start of something legendary [faerie hatching]

[kat]

Everything was happening so fast! The green who had passed her by was suddenly running back across the sands. She took a step backwards as she watched it go tearing past the candidates. Not towards the candidates but for the stands? Well, that wasn't the first time a stands Impression had happened. Ironically the first she'd been to was when Meira Impressed. Irony of ironies. Still, no one had been mauled yet--least of all herself. Everyone was well and there were still a few dragonets left to hatch. When they did it was almost simultaneous.

She didn't see quite how it transpired but there were suddenly two blues and another green on the sands. The green sat looking put off by something and there was one blue atop another blue. It looked to her as though they were tussling but then she noted that it really didn't look so much like that at all. What were they doing, then? She wasn't sure but she was hard pressed to pay attention to all three dragonets. There were two still who hadn't hatched but they were overlooked for the moment. After all the ones out of the shell were the ones she was hopeful of coming the way of the candidates.

She noticed someone skirting the outsides of the stands through her peripheral vision. She recognized the person...Emoyan? What was he doing on the sands? Only the Weyrlingmaster was supposed to actually be there to monitor the candidates feeding their newly acquired dragons. She watched him as he headed for the silly boy who was causing so much fuss. She wondered how he wasn't hauled off the sands for his misconduct. Jingth seemed more amused by the boy than upset. She had shoved him forward and now he was lying on the hot sands, unmoving. She could tell he hadn't been hurt, so what on Pern was he doing? She narrowed her eyes and frowned. Was he purposely making a scene to draw attention to himself? It certainly seemed that way. Showing up in those clothes, refusing to take a spot on the sands. Great way to get mauled. She just hoped Emoyan wasn't mauled trying to knock some sense into the wherry headed individual. She didn't recognize him but she was rather glad not. He didn't seem very sensible, shouting at Jingth and putting on a ridiculous display for Faranth knew what reason.

She let her attention be drawn back to the two blues and the green. Getting distracted was also a great way to get mauled. She had proof of that. She couldn't quite figure what the blues were doing, still. The one seemed to be inspecting the other and almost vice versa. Looking for advantages in their tussle? Observing something? Communicating? There was hardly any way to tell. Her eyes fell again on the green who seemed to be having none of it. She was preening herself and looking quite put off. She shifted her stance on the hot sands as she watched. She hadn't been able to see who'd Impressed in the stands. Whoever it was was certainly fortunate. It didn't happen every day and it meant one less candidate on the sands would Impress today. Still, dragons always knew.

xXx

Mihkal wasn't phased by what happened next. If her person wasn't on the sands then why not the stands? It made perfect sense to him, even as he watched the green make her way up the stairs to try and reach whomever the lucky person was. It obviously wasn't his dragon and it was really out of sight at this point. What wasn't out of sight were the dragons left on the sands. Three hatched out in a rather comedic way and he watched as one blue seemed to trounce the other. Still they weren't biting or clawing. Nothing doing there.

He caught worried expressions on people's faces and inwardly he was sighing. Couldn't they see the blues didn't look like they were fighting? At least he didn't think so. In the next moment a bugle from the gold startled him half out of his wits and he took a step back, nearly stumbling. Shardit, were they having at it after all? Did dragons maul one another as well as candidates? He couldn't remember hearing of it and he was willing to bet there was no way on Pern the clutchmother was going to stand for it. Seemed he was right. Only they weren't separating, those two blues. They still weren't using claws or teeth, either. So what was the deal?

The green he didn't much pay attention to. He had been told straight men didn't Impress them. He'd pay attention if it moved, maybe. But for now it was sitting all sultry looking and unmoving. Smart thing, to want nothing to do with whatever the blues were doing. Crazy blues. Shith was proof enough there were some real loopy ones. He smirked again, brief and passing. Interesting hatching so far, this one. All blues and greens though. Not a single brown amongst them yet. Well, not horribly surprising, and there were still two eggs left, right? Right. He didn't care particularly if he Impressed blue or brown. Made no difference at all. So he watched the blues while keeping an eye on the remaining two eggs. Things would come to a close rather quickly. Small clutch after all.

[Avu]

Jingth awarded Aephon with an all-too-amused look. So he wasn’t Standing; he was sitting. Okay, then. If he wanted to burn a hole through the seat of his pants, he was welcome to try it. Emoyan’s approach was regarded with an intent wariness, the gold crooning a soft counterpoint to the man’s words to make sure he knew she was not upset. As the Candidatemaster continued, though, the gold huffed out a breath, leaning over to nose lightly at Emoyan’s arm. I will not let him get hurt, she informed the man – for the Hatching, she would suspend her usual disapproval of bespeaking others.

Besides – as if she was going to let her entertainment be injured. Amusing Candidate-Healer-pet was amusing.

“Ah,” Meira murmured, and nodded in quiet agreement – she understood. Random meetings happened a lot, especially in the Infirmary; there’d been that Candidate who’d come in with a cut hand. The flirt, even though he didn’t appear to be present at the Hatching anyway. “Well, I don’t know if Jingth was going to make me but I wanted to meet them…I was thinking I’d invade a Weyrling lesson, would you want to come along…?”

