i w i l l s u r v i v e. || Sereldeth's Hatching

[Lirael]

"Daromir!" Turlough's shocked whisper made the offending candidate realise that he'd upset the other boy. He hadn't meant to. Daromir had honestly wanted to see how his friend (as he now thought of the other boy) was doing. The Hatching was a rather stressful experience for everyone, it seemed, and he rather wished he hadn't moved, now. The magnificent queen didn't seem to appreciate his moving from his place and talking. Daromir just caught Turlough's reply to his query before Sereldeth moved too, and- Oh? The other boy was leaving, with a dragon, it seemed! Well good for him! Daromir would have grinned if Sereldeth hadn't been looming over him.

He wondered if it was his fault- or was that too presumptuous? To think that his actions could affect a dragon, and a gold at that. But then again... had he been disrespectful? He didn't really know how one was supposed to behave at a hatching, besides bowing. And he didn't think that would really help, now. Perhaps the gold would see it as too little, too late. And he didn't want to be any more disrespectful than he had apparently already been.

As the dragon in question roared furiously at the candidates, Daromir forced himself not to step backwards and stood up straighter. If he was going to die, at least it was a better way to die than being infected by VT. Zombies just... weren't right, and dragons were simply glorious. Of course he was scared, terrified even, he wasn't too proud to admit that. But if he was going to die, he'd far rather be eaten by Sereldeth than become a zombie. At lest that could somehow be construed as an honourable death.

Of course, while Daromir was focused on the queen, the hatching was continuing. Eggs were hatching as if spurred on by their mother's roars. And some had hatched before, unnoticed by him. The white dragonet Turlough had Impressed, and a bronze. And now another strange black, not unlike the earlier hatchling, but this time a female. These events increasingly drew the candidate's attention, despite his believing that he was about to die. This exhibition of new life was too wonderful and fascinating for him to ignore by being absorbed by his own mortality. He wanted to see as much of it as possible, especially if he wasn't going to see the end of it! Ah, but he was determined not to be so self-absorbed from now on. He gazed resolutely and clutch and hatchlings, intent. The boy noticed the bronze run, falling on the way, towards the girls. But then the black dragonet caught his attention. She was stalking forwards, towards the candidates? No. Towards the egg that the bronze had fallen on. Daromir had assumed that whatever was within had been crushed along with its egg, but no. He could see that it was moving around now. But that didn't last long. The black snapped it's little neck. Poor little thing. Daromir was overcome with horror; he'd never heard of a hatchling purposefully killing one of its clutchmates before. Why? He simply couldn't understand. The poor little dragonet was lying limply in the sand, lifeless.

Now the black hatchling was weaving through the candidates, not too far from him. Daromir watched it warily. If it could kill its own sibling without provocation, he didn't want to let it out of his sight. He didn't suppose it would be adverse to mauling candidates. He noticed then that Sereldeth had withdrawn to her earlier vantage point, though still watching closely. He felt rather silly, then, for thinking that he was going to die. Not that he wasn't grateful to still be breathing. He thought he should apologise, after the hatching. Though perhaps that would be pushing his luck. Maybe he could apologise to the Weyrwoman? Daromir wasn't quite sure how to proceed. He wanted Sereldeth, and her rider, to know that he was truly sorry for his disrespect, but he wasn't sure what to do about it. He mused on this, watching the hatching and keeping a careful eye on the black dragonet.

[Reky]

Sereldeth, on edge as she was, was acutely aware of everything now. Her angrily whirling eyes snapped around the crowds before her like a predator, and every second she seemed to sink lower into her threatening, hunched stance. She growled deep in her throat. Everything was going wrong. Candidates were coming in late, being disrespectful, and her children were dying. She wanted to take all of her eggs back to herself and keep her babies away from the candidates. She didn't want them Impressing to latecomers. She didn't like any of them anymore. She didn't even like people who weren't Standing, or her dragon brethren. One in particular heard her angry call.

KOURTETH! she screamed. Yours will stop immediately! She wasn't herself. The usual subtle, manipulative, eerie calm her voice had on any other day was long gone. She was furious, and she let loose. Even if she hated Caeloran already for being late, she knew she couldn't stop her children from Impressing. If they didn't, they would die. I WILL KILL HIM if he does not let the girl go. And she wasn't joking. As she screamed at Kourteth, her maw hung open and her tongue flashed over her teeth. She looked so vicious, one couldn't help but imagine blood dripping from her terrible mouth.

The black loved it. She shrieked with delight and shoved into the nearest boy, Jakkin, raking her claw down his shin as she went. Then she darted away. She saw Aldernon, the next focus of gold Sereldeth's raging stare, and locked onto him. He was her next target. The problem was, though, she was beat to him. Something else was already there. A tiny gray dragonet had hatched and was winding between his legs, zipping around, lashing out with her tiny teeth and claws. She pierced his feet a couple times, and managed to put a fair amount of perforations in his one leg. Seeing the black coming, though, the little gray zipped away again, and was chased. The black was cursing her size; the gray was too fast.

With the black gone, the bronze moved in. He seemed confident enough, chest puffed up as if he was trying to completely forget his previous moment of fear. He'd had a good look at the boys and, fairly sure of his decision, made right for one. He strutted up to Jakkin. Everything was going fine for him -- that is, until the end, where he tripped and just nearly fell on Jakkin before righting himself.

Woah!

[/i] he squawked, righting himself. Oh, J'kinMine, forget Apolloth did that! Oh, dear, that's so embarrassing... Oh well. Whatever! Anyways! I'm still pretty... hm. Pretty what? A word, a word... Pretty great! Yes! I can't believe I forgot that word...[/i]



{c47816} - confident, social, not the swiftest, easily embarrassed

The tiny dusty rose egg finally shattered open, letting the little gray inside go. He was larger than the other two by a fair bit, and built more stocky and square. He was also the darkest of the three, and his veins were less prominent. He looked very healthy. He also looked very wise, by the way he sat there and simply observed the world. For quite a while, there was a lull in dragon activity. The black and female gray had come to a staring match, wings flared and bodies arched, and the male gray just kept sitting. Then, like fireworks, the mottled brown egg in the first row burst open as the green exploded into the world singing. She trilled a crystal clear note, and then another, and then pranced over to the male gray not far from her.

She sang to him, pranced circles around him, and told him how wonderful everything was. He replied calmly, carefully, and then rose with her still dancing around him. By the second step he took, the green had squealed in delight and ran off, meaning to beat him to the candidates. She stopped by running into the legs of a boy, wrapping herself around him. Luckily, he was strongly built and caught his balance, or else the two would have toppled over.

P'sey-Mine, P'sey-Mine! Duelth won the race! Look at him, he's all the way back there still! So slow! Duelth won, hee hee. Aren't you proud?[/i] Whistling a little tune, Duelth looked up at Hers, and conveyed her hunger. Stunned, the newly-named P'sey looked down at her, and then when she untangled from his legs, lead her off.



