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

[Zane]

The gold was hard not to focus on, how could she keep herself from doing so? Anyone would be a liar if they said they didn’t want it. Shards, even some of the boys probably liked the queen—mostly those who were homosexual, but still. She could finally have a semblance of control, more control than a Hold, if she was to impress her. It was a refreshing thought, and yet, once again, she knew she belonged in Hold over Weyr. If she impressed something like a green, what use would she have? Whose lives would she really influence? No one’s, which was just it; not that she could say she’d ever influenced anyone’s life in a positive way. The next dragonet that decided to seek out its lifemate was the black. She watched as it impressed off to a boy, snorting derisively. For all she knew he didn’t deserve that dragonet, heck, he probably didn’t. Then a bronze appeared, and Callie’s interest peeked.

She knew that a bronze couldn’t impress to a female, and it made her want him all the more. She liked the impossible, especially doing the impossible. Yes, that bronze belonged with her, every fibre of her being was screaming out in agreement. Not like the queen, however, who was just screaming out because the attention was off of her. A funny thing she was, Callie quite liked the jealousy she portrayed. Much to the blonde’s disappointment the bronze impressed off to yet another boy. She glared at him, not stopping until the green passed by her vision. Pathetic, like she wanted it. Her reasoning remained the same on that one. Then the gold and green seemed to be... discussing something? She couldn’t quite tell, raising an eyebrow at the pair. The two began to patrol the Candidates and Callie watched curiously, the two nearing where she stood. The gold, rather rudely, shoved her. She nearly stumbled flat on her rear, gaining her balance by placing her arms straight-out. Well now she hated the queen! She hoped it went to someone that she could berate and make insignificant. She didn’t care what color they rode, they’d hear from her all right! Snotty little runt, she thought, crossing her arms over her chest rather unhappily. She was glad it took the green off with her; it was useless and stupid if it was walking about with the gold, in her opinion.

When the brown impressed Callie continued to show no enthusiasm. She cared not about a new brownrider, it meant nothing to her. Her foul mood was only continuing to get all the more foul as the hatching went on. She was attempting to think up ways that she could resume her high position in one of the tithing Holds. Was it at all a possibility? If she played her cards right, and carefully, there could be a chance.

[Lesa]

Others might have peeled Kella away from them by now, others might have pushed the girl away or something of that nature, as she was no longer crying, and it didn’t seem any of the other dragonets were going to attack, or that Sereldeth was going to go on a rampage. Gwynell didn’t. It wasn’t that she had always been a motherly sort, or that she wished to keep Kella away from the dragonets (as keeping her safe and keeping her away were two entirely different things). No, Gwynell was just of the mindset that if Kella wanted to pull away, she would pull away, or make some sound or movement to indicate wanting to pull away. Like Gwynell herself had jokingly coughed to her parents time and again that she ‘couldn’t breathe’ due to the angle of the hug (her mother’s collarbone was at just the right height that if she wasn’t careful), or burrowed her head into her father’s chest just that much too hard, making him draw back instinctively from the rubbing on his sternum. Those sorts of movements, those were the things that Gwynell thought about when she decided that was how Kella would inform her she wanted to let go.

Gwynell watched the hatching and Impressions over the redhead’s head, chin resting on top of hair as Kella turned her body to the side to better watch the hatching while still holding onto Gwynell. The blonde didn’t mind, moving in tandem until she was facing the hatching sideways, watching with head slightly cocked, cheek more than chin on auburn. The Harper breathed a sigh of relief as the black marched off towards the boys, heeding the gold dragonet’s command. That took both the black and the gray out of play, the gray following the black along, Gwynell was slightly queasy to see, much as a desperate-for-attention toddler would follow an older child. The two were death in young bodies, more akin than she had originally realized to the Southern felines she had first thought them like.

The gold’s scream brought attention back to the queen dragonet, just as a bronze hatched. Quite the typical bronze, it seemed, as blue eyes gazed on him, aside from the almost decomposing-markings crossing his hide. Snooty and cocksure to a fault, like her father’s firelizard. Probably just as believing that he can do no wrong and that the world revolves around him. They’d been lucky Coako had survived the Ending Fall and numerous near brush-ins with zombies, he’d been the only way they could send letters to each other. Still Gwynell resented the firelizard’s attitude, flicking him on the nose or side when he got too cheeky and rude in his pompous want to always have the last word. Even if she couldn’t understand firelizard, she could understand the sentiment he gave his chirps and screeches. Just hoped the new bronzerider was able to deal with such a pain in the rear – and from his expression, hand wiping down his face, the boy might need some pointers. While flicking a dragon wouldn’t work as well as flicking a firelizard, she was fair certain words would do the same, though admittedly using cutting words on a dragon wouldn’t be too effective when the dragon could feel the rush of affection coming at him because it was his bonded addressing him. Quite the conundrum.

She turned her attention back to the gold as the queen shoved through two girls without injuring them, unlike her sisters. Seemed someone was upset about being ignored. Gwynell rolled her eyes slightly. For all a gold was the pinnacle of Impressions for a girl, they could certainly be dramatic. So was she, but only when the occasion called for it, not all the time. What Harper wasn’t dramatic when she or he needed to be? They were Harpers, they might be in disguise and have to sneak out of a Hold unnoticed, or create a ruckus just to slither away into it.

It was only as her spectacles slipped down her nose that Gwynell noticed two (one brand new) forms moving on the sand. A dragonet, a green, if she was making out the blurry blob’s color correctly, had hatched when she was contemplating the bronze, and was moving quickly through the girls. The brown had woken (she wasn’t surprised, he would have to wake eventually with all the roaring going on), and seemed to make his Impression after a long, long while. Good on him, though part of Gwynell wondered if the brown was always going to be that sleepy. She wished luck on his rider, almost more than on the bronze’s – for the bronze may have an irritating attitude, but an irritating attitude can be ignored in order to get work done, whereas a dragon falling asleep mid task could be remarkably dangerous for all involved. If the dragon was sleepy to the point of doing so; she knew humans could do that, and as could some animals, so it would make (frightening) sense if dragons could too.

She tilted her head to use Kella’s head to shove her spectacles back up her nose, frowning at the smudges this gave her lenses, but unwilling to take her arms away – if Kella wished to keep hugging her, she wasn’t going to do the first move away, even if it was just to clear up her vision. She could see fine out of the remaining clear parts of her lenses, that’s all that mattered. The gold was an imposing presence on the sands, as was her right, as the gold. The new protector of Pern, who along with her mother would save them all. Quite a challenge for such a little creature, so Gwynell couldn’t fault her for her attitude. It just seemed to her like rebellion, a child’s rebellion on the weight of the responsibility of family coming down on them, as she had seen time and time again with her little ones, and she had helped them to get over, to get beyond, as she showed them that they didn’t have to take the load of taking care of their younger siblings on themselves and just themselves. She and Aliman and Mackenzie and all the others could help, if they didn’t trust the adults. Rebellion could be channeled as one wished to channel it. All it took was someone to focus those feelings. Who would be the focus for this gold? That was the ultimate question.[/size]

[Reky]

The gray was still obsessively patting the sand back into place, and then she went about cleaning her claws, removing every little grain from the soft skin around her claws. When she was done, she definitely didn't look satisfied. Instead, she had remembered that the black wasn't playing with her anymore, and went rigid. She looked half-crazed and overwhelmed, and almost lost. She didn't know what to do. Everything was driving her crazy. The sand was all over the place, and it wasn't laying flat, and the black wasn't here, and she needed someone to help her get everything straightened out. She slinked forward, then, claws ginger on the sand. She twined herself, eyes darting around, around the leg of a boy who smiled down at her with bemusement. Her veins pulsed faster as she caught his gaze.