Pinned flat on his back in the Sands, the Leprechaun Blue was clearly beginning to run out of patience for his brother’s fierce concentration even the smallest of bruises. He squirmed, and received a snap that clicked in empty air just an inch short of his muzzle, followed by a downright malevolent snarl that would’ve been considerably more impressive had the Elf Blue not promptly followed it up with a gentle lick to a thin line of ichor where a piece of egg shell had apparently cut the Leprechaun Blue’s shoulder.

Sighing petulantly, the Leprechaun Blue squirmed again, and suddenly went limp, eyes hooding as he looked directly at his brother and reached up to lick his muzzle, slow and seductive.

The Elf Blue scrambled off of him so fast he left a ghost image in his wake, eyes vivid pinks of embarrassment.

And then hissed, covering his humiliation by positively storming away from the Leprechaun Blue, through the Candidates. However, he did make sure he didn’t so much as clip one with a stray wing, wiggling around them carefully in order to avoid hurting any of them. His tail swished as the Leprechaun Blue called after him on a high, amused croon, eyes flushing a deeper pink, pointedly ignoring his clutchbrother’s amusement.

Obnoxious little brat, he complained to His gruffly, upon reaching her, It’s not a surprise our greensister felt like hitting him. Hell, /I/ want to hit him. He huffed in an entirely false show of irritation, and then blinked up at His. Umaheth, by the way. Glad I found you, Mayari. My apologies about the hold-up with the little idiot back there.

Dsoleth’s words to the Nymph Green only served to make her twitch, and upset flashed in the hatchling’s gaze; she hissed in soft protest. If dragons could pout, she would’ve. As it was, she flicked her wings, and then rose to her feet. Her gaze slid around the Candidates, another low hiss escaping her before she paraded through the Candidates. She snapped at Isori’s heels when she got too close, but it was mostly moodiness and nothing intended to actually land and do damage.

Jenna was not so lucky.

In. Her. Way. The Nymph Green reared up, claws landing against Jenna’s torso, and shoved hard, sideways, claws ripping robes and skin both. However, instead of pulling away as soon as the girl lost her balance, the Nymph Green found the fabric of the Candidates’ robes tangled around her claws, and was more or less pulled down for the ride as well. And even small hatchlings weighed a considerable amount, unfortunately for Jenna.

01. Selkie Egg- Hatched green Iwyrth, Impressed to Ithanna
02. Faun Egg-
03. Elf Egg- Hatched blue Umaheth, Impressed to Mayari
04. Will o' the Wisp Egg-
05. Nymph Egg- Hatched green, mauling a Jenna
06. Brownie Egg- Hatched blue Wridelth, Impressed to Syrene
07. Pixie Egg- Hatched green Quixoth, Impressed to Raebeli
08. Leprechaun Egg- Hatched blue, looking amused

[Avu]

Elf Blue
Name: Umaheth
Impressed to: Mayari
Color: Blue (#60A7EB)
Appearance: Umaheth is probably the smallest of his brothers, though only by a small amount – and even so, the blue is hardly unimpressive in length, given that he’s still larger than most greens. In bulk, Umaheth is best described as “stocky”. It’s not really muscle, and it’s not fat either, not by a long shot; the thick sturdiness of his body is just how he’s built, and that’s all there is to it (hmph). His chest is barrel-like, promising Umaheth incredible control and stamina when it comes to firestone, though his ribcage seems to be stretched out a little longer than is strictly typical. With short legs, Umaheth’s gait is more than a little awkward when he’s walking, but…well, dragons were born to fly.

In his element, Umaheth is gorgeous. His wings are large and slender, and his flight will always be unerringly fast and steady. While Umaheth may lack the proportions and body type to perform any whiplash turns or other displays of agility, his endurance will be stunning for a creature of his size; given a chance, this dragon can easily last the entirety of a Fall without lagging in speed. And Umaheth seems to like the work – so why not?

In color, Umaheth looks beyond reproach. His hide is neither dark nor light, a clean shade of sky blue. It’s a very matte shade, and doesn’t tend to gleam or shine very much, but nonetheless, it’s easy to tell when Umaheth is dirty and when he’s clean, as it tends to take on an almost rough appearance when he’s not perfectly well-oiled, especially around his jaw. The roughness seems to be permanent where his color changes from that smooth blue into a shade darker, sharp stripes running across his spine, spilling over onto his sides and flanks, up his neck, and down his tail. The same shade curls onto his forelegs.

With particularly expressive eyes – indeed, every emotion of Umaheth’s seems to be painted in vivid neon shades – the blue also happens to have the ability to see perfectly clearly at night. Only when he lowers the first lid of his eyes, though, which happens to make seeing in daylight a blurry mess. His sight isn’t that of a wher, but more like he has the ability to create his own light – or reflect what little light there is at night.

Personality: Umaheth has a serious case of grumpiness that seems to be pervading and impossible to get rid of. Always quick to point out downsides, negatives, and argue back with what seems to be otherwise perfect logic (and get mad to the point of speechlessness over it, too), Umaheth doesn’t seem to be friendly at all. He hates the world, please and thank you, so leave him alone and he will be happy. Umaheth likes to grouch about anything that moves and Faranth forbid he’s ever asked to play – his answer will be simple and sniffy, ‘I’m too old for things like that’ – occasionally with a swear thrown in; Umaheth might just be the first dragon to ever swear and exercise his sarcasm muscle on a regular basis.

