stunned, he doesn't manage much of a reply to the various greetings he receives, but the smile still isn't fading. Does that count?

T'rian just waves the meat in front of her nose. "I'll eat later Caileath. Really I will. This is your time." That unfamiliar smile is still on his face.

Regal Swirling Blue Hatchling stops in front of the white robes and stares at each of them. He looks at one, and then another, and finally another. No, none of them. Wait, there's someone else there. Someone with red hair. He sits himself directly in front of Zandira.

Xaarynh was already on the defensive from that lound trumpeting, so when she's knocked over, she's ready to throw her arms up in front of herself to protect herself from being gored, such as she's able. It takes her a moment to realize she's not being torn limb from limb, but... nuzzled? Cautiously, she opens one eye. "Qui... Quillath?" Realization dawns. "Of... of course I love you!" This she almost shouts.

K'yasu has a smile for N'koru that's perhaps brighter than his ones for the other weyrlings. He says to everyone near him, "Not much longer and we'll go to the barracks and get everyone settled."

Eggs continue to hatch and the hatchlings continue to impress, until only one or two remain, and those are very close to falling apart.

Joyous Ebullient Brown Hatchling backs off enough for his Rynn to get up, his almost frantic joy causing him to dance around her.

Zandira blinks, a new light coming into her eyes and she drops down a little her attention fully on the blue as she trys to adjusts to the joined feeling and the voice in her head. "Emberith...oh my..yes of course you are. Lets go find you something.." Her hand reaches out toward the blue her eyes more gentle then ever before.

T'rian grimaces, as he tears off a very small piece of the raw meat, and places it in his mouth. And chews. He wrinkles his nose as he swallows. "There. See? Now you do it."

Sylvera beams happily down at her beloved Tirdrioth, feeding him carefully. "Yes, there's plenty more. No, you still have to chew. It's why you have teeth, my love."

Emberith stays where he is, just looking at Zandira.

N'koru covers his mouth with his hand to stifle his giggles. After a moment he manages, "No, she's not a snack. Let's get you something to eat."

Caileath looks impressed, and expectant.

Tyvarre sweeps a sweaty hand through slowly dampening blonde hair, before allowing it to drop to her side. New weyrlings are smiled at, each recieving a congratulations from her. With sad eyes, Tyv looks over the remaining eggs. Or hatchling.

Kuraeth skids to a halt when he comes to where the other small dragons are gathered, lifting his nose as he sniffs delicately. His keen observational powers reveal that the other hatchlings are getting quite a lot of service, so he opens his mouth too. That's where the food goes.

Trisqam shuffles watching a green wanders over theree and that brown to...he grins and seeks out the blue to find "Zandira!" he speaks his delight aloud, could it be? Yes. He grins and then looks back out at the sands where few eggs seems to be left.

T'rian hands the remainder of that piece to Caileath. "See? Chew. It's easy, really."

Zandira turns after a breaf touch with the dragon, turning, "This way I believe..." She pauses and looks down, soft chuckle escaping her, "Dont you think we should get out of the way?" Sencable as ever.

Xaarynh seems to have trouble finding her feet, and once she's found them, standing up again. She weaves almost drunkenly, spinning to watch the brown dragonet dancing around her. "Wait, slow down," she laughs, her expression brilliantly happy. Other candidates? Where? "Come on, there's food over there." Maybe that'll slow him down.

Vesoth eventually settles down next to S'bin, warbling happily to each new hatchling joining the group.

Emberith nudges Zandira gently with his muzzle.

Quillath slow down? Not hardly. He darts towards the food, back to Rynn, back to the food...And on and on, until she catches up.

Tirdrioth croons up to his new lifemate, then occasionally at the others of his clutch in between bites of his first meal. As the sharpest of the pangs go away, he can actually figure out this chewing thing.

Zandira purses her lips and ponders this as well, "Oh very well.." With a faint smile she moves off toward the edge of the sands, seaking meat for her dear Emberith.

Emberith sits where he is. Battle won. He has someone to serve him.

Xaarynh lifts up the edge of her robe so she doesn't trip on it, and chases after Quillath. She almost seems as excited as he does. Imagine that.

Nagisa finishes her brief conversation with another of the weyrlings before she heads over to N'koru and his open-mouthed little lifemate. "Congratulations," she adds to the general outpouring.

N'koru gets a piece of meat to give to Kuraeth, advising, "You have to tear it with your teeth first before you swallow it, or you won't feel well later." He's heard enough of the others giving that warning that it's sunk in.