X'niMine, the sand is all over the place! It's not right! And Noth is ignoring me. She doesn't like me.

[/i] Arching her back despite being attached to the boy, Diath hissed. Diath needs a plan to get Noth back. Hurry up, start planning.



{969696} - obsessive, OCD, sneaky, sharp

The gold kept on pushing past girls. She lingered, briefly, by Milune, searching the girl's head, but then she let out an exasperated, drawn-out, loud mix of a sigh and a groan and shoved her rather roughly out of the way. That one wasn't right for her at all, just like Callie and Caeloran. Wrong. They didn't fit in her mind. She wanted the one that did fit! Narrowing her eyes and getting a little worried she might not find it, the gold sighed again as she pushed past Shayle, not even bothering to think about her. She was making her way through all the girls, though. Eventually she would find Hers. She was pretty sure about that.

The green had followed in the gold's wake. Almost immediately, she stopped, turned around, and fixed her eyes on one of the girls the gold had passed by. She rumbled appreciatively, deep in her throat, and her eyes whirled a bright rainbow of Impression.

Veritath knew she wouldn't pick you, Caeloran-Own,[/i] the green said, proudly boasting her correct guess. That's because you're Mine, and not hers. We'll go far, Caeloran. I know it. That's my plan, and my plan will work. But first, maybe some food would be nice... and a nap. That sounds like a good time.[/i]



{32b295} - driven, ambitious but realistic, a little cocky, appreciates a good break

The egg next to the gold's abandoned shell started to crack. Like a spiderweb, the cracks spread until the tough shell simply fell away, revealing what seemed, at first, to be a bronze. Then, it might have looked like a brown, or a gold, and then a mixture of all three. She was a finely built thing, very much a lady, and the majority of her hide was a simple brown. However, it held the metallic sheen of kings and queens, and along it, like autumn leaves, were blotches that faded from copper to gold. She held herself with a refined beauty, like a benevolent goddess. Then, her eyes caught sight of her golden sister by the candidates, and her expression soured. What was that gold doing, just walking past girls like that? It was rude! The strange dragonet huffed, and carefully made her way through the eggshells and remaining full eggs. Just as she was about to leave them all behind, though, she stopped, and came right close to one of the smallest eggs. It didn't seem to be moving, but the dragonet was interested. She and she alone heard the softest of tapping from inside.

She cooed to it, encouraging it to hatch, and from inside a tiny voice shot out to one single person.

Aithbhre! Oh, Aithbhre! I'm over here! In here! UGH, this is so much work... so frustrating! Can you come help Febrith, please? All my other siblings are doing fine and finding Theirs. This is ridiculous. I can't even get one crack! Oh well. So can you help? I mean, if you want to, that is. I'm not forcing you or anything. But it sure would help... Somehow spurred on by having found Hers, the tiny dragonet suddenly broke free. Surprised, the little glass blinked her wide eyes. Well, would you look at that! Hello, Aithbhre. I see you over there![/i]



{d0ddcd} - courteous, careful, a watcher rather than a participant, easily frustrated

Something dark green flopped out of the big brown egg in the front row. She looked a little dazed, like she didn't know exactly what was going on. Silently, she padded across the sands, confusion written all over her face, until she wasn't too far from the girls. She looked at Shayle in particular, puzzling over her. She had to figure out this thinking thing. She could feel it coming to her as she looked at Shayle. She could feel everything coming into place. She had been asleep for a very long time, and she'd just woken up. All these bright fire lights... It would take some time to adjust.[/size][/blockquote]

[rai]

Shay watched each hatching and Impression with a look of fascination. She saw the gold like everyone else had. Were they all looking at it with longing? She wasn't sure why. There were plenty of other amazing dragonets wandering the sands. Did they realize the position and the responsibility of it, should the Impress her? Shay was certain that this was the last thing on any of their minds. It was the first on hers. She would be quite content to get whatever was meant for her. Gold or not, a dragon was a dragon. The bonds were not weaker just because it was not gold. The thing was, essentially, at the core the same.

She watched the Impressions, eyes drifting over each hatchilng and admiring the colors. So different than what she'd seen, there was plenty to keep the eyes occupied. The sands were hot and yet she only mildly shifted where she stood. Clapping along with others when the Impressions were made, she was polite about it and inside she was certainly glad to see the Impressions made. But it was hard to pay attention to the ones that had Impressed after it happened. Because those ones were not meant for her. She wanted to be paying attention to the ones that might be. Was she speculating on this too much? Because maybe none of them were for her. She didn't want to look at them in a way that was questioning what it might be like to Impress them. If she did and was fonder of one than another she would invite disappointment. It was better to observe them all equally.

There were eggs left. She could see that a gray and green had Impressed. More clapping, another two successful bonds. Then a dragonet that was hard to place a color on hatched. Bronze? Brown--but no it had a distinct metallic sheen. Was it bronze, then? She wasn't sure. She did not even have time to mull over it. A dark green spilled out onto the sands. It looked sleepy and confused, as though trying to get its bearings. It was looking at the girls. But Shay would be remiss not to notice it was particularly focusing on her. Still, not one to count her firelizards before they hatched, she simply watched and waited to see what it would do. If it were trying to focus it peering at her could very well be unintentional. She was patient by nature and only had to wait. Her heart beating in her chest had given a little flutter until she scolded herself for thinking too much too soon. It was best to watch, and wait.

[Lan]

The gold shoved pass another girl, which made Elana feel a bit more precarious about her position. She didn't witness the gray's impression, as her eyes watched the gold to make sure she wouldn't be the next candidate mauled on the sands. True, this gold didn't seem interested in mauling people just yet, but this hatching alone had taught her that not everything is as it seems sometimes. Now was no different. She would have to be cautious of the infant queen just as a person should be cautious of the black or the gray. Only, the gold was one that was programmed to feel as if they deserved respect for their rank. At the very least, she didn't want to disrespect that gold. Her lungs burned and, in a gasping sort of form Elana quickly took another breath and continued breathing normally. Right. Air. It wouldn't do for her to not have air. Even fires, in all their power and volatile status, needed air to burn. She didn't want to simmer out like a starved fire. No. It was clear when she and Calin made their decision to leave that they would not die out quietly. So she held her ground and, deciding it best to focus on other things, looked out onto the sands that was now vacated of both the gray and the green.

Two eggs were rocking, though, and from one of them came a mutation that they hadn't seen before. At first Elana thought it was a bronze or a brown, but as the young dragonet fully emerged the smith didn't know what to think of it. Whatever it was, it was most likely female... and she had a metallic hide that showed her closer in rank to bronzes or golds. But... what was she? Elana stared at her with as much interest as she did the glass or the gray dragons. She was something new to the whole of Pern, and that was worthy of much speculation. However, unlike the gold, this new... dragonet seemed to lack any interest in the candidates at all. Instead, she was focused on some tiny egg on the sands.