{1b2706} - musical, dances, makes everything a competition, social butterfly

The gray, alternately, took his time. He slowly made his way to the candidates, holding himself with proper posture, and proceeded to inspect each and every one of them, starting with the boys. He was unsure about all of them, though, and willingly moved onto the girls once he was done. Back near the eggs, the female gray had hissed devilishly and ran off again, leaving the black frustrated and angry, shrieking again. The male gray cast them both a thoughtful glance, before going back to inspecting girls. He seemed quite frazzled at one point, standing in front of one particular girl, like something about her had shocked him. Everyone else, he had just moved by systematically, but this girl... It took him a quick moment to figure it out. Then, he knew. She was His.

Salutations, Jubilee. I am Ianuth. Hmm... That girl moved away from you, you know. That one over there.[/i] He nodded to Aithbhre. I suppose she doesn't like you. And my sisters... they don't like each other, either! At least, I don't think so. I wonder why? Oh, Jubilee, can you get me food? All this thinking makes me tired.[/i]



{868686} - intelligent, great memory, nosy, scholarly

Amongst the ruckus the black and remaining gray were causing, the shining gold egg had begun to rock. So, too, had the brownish egg beside it and the fiery red one in front of it. The red one stopped momentarily. Then, with one great push, the brown dragonet inside freed himself and sighed, exhausted after that burst of effort. He laid down in bed of eggshell left and closed his eyes. Soon enough, he was asleep, and missed the anticipated hatching behind him. The gold pulverized her metallic egg and, as soon as she was exposed to the world, let out an angry, unhappy scream. Her eyes were on her two sisters. The gray stopped dead in her tracks, narrowing her eyes and shrinking, but the black just turned around and stared right back. The brown slept on.[/size][/blockquote]

[Zane]

Was that a... no, it couldn’t be. While having been watching so many of the dragons hatch, Jay’s gaze was uncontrollably transfixed on the little White. He was so fragile-looking, yet absolutely stunning, with his multi-coloured hide and his playful demeanour. Something was putting her off, although. Was it the fact that this dragonet seemed far too feminine to be a male? With a shift of position she extended herself forward to watch it walk about. Fascinating. Little white, shining light, wherever have you roamed? Shine your light, oh so bright, so you can lead us home. The little rhyme of sorts had her chuckling, not at all expecting what came next. As the Gold lashed out, Jay held her ground, completely frozen. Her eyes went wide and her heart thudded, but her mind knew enough not to run. There was nowhere to escape to, and there was no point in setting off the hatchlings by panicking. She didn’t think Sereldeth would attack them, but rather guessed at her anger being a show and nothing more. Of course, she didn’t feel like putting her life at risk for something she couldn’t be entirely sure of.

Glancing to the left of her, she just caught the White peeling off in the direction of the boys. ”So maybe it is a male...” she said quietly to herself, watching the impression with the first feel of envy that she’d had in a long while. She made a mental note to ask after the dragonet later on. Little did she know that she had helped to create the Gold’s angered state by not showing her respect to the clutchmother. It’s not as if she knew, although, for she’d missed out on the Candidate lessons that told her how to behave. Plus, to top it all off, she’d only just arrived. Jay was glad for her having calmed down, though she still looked displeased. The girl’s heart stopped racing, returning to a normal pace. Having been so focused on the Queen, out of the corner of her eye she saw the Black, and then heard the disturbing crunch of bones.

If her eyes had been wide when the Queen flared up, they were all the wider at the sight of the Black with the limp dragonet in her jaws. Was this really happening? What sort-of dragonet could kill its own clutchmate? She felt like screaming out, she felt like beating it, yet her logic continued to override her emotions. She would do the now dead dragonet no favours by getting herself killed along with it. She was sure that whomever the dragonet was meant for, a piece of them was dying inside. Somehow she couldn’t move past what she’d just seen, the cruelty, and the horror. It hadn’t been hers, had it? The thought appalled her all the more, and returned all of her anger. It was to the boys side that the black went, and she could not be gladder to get the horrid creature out of her sights.

The bronze that had hatched was a beautiful boy, and she wished that they impressed to girls. What a pairing that would be, one of legend, no doubt. She gave the bronze a smile, wondering if he’d even register it. Most likely not, and then he too was off to the boys’ side of the sands, not seeming at all intimidated by the murderous black. That left... well... this navy looking blue. She most certainly didn’t mind looking at him, he was a lovely shade. Why didn’t he too wander over to the boys? Was he waiting until that side of the sands felt less cluttered? He had been sitting there an awful long while it seemed. Maybe her perception of time wasn’t so great right now-there was far too much going on. She made a clicking sound, permitting her gaze to wander the stands. She wished there was at least one person she knew here, but no matter, she was social enough to get herself along just fine.

By the time she was just about done looking skyward, she felt something curling about her leg, making her freeze like the Queen had. The gentle croon that followed calmed her instantly. The voice that entered her head was beautiful, more beautiful than any voice she’d ever heard before. It was almost as if it was her voice, a voice she’d never known until now. She closed her eyes over, savouring the voice before looking down at the navy blue.
You’re mine, she said playfully, not seeming in the least bit surprised like the rest of the impressing Candidate’s. Like she’d thought previously, it was like his voice had been there all along. Almost like a lost friend returning to her once more.

~Your Forth would not dream of being anyone else’s. I knew it was you all along, I was just distracted by my clutchmate’s.~
I was distracted by them too, so no need for the apology. He uncurled from her leg, putting both of his forelegs on her own legs as to try and get closer to her face. She aided him by kneeling down. Her laughter filled his head, causing his eyes to whir a lighter blue.
~FoodMine?~ he asked hopefully.
Of course, how rude of me, to keep such a handsome boy waiting, she teased, hoping he felt as special as she did right now. The two were a perfect match, perfectly in sync as they headed over to the meat bowl side by side, ones stomach growling, only for another’s to growl right after!

~I could always share my food with you JaydenMine,~ Forth suggested, testing out his wings by extending them.
I’ll pass, but thank-you. I’m not so big on all things raw. His consideration was far too cute, how could she have ever expected to be so lucky? Thank-you Forth.
~For what Mine?~ he asked before being carefully fed his first chunk of meat.
~For just being you.~

[Purnip]

Expecting an attack from above, Aldernon was taken by surprise by the shock from below. It came to him as a blow when something very sharp around the edges clamped onto his calf, nearly disrupting his momentum enough to send him toppling head over heels. Instead, he cringed and jerked his leg ahead to see the scrambling dragonet clawing to keep it in place, jaws firmly secure into his flesh. The boy had given a yell that turned to a frustrated growl, trying to hide the fact that it really hurt and he was frightened beyond all belief and imagining. Even the young ones were attacking him! He should have never come out here. He should have stayed in his room and slept through the event. But he needed wings. He needed to find his brother someday, and nothing could get in the way of that.