Tyvarre tugs at her robe, seeming to just now notice that it may be a little too short. Nervous smile curves the roseate upwards, yet to the side, as she looks between the remaining candidates.

Caraline sighs as the last hatchling finds its lifemate. She glances around at the sand littered with broken shells and lets out a deep breath. Probably of relief that it's over.

Kuraeth obediently sinks his teeth into the meat and chomps it two whole times before he sucks it down.

Caileath nibbles at her food. She's not that hungry any more. But what's this? Buuuuuuuuuurp!

Qiesen sighs softly, giving a longing look toward those who impressed, then looks to see who else is left.

B'ran gives Caraline's hand a squeeze, and smiles at her. "Glad it's over?" he asks her. Memnarth surveys the new weyrlings, and snorts in satisfaction.

T'rian makes a face as he steps back. "See? You ate too fast. No more for now, dear. Really."

Zandira snags up as much meat as she can capture in her hands and moves back to Emberith, sinking down and offering some of the meat out to him, "This what you wished for?"

Quillath actually sits down when Rynn joins him at the food, and creels hungrily, just in case she forgot what they're doing here. Then he opens his mouth to recieve any offerings from his new lifemate.

Emberith chomps hungrily at the meat, gulping it down with little regard for chewing.

Sylvera continues feeding Tirdrioth until the latter lets out a very nice belch like Caileath did. "Told you," she says with an amused smile.

Xaarynh does indeed know what to do. She almost seems rehearsed on the matter. Meat is offered to Quillath, with an admonishment not to eat too fast, and chew, just like the others got.

Caileath buuuuuuuuuuuuuurps again delightedly. What fun!

S'bin quietly strokes Vesoth's head. "They're drying fast. Don't worry. I'm sure there will be oil for you in just a few minutes."

N'koru sighs, "That's a start, but chew it longer next time. And she's right here," he adds, giving Nagisa a rather distracted grin. He hands Kuraeth another piece of meat, reminding him again, "Don't swallow it so fast."

Zandira grunts softly, "You know..I could get the food into you faster if you sat over there.." She motions with her hand to wher the meat is located. "I wouldnt have to walk back and forth and could still serve you.."

Caileath burps a little tune. Someone's enjoying this.

T'rian pats Caileath's back. "Easy now." But he can't seem to stop smiling. Someone else is having fun too it seems.

Emberith considers Zandira's words and then moves slowly, and regally towards the food. If he must.

Caraline makes her way over to the candidates left standing on the sands. She smiles sympathetically at them. "You're all invited to join us for the feast. If any of you have decided to stay on at the weyr, just come find me in the morning and we'll talk. Of if you'd like to go home, let me know and we'll work that out, too."

Tyvarre purses her lips slightly, watching the new weyrlings and their lifemates as they feed or watch. Eyes spread over the sands, looking over the shards, before Caraline makes her way over. Catching the goldrider's voice, neck snaps towards her, and she nods. "Alright." is the quiet-like reply.

Trisqam shuffles. No more eggs, no more hatchlings he looks at the weyrleaders before looking at teh group of weyrlings picking those he knows out of the group. He sighs, but not regretfullyy nor dissappointedly and turns to smile at the Weyrwoman. "Like any other place would have me."

K'yasu looks around for Nagisa. Once he's spotted her, he addresses the weyrlings, "Alright, we'll be going to the barracks now. There's more food there if it's needed."

Qiesen nods numbly.

Winifred begins to move toward the clearing, talking quietly with the remainder of the younger group she was with.

Kuraeth examines both Nagisa and K'yasu with some curiousity, at least in between bites. Especially when K'yasu leaves -- that's definitely interesting.

T'rian pats Caileath gently. "Come on. We've got to follow him."

S'bin gets shakily to his feet. "Come on, Vesoth. Let's go."

Caileath keeps burping a song all the way.

Sylvera looks up from stroking Tirdrioth's quickly-drying hide. "Let's go," she says quietly, happily, her eyes shining.

N'koru nods to his lifemate, "Let's go. You'll get to see where we're going to live."

Nagisa allows K'yasu to go first, hanging back in wait for the stragglers to get moving. "I'll talk to you again in the barracks, N'koru."

N'koru gives a nod to Nagisa, still looking somewhat overwhelmed, and heads for the clearing with his lifemate.

Need a recap? The check out the Hatching Records for a list of the PC hatchlings, and who they Impressed.