There was a moment when nothing happened that seemed to last a lot longer than it actually did (there were a lot of those, it seemed, this night) and then, suddenly, the egg let free what was in its contents, and a little glass flopped out onto the sands. Shortly after another dragonet, a darker green, hatched and made its way over to the girls. So now there was... four dragons on the sands? That was how it seemed. Elana didn't know the glass had already bonded. She afforded a glance over to the gold again, still not wanting to totally lose track of her. The gold had a way of demanding attention, even though the metallic and her glass sister were definitely peaking Elana's curiosity.

[pocketowl]

Uneducated as she was, the hatching was proving a remarkable crash course in dragons for the drudge. One picked up a little of the hierarchy and physiology just by keeping a mindful ear around a Weyr. She was beginning to understand the distinctions of colors--that bronze was not the same as brown, that all browns were bigger than all greens. A gold dragon was the largest of all, a fact that Sereldeth was demonstrating to clear effect. She had even begun to suspect that some of these young dragons were unusual, even by dragon standards. She was keenly aware of the inward hiss of breath that followed their appearances, though it grew softer each time, like a whistling kettle taken off the flame. Her gut knotted with fire as she watched the black and gray maul two of the boys. Had their injuries been worse she would have been the first to drag them off the Sands, but not only did both of them remain alive and standing, they both found their dragons, and not a moment too soon. Her own scars tingled sympathetically, a hand reaching up to press warmth against the left side of her face, over her eye and jawline, muffling the familiar static of the Threadscore back into silence. This was how she watched Jubilee Impress, through one eye, the other hidden behind fingertips. She did not clap. But the vaguest hint of a smile tugged the corner of her mouth up, almost a grimace, her ability to smile having fallen into disrepair without use.

She could feel the other girls drawing their collective focus to a point on the young gold. She spared the newborn Queen a sidelong glance, only to make sure that there was no need for protecting her--as if her own teeth and claws could not take care of any threat--or, more likely, to lend her body to saving a Candidate. There seemed little chance of that; the gold had none of the signs of spite or anger about her, unlike the gray and black and Sereldeth. It never occurred to her that she stood as much chance as any of Impressing to the self-assured little creature. It hadn't sunk in that she stood a chance of Impressing to any dragon at all. She was on the Sands to offer what help she could and after all was said and done she would retreat back to her tunnels and kitchens, picking up the life that she had left behind for these few minutes.

Another dragon drew a gasp from the audience. Aithbhre looked to it instinctively, anxiety welling up in her throat. Not another one to go between, or something sickly or dying, please. But no, a perfectly healthy dragonet, all bronze and shining. She didn't understand the shock that the others, more knowledgeable, were exuding. She kept her gaze, still one-eyed and depthless, on the advancing jasper dragonet. She watched the hatchling pause by another egg, ever so much smaller than she was. And then her brain turned inside out.

Aithbhre! Oh, Aithbhre! The girl started, making a useless and involuntary jump to the right, like a runnerbeast spooked by a rustle in the grass. She dropped the hand from her face. I'm over here, in here! UGH, this is so much work... so frustrating! Can you come help Febrith, please? All my other siblings are doing fine and finding Theirs. The girl looked about her, eyes wide with shock. Did... did no one else hear? It was the loudest thing she had ever heard, it rang in her head clearer than any bell. Her own thoughts whirled with confusion. She took a step forward and away from the other Candidates.

This is ridiculous. I can't even get one crack! Oh well. So can you help? I mean, if you want to, that is. I'm not forcing you or anything. But it sure would help... It was the fastest decision Aithbhre could remember ever having made, and it probably looked like the most foolish. She took one more step forward before breaking into a sprint, sand flying up behind her heels. She was an ungraceful runner, losing her footing and stumbling over the dragon-churned sand, but in that moment she felt as fast and light as wind. She had no way of knowing which egg it was that called, and yet she knew that she must find it. Process of elimination narrowed it down, surely it must be one of the smaller ones, but which, did the jasper dragonet know, she needed to know!

Luckily, a snout and then whole head broke free from a tiny egg in the nearest row. Well, would you look at that! Hello, Aithbhre. I see you over there! Aithbhre nearly fell as she skidded to a stop in front of the dragonet, already reaching out to help this Febrith. Wide blue eyes gazed back at her. It was probably a bad place to be, so near the eggs and their volatile guardian, but that somehow failed to matter. She grasped the two halves of the egg--The edges are ever so sharp, be mindful!--already beginning to splinter down the sides, and wrenched them apart while the dragon inside gave a final heave. The shell cracked neatly in two and left the glass hatchling sprawled in the sand. She scrambled to her feet as the girl knelt down so that they met somewhere in the middle, the dragonet butting her head into the bony crook of her girl's shoulder. Aithbhre could see the prominent muscles of the dragonet's jaw through her skin and what she thought might be the hint of organs in her chest and belly. It made the girl feel dizzy with vertigo.

Thank you, Aithbhre. I could not have gotten out without you, and what then? I would not have you at all. If you want me, that is, I would never presume... Aithbhre leaned away, straightening up and letting the dragonet find her own feet. She was shaking with adrenaline and shock at having a new voice curling up inside her head. "I could never not want you. You are so beautiful, so different from any thing I have ever seen. Am I yours? Is that how this works? How is it that I can hear you, feel you, how did you know of me before you had even hatched?"

Febrith chuckled, a liquid burbling sound. You ask so many questions, my Aithbhre! To be answered in good time. My sister helped me too, that was so wonderful of her, she added, beaming gratitude at the nearby jasper dragonet. Aithbhre didn't know if it was acceptable to thank the jasper sister out loud--no one else seemed to talk to any dragon that wasn't their own as far as she could tell--so she opted for a small, stiff bow in the hatchling's direction. As she straightened she looked away towards Sereldeth, suddenly realizing the precarious nature of their situation. Even if she hadn't upset the queen dragon, which seemed unlikely, more hatchlings were bound to emerge at any moment, and for all she knew more of them would be full of their sisters' bloodlust.

Yes, yes, we must away! May we get some food for your Febrith, if it isn't too inconvenient? I have worked so hard today I can hardly believe it. I just don't know how much farther I can go without something in my belly! The glass flared her little wings to emphasize her point, trotting after Aithbhre's heels as they made their way off the Sands. Febrith whistled one last thank you to the jasper dragonet. Come along, Aithbhre, before a hungry sibling mistakes you for food! She dropped one hand to rest on the glass' headknobs as they walked. How was she going to keep a growing dragonet in her cot behind the kitchens? Would she have to stop being a drudge altogether, would she fly, what made one a dragonrider anyway? They made for an odd pair, the scrawny, angular girl and her translucent shadow, and there were still so many questions to be answered. She looked down at Febrith and smiled a tiny, awkward smile. All in good time.

[Lesa]

It was in the same position, drawing comfort from giving comfort, that Gwynell watched as the gray had a bit of fit with the sand. She almost felt bad for the volatile angry dragonet when she watched her near panic at the sand not being flat. Spectacle-shaded eyes, as so many did, kept straying over to the gold making her way through the other girls with the aplomb of a fussy Headwoman, looking over the drudges before the Lord came down for an inspection, finding them all wanting. Still the Harper would look back to the gray on occasion, keeping a wary eye on the one that had caused pain. The gold, for all she was a gold, and so valuable, still wasn’t worrisome in the same way. The gray had progressed to cleaning what seemed to be every single speck of sand out of her claws. Wasn’t going to work, she would just get more sand in them the moment she moved; didn’t seem to matter to her. Another twinge of almost sympathy (for regardless of how vicious the gray had been, she hadn’t killed, and was still a babe, in some form unable to be held to her actions) as the gray looked around crazed, not in anger, from what she could make out by colors, but panic, the panic of a child without their parents in sight. For all the gray had done, Gwynell was still relieved to see her slink forward to a boy and Impress.