It was looking grim when he did spot a black hulk charging towards him, eyes flashing with that hungry lust for blood. Aldernon didn't want to start defending himself against the tiny Gray, knowing for certain that he would evoke Sereldeth's wrath if he brought any harm to her babies, but if he didn't act soon, he would die by the hands of her children anyhow. He kept his leg still, despite the urge to kick free, remembering that a struggle might only encourage the brutal grip to tighten. In the meantime, he stood his ground, ready to take the brunt of the Black's tackle. He might die here, but he wasn't going to show off his fear in the end.

The Gray let go of him as the Black closed in--an opportunity Aldernon quickly took advantage of. He tried to sprint away, but a sharp pain shot up his leg every time it made contact with the ground. He didn't look down, or try to make a fuss, but it was evident from his expression that it hurt like hell and he was trying to get out of the way of danger. Teeth clenched, eyes filled with tears that burned from the effort to hold them, Alder had the choice of tending to his wounds on the sidelines or taking his place among the Candidates and try to Impress anyways, risking himself to infection.

When he made it to the group of standing males, he was panting heavily, but he defiantly turned to face whatever it was he missed while he was being mauled. More dragons were Impressing, but that damned Black and Gray remained. Aldernon wanted to see the extent of damage done to himself, in case he needed to wrap his wounds with anything. Though the pain was concentrated in his calf, he knew his toes were also damaged in the process by prickly claws. He did look down, unable to make out where the puncture wounds were with all the blood caked on him. He looked as if he just trudged through a swap of it. It hurt him to put weight on it, and every time he planted it on the ground and leaned into it a little, blood would start building up from where the injury happened to be. So standing mostly on his better leg, pretending that he wasn't just mauled by a couple of dragons, he faced the clutch with determination, standing with the Candidates now and content with the idea that he had paid for his tardiness with enough blood.

----------

Nebel couldn't believe the kid actually did it, but he was glad to have persuaded him in the first place. He gave a clap, which might have been for the newly Impressed Bronze or might have been for the series of maulings he felt somewhat responsible for. He felt something brush his shoulder, but he didn't need to see it to know what it was. Slater had detected him, the poor fellow. Perhaps he was disappointed in missing the show, but the butcher didn't know for sure. He could only guess. The Blue was a silent spectator. He just focused on the event and sat on his human's shoulders like a spinx. He could have been thousands of years old, and anyone would have believed it.

"Our poor boy is still standing," Nebel purred. No one standing about him would have heard. He hardly acted suspicious in front of others, but people in a crowd were blind to individuals. "He might bleed to death out there. Or get ill. Or Impress." He sighed through his nose, folding his arms with some reservations to the thought. All of those options didn't have a pleasing ring to them.

Slater didn't respond at all. He might as well be stuffed, his human mused. Oh well. The Blue was much more pleasant than other flitters. He even liked Nebel's cooking, whist knowing the ingredients of his more exotic dishes.

The new Gold did spark some interest to this Hatching. Nebel didn't seem to find her attitude approving. The last thing the weyr needed was another strong Gold. It'd put him in greater risk. Perhaps something terrible will happen to her. Perhaps the Black, which has revealed herself to have a temper most foul, would do the misdeed.

[Lan]

The mother gold erupted in anger again and Elana managed to not flinch quite as badly this time... but it still made her cringe. So much violence and anger in such desperate times, it wasn't exactly how the girl would have imagined a hatching, had she took much trouble to imagine one as a child. She certainly thought them to be stressful times, with accidental maulings by clumsy hatchings. She hadn't quite pictured all this death and gore, though. But who had imagined that the Ending Fall would come? Who had postulated that their livelihood and life on Pern as they knew it would turn to infertile dust? No one. So, perhaps she shouldn't have been so surprised. And yet when the black turned to rake her claws unprovoked through one of the male candidates' shins, she couldn't help but feel her own leg grow sore in sympathy.

Not that there would be an end to the violence there. Next there seemed to be a war going on between a smaller gray that had hatched and the black from before. They were like two angry felines, or rather two tunnelsnakes... hissing and chasing and writhing about the eggs in a blind-with-rage sort of fashion. If they weren't fighting over who would get the chance to maul more people, it actually would have been sort of funny. Perhaps their chasing and fighting was for the best, though. It kept them from attacking anyone else, at the very least. Looking up from them for a second she noticed the bronze had found himself a boy. That was a good sign, wasn't it? And, as if spurred on from the relative safety of the black and the gray keeping each other preoccupied, another calmer gray and a green hatched and snatched up their candidates.

Now it seemed like everything was not quite as in slow-motion as it had been in the very beginning. Impressions were melding into each other and Elana couldn't keep track of all that was happening. So, she figured she might as well keep track of those two murderous tempests off by the eggs. However, the two dragonesses seemed to be at a stalemate. The sands were quiet for the moment and once again time was skewed. Or... had that not happened quite in that order? It soon didn't matter, as the biggest egg on the sands, all metallic in its own splendor, began to rock. All eyes were on it, certainly, even after the brown had hatched very uneventfully and had fallen asleep. His appearance would surely be momentarily forgotten at the crashing entrance of the new queen.

She roared so loudly for her tiny body, and the smith wondered how the brown could possibly sleep through it. While there had been chaos on the sands before, now there seemed to be a relative peace. The gray shrank beneath her sister's ire and the black, while still discontented, at the very least quieted and gave pause. While Elana was not one for great theatrics (that was more Calin's thing), she had to respect the order that the young gold instilled on the sands. Perhaps now there would be a little less violence? The statistics were against such a pretty idea, but it didn't keep Elana from hoping anyway. For the moment, there was a quiet... and the present was all they really had, anyway. So her eyes drifted from the unruly gray and the homicidal black to the commanding gold, as all others probably were in the room. They waited in suspense for her to make her move.

[SaiDalTam]

The queen's fury made the brown wince, his hum faltering as his mind reached out for N'kaio's. For one rare, strange moment, the normally sharp, ill-tempered brown was cowed as his gravelly voice commanded, :Let her go, Mine.:

N'kaio balked, whipping his head toward the dragon. He had, of course, heard the queen's cry, but this was madness. 'Kourteth, she's a child! If I let her on those sands, she'll die. She's not old enough to stand, and she's not old enough to impress. Look at her! She can't be more than eleven, at most!' It never so much as crossed the rider's mind that he had always been rather poor with children, and that if anyone was a poor judge of ages, then it was him. She was short, flat as a board, and her voice was high. Obviously, she was very young.

:Let her go,: the brown repeated with growing urgency. He knew what a mother was capable of where her young were concerned, and he had no doubt whatsoever that Sereldeth would be as good as her word and kill him without hesitation, and nevermind that it would mean Kourteth's end, as well.