However, sticking around Umaheth might require one with infinite patience (or just nothing better to do), but it’s worth it, in the end; Umaheth is unfalteringly loyal. That’s not to say he wouldn’t grump at you just as much as anyone else, he won’t mean it, promise. His soft side, or rather, his mothering tendencies, come out prominently around just about anyone who requires it, though – and honestly, his friends tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to that. If they’re his friends, shouldn’t they be smart enough not to get hurt?! Regardless, though, anyone stupid enough to be hurt won’t be spared Umaheth’s grumpiness – a quick, sarcastic sharp tongue that may be frightening, but is belied by how carefully he’ll curl around people and dragons and cuddle them to make them feel better, either emotionally or physically.

Umaheth is a basically deeply emotional creature. He lashes out when he’s upset, will occasionally allow the mental equivalent of a smile when someone particularly pleases him, and he’ll even admit to loving His and children (only of the human variety, though). This dragon also happens to hate firelizards and Salamandyrs both with a passion – they’re bloody nuisances. And also, he hates the thought of sharing His. With anybody. His only, please. Besides, firelizards and Salamandyrs are dirty! Because, yes, Umaheth is more than a little fussy about hygiene, often complaining loudly to anyone within earshot.

[Lotty]

"Eeeeeeee! Oh my faranth oh my goodness eeeeEEEEEEEeeeee!"

Let's rewind first.

Rae had been absolutely giddy with excitement, a practical bubbling ball of color, perfectly pleased to be watching the hatching, even if she had been relatively alone and her musings were kept mostly to herself and her mental notes. She was sure to be taking notes on who Impressed to what and making some sort of surface judgments as to how their relationship may evolve and any and all potential disasters that could come along the way. It was in her nature to be this way, or if not by nature then through the many turns she had worked in her profession. So there was no surprise that when the chubby green had waddled its way over to cute little Ithanna Rae was all over that, smiling and wondering on how they would get along...not that she knew either or them or their personalities.

She couldn't contain herself! She had to share with someone how adorable it was to see a pudgy food loving dragon and her earrings rattled and her bracelets clinked together as she swished around and looked at the nearest familiar face - Mi'rah - and began running his ear off about this that and the other. Politeness meant that he couldn't be the one to silence her, and she took advantage of this, "Oh Mi'rah I can't believe how just sweet these dragons all seem to be, I just love that last little green one," she glanced down at the sands again and saw a sulking green whose tail drooped so sadly, and the mindhealer couldn't help frown with concern before looking back at the bronzerider behind her, "And did you see that other one!? So sad! I hope it finds it's home!"

Blah, blah, blah, blah....she kept on going and going about it, all the while Mi'rah was looking right past her, wide eyed at the approaching dragonet. Shards! He didn't want more injuries! Was it just him or was Pern a cruel planet out to get him? He was squirming in his seat, trying to get out of the green much like those below had, but realizing that the resident mindhealer was in the way he resorted to two things: pointing and stuttering, "I - I - R-rae. Rae! L-look behind you please!" Cue a twenty one turn old girl looking very, very, perplexed, "What are you talking....oh...."

She felt the grip of the bond before the brush of dragon hide against her skin and with the mental words it sank in deep, deeper, deepest, "Wha...." Did she dare turn back around, she she dare look and see that perhaps this was just her imagination, and nothing but a daydream? Raelove, come on now. Tongue tied already? We will untie it soon though, after some food? Iwyrth has designs to eat it all, and I for one want to get some before its all gone. I deserve it no? Rae looked down at her newly bonded and with childlike excitement let out a high pitched squeal of joy before tangling herself up right then and there with Quixoth. Could the two of them even get any closer? In the midst of her desperate clinging to the pale green she had to be reminded again by a human voice to feed her new lifemate, "Raebeli, feed your dragon. Go on..." Mi'rah could only hope he wouldn't have to be a babysitter and lead them back down to the sands. Not part of his plans for the day....

[Rowana]

Nabrik stood squarely in his spot with his arms crossed stubbornly. Being it was his second hatching, he at least knew what to expect and he was more than enjoying the fact that he didn't have to try to hide anymore. Standing in the open, however, was clearly not helping. So far, no dragon had come to him or even come near him. At least Kale's had sat one him, that had been exciting. He wasn't going to get discouraged though. Obviously his dragon had to be the best, and he was willing to wait for it. He wasn't picky about color though, each new hatchling got his critical examination.

He had to admit, they were pretty neat dragons so far. He was feeling impatient that his hadn't come yet. One green had even gone to the Stands to impress! That was so unfair. After he'd gone to all that trouble to be a real Candidate too. Now maybe he understood what Emoyan had meant about being sneaky and fairness. The boy kicked at the sand, but held his ground. He was pretty sure his dragon could find him, moving around was pointless. Although, getting mauled wouldn't be all that fun. His wide eyes glanced over at a poor girl who got toppled by a green. Instinct found him inching away from the eggs automatically. No clumsy or angry hatchling was going to catch him unawares! Besides, he knew he was a small target.