The form in her arms sighed in relief at that, and her lips curled in a smile at that, and the thought that the sound gave her. It was a good thing Kella was one of the few (actually the only) teenage girl who was still shorter than herself. The position they were in would be deuced uncomfortable, otherwise. Would have been no way their heads could be in the position they were, without awkward neck-craning or her standing on tiptoes or something. Redhead and blonde turned their mutual attention to the gold still making her way across the sand, green trailing in her wake in a manner Gwynell recognized as a sibling putting up with the bossier temperament of a sister, even if the sister was the younger, just to prevent getting yelled at.
Gold moved on as green Impressed, the rainbow swirl of eyes visible to Harper and child. She clapped, feeling Kella do the same as arms moved into unusual positions around her back. Little thing Impressing the green, but she was fair certain they’d be a good pair despite that: size mattered nothing, especially coming from her; the girl was taller than she was. Height had nothing to do with age or maturity, she knew that! And why was she even bothering thinking of that when a Hatching was going on?

The stillness (or near stillness, aside from people shifting from foot to foot and the gold moving down the line of girls) was broken by the cracking of another egg. Murmurs from the crowd made more sense as Gwynell got a good look at the hatchling. Not another gold, not a bronze, not a brown, near a combination of all of them, somehow, and decidedly female. Interesting. Very interesting.

The blonde’s curious gaze continued watching the gold-bronze-brown, or whatever she was called, smiling as its stopping seemed to encourage the little egg she stopped by to hatch. Another one of the glass dragonets poked partway out of the egg as the girl (whom she vaguely recognized) rushed by to help her new bond finish hatching. Awww. Gwynell’s gaze softened out of curiosity to that look that said ‘ohmygoodness, so cute!’ before reverting back to curiosity, glancing again between the not-gold and gold. How would the gold do with so much attention being put on her sister instead? And, as always, the burning question, who would either of the two ladies on the sands pick?

Hands made a pass down Kella’s hair as she heard a soft squeaking murmur escape her charge. Not quite to the point of tears, but something had Kella a bit sad, though it seemed to be momentary again as the redhead quieted again.
[/size]

[SaiDalTam]

All eyes seemed fixed on the gold hatchling - except Cael's. The grey and black were of far more interest to the slim girl as something singularly unusual and eerily pretty than the gold. It wasn't, of course, that she didn't understand the value of a gold. Of course, she did, in the abstract way she understood the value of peace and quiet, but, like that abstract concept, it meant very little to her on a personal level. Something strange and unusual was far more fascinating. As a result, it completely passed Caeloran's notice that the gold sized her up and moved on. She was far more interested in the grey's impression and a brief attempt at scrutinizing the boy she'd chosen. So caught up in her own curiosity was she that she nearly jumped out of her skin at the voice that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.

:Veritath knew she wouldn't pick you, Caeloran-Own.:

Cael spun, whipping around to search for the source of the voice, only to find her eyes catching on a rainbow that seemed strangely endless. The voice continued, opaque and half-heard, as Caeloran fell into the impossible cascade of colour. :That's because you're Mine, and not hers. We'll go far, Caeloran. I know it. That's my plan, and my plan will work. But first, maybe some food would be nice... and a nap. That sounds like a good time.:

Sense seemed to return to her near the end of the tiny creature's speech. Food. Oh. Yes, food. That was important, wasn't it? Hastily, she cast an eye about the area for where she might obtain some food. She hadn't had much time to look around before she'd arrived, and she hadn't really noticed any - oh. There went one of the impressees. "Come on," she said softly to the dragonet, reaching toward her with a proud smile. "Where your siblings go, there'll be food, right? We'll feed you there."

The dragonet sent a wordless, affectionate affirmation, falling into step beside Caeloran, and the pair slipped after the glass and her new bondmate. As they walked, Caeloran admired the unusual hide on the small creature before them, faintly fascinated by the way the light played off of it.

:Do you wish I was another colour?: the dragonet asked with a faint touch of concern.

Cael blinked, looking down at the hatchling, and immediately began to protest. "Of course not!" she assured the green hastily. "I mean, she's pretty, but I've never seen a green the same colour as you! You're gorgeous! Why would I ever trade you for anything else? You're probably the prettiest green that ever lived on Pern. You said it, didn't you? I'm yours, not hers. We'll go far."

Satisfied, the green flicked her tail smugly. :Yes, we will,: she agreed. They had to. They deserved it, after all.

[Zane]

As three more dragonet’s impressed, including that ridiculous green, Callie felt more and more jealous, and angry. She should be impressing! Oh how conflicted she was. Hold. Impression. Hold. Impression. It was like a never-ending battle in her mind that refused to end. She permitted her anger to seethe while glaring at the sharding gold. It thought it was so good, oh it’d see, it’d see all right! She felt like kicking at the sand, and having a full-blown temper tantrum. Back home she could have them all she liked without any repercussions. Here, perhaps not so much. She watched the eggs with a renewed vigour. All that tumbled out was a green, and she was coming forward to stare at another Candidate. ”Don’t look at that dimwit, look at me!” she felt like yelling out, but she held her tongue. She didn’t want a green, it was likely just as dumb as that last green, but none were as stupid as that gold! She huffed; still just as irritated as she’d been when it shoved her.

Anyone could see that she was peeved, it was written all over her face, and her body language clearly depicted it. Back at the Hold she’d got paid attention to whenever she acted like this. She was like the Lady Holder since her mother passed, even from early childhood. Her father treated her as such, consulting her even for simple things before making changes. It was almost as if he feared her, and she was glad of that. She may have reminded him of her mother, but no matter, she was far from being her mother. She tried not to let a pain gnaw at the pit of her stomach at the memory of her mother. It was always the same, no matter how many times she thought of her. She hated it, if only for the regret that came along with it. It made her weaker, thinking of her mother--perhaps that was why she thought of her as little as possible. Almost as if she never existed, though her mind was telling her: There isn’t a moment in your life she’s not thought of. She hated the truth, far more than she hated a good lie. She took in a deep breath through her noise quite noisily; it was not a cleansing breath, but one of frustration.

The blond clearly wouldn’t make many friends here, who would want to even think of taking her on? She looked back at the place where the bronze and his rider had wandered off. All of the newly-impressed had gone off in the same direction. She just had to be one of those people, she had to be. No matter what color she rode she would demand respect, and the people would give it to her. Perhaps she could ride and be in-control of a Hold? It’s not like the idea hadn't dawned on her before! Oh, her brilliance, it exuded her. She’d leave her mark, which was certain. She was far more intent on the rocking and cracking of the eggs left over, even now, for something inside one of them would give her a brighter future. She’d do what no one had done before, she was bent on it!