'Kourt, she'll die,' N'kaio repeated with conviction, frowning.

:AND YOU WILL IF YOU DO NOT! LET HER GO BEFORE SERELDETH ENDS US BOTH!: the dragon shouted at N'kaio, his fear for the wellbeing of the man slicing through the customary veneer of affection that covered at least his conversations with his rider, if nothing else.

Startled, for Kourteth never spoke to him that way, N'kaio dropped the girl, but his shock lasted only a heartbeat before it passed and he dropped into a crouch beside her. "Sereldeth wants you on the sands," he hissed swiftly, "so you go, but bow when you enter, and if you love your life, girl, get out of the way if one comes near you. Try not to die." It was a rushed, urgent speech, but this was hardly the time for elaborate explanations. If she died...

Pfaugh. Turning her toward the sands, he gave her a light shove, scowling miserably and reaching for his canteen. This was going to end badly. Just what they needed: more death.

Oblivious to N'kaio's internal argument, Caeloran wriggled, snappishly repeating, "Lemme go," a few more times as she attempted to dislodge herself from her coat. It was a very nice coat, but it would be well worth the loss if it got her out where she belonged. Shaffit, she did not come all this way to be stopped by the likes of one scowling old coot who couldn't get his head on straight. There could be a dragon out there right now waiting for her (and nevermind that she didn't even know if she was really candidate material).

Just as she thought she'd wriggled herself free, the man, quite abruptly, dropped her, and she tumbled to the ground with a breathless, "Umph!" The air all rushed out of her lungs and her body collapsed into a heap with the boneless grace of one well accustomed to falling. Like the same, she was on her feet in the time it took her to recover her breath, the mark of an experienced, if inexpert, tumbler, but no soon had she recovered when the man was at his madness, again.

The man who, moments before, had been working his hardest to stop her was now hissing instructions in her ear. Rather than allow him the time to change his mind, however, she simply nodded curtly and scampered just far enough away that he couldn't reach her without lurching after. Casting a wary glance over her shoulder at him, she admonished herself to keep her tongue in her mouth. Being petulant wouldn't do her any good at this stage, even if it would have made her feel better, and it might just be unfortunate.

Twisting back around, she dropped into a low bow toward the angry queen, feeling the first faint thrill of fear since she'd begun this mad journey. Mercilessly, she stamped it out. This was neither the time nor the place, and after a hesitant moment, she straightened back up before slipping over to join the candidates.

It was only then that the true depth of the unusual nature of the hatching struck her, for it was not until then that she really noticed all the oddly coloured hatchlings scrambling across the sands. Greys, blacks, some unusual translucent creature the likes of which she had never seen before ... was this the future of dragon kind? She should be frightened, she supposed, given what she was seeing, but instead, she was fascinated, intrigued by the curious evolution she was witnessing.

Besides, she'd always liked neutral colours, especially black and a nice charcoal grey, and some of these odd dragons were very pretty...

[gulo]

Jakkin rolled his eyes. And there went the queen again, was she as fickle as human women? He shrugged it off, knowing that he at least gave the proper respect to the clutching mother. If she was being unreasonable, then it was no part of his. He had to admit, the large dragon was intimidating as anything with her tongue hanging out like that.

There was the black again, the sharding thing was moving to him. He instinctively drew back from the horrible, wraith-like dragon and found a claw too quick for him to protect himself - slashing down his leg. Before he could shout out of surprise, the little beast darted away.

Coward.

Grimacing to himself, he just held his hand to the wound - not wanting to leave. Fearing that the blood would draw in some murderous, hungry dragonet he pressed harder on the laceration. Great, there was one coming towards him now. Probably to eat his intestines after biting one of its clutch mates.

But it seemed a little too excited for that. The bronze dragon drew himself up, almost cocky ...before falling nose over tail into the sand. Jakkin was sure if dragons could blush, the newborn would be doing it now.

Woah! Oh, J'kinMine, forget Apolloth did that! Oh, dear, that's so embarrassing... Oh well. Whatever! Anyways! I'm still pretty... hm. Pretty what? A word, a word... Pretty great! Yes! I can't believe I forgot that word...

Well bless his stars! Jak- J'kin, rather drew his hand forward and scratched the ridges of the bronze's eye. "Apolloth," the new rider tested the name. It felt right on his tongue. Already, the bronze was nudging him towards where he smelt the food. A heavy weight on his shoulder signaled the appearance of Ziggy, so he hurried off the sands.

The last thing he needed was the Queen to eat him out of a fit of rage.

[willlll edit, I'm running out the door]

[Zane]

To say that she had come in late would be an understatement. To say that she had entered the wrong gender group would be another. She was weaving through the sea of boys, shouldering past some in her way, while moving out of the way for those that impressed and were trying to get off of the sands. She knew better than to pick a fight with a new Weyrling. By the time she got to the front, a Bronze dragonet was coming forward and impressed to a young man whom appeared to have been lightly attacked. Some of the others looked far worse off, in comparison. Her face remained expressionless when some of the boys were looking her way, it’s not like she had some huge secret, and she was indeed a girl! She just needed to get over to the proper side. ”Excuse me,” she said, her words not sounding near as polite as they should. Nevertheless she moved around the new bronzerider, looking back over her shoulder to observe the pair. Having a bronze was a real honour; she hoped the boy knew that. It was the bronzerider’s that had the most dealings with her father’s Hold—Benden. They were more than dictator’s to her, despite her father’s ill feelings towards them. She remembered thinking how neat it would be if a girl got a bronze, hence the reason she was still looking back. If the boy thought highly of himself just because she was looking at his dragon so be it! It would just mean he was arrogant!

She looked to the direction she was going now, lest she bump into a dragonet or person. She didn’t much care for being mauled, and she didn’t know if any of the dragonet’s presently on the sands had been the one to injure the boys. Once amongst the throng of girls, she heard an ear piercing scream. Whirling around to be facing in the right direction, she saw the newly-hatched Queen claiming her rank over the other newly-hatched ones. They must have made her awful mad for her to make such a horrendous sound. She was the only dragonet that would occupy the girls’ side, at the moment, from what she could see. Her heart was racing, though she knew not why, perhaps she was experiencing an adrenaline rush. It was normal, for this type of event. She rather liked the feeling, ignoring all of the girls about her for she saw them as not worth even a moment of her time. Her eyes were transfixed on the Gold, and she didn’t need to be looking at the other girls to tell that there gazes were too. She felt a sort of possessiveness come over her, and she gritted her teeth. She had been stubborn about coming out onto the sands, for she felt as if her rightful place was in a Hold—leading people. She stood up straighter, and ran her fingers through her short blond hair. She probably looked like a mess; she hadn’t had much time to work with her appearance once the humming had started. She was stressed in her less than fashionable Candidate robes, simply glad that everyone else was clad in the same garb.