Alp and Path were enjoying the hatching so far. Thanks to their chosen spot, Path could just raise her head high enough to see the Sands and Alph stood watchfully on top. It was all quite pleasant, except when they had to jump out of the way to avoid one of the hatchlings coming up the Stands. That was so strange, weren't they supposed to stay below? Ah well, she looked happy, so it must be right.

[Ember]

Aephon smirked smugly at the gold. Hah. Wasn't gonna do anything about him now! He'd just won the game. Game? No! The challenge. There we go. She still hadn't apologized though and...what was this? The boy's expression resumed his usual glare as Emoyan came up to him. At the question he snapped out, "I'm sitting, what does it look like? And no I'm - " Aephon paused and glanced with alarm towards the babies. Hn. He didn't have time for the old man anymore, or the gold either for that matter. "Excuse me." It wasn't a polite request as he headed towards the fallen candidate.

Someone was hurt and he was a Healer. That's all that mattered to him, really. He noticed that one of the blues Impressed of course but it was a vague recognition at best. He practically stomped his way over to Jenna and the hatchling green. He rudely pushed through anyone in his way to get to her. Were any of them Healers? Unlikely. When he arrived he cleared his throat and addressed the main problem first; the dragonet. "Oi, you little green menace. Calm down. If you so much as move a claw I'm gonna call that stupid gold over and get her to give you a...a timeout or something. Whatever." At first his threat had sounded somewhat menacing but by the end it became simply...amusing.

Before he could help... "What's your name, silly girl? Not moving when you should have..." anyone he had to get the stupid green off of her. He couldn't even really assess with the green being on top of the girl. Shards but he officially hated hatchings.

----

"Ooh, invasions? Count me in," he replied playfully. "This batch's Weyrlingmaster is...ah, Iskierka. Well, she won't object I don't think. Especially not if we're helpful in some way." He returned to watching the hatching passively, the same emotions Dsoleth was feeling affecting him. Minus pride, maybe. He didn't need his dragon siring a clutch to feel pride. He watched the two blues with amusement before Dsoleth's concern hit him.

Babymine seems unhappy... The brown commented to him and T'san looked away from the second blue as it Impressed to look at the green. His eyes followed the path of the green and he frowned faintly when the green snapped at a candidate. "Uh-oh." Green throwing a hissy fit? What happened next bothered him more. Well, at least there were plenty of Healers around to help the girl.

[heisokufire9]

So far the hatching was going well. Then when the green huffed off from her brothers, Ash had a feeling there would be trouble. And she was right. One of the other female candidates got in her way and was knocked down.

"Shards..." Ash said softly hoping the girl was alright. She noticed the boy in red go over and tell the hatchling to stay still and breathed a sigh of relief. She went over to the trio.
"Anything I can do to help?" she asked tentatively. She wouldn't be mad if the boy shooed her away. He might be able to work better without help but she figured she could at least ask.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connor and Yukiro snickered when the blue that was pinned down by his brother got him off by licking him.
"That was funny." Connor chuckled. Yukiro nodded and watched as the blue that had been licked came over to the candidates. He found his in their friend Maya. Yukiro grinned and nudged his brother.
"Hey he went to Maya." Yukiro said and Connor smiled.
"Congrats Maya." he called over. They noticed the commotion the green was causing as she bowled over a female candidate.
They hoped the girl was alright. Hatchlings had sharp claws for being just hatched.

[kat]

She was worried about Emoyan up there with the silly male candidate who didn't seem to have his head on straight. Not so much that she didn't do more than steal glances at the Candidatemaster while keeping a close eye on the dragons on the sands. No maulings yet. Not a one. And yet it could and did happen. She found herself eying the green a little nervously. Greens, where there were no golds sometimes mauled. She had never quite gotten the worry of being mauled out of her mind since her first hatching. It had saved her hide a couple of hatchings though. Darting out of the way was the best way to go, after all. If a dragon was coming at you? Move, and fast.

The blues were still doing whatever oddity they were doing. She had to chuckle at the fierce behavior of the smaller blue. He had a lovely shade of hide, though his legs were a little short, his body a little long. The other blue was clearly bigger and yet seemed to subject himself to whatever it was his clutchsibling was doing with a stoic reluctance. Before licking him in the most ...odd? Yes it was odd. It was a slow like, really rather--kinky? She frowned and shook her head but as the smaller blue shot off of the larger like a tunnelsnake out of earth, too fast to even follow? The impression that that's what it had been remained. Her biggest concern now was that that same blue who had sounded so ferocious and hissed so vehemently? Was heading for the candidates. And he did not look pleased. At all.

She narrowed her eyes though. The blue was almost ridiculously meticulous in how it was moving. It wove through the candidates ever so carefully, even its tail was moved through them in a way that not one was hit. It was getting closer to her and the other females near her though. Was it to be another female Impression, then? But shards if it wasn't looking her way. Of course being Mayari? She panicked and was about to do what she'd done the other times: move. Only she never got the chance. She suddenly heard a voice that was not Jingth. That was not another dragon heralding her to do this or that. That was not one of the many dragons she had helped heal or tended to. She had never heard this voice before. She had never heard a dragon voice in this way before. So shocked, half turned away to get out of the way. Slowly turning back again. What had just happened?