The green that was beside her hadn’t quite impressed, but maybe it would? Callie hoped that it did, that girl wasn't her. There was a multi-colored dragonet that had caught her eye a few times since she'd been standing there, but she refused to give it any real attention. She'd never seen something like it before, and therefore it was different--strange. She didn't want to be known for having something unique, it had to bring her the necessary power. The colors in its hide were a curious thing... even so. The rocking eggs were all that mattered; any color below a brown would not appeal to her. No, not at all, and she found herself hoping for the impossible. What if she was to impress a male? If she could not receive the gold at least her beast could chase after the gold-no? She felt that each one of her ideas only continued to get better and better. She smirked, the first show of something even remotely positive this whole hatching.

[Reky]

The dark green, still dazed and sluggish, unfurled her wings. The inner membranes were a bright, lime green, betraying the vibrant personality she held within her. She kept looking at Shayle. She felt herself waking up, slowly, like she was getting somewhere and she was beginning to understand this world and see properly without the fires almost blinding her. She felt like she was almost ready to think straight. The moment when she would get over her sleepiness never came, though. Shayle didn't return her searching gaze. The green hadn't even been noticed. Eyes sore and wanting to close, the green quickly looked over the other female candidates. She saw something in every one of them, but she still couldn't wake up. With a resigned sigh, she lowered her head, and was gone between.

Sereldeth was keened. The bronze-brown-gold dragonet keened as well, as did a blue that had hatched only moments before the green's death, and the hatchling gold paused in her relentless search. A growl swelled up in her throat. Something dear to her was gone. Her sister was gone. She could have saved her! Protected her! She had thought, foolishly, that the green might be fine, but something went wrong. The gold shook her head. She felt sorrow. Her protective nature wanted to be able to turn back time and fix what went wrong. She had to keep going, though. She stalked through the rest of the girls. Then, she turned sharply on her heel. She knew who she wanted. Huffing, she planted her feet firmly in front of that one girl.

Elana. You belong to Juneauth.

[/i] The statement was less of an observation and more of a command. Possessively, as she let her words sink in, the gold stepped forward and twined herself around Elana's legs. I require food. Feed me, Elana, or else.[/i] The threat was ominous, but in truth, it was hollow. Juneauth didn't allow for any chance her commands would be taken lightly. She was a Queen, after all, and she would act like one. She was far more obvious assertive than her mother, for sure.



{a28851} - protective, posessive, rarely follows through on threats, commanding presence, vocal

The mottled metallic dragon, though sad at her green sister's passing, had been glad and proud to see Febrith head off on her own with Aithbhre. She settled down where she was, laying comfortably in a sphinx's pose. She seemed content to simply wait. She was glad that the gold had found Hers and wasn't going to shove anyone else around. The gold irked her to no end, and she'd never be easy around the queen. She wasn't quick to forgive at all. She knew she would always have that problem, but she accepted it as a flaw. Yawning, she calmly gazed out at the row of candidates across the sands, their shadows dancing in the fire. They all looked very nice.

The blue carefully made his way around the eggs in front of him. He wasn't taking his time crossing the sands, nor was he in a hurry. He was just going at his default walking pace. A loud cracking noise behind him got his attention, though, and he craned his neck around to see a pale green roll out of her egg. She looked at him, upside down, and let out a happy chirp. As she scrambled to her feet, something became glaringly apparent. The green had no tail. Having been born without it, though, she was used to it and it didn't affect her balance in the slightest. Her wings were formed differently to suit it. The membrane stretched further down the backs of her legs, where it would have stretch down the sides of her tail.

She trilled and squealed and sang, and hopped and pranced her way over to the blue after nuzzling her kind multicoloured sister. She darted around her brother, happy as could be. They were complete opposites. The green was tiny, even for her colour, tailless, and the pigment in her hide was laid out in uneven ripples. The blue, on the other hand, was built solid. He was already extremely muscular as newborns went. The blue hue he possessed was solid save for a gentle gradient down his entire body. He held his ground, calmly and quietly watching the green play all around him. She didn't even care that he wasn't reacting to him; she was happy anyways. Trilling again, she gave him a quick lick on the nose, an affection dragon's kiss, and bounced off. The blue resumed walking.

Another blue kicked free of his eggshell. He crawled out, wrinkled his snout, and then stood up, head high. He squawked, a funny, awkward first noise. He had a curious dark marking across his face - one like a bandit's mask. The pale little green hopped around on the spot, stopping to look right at him. She chattered happily, and the blue brightened up and chattered back. He was tamping the ground down with his feet, walking, pacing, twitching his tail, constantly moving as he talked to her across the sand. Their conversation eventually ended, and the green zipped off again. The masked blue kept pacing and fidgeting, trying to decide what to do next, but he didn't look frustrated. He simply looked happy.

The green, as happy as she was, spun and danced. One misstep, though, sent her spilling to the ground. She rolled over onto her back and looked around, trying to get her bearings again, and saw a boy standing over her. Boy, did he need to lighten up! C'radogMine! You should play with Paventh! She chirped. Then, she blinked a few times. Her face faltered. She still saw a boy above her. Boy, did he need to lighten up! C'radogMine! Hey, you should play with Paventh! It'll be fun! Oh, and can I tell you a secret? I love you, C'radogMine. I really, really do.[/i] Even if she had known she'd said the same thing twice, she wouldn't have cared.



{82da86} - sweet, bouncy, playful, short-term memory loss, carefree

The more serious blue continued on his way. All the way to the candidates, he'd been looking over them. There was one that was driving him crazy. The way they were thinking made him want to scream and tell them why they were wrong. They were thinking too big for what they were capable of. This daring and ambition, though, had the blue hooked, like a drug. He loved her and yet, she was so illogical. Addicted, the blue came up to his new girl. No - she was a woman in his mind. A strong, beautiful woman, but her ego was too big.

CallieMine. You're not meant for a gold or my other sisters, he explained, his voice soft but full of confident reason. You're meant for me. For Tersiuth. Why do you want to be so important, anyways? My gold sister is important, but she is rough and violent. Violence doesn't solve anything. And my green sister... she didn't have to die. I know it. She could have lived. Death doesn't solve anything, either. Everyone should just relax and get along. They should, CallieMine.[/i]



{0061d9} - realistic, hippie, pacifist, blunt[/size][/blockquote]

[Nia]

It was just one of those days.

First, Keveri found out this his robes were torn. How, he wasn't sure. Maybe they'd been given to him torn? Maybe he'd ripped them by throwing them carelessly around his room? Who knows. Either way, his hatching robes were ripped. He could still wear them, but jeez! How embarassing! Not to mention the fact that of course it would be him who go the torn robes. With his awful luck and all. Keveri gave a bit of an embarassed laugh, but throw them over his head and made his way out the door. He was a little late, but not much. Most likely the Hatching wouldn't have started yet. So he was okay! Good to go, nothing wrong here!

The brunet ran from his room and towards the Hatching Sands. Great! Something important, and his robes were ripped. What else could

But before he was able to finish that line of thought, the ground was suddenly rushing up to meet his face. He'd tripped over the rip in his robes, smashing face-first into the ground. He didn't move for a moment, just laying there on the ground like an idiot as he realized that, yeah, this day had just gotten a lot worse. Now his nose was probably broken and he didn't want to move to try and fix it. But after a while he did, sitting up painfully and nursing his face. That hurt. He touched his hand to his nose, checking for blood, and luckily there wasn't any. He scoffed a bit. Yeah, lucky. Falling and breaking his entire face sure was lucky!