This whole place still felt like nothing more than a dream to her. The rest of the world had been sent into utter desolation, and here she was, a survivor. She didn’t know whether to count herself lucky or not. Her brother would’ve called her a fool if he’d ever found out she was thinking so negatively. She wished she’d at least gotten to see him rise to power as Lord Holder. Her father, as far as she was concerned, had no longer been deserving of the title. She had never wanted it herself, though neither one of them had come to know that in the final days. Her brother was always acting as if she was about ready to stab him in the back. Well, he was mistaken, and deep down she really hoped that a part of him always knew that. She loved him, for what it was worth, for he’d always taken care-of her, and treated her far better than her father ever had. He would have done their people some real good. She sniffed, always angry at herself for outwardly displaying any type-of raw emotion.

The other dragonet’s seemed to be silent in the demanding presence of the Gold. A shudder ran through Callie, a pleasant one, such power would soon belong to a single individual on these sands. Probably one who hadn’t been tardy, and had a better attitude than she. She took a quick glance around, trying to study some of the eager faces. Bored with it, she turned back, wanting to gaze upon the Gold as much as she could before it was led off the sands to be fed. She hated this anticipation of wondering whether or not she’d be left standing. She hadn’t been here long, but she didn’t need to be to have been worried. She had been worried since the clutching of Sereldeth’s eggs. She felt as if she’d spent enough time learning about dragons here that it was only right she got the opportunity to practice her knowledge. What a waste it would be otherwise, not that she’d have been doing much back at the Hold. With the low number of dragons, and the wait for the new Queen to mature, who knew how long it’d be before there was another hatching like this. She’d have little opportunity to reclaim a chance like this again. Would they force her back to the Hold? A place where she would once again have no status, where no one would care that she was a Lord Holder’s daughter used to the pampered life? She crossed her arms, trying to stop a muscle spasm in her upper right arm. You’re getting yourself all worked up over nothing, and yet no matter how many times she told herself the very same thing, she wasn’t wholly convinced.

[Lesa]

Kella was still crying into her shoulder. There was nothing more she could do besides run her hands down the girl's hair and rock in place, whispering softly into the hair her chin rested on in between pressing kisses to the tawny strands. She couldn't talk louder, Gwynell knew that. Sereldeth was much like a number of her old teachers - one must be seen and not heard, no questions asked during class, no whispering unless one wanted a yardstick across your desk, or worse, your shins. So the Harper kept her comforting quiet, the near noiseless humming-rumble or words barely breathed out, calming the youngest of her old enough to Stand children. They were, in their way, her children. She acknowledged that fully, now. Sure, she'd recognized it before, but not like this, not quite. Even if she didn't Impress, the Hatching had changed her, as it had changed all present in some manner: for herself, Gwynell was fully accepting of her "motherhood", and all it entailed.

Sereldeth's continued raging did not frighten her, she was much too busy worrying about Kella. Not too busy to notice the savage black go after a person, rather than a dragonet. The blond winced in sympathy at the boy's being scraped, making out the movements from across the sand: looked much worse than the few times Halbert had decided to play or show his displeasure by clawing her; then again, dragonet claws were much larger than his. Nasty little creature, taking such pleasure in death and pain. Not even the wherries that ate carrion seemed quite so gleeful at their play, even as they picked at still living wounded beasts. She cared for nothing, it seemed, nothing and no one but herself and her own pleasure in another's pain and death. She didn't say as much to Kella, whose sobs had slowly abated to little sniffles, as if she was done mourning something that had been lost. The thought occurred to her then: the glass that had been killed, could it have been meant for Kella? Was her dear little one grieving for a life that she had near felt snuffed out, a life that would have changed hers? Or was Gwynell merely succumbing to a flight of fancy out here on the Sands?

Movement by the black cut that line of thought short, probably good considering where Gwynell was headed, off into a place far away from the Sands. Not where she needed to be, she needed to be in there here-and-now. The daydreams were over, far over. This was reality. A scowl grew on her face as she noticed just what the black was up to - and what her gray sister had beaten her to. Another attack, another showing of hatred, hatred that should not belong on these Sands. This gray was just as senseless in her behavior as the black was; Gwynell could make out blood marring the boy's pants even in the distance, the fresh red of it bright against his pale clothing. The pair of them moved away from the boy, chasing each other like vicious Southern feline kittens - able to kill, but oh so adorable at the same time.

Gwynell blinked in approval, unable to nod with Kella still tucked under her chin, as Aliman kept a careful eye on the gray and black running across the Sands; he would try to prevent Caspa and the others from injury by the two. Her gaze was distracted by the glint of light on metallic hide and she looked further, back to the boy who had first been injured by the black... the bronze was approaching him. Maybe? Hmm... she coaxed Kella with gentle touches to her chin to turn her head to the boy and bronze, relishing the watery giggle the twelve-Turn old made as the bronze tripped and landed in front of the bleeding boy. A good Impression, a happy event. It wouldn't help Kella fully, that she could tell (as the girl was still wrapped around her like a leech), but at least the little redhead was looking at the Hatching, her face was no longer buried in Gwynell's shirt.

It was the right time for Kella to turn around, as the quiet of a moment gave way to another egg hatching. The gray inside was a gorgeous creature, perfect in every way Gwynell could see (then again, aside from the blind glass and the brown that had betweened, all the dragonets were perfect in their own ways, temperaments notwithstanding). The Harper looked thoughtfully at the gray as he sat, eyes flickering behind spectacles between him and his staring-contest sisters. Kella wasn't giggling at the pair, not really, though Gwynell couldn't tell if the shakes that occasionally came from the slight frame plastered to her was from restrained tears or laughter. The quick-hatching green shortly after drew a quiet noise of delight from Kella; Gwynell was bemusedly forced to agree with the sound even as the green kept moving. She was on pitch and quite lovely to listen to. Not that the green was for either of them as she raced towards the boys.

Gwynell had earlier mastered the art of clapping around a person - as she had done for the bronzepair, unable to get Kella to leave her side. It came in handy again for the greenpair, and her hands dropped as she watched the male gray walk down the boys then come to the girls. Lovely little creature. She clapped around Kella again, left hand fingers to the back of her right hand as the gray Impressed to a girl down the line. Not, she noted, that the girl looked much like a girl, but to each their own, especially when the concern should be more about zombies than about one's appearance.

The blond nearly giggled herself as the brown hatched abruptly then seemed to fall asleep in his shell - or she would have, had her attention not been taken by the gold hatching directly behind him. Shells and shards, Pern was saved! A gold, a real and true gold dragonet, between this new gold and Sereldeth, the dragons could be brought back, if clutches continued large as this had been, and healthy as these had been. Gwynell smiled at the thought, and near smirked at the cry of the gold. She recognized that sound, coupled with the look to gray and black siblings. "Be quiet and behave!" it was, just as she had said herself to her students when teaching, or her children during lessons or in the field.[/size]

[derek]

Carradog nearly jumped out of his skin when he realized the Hatching had begun. The Queen gave a warning to not be late, so the Candidate was hurried in his dressing. Throwing off his dirty, worn tunic and breeches, he kicked off his boots. Tugging on the Candidate's robe, as was tradition, the young boy exchanged his boots for sandals.