Obnoxious little brat,[/color] the voice said to her, sounding irate and gruffly grumpy, and then continued, It’s not a surprise our greensister felt like hitting him. Hell, /I/ want to hit him.[/color] Another brief pause and Maya looked at the blue in confusion as it spoke again. Umaheth, by the way. Glad I found you, Mayari. My apologies about the hold-up with the little idiot back there.[/color]

His name? He was Umaheth? He was...he had...found her? She looked a the blue in front of her, finally comprehending. In the next instant her eyes began to water and he became blurred. She sank down to her knees in front of him and threw her arms about him. She got the feeling--yes, the feeling!--that he was a little embarrassed but at the same time comforting her all at once. Her Umaheth. She had Impressed a wonderful, unique, blue and she would never let him go.

Shells, girl, I'm not going anywhere. I just found you after all,[/color] the blue spoke again. It resulted in more tears falling down her face, streaking her tanned colored skin. Maya rarely cried. She had not cried more than she could count on one hand since she'd been here. Never cried because she'd been happy. There was a first for everything, it seemed.

Breathe, would you girl? These sands are damn hot, could you possibly leak on me up there if you're going to get that on me at all?[/color] Maya broke out laughing then, and sniffled, nodding. There was something she had to do first, though. Before she left the sands there was someone she wanted to meet Umaheth before anyone else.

Can it wait? I could use a bite to eat, you know. Plus going over there when the food is over there is rather out of the way,[/color] the blue complained, glancing over at where Maya wanted to go. Maya, however, was insistent.

"I promise I'll feed you right after, Heth," she told him reassuringly. It was something she had to do. She wanted it very much and though her new mindmate was irate over the thought she had a feeling he would be irate over many things. She just...knew. Not that she minded. He was perfect. They were perfect together.

Damn it girl, I'm a dragon, not a human! My name is Umaheth. Can you say that? Ewe-mah-heth. None of this 'Heth' business, are we clear?[/color] His eyes tinged with a touch of red and orange, along with some other milder colors. Heth! What sort of proper name was that? Not one, was what.

Maya had to stifle another laugh. Oh but he was going to be amusing. She skirted by the stands and Zex glided easily over to her shoulder. Suddenly she felt that Umaheth was not following. He had frozen, eyes wide, staring at her like she had firehead and he would catch it next. Maya turned to regard him in confusion. But it wasn't her he was staring at. She knew that, just as he knew it.

What in Faranth's name is that hellspawn? There is a filthy little insect on your shoulder, Mayari. I'm not coming another step unless you remove that unsightly thing, or I'll be damned![/color]

Maya's brows furrowed. Something was wrong with Zexion? She realized then that Heth really, really didn't like the 'mandyr. Filthy? Hellspawn? He wasn't coming another step? Faranth, but she had a problem. She never got to say a word, though. Suddenly Zex was hissing, skittered down her side and leg so fast she had no time to react. He faltered as he skittered across the sands, dancing as best he could to avoid the heat and get to the young blue.

Not thing! Zexion! Zex. E. On. You remember it! You Zex servant best remember! What you call? Hell of spawn? What that be? Not remove! Maya MINE! You MINE! Aaaaalllll MINE![/color] The bronze was practically shrieking in indignant indignation. His frill was so puffed out he could barely move for the fact he might fall over onto his face. The blue dragon regarded him like he was clearly insane and raised a forefoot in consternation.

Yours? You little insect, I would eat you if I wasn't worried I'd catch some perilous disease. Remember I could squash you like a bug if I wanted to touch your filthy hide. You forget and I might just forgo it and risk catching something nonetheless, little bug![/color]

Maya knew she had better step in before Zex latched onto Heth's leg. She deftly scooped him up and said sternly, "that's enough, both of you. Zex, you and Heth are both mine, I am both of yours and you're going to have to learn to share, okay?" Zex squirmed in her grasp, flailing and hissing. Heth ignored him but was obviously not pleased.

Let's get this over with. I want to eat already.[/color] Maya decided to let it be and walked the rest of the short distance to where Emoyan was with the crazy boy. She waited until she was sure he was finished. Then she would introduce her new--albeit unique!--blue.

xXx

Mihkal would have had his hands in his pockets, if he had had any. As it was he didn't and so he let well enough alone. Hands could feel out of place if they had no where to go. So he crossed his arms over his chest and continued watching those blues. 'Those blues' weren't together for much longer. What he interpreted as a lazy lick was given by the larger to the smaller and then the pair parted. The smaller headed ever so carefully towards not the boys but the girls. Well didn't that just beat all? Why it was that two blues--not to mention so far two out of only three!--were going towards the girls was beyond him. Not that it really bothered him. Just was a bit surprising. He knew it wasn't a rarity but usually more boys Impressed blues than girls. He did have to smile at the scene of that girl Impressing. She looked like she'd been ready to bolt and then she was on the sands in tears. Happy tears, but tears nonetheless. He shrugged it off and gave them their moment of privacy.