He sat on the ground for a few minutes, nursing his scratched up face. This sucked. He touched his nose again, checking for blood, but once again didn't find any. Well if he wasn't bleeding, he was probably okay. Shard it, now he was late! Ish. Late ish. He still wasn't that late. Probably? He actually didn't know. Keveri had been on the ground for... ah, shard it! Who cared. He was going to get in there and Impress and there was nothing the stupid ground could do about it! He shakily got to his feet, cracking his shoulders and picking up at a run again, entering the Sands as the first few dragons Impressed.

He apologized out loud for being late and hurried on, hoping that the Queen wasn't going to kill him where he stood. He was sorry! He just tripped! She could see the bruises on his face and maybe hope that the ground had beat him up enough, so she wouldn't have to. That was fair. Perfectly fair! He wiped a bit of sweat from his forhead and ran fingers through his hair nervously as he went to stand in the boy's semi-circle. He clapped as Bambi Impressed, as he liked Bambi. Kind of? They didn't know each other all that well, but Bambi was cool.

The dragons Impressed and Keveri remained Standing even after the Queen. Well, whatever. No big deal. He wasn't a girl, so he didn't paritcularly care. The Bronzes were a shame, he guessed, but Keveri didn't really care. Power? Eh, whatever! He just wanted someone to like him. As long as he Impressed, that'd be cool! He pushed his foot into the warm Sands a bit more, watching the remaining dragons as they moved. Kind of a weird hatching. Weird dragons! But weird was cool. It was interesting, at least.

[/size]

[Lan]

Another death, another horrid crying noise that welled up within all the surrounding dragonets. Nonath, having filled herself up and cuddling next to HerC'lin, added her tiny bellow to the great crooning that trumpeted from all the surrounding dragonets. Spinner and Klah, too, from their snuggled places on Nonath's back whistled their sympathy in dissonant chords. C'lin sighed, hugging Nonath and his fair close as he unwittingly hummed solemnly in response.

Miiiine, Nonath purred, nuzzling her head into C'lin's side, It's so sad, C'lin of my heart. Why does Nonath's brothers and sisters have to die? The sorrow swirled in her multifaceted eyes as her naive heart was breaking. If a dragon could cry, the little emerald green certainly would be crying right now. She didn't think she could take much more sadness... she might burst! C'lin, too, was feeling the effects. He held her close to him, so tightly her fluttering heartbeat could be felt against his skin and the smell of her new hide was thick in his nostrils. Nonath whimpered, nudging his hand with her nose. Take me away, C'linMine. Let's go away from this sadness. Klah and Spinner took to flight and the emerald green led C'lin away slowly, although his eyes remained on the sands. He searched for the familiar figure of Elana, and didn't want to leave until he had seen her impress... and until he had seen that she was ok.

Elana was saddened too, although perhaps not as much as those bonded with dragons or flits already. But it reverberated, from the gold mother's cry, from the cries of the hatchlings, all the way down into her very soul. She felt no shame in letting her eyes grow foggy and moist with the threatening tears. Dragons weren't meant to die this way. Not the strong, proud, confident dragons she had been taught of in stories and songs. Dragons were powerful, brave, and fought against incredible odds to come out victorious. The sight of such wonderful and awe-inspiring creatures dying on the sands was just another injury to cover up the recent loss of most of the population of Pern. Everyone here had lost someone, even if they had gained their life. The loss of dragons was just too much.

But life went on. It always did. Life just had a way of continuing and holding on beyond all sorts of pains and sorrows. Even if the deaths of so many hatchlings had shook the Weyr to the core, there were still bondings to be made. So, perhaps it shouldn't have surprised Elana when a strong, commanding voice took a presence in her head. And yet, it was combined with a regret and a sorrow lurking deep behind... one that would never have been admitted under any circumstances by the owner of the mental voice. She was too strong, too confident, too ready to play the role of leader to what was left of her siblings.

Elana. You belong to Juneauth. The smith looked at the hatchling gold, stunned at what sort of statistics had brought them to be together. She had not been the most likely candidate of the bunch, certainly. She was not like Calin who had a fair of flits, or like those who had been properly searched. She was just... Elana. A smith. A survivor. A remnant of a once proud race of crafters. She carried a hammer and scraps of metal around, beating out contraptions that were useful to the Weyr. Unlike some of the girls there, she had not come from Holder royalty. And yet this gold, this feisty hatchling so quick to judge and to dominate, seemed to be speaking directly to her... and she gave no mere suggestions.

I require food. Feed me, Elana, or else. Elana gaped down at her feet where the gold had curled imperiously around her. She didn't quite know what to do for a moment. She couldn't move, she could barely remember to breathe, and her dragon seemed to be threatening her. And yet... she wasn't. While it was a threat, the smith had the feeling that the gold meant no ill will. It was simply in her nature. Weird how such realizations about a character she had not known for long were coming to her as naturally as rivers flowed downstream. Taking a deep breath, the new goldrider licked her lips and formed her words.

"Ok, Juneauth. Let's go." While seemingly acquiescent, she was not afraid of the little queen's demands. She shifted her feet a bit to signal that she would be moving soon, and Juneauth grunted and begrudgingly uncoiled. We could have stayed a little longer, Elana, she complained at the fact she had been forced to unfurl around her chosen mindmate, even as she trotted ahead to lead the way to where the piles of food were kept, But you're right, I guess. I am hungry. Food is called for. At this point the gold looked behind where Elana was following and snorted disapprovingly at the pace the girl was going. Could you hurry up? If you don't walk faster I might very well starve to death. Behind the hissed words there was the tinge of bitterness and frustrated regret Elana had sense earlier from her new lifepartner. But the young woman didn't question it. She let the gold be imperious for now. Juneauth had just hatched, after all. Chances were she would be in a better mood after food and a nap.

C'lin watched, half smiles and half scowls, as Elana and the new gold trekked off the sands together. While he was proud for her, and was happy she had been recognized as he felt she was a rather decent person, he couldn't help but feel somewhat cheated. K'rbin had impressed a large black. Elana had impressed a gold. Nonath, sensing his disturbances, crooned and bumped her head affectionately against him. Don't be sad, mine. Those dragons don't appreciate you like I do. I love MyC'lin, more than anything else in the world! He is the bestest human on those sands, and that's why I chose YOU. Her eyes swirled calming blues and greens as she gazed up into her bonded's eyes, blinking credulously. Don't you love your Nonath just as much?

C'lin smiled and rubbed the top of her head affectionately, rubbing his forehead against her now clean hide to return the affectionate attentions she had given to him. "Of course I do, Nonath! You're the best!" He grinned and managed a happy little giggle.

[Lesa]

It seemed as if Gwynell's thinking Kella might be crying (though the girl had not) was in its way a prophetic action, as the near unseen green - even she, the Harper was sad to admit, hadn't really noticed the little creature - went between. The many and myriad keening made her pull Kella tighter to her, unsurprised when tears again cooled her robes.

She generally thought herself numb to death, and in a sense, that didn't bother her. When she thought about it it certainly worried her. It wasn't natural to be numb to death. To be numb, yes, so many were now, but it just wasn't, she shook her head lightly, chin rubbing into Kella's hair as she rubbed at the girl's back. No need to think on that now, no way to think on that now. She knew how she felt, she knew that it was wrong to feel as she did, or to not feel as she did, to be more accurate.