The Hatching was starting!

Excited, he raced to the sands. The dragons there, while large and intimidating, were also beautiful, magnificent creatures. He couldn't wait to see if he got one of his own! Bowing to the Queen, he thanked her and retreated back to the cluster of male Candidates and took his place.

As he did, eggs began to hatch! Impressions were made quickly, and more eggs began to hatch. There were so many little baby dragons that Carradog even forgot to be nervous! He couldn't keep track of all the hatchlings, so he stopped trying and just basked in the magnificence and beauty of the Hatching, wondering if a Dragon would choose him to be a rider.

[Reky]

The young gold on the Sands had a presence that was almost as commanding as her mother's and the black's, even though she had just been born. She knew her sisters were trouble, and she screamed again. The gray was ducking her head submissively, and the gold appreciated that. The black wasn't showing any signs of breaking, though. The black stood there, holding her ground. The gold stared her down. Then, the gold lunged forward making for the black, who flinched. Snarling, the black backed up, eyes snapping from the gold to the gray to the candidates. She was tired of this. The gold wasn't actually going to attack her. She knew that. The black had no patience for a bluffing, shiny idiot, or for the slippery little gray. Huffing, she stalked off.

But the gray followed. Sneaking along, the tiny creature came up beside the dark, hulking one. Her eyes were pleading. She was begging for more attention, to play more, obsessing over the black. She ran circles around her sister as she walked, eyes never leaving the black now that she was being ignored. The gold, back amongst the eggs, snorted at the two. They were leaving now - that was all she really cared about.

Finally, the black shoved the gray away, hissing, and stomped off on her own. F'lan! she cried, staring forcefully up at the boy. She won't leave Noth alone! And who does that gold think she is? Wait, who do you think YOU are, just standing there?! Let's get out of here! I'm starving. She bared her tiny teeth in a snarl, rubbing possessively against F'lan's legs.



{1d1d1d} - volatile, controlling, impersonal, impatient

The gray stared as Noth left. She flexed and unflexed her claws. Flex, unflex. Flex, unflex. The nervous habit went on without showing any signs of stopping. Obviously, the gray was unhappy. She wanted the black back. There was something about the danger of playing with her that the gray loved. She was hooked. The gold screamed again, though, and the gray looked backward nervously. Then she looked down at her flexing claws, which were digging into the sand. The gray hurriedly put her snout down and nudged the sand back down so it was flat.

The gold was screaming for a reason. A bronze had hatched rather indignantly from the fittingly bronze-coloured egg in the back row. He squawked as his tumbled out, huffed, picked himself up, and strutted forward. He had bumped into the gold on his haughty way to the candidates. She flared her tiny newborn's wings and lowered her head, hissing bloody murder at him. He snorted and hissed back, then lifted his blotched snout and moved on. He didn't have any time for the gold. He didn't have any time for anything, really. He had places to be, people to meet, himself to talk about. His vain gaze swept over the candidates like he was the king of the world, and he scoffed at most of the boys there. He only wanted the best.

A'non, A'non, I come! he huffed, sounding rather exasperated. You would think she would respect me. I deserve it! I'm the best! One day, I'll show her that. She won't have any choice in the matter. Then she won't be hissing at me! I mean, who in the world hisses at Theath? Do they have a deathwish or something? Are they blind? I'm beautiful, A'non. They're all just... just... lowly. Continuing to rant in a snotty voice to His, he curled around A'non's legs and refused to let go. He needed to get everything off his pretty little chest.



{6b5231} - snooty, ambitious, vain, prima donna boy

The dark red egg in the front row gave a twitch. Then, it gave another, and on the third, it split clean down the middle. The dragonet inside definitely knew what she was doing. She looked proud as she stepped out. She knew what she was doing when it came to hatching. She knew what she was doing when it came to a lot of things. She wasn't afraid to admit it, either. Being good wasn't something to hide. She could boast about it all she wanted, as long as it was true. She also knew that she was going to go as far as she possibly could. She decided that right off the bat, and figured it was a good goal in life. The dragonet, an aqua green, seemed pleased with herself, and confidently went to weave through the girls.

The sleeping brown stirred. He let loose a huge yawn, his jaw almost threatening to break off its hinges, and then got lazily to his feet. His eyes were half-lidded in contentment. He'd had a very nice nap. He had no idea how long it had been, but that was of no concern to him. He looked at the candidates he was heading for. The girls didn't click with him at all, but the boys were much better. He figured he'd go and check those out, and he took his time with it, too.

The gold moved forward finally. She didn't bother looking back at her gold mother for confirmation or anything of the sort. She didn't need her mother's approval. She was her own dragon, after all, and she was a gold one! She knew that. She knew it and it was getting to her head. She wanted to be a leader. She wanted to have everyone else follow her and respect what was hers. As she tromped her way to the girls, she squawked at the green who was already there. Then, she told the green something very important. She told the green that she got first pick of the girls, and if the green disobeyed, she would hurt her. Granted, the gold wouldn't follow through on that, but that wasn't for the green to know. Shocked by this, the green submissively let the gold prowl the girls with her. From the first few candidates, the gold was already unhappy. She shoved Callie and Caeloran aside roughly, snorting. No good at all.

The brown lingered by every candidate longer than he really needed to. Eventually, though, after living in his own world of taking his own sweet time, he found what he needed. Completely at peace, rubbed against his boy's legs, rumbling gently. Oh, D'mir-Own, don't be fooled. I'm not lazy at all. Actually, in all that time I took, I actually ran around the whole place ten times! Isn't that crazy?!

[/i] He let out a dragon chuckle. Actually, I AM lazy. And I'm hungry! Somineth would appreciate some food. Lots and lots of food. And then lots and lots of sleep, too. Doesn't that sound just lovely?[/i]



{241a15} - sleeps, eats, tells crazy stories, loses track of time[/size][/blockquote]

[rai]

She should never have strayed so far from the Weyr. Not with the hatching so close. But she had just gotten a little too far away, regardless. Out walking with her feline, Kero, following at her heels like he always did. The feline would sometimes go a few paces ahead or stop to sniff something. Occasionally he would even catch and eat something. If she hadn't decided that maybe she was a little too far out? She may have missed the hatching altogether. As it was, she was lucky she didn't!