The remaining blue had yet to choose. But he was distracted, then, by the swift movement of the green who had, up until then, been content to sit and look sultry. She went up to a girl and he figured that was it: Impression. Only it clearly wasn't. With a maliciousness that made him cringe the green clawed the girl. Got her good, too. He glanced towards the section the healers were supposed to be in. Where were they, then? She was wrapped up in naught but her panties and a bloody torn piece of a robe. She was bleeding well enough and while blood didn't bother him it didn't look so great, either. Well it wasn't his deal. The healers would take care of her and probably give her something to slip on if she wasn't injured too badly. That would be that. Still he warily kept an eye on that green that she'd managed to dislodge from her. Half of him was keeping an eye on the girl, too. If the healers didn't hurry he was going to start feeling an unwanted compulsion to give her his robe. That wouldn't have done him much good. He had no desire to stand there on the sands in his undergarment. Then again she probably didn't either. Putting on a tough act like she was, hrm.

There were two unhatched eggs, one unimpressed blue and a raging green. Three possible chances to Impress. Well it wouldn't surprise him if he was left standing. Small clutch, not everyone could Impress, he knew the drill and it wasn't something he was going to fuss over. Next clutch might be bigger. Or the clutch after. Either way was fine by him. Lots of time, no need to worry himself or fuss over it. He was enjoying the hatching though. Minus the mauling it was a really good one! Lots of suspense, the stands Impression, the overly happy girl who cried. Good stuff all around. He really was considering trying to get a pet though. Seemed they were good to have in a bind. Maybe there would be a Salamandyr clutch or a Firelizard one. He could have used interesting company but it wasn't a must. Four left to Impress and where oh where would they go?

[rii]

Jenna blinked at the twins, his lips slowly forming in a large 'O' without any accompany sound. Her sarcasm clearly was not registering with the two giggly hens. Riiiight. Smiling awkwardly at the other girls, Jenna half nodded her head at their responses before glancing where the Pixie Green had impressed. Lucky girl, the thought was bitter, and perhaps because of it the unseen forces decided to punish her.

Pain exploded in her side, a surprising force knocking her to the sands as her head whipped back around to discover the cause. A green had – but why. Jenna hands had ventured to the bloodied fabric sticking to her side. Her green eyes wide with shock at the amount coating her palms. And the thing – the bitch – was still laying on her legs. Pinning her to the sands; the hot sands. "Get–" She didn't finish the yell, her chest tightening painfully at the attempt. Instead she growled, squirming, kicking at the green to get her off (more clawing be damned) until she could slide her trapped legs, one at a time, through the sand and out from under the green.

That one boy had the nerve to come over and chide her about getting mauled. Screw him. Jenna gritted her teeth against the pain and the stinging in her eyes. She wasn't going to cry, not in front of all these people. The torn robe, still tangled in the green's claws, was slipped out of. Jenna crawled a couple of feet before raising up on her feet in nothing more than a pair of boots, panties and the long strip of cloth she used to bid her chest. This too torn and soaked with red. Her fingers pressed over the bindings, keeping them from slipping off.

Did this mean they were going to take her off the sands?

Nonono. She had come all this way for the opportunity. How would she fit in anywhere if not here. She lifted her head. She was fine. "What are ya'll looking at?" The words themselves strained, wavering beneath the bravado she put forth. "Emoyan said maulings happen. You should be watching the hatchlings. You'll miss it."

[Ruby]

Everything was happening so fast. Caden appreciated it, actually, and not just because the suspense was pretty nonexistant - rather, Smath's hatching had been incredibly slow, literally taking all day to finish. The fewer comparisons between her first hatching and this one, the better, especially since it looked like this one would be over within the hour. Really, though, after the first Blue broke shell and picked His without a second look at any of the Candidates, Caden tuned out a bit, returning her attention to the clutch only long enough to wipe egg goo from the Selkie Green's hatching off her face.

It might not be much like Smath's hatching, but it was still hard to take.

As was her standard, Caden slunk away from the greens, clearing the way in front of them without a thought. Greens were not for her, she knew that; and hadn't Smath proved that beyond any reasonable doubt? And she was right, one went for the food and another into the stands, the third mauled a candidate who did NOT get out of the way. See? It was only logical to move away from potentially angry babies, especially greens. The blues, so far, hadn't given anyone problems. Typical.

Caden did start to drift backwards, though, allowing some of the more eager candidates room at the front. She even gestured to her vacated spot, inviting a small boy to take it. He wasn't much younger than she'd been, all those years ago, and she remembered how excited she'd been. Now, it was just too hard to be so close. She wouldn't leave, but she would be ready when the hatching was done. Ready to escape, to go back to the tannery bury herself in work. She considered stopping by Raebeli's office, talking to the Mindhealer about options, maybe withdrawing from Candidacy - but no, a quick scan of the Stands showed Caden that Raebeli had, against all odds, impressed the Green that had climbed the Stands. It looked like Caden was on her own for a while. Well, nothing new there.

---

Tenlie clapped hard for each impression, the smile on her face just getting bigger. Rajnith was singularly uninterested in the proceedings, focusing all her attention on napping comfortably in her new Weyr. She'd spotted Mi'rah a few rows below, but his row was full, and he was talking to the Mindhealer - until a Green climbed into the stands, effectively removing the Bronzerider's distraction. Slipping out of her row and sneaking into Mi'rah's, she leaned over a blonde rider, smiling at the Mindhealer and her new Green. "That do be friend?" she asked the Bronzerider, putting a hand on his shoulder just long enough so he would know she was there, still smiling. Oh, she loved Hatchings!