Spectacled eyes watched as the gorwling - just growling, no keening for that one! - gold chose her Bond, a girl Gwynell didn't know (as Gwynell admitted, she didn't really know any except for her children). Good luck, just as much as the boys with the black and gray would need.

The green and blue that hatched next brightened the sands, even as they near immediately found Theirs, the little green not caring in the slightest that she had no tail, singing and trilling happily. Quite the cutie, her boy better appreciate her. Gwynell smiled at Kella's soft giggle, the younger girl happier after seeing the green - a green in response for a green betweening. Good to hear Kella happy for one of the first times during this Hatching. Still didn't want to let Gwynell go, but the Harper couldn't find it in herself to care.[/size]

[Reky]

The jasper oddity looked back at the masked blue, having heard him stumble over a particularly noisy eggshell. She lazily chirped, cooed, and encouraged him to come forward towards the candidates. Even as he chirped back to her - simple, friendly conversation - he was hopping from foot to foot, ready to go at any moment. In truth, he didn't need her encouragement. He knew what he was doing. He knew where he wanted and needed to go. Every fiber in his little blue body wanted to go ahead, so he said thank you to his sister and carried on. He zipped and pranced and bounded across the sands. Like a tornado, he whirled through the remaining boys (because he knew he wanted a boy, not a girl). Then, he let out a satisfied squeal.

Ahhh! I meant to find you, Mine, and look! I did! K'veri and Mercueth, together forever. It sounds nice, doesn't it? K'veri and Mercueth! Yes, yes, yes! Very nice! Very happy! His tail and tiny wings twitched, he waggled his rump around, he circled around K'veri, and did just about everything except keep still. He was ready to go. Ready to eat. Ready to be happy and talk lots. With another squeal, he pranced off, hoping K'veri would follow him. Food! he announced. Lovely food!



{1e3247} - cheery, never sits still, always has a purpose, social

The jasper cocked her head and softened her eyes, a motion akin to smiling which her draconic design would not allow for. Her eyes were a happy blue-green. There were only two other eggs rocking on the sands, and she had good feelings about the both of them. Her masked blue brother had Impressed well, and she felt the satisfying, warm feeling of her job here being done. Gracefully, calmly, she got to her hatchling feet. There was a glance cast to her great gold mother, who was still on edge but had at least softened and drawn back her stance, and then the jasper made to walk.

She wandered through the girls. First, there was Milune that she examined, lingering there. Milune was a strong girl. A good girl. The jasper considered her, imagined her mind connected to hers, but it wasn't quite right. She gave a soft, loving coo, a consolation prize of sorts, and moved on. Shayle was another one on the top of her mind. More than anything, the jasper wanted to help the girl, motherly instincts kicking in, but it a problem she wasn't sure she could help with. Shayle wasn't a fit. Something clicked in her mind, though, as soon as her eyes settled on Lesa. The jasper's heart warmed. There was Hers, holding a poor, crying girl. She was a mother and a big sister, just like the jasper.

GwynellMine, I am Hesperath. Is your girl alright? Poor thing. All of my brothers and sisters will be just fine, I think... Except the gold. As the jasper sat down, her posture turned harsh. Shoving people around like that! Who does she think she is? Ridiculous! Oh, but GwynellMine,

[/i] and Hesperath softened, I can't really think about that now. I'm so hungry. Is your girl alright to go? She can come to get food, too. What's her name?[/i]



{ab5630} - motherly and kind, but quick to take offense and holds grudges

There was a interval of one or two minutes between Hesperath's Impression and the hatching of one of the two rocking eggs. It was an awkward hatching, one involving many separate pieces of shell falling off at different times, shell sticking to the dragonet, and an ungainly tumble to the sand. Still gooey and partially curled, it was already apparent that there was something off about the blue. His hide was bright and healthy, despite disease-like splotching that was a trend of this hatching, but the markings were not his impediment. He front left foreleg, visibly as he uncurled, was misshapen. It was formed with missing toes and a bony wrist, and was permanently bent backward. As he stood, he realized there was little weight he could put on it.

He looked around. Panic wormed into his head as he realized he was alone on the sands. For a few more moments, he stood there with his left foreleg held up. Then, panting and feeling his heartbeat race, he hobbled forward as fast as he could. He didn't like being alone. There was no one there. Was something wrong? Was it him that was wrong? Why had everyone left him? He wanted to go faster, but he couldn't. His leg wasn't working right! Why wasn't it working right? He needed to go! Wild eyes stared in front of him as he limped. He reached out to the minds of candidates before him, searching them frantically. Then, on one boy, his mind stuck and his heart clenched in a way that he welcomed. He loved this boy so much that it almost hurt. He was a strong boy, and the blue knew he would take care of him. He wanted to cry, he was so relieved! He was still scared, though, and a little nervous what the boy might think of him. He hobbled a little faster, and then curled tightly around His. He never wanted to let go.

M-M-Mine! K-K'ingMine! Where'd everybody go? Why are they all gone? Why was I the only dragon back there! Mine! I'm scared. But... b-but... I shouldn't be. You make me feel better, Mine. K'ingMine. I love you... I love you so much, you don't even know how much I love you! But Aescuth is still sort of scared, Mine. He doesn't like it... He doesn't feel brave... But you can help, right? You know what brave is.[/i] The blue rubbed his cheek hard against K'ing's leg and tightened his grip.



{3ba3cf} - easily frightened, nervous, extremely attached to K'ing, loving, disabled

The remaining rocking egg continued to rock. Slowly, the time between each shake grew longer and longer. The movements were now infrequent. Just when one would have thought that maybe it had stopped for good, it gave another visible twitch and then fell motionless again. Cracks had appeared on its surface long ago, but still the egg did not split. The painfully spread out twitches went on for what felt like ages. Nothing else was happening on the sands. Sereldeth remained ridged, waiting with bated breath. If anyone made to leave, she noticed immediately and shot them a warning look. For the most part, though, her eyes were fixed on the rocking egg.

With one final push, the egg gave way to the dragonet inside. The tiny shards of egg, separated by spidery cracks, fell away like leaves from autumn trees. The dragonet was incredibly small for the egg it came from, only taking up half of the allotted space. Its hide faded from gray to translucent, veins pulsing slowly and visibly. Lethargically, it lifted its head. Then it struggled forward.

The march was slow and painful. The only thing that drove the dragonet forward was instinct. Its eyes did not search ahead, its mind did not contemplate candidates or anything at all. The minutes dragged on as it moved forward. Then, when it was only halfway to the candidates, its legs wobbled, and mid-collapse it disappeared between.

Silence hung in the chilled night air.

Then, Sereldeth let out an excruciatingly pained roar. Her eyes whirled a violent red of anger as she bellowed at everyone to leave, even Avine. She threw her wings out over her remaining, dud eggs and the corpse of the dragonet Noth had killed, crying her sorrow and rage to the sky. The hatching was over. Sereldeth knew it. She would not hold any childish, illogical hope for the motionless eggs she drew close to her. They were dead. There was no hope. The amount of hope there was, though, existed in her living children and their lifemates. Sereldeth, however, needed time before she could accept that.