She was nearly back to the Weyr when she heard it. It was loud enough that it reverberated and carried to her. Unmistakable in what it was, though it took a second to register. Eyes widening, Shay began to run. The hatching was starting, and she might be late! If she didn't miss it completely, that was. This was all her fault, too! She should have known better. She shouldn't have stayed out so long. Impresssions didn't wait for anyone. If she didn't get there, would her dragon go to someone else? Go between? She didn't know but she moved faster than she could ever remember. Kero of course was more than capable of keeping up. But she had to go attend the hatching and would have to leave him to wait!

She staggered into the candidate section and quickly threw her clothes off with little care for where they fell. She put the robes on quickly as she could and was glad her hair was tied back and did not get totally messy as she did. Not that it would have mattered. Not to the dragons, and not really to her. She nearly stumbled, as she tried to run and put on the hatching sandals, and banged her shin on the corner of the bed, wincing but knowing she didn't have time to worry about it. She told Kero to stay put. Just as a canine would he listened, and she closed the door to the room behind her and started running.

Her leg was throbbing a little as she ran, but nothing serious. Just a bruise by morning, she was sure. She ran and ignored when her lungs began to burn. Before she even realized it, she was at the entrance, stumbling in and then walking as normally as she could to join the girls. There was sweat on her brow and yet the only thing she could think of was that she was so glad to see eggs were still left! So many Impressions already. But still there would be some left--one for her, perhaps?

But by the first egg she was winded by that run! She was near the front, and then her eyes widened. Shells! She bowed from where she stood to Sereldeth, but she supposed the Queen would be far more understanding if she stayed in her place and didn't go through the hatchlings to get to her. She tried to slow her breathing and inhale and exhale deeply. She shifted her stance so that she was leaning on the leg she hadn't hit on the bed, and finally paused to look around for the first time. There were a couple dragonets on the sands, and some Impressed. How many were left? Her eyes flitted back to the clutch, but it wasn't easy to tell from where she stood. She did hope, though, that there was one in there left that might choose her. If not, she would have to wait a while again to stand. Doable, but not fun.

[Lan]

When the black impressed Elana couldn't help but let out the smallest sigh of relief. In her mind, or at least from what she had been told, once the dragon had impressed it wouldn't cause quite as much trouble for the other candidates or the hatchlings. The gray seemed to be more like a wandering child now, like a younger sibling mirrors the actions of the older. She seemed very lost now that the black had impressed. For a moment Elana almost felt bad for her. Perhaps she wasn't such a terrible little dragonet after all? The gold seemed to see it differently, though. Another scream issued from her newborn throat and Elana's mind recoiled. Were all golds so irritable and commanding? She'd probably never know. Who would know, she mused, was a most likely a bronzerider, since a bronze probably encountered many Queens in his lifetime... or at least that used to be the case.

Speaking of which, there was another bronze hatchling that had made an impression while the young smith's attentions were preoccupied. The gold did not seem at all happy with him... and he really didn't seem to care all that much. Much like the black, he carried on his way without so much as a second glance. Unlike the first bronze, he almost seemed to know exactly where he was headed. Elana smiled again, and looked back to the sands where there was now a green headed in the girls' direction. However, once again the gold seemed to have something to say about such an event. The human watched on with an appropriate amount of confusion as the two dragonets seemed to exchange a whole conversation, with the gold doing most of the talking. Then the tiny queen proceeded forward. Elana couldn't help but get the feeling she should brace for something terrifying as the gold shoved two girls aside without a care.

While at first she had respected the gold, now she was having second thoughts. Yes, the largest hatchling was commanding and new how to keep others in line, and perhaps she did have the right to act that way. But at the same time Elana couldn't help but thing that maybe the gold needed a rider that could keep her in line. Perhaps that's why golds bonded to strong women? They required a force of will that could outmatch their own? Even as Elana felt her muscles stiffen as the gold approached, she found such analytical thoughts popping into her head. There were now only a few girls left on the sands, so the chances of being picked were actually kind of high. Still, it seemed nonsensical for a gold to pick her. She was a smith. For a living she worked with her hands. At one point she could have been a Harper, but she loved building things. Weren't golds supposed to like girls that were from less humble beginnings? Lessa was an heir to a Hold. Moreta was simply brilliant. Elana was just... Elana. Still, the notion that she might be picked could not be entirely suppressed and tingled at the back of her mind. For that moment all she did was hold her breath and wait...

[Purnip]

As of yet, the strong pain in his leg was the only company Aldernon was keeping, but he kept his best poker face on through the worst of it like his life depended on looking fearless more than it depended on losing less blood. It was easier to play the bravery card when he felt the Black and Gray wouldn't be coming at him for seconds, all thanks to their biggest sister who couldn't have hatched at a better time. That, or really dumb luck. If that tiny monster remained attached to his leg much longer, its darker sister would have bowled him over. Then he'd end up being the mat on which the two quarreled on. He tried not to think about that. It would only remind him that he didn't get off quite as scotch-free as he hoped he could have. He still kept a very keen eye on the Black, even though it was the Gray that attacked him first. It seemed as if the younger sibling was more likely to cause trouble when her siblings were in foul spirits. A follower at heart, despite the trouble she's already put him through. Aldernon wasn't sure how to feel about the person she Impressed to, but he knew it was best to avoid whoever it was that the Black was choosing, unless he was in a position in which he had no choice. He wasn't about to cower out the next time he got personal with that leviathan.

Aldernon kept holding his ground even as the chaotic duo neared, but the volatile mistress shoved the bouncing Gray away before looking to a different boy. He couldn't quite bring himself to clap for this Impression. He didn't know the Candidate and the dragon was in his book a terror and a half. To clap would almost feel like a taunt. Congratulations! You just Impressed to a monster! No. He wouldn't put his hands together for that beast unless the guy she Impressed to turned out to like her. He couldn't imagine why, but some people just seemed to deal. Now that the Black was distracted, all he had to worry about was the Gray and whatever else planned to hatch next.

Whatever it was it was seriously peeving the young Queen, who was screaming out, incensed by whatever it was that got her all tied up in knots. Aldernon quickly glanced up in time to see a Bronze with blotches, though they carried well on him and the dragon seemed to think so too, striding past the Gold and hissing back to her in response. Haughty couldn't begin to describe this latest addition to the next generation. As long as he wasn't out for blood like his sisters, Aldernon couldn't care less what his faults were. He hadn't thought about the chances that this Bronze could be his, because in all honesty he was distracted by the turn of events so much that he forgot about questioning every hatchling with a stare. As he got closer though, he was harder to ignore. Partly because he was larger than the Black that mauled him, and partly because the Bronze wanted to be noticed and admired.

The dragonet was indecisive, dodging one and the next until he was before him. Alder didn't think the dragon would linger at his feet. He didn't get to know this creature for long, yet he had a feeling they weren't really meant for one another. But fate had an alternative plan. Perhaps it knew best. Whatever that plan was, Alder was now...