[Avu]

She had no idea who Iskierka was, other than bluerider and Weyrlingmaster. But – sure. Meira nodded, but she didn’t get a chance to answer before the Nymph Green’s attack on one of the Candidates. Not one she was familiar with, and Aephon was a Healer, but he was also a Candidate. Meira was on her feet before she’d consciously decided to help, squeezing T’san’s hand once. “I’ve got to go help – crap…” And at that moment, she was happy that neither Mimic nor Riaren was there – having a baby and a Salamandyr would make Healing a lot more complicated.

Cease. Only one word, spoken as an order to the Nymph Green, but Jingth trusted it would be enough, and that Hers could adequately handle the situation. Instead, her gaze narrowed on Mayari. She was happy the Healer had Impressed, but…As long as my children are on the Sands, Salamandyrs are not welcome, she said, icy cold now. Remove him.

Meira made it down to the Sands in record times, after having muttered a lot of “excuse me’s” and “sorry’s” on the way down as she passed people. The heat from the Hatching Sands wasn’t unexpected, but it certainly was unwelcome. She dropped to her knees next to Jenna, glancing up at Aephon only briefly and murmuring, a little breathless, “Your bedside manner needs a little work.” To Jenna, “We’re going to need to get you to the Infirmary,” judging by the sheer amount of blood-loss, already – “just stay still for now. Um – can one of you – ” to the twins “ – get a stretcher? There should be some just by the entrance to the Sands…”

The Nymph Green seemed as stunned by the damage her claws had done as Jenna, giving a dismayed keen as she jerked backwards, scrambling off of the Candidate, and turned her upset gaze away from the blood splashed on the Sands, looking for sympathy in the faces of the people surrounding her. Goldrider and male Candidate seemed busy with the girl she’d hurt…

I didn’t /mean/ to! she cried into Orena’s mind, real dismay lacing her mindvoice as she pressed herself against the Candidate’s legs. She was in my /way/ and she was /talking/ to you. She’s not /allowed/. You’re mine, Orena, you’re all Riavorth’s and I don’t want to have to share you, why did she make me /do/ that! A blink of multi-faceted eyes, Riavorth attempting to bury her face into Orena’s robes. She /deserved/ it.

The excitement didn’t seem to concern the Leprechaun Blue – and nor did the thought of Impressing. Instead, he tilted his head towards his mother and gave a low, crooning purr that was undeniably flirtatious in nature, earning an absentminded croon in response. The blue blinked and then started to move closer to her, glancing at Dsoleth through hooded eyes, before he was distracted by a loud crack from the Will o’ the Wisp Egg, and stopped moving, twitching his tail to and fro lightly as he watched the collapsing egg.

01. Selkie Egg- Hatched green Iwyrth, Impressed to Ithanna
02. Faun Egg-
03. Elf Egg- Hatched blue Umaheth, Impressed to Mayari
04. Will o' the Wisp Egg- Cracking rapidly
05. Nymph Egg- Hatched green Riavorth, Impressed to Orena
06. Brownie Egg- Hatched blue Wridelth, Impressed to Syrene
07. Pixie Egg- Hatched green Quixoth, Impressed to Raebeli
08. Leprechaun Egg- Hatched blue, watching Will o’ the Wisp Egg

[Avu]

Nymph Green
Name: Riavorth
Impressed to: Orena
Color: Green (#019E00)
Appearance: Riavorth is large for a green. Full-grown, she’ll probably dwarf a few blues in both length and bulk, for this dragon is certainly no lightweight. Her body is a mass of muscle, and, though she’ll never admit it, there’s a layer of fat, too, particularly thick around her midriff and hind legs. With a thick, short neck and equally stout tail, Riavorth’s head is very blunt, convex with a wide forehead narrowing down to a small muzzle. Her jaw is heavy, to match the rest of her body; one look at Riavorth and it’s clear that she’ll be incredibly strong, especially since her wings, instead of being short like her body proportions might suggest, are long, sweeping and wide.

Pure strength. Riavorth’s strengths lie in her muscle mass. Her wings are capable of holding her in the air for long periods of time at a stretch, and short bursts of speed occasionally, but agility is lost upon her, as is the gracefulness that might come with flight. If some dragons can be likened to a deer, Riavorth is more like a bull. Changing direction with such a short rudder as she has is difficult, but for long stretches of flight in one direction, Riavorth is unsurpassable. On the ground, Riavorth is still the bull, in a manner of speaking; the green still isn’t elegant, but she gets where she’s going just fine, without tripping.

A bright forest green, Riavorth’s hide is extremely sensitive, soft and supple when healthy and easily cracking and itching when oiled irregularly, save for her feet. Around her talons and knuckles, the hide is rough, permanently; no amount of oiling will ease that. The hide in that area, and in erratic patches up her forelegs, is a darker shade of green; the same dark shade is found in a gradual fade along her neck ridges and tail ridges, as well in her wing sails.

Riavorth’s eyes are fairly sensitive to light, which tends to make the green cranky in the daylight – but at night. Oh, at night Riavorth positively thrives. Her first eyelid allows her to reflect light, and, combined with her already-sensitive eyes, the green can see as clearly as most other dragons do during the day with remarkable ease.