---

S'tia and Khalaedeth had made sure the new weyrling pairs were well-fed and knew where their quarters were located and who their roommates were. He wasn't accustomed to acting as weyrlingmaster, but he would do his best, both for Avine and for the weyrlings. At least he had experience with the new riders, having been their candidatemaster. Now that he was leaving that title behind, he now had dragonets to teach. It was a task he promised, directly to the weyrling, to do his best at.

Later that evening, as the kitchens finished cooking for the feast and brought out plates upon plates of celebratory food, Avine ascended onto a makeshift podium. She looked out over the people gathered there. Riders, cooks, weyrfolk, holdfolk, new weyrlings. Every one of the faces was familiar. She had seen them all around. She would address them as friends, and as fellow survivors.

"People of Pern," she said loudly, as the conversation died down and attention was turned to herself. "The hatching today, despite its unfortunate happenings, is a blessing to each and every one of us. When bronze Dasereth betweened after catching my Sereldeth, everyone was scared. Dasereth had been infected with VT. I know you all had the same question on your minds. 'Will the eggs hatch?'

"Tonight, our question has been answered. Thank Faranth, the eggs have hatched. Not all of them, but most of them, and the dragonets have found their lifemates in our brand new riders. A round of applause for our new weyrlings!" She lent her own hands to the clapping, smiling slightly. "These twenty-five pairs are the key to Pern's future. They are the rebirth of the dragon species, with a few quirks... the glass dragons, the blacks, the grays and the jasper. They are our new hopes. Fittingly, they will be called the Resurrection Class. S'tia of blue Khalaedeth will be their Weyrlingmasters. Weyrlings," she said, face softening as she searched out some of their faces in the crowd. "Good luck. I know you'll do great."

She paused again for applause that erupted, and then waited for the crowd to quiet. "Now, since S'tia will be acting as Weyrlingmaster, I've appointed new Candidatemasters: K'nan and green Chalchiuith." She smiled wider than she had before, genuine. "I trust you two will do great, too.

"Times are also difficult for me by myself, and to help with running the Weyr, I am appointing M'laus and bronze Isaath as acting Weyrleaders until Sereldeth Rises again.

"Now! I guess that's enough of my speech. You're all here to eat, anyways, but first - a toast." She raised her wooden goblet of wine. "To the Resurrection Weyrlings!"

---

((And thus concludes the hatching, and the feast. You're more than welcome to make feast interaction threads if you like, but don't post feast-related things here, please.))[/size][/blockquote]

[Lirael]

That first bronze had impressed. Daromir sighed. He wasn't expecting to impress a dragon so prestigious as a bronze, but that faint hope was within almost all male candidates. Though he knew it was rather unlikely that he would be chosen by one of the hatchlings, even considering their numbers compared to the candidates, the boy longed with every breath in his body to make that bond. He checked himself. If it was going to happen, it would. If he was meant to be with any of the dragonets that hatched here today, they would find each other.

Ah- there. Sereldeth was again in a rage, and the black hatchling was on the move. He kept a wary eye on her, wincing as she- no, another hatchling- savaged a boy's leg. It was not, in fact, the black as he had first thought, but another grey oddity, newly hatched. The pair of them had run off together, whether in play or antagonism Daromir couldn't tell. He suspected the latter. At any rate, another egg hatched, drawing his attention. Another grey. That was what, three now? He wondered whether this mutation of hide colour would make up a significant part of the clutch. Quite a number of unusual dragonets had hatched already. But it didn't matter really. This clutch was really the last hope of the remaining Pernese, and they would take what they could get. While Daromir was musing over this, another dragonet made its entrance to the sands, rather dramatically. The new green cavorted out of the shattered remains of her egg and over to the grey, trilling all the while. They both moved off towards the candidates in their own unique ways, one gallivanting away and tripping head over heels into her lifemate, the other slowly but surely making his way, after some careful thought, to a girl. As the antics of black and grey continued, the coveted gold egg began to rock, garnering everyone's focus. The brown who hatched just in front of it went virtually unnoticed. Fortunately he didn't seem to mind, serenely falling asleep on his bed of shards.

As for Sereldeth's continued anger, Daromir began to feel uneasy again. Had he upset the queen? Disrespectful, dishonourable, dis- "Now don't start that again," he muttered to himself, under his breath.He straightened up, running a hand through his currently unruly curls. He had just told himself to calm down, and was already getting worked up again. Stupid. Anyway, what was the point in missing the hatching through constant worry? Events were moving on, whether anyone was watching or not. The gold hatchling was here. Unaffected, it seemed, by her father's ill health. Her first act in the world seemed to be breaking up the fight developing between the black and grey hatchlings. The two seemed more pitiable now than something to be cautious of; one was following after the other with a pleading look in its eye, seemingly wanting the other's attention back. Still, Daromir relaxed when the vicious black hatchling impressed to someone else, another boy. He was relieved that that particular dragonet hadn't been destined for him.

The gold hatchling seemed to be quite as agitated as her mother, screaming and hissing at any of her siblings who attracted her wrath. Currently, she was focused on the bronze who had just hatched, the second of the clutch. He certainly seemed arrogant enough, from his movements, to create irritation. This pretty-coloured boy quickly found His, unlike the brown who had hatched before the gold and was just now beginning to move.

Daromir gazed with bated breath at the dragonet before him. The brown had been standing by each of the male candidates in turn, lingering by every individual for a long while, so he tried not to get his hopes up. It was reasonable to assume that he would pass on in his own time as he had done each time before. It seemed an eternity to Daromir that he stood looking back at the creature as he was examined. But wait- the eyes looking up at him were swirling with the rainbow spectrum of impression! The brown rubbed against Daromir's- D'mir's- legs, a soft rumbling emanating from his body. 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?! Daromir blinked- was that a laugh he heard? The draconic equivalent, anyway. 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? The weyrling boy looked taken aback for a moment, both at the sudden wholesome feeling he was experiencing, as if before he'd only been half a person but had only now realised it, and the strange words of the hatchling. But then he laughed, rather confused, but amused nonetheless. He didn't quite understand why Somineth would say something that wasn't true, take it back, and seem to be thoroughly enjoying himself, but perhaps the dragonet liked to make other people laugh? You know, lighten the mood or something? He was sure he would enjoy finding out, and learning how dragons thought, what 'made them tick', as it were. He could feel a sort of disconnection from the concept of time in the dragon's mind, and it reminded him of his sister. Pleasantly rather than painfully, for once. She had always gotten so caught up in life that she lost track of time. He suddenly realised that he hadn't spoken to Somineth yet, not really. D'mir opened his mouth, suddenly feeling awkward, but the brown reassured him. I can feel how you feel too, you know. In fact, I know what everyone is thinking right now! he paused, then suddenly began again in a rush. Oh, but I'm yours, only yours, D'mir-Own! In your mind, and no-one else's. He tilted up his head, still twining around his boy. His calm demeanor returned as D'mir patted his shoulder, a soft smile lighting up his eyes.
"Didn't you say something about food?" he teased, grinning as the two of them walked together towards the waiting meat, where the other new weyrlings were congregated. D'mir was far too engrossed by the gentle gradation of Somineth's hide from light to dark to notice the subsequent hatchings and impressions. "You're beautiful, you know that?" his awed tone elicited a soft trill from his other half, and a loving gaze.