A'non, A'non, I come! the Bronze huffed, sounding rather exasperated. You would think she would respect me. I deserve it! I'm the best! One day, I'll show her that. She won't have any choice in the matter. Then she won't be hissing at me! I mean, who in the world hisses at Theath? Do they have a deathwish or something? Are they blind? I'm beautiful, A'non. They're all just... just... lowly. Continuing to rant in a snotty voice to His, he curled around A'non's legs and refused to let go. He needed to get everything off his pretty little chest.

A'non's brow quirked at this, questioning how serious Theath could possibly be. Maybe he was joking? Maybe he was just acting over the top for attention? More than elated, the boy felt rather confused. It could have been the blood loss, or it could have been the sheer fact that he managed to Impress to the most narcissistic dragon alive. "Riiight..." How to reply to all that? There should have been a handbook for this sort of thing. He never met a person like this, so dealing with his very own dragon would be difficult. He felt bad for feeling put off by the Bronze. Perhaps the best thing to do was to humor him. But eventually A'non was going to have to lay the law on Theath, because as patient as he's been being a big brother to his own siblings and complete strangers alike, none of them have ever had quite an...extreme personality. "Respect is the kinda thing that needs to be earned," he explained, trying to be both informative and inoffensive. "I can tell even the smallest dragons gotta sense of pride, so lowly or not, y'know?"

Theath stared back at A'non blankly. No. I don't. Then he started to make a chuckling noise, as if he just thought up something funny. Oh! I see! Good one! You had me there for a moment, but I'm as clever as they come! You'll see, MineA'non. They won't be able to help themselves soon enough. A band of misfits these siblings of mine are--nothing nearly as refined as my good self. I can hardly believe we came of the same clutch. He snorted, casting his greater-than-thou stare at the Gold as she made her way towards the females. As a Bronze, he still wanted to impress her in the end, but he didn't think it would be too hard. When he got bigger, stronger, and--well, he couldn't get any prettier--he would have her nose rubbed into the folly of her own ways. Because he was definitely the greatest creature to have ever lived, and for her to believe otherwise was a travesty.

A'non put his hand to his face, letting it slide down as if making a vain attempt to swipe the disbelief away. This Bronze wasn't just vain. He was delusional. Whatever it was he got himself into, he knew there was little he could do to get himself out. He needed Theath. He needed to find his brother because no one else would. He needed a dragon because it would help him set everything right again. It'd never be the same again, of course, but better than it was now.

He wanted to move, even if he was reluctant to. It'd hurt, and with Theath curled around him, moving would be difficult with or without a wound. "Yo, um...we gotta bounce. You gotta eat and I gotta get me a healer."

A healer? Whatever do you need a healer for? The Bronze didn't move his body, but he craned his neck to check His until he finally noticed the blood. Eh! Blood, all over my lovely hide too! Why did you have to bleed all over me, Mine?

Well, thanks for the concern, A'non thought, but at least the Bronze was up and away. Wait. Was he getting refused because he was bleeding? No. Theath was just licking at himself to get the blood off before giving off a bratty groan. I'm going to need a bath now! Two baths! Ten! And when you do, make sure you don't leave a spot of red behind! But you ought to get cleaned up too! I can't be seen with such a bloody boy!

"Food," A'non insisted, looking the Bronze sternly in the eye. "Eat first, and then we'll both get cleaned up. Sheesh, it's not like I rolled in blood before I got here."

You could have fooled me, Theath scoffed. He strode over to A'non's side again, but he was careful not to touch the boy. I am feeling rather peckish. They better serve us with a smile. Oh, who am I kidding? They will! Even if this blood is such an eyesore, my charm and sophistication will make up for it.

He had all the charm and sophistication of a sliver of Thread, but A'non didn't complain. He was getting dizzy, and the sooner he had Theath fed, the sooner he could get patched up. They made their way to the feeding area together, but the Bronze held himself like the little prince he was all the while, despite the stains on his hide.

[Milunesta]

Through all the drama and chaos one candidate seemed to be just a smidgen calmer than the rest. She wasn't looking around in wide eyed panic. The woman wasn't even upset. That didn't mean she wasn't nervous though. Honeyed eyes were warily switching from Sereldeth to her eggs. The Queen was mad, that much was very obvious. Than again, she would of been too if she was the Gold. Candidates were showing up late, others were being rude, a few of them down right snubbed the mother.

Bold she may be, but Milune was not that stupid. Those candidates were lucky they hadn't been eaten. Shells, they were lucky they hadn't been mauled! Well, some of them had been by the dragonets. But that wasn't the point. Didn't anybody have any respect for authority anymore? If she could, she would have scolded the idiots. As it was, she valued her life. Her yelling could very well set Sereldeth off. The last thing they needed was a murderously rampaging Queen on their hands.

The thought alone had her swallowing thickly. Her shoulders tensed and she took a quick breath. Pern would be lost if that happened. It was a damaging thought, and she forced it out of her brain as quickly as it appeared. She shuddered then, shaking off some of the negativity. No hatchling would even look at her cross eyed if she kept up the angst. Dragonets had died on the sands already, what if she was the cause of another because of her bad thoughts?

It nearly made the healer lass sick to think about it. So what did she do? Well, she focused on happy thoughts. Sweet memories entered her brain. The main one was the time her sire had taught her how to ride a runner. It was a happy memory. She had been laughing and felt so free. Keenly she remembered the way her hair whipped in the wind as her father set the beast into a gallop. Her happy shrieks had made him laugh, a deep rich baritone that she would never forget.

More relaxed than she had been moments before, the healer let her eyes come back into focus. Warmth suffused her from the inside. She felt fluffy, cuddly, even as she hot footed it on the sands. Purposely, she balled these emotions up as best she could then launched them out into the sands like a cresting wave. The woman waved them like a flag, as if to say 'I'm here!' to any lonely hatchling or unhatched dragonet. Why go between when you could be loved? Wasn't a future with her a more prospective thought than death?

Yes, at least to her it was. Death was senseless. Life held meaning. Her desire to impress was strong and her broadcasted feelings were a promise. This promise was that she would never leave any dragonet that chose her. She would be with them forever, through thick and thin. They would suffer together, love together, play together, and live together. As they grew, they would do their best to help the Weyr flourish. Pern would be a better place just because they lived! Dragons were needed, these hatchlings were important. This important of self, this encouragement was twined with her love and desire. Didn't they understand? She wanted them to prosper!

"Live..", she whispered soft as a butterfly wing beat. None could probably hear her, but the passion was there. She wanted to impress, but above all she wanted these babies to survive and flourish. Even if she wasn't chosen, they should chose! They were the future of Pern, so they needed to survive. All of these thoughts, these emotions, swirled faster and faster inside her. She felt near to bursting under the pressure, yet the determined healer lass staid put and waited. Indeed, she would wait until the very last hatchling was off the sands if it came to that. But only time would tell if it would.