Personality: Black and white. Everything in Riavorth’s world is either one or the other, and there seems to be no middle ground – which makes many opinions clash on this green. She’s either absolutely sweet to you, or she’s downright nasty; she’ll never be neutral, truly, unless she has never seen you before. In truth, Riavorth is a very simple-minded creature, and it’s extraordinarily difficult to get on her good side once you’re on her bad – this green holds grudges for a remarkably long time, even if it means repeating in her mind a list of who she doesn’t like and why in order to remember it, every single day, given the three-day memory span of most dragons.

For those that she does like, Riavorth is extremely loyal, if not a little on the clingy side. She’s overprotective (to say the least), especially when it comes to flirting. Let nobody consider flirting with anyone Riavorth likes, male or female, or they’ll almost certainly have an enemy for life in this green. In fact, any attempts at even befriending anyone ‘claimed’ by Riavorth will be viewed with more than a little unhappiness; they’re her friends, after all. That friend can expect a petulant outburst from Riavorth, usually on the spot; the green doesn’t seem to filter her thoughts at all.

Bratty, Riavorth is. Insults and teasing will very rapidly send her mood into a downwards spiral, and that will never end well. Neither will confusing her; Riavorth’s patience is notoriously short, and her temper fiery. In fact, Riavorth will often lash out physically as well as with verbal threats should it come to that. She’s not stupid enough to do anything that will leave permanent marks, fortunately, and it’s a side never displayed to those that are ‘hers’; they’ll receive a caring creature, instead. Not a very sensitive one, but Riavorth tries, truly, even if sometimes her good intentions turn out badly.

[Ember]

The boy outright ignored the person asking if he needed help. Should be answer enough for her. Aephon sighed impatiently as Jenna took the hard way out. "Because getting emotional over a little insult is always the smartest thing to do," he muttered under his breath, knowing that it wouldn't really help in this situation to continue to antagonize the idiotic girl. He tsked softly and ignored what she was saying as Meira came over. He fought down a blush as the whole panties-and-bindings thing clicked and he settled his gaze firmly on the scratches. Hn.

"So I've been told," he responded darkly to Meira. Still, he wouldn't change himself just because someone told him that he made them upset. If they weren't so stupid then.... "If you want to cover up you can borrow my shirt," he offered seemingly emotionlessly. "You'll have to take it off later to get the wound treated but for now it might not hurt." He gestured vaguely towards the audience. He had three inches on her at the least so his shirt might even cover up her panties a bit. If it were him in that situation (not that he'd ever let himself get mauled) he'd welcome it.

The loud cracking from the eggs reminded him about the possibilty that he might be mauled if he didn't pay attention to them as well. His attention was torn between the candidate girl in the eggs as he waited to hear Jenna's answer to his offer.

----

Dsoleth watched with concern whirling in his eyes as the events unfolded. His green daughter, he noticed, seemed upset at the fact that she had hurt someone. Accident? Or common sense returning after the fact? Or simply hadn't known better? Ah well. Jingth's was there and the green had found Hers so it was all good again. Hopefully it would stay that way too. He turned his attention to the remaining eggs while Jingth kept hers on the unruly green.

His blue son flirting with Jingth was met with a quiet amused rumble. Starting young, wasn't he? It was very funny. He crooned to the hatchling but his attention turned to the Will o' the Wisp Egg as it started to crack. Interesting babies were interesting.

[dragon]

Isori squeaked and danced out of the way of yet another hatchling, this one intent upon her feet. What was it with these crazy dragons?! But then she completely lost her voice entirely when it came to witnessing first hand and up close and personal the mauling of Jenna. Her mouth formed an "O" as the two went crashing to the sands in what seemed to her to be an explosion of red all over the white gown and white sands.

Heedless of the warning of not to handle hatchlings (for she'd never heard those warnings), Isori dove right into loosening those talons from Jenna's person. "What did you do that for you clumsy oaf? She didn't do anything to you, you idiot! What was uncalled for!! Are you okay??" She asked, of Jenna. Fortunately, Jenna was still with it enough to get away ... if she did it by losing her clothes. Which only made her wounds all the more apparent. "Oh shards." Isori breathed, not knowing what to do now. As people (she presumed they were healers?) appeared, she backed away, knowing they could help her better if Isori was out of the way. Orena just stared in open horror, rooted to the spot.

Only to have the green (unawares to the twins ordered off of Jenna) suddenly sidle up to her and hide her face in her skirts, babbling on about how it shouldn't have happened. "Oh my!!" She went from being horrified at the mauling she'd just witnessed to completely floored and out of her mind giddy at the impression sensations racing around in her awareness. All laced with a healthy amount of hunger and foreign emotions. Orena didn't know how to handle it other than to stand there in shock.

Emoyan saw the mauling almost as soon as everyone else did, and just the same was in a hurry to get there. What a mess! He did see Mayari with her new blue dragon, and offered her a congratulatory smile in passing ... but a mauling was by far more important. "Clear out, give them room." He instructed, moving candidates back out of the way. Aephon he allowed to stay, since he was a Healer, and Meira might need his assistance. But everyone else Emoyan made sure stayed out of the way.

"Stretcher!" Isori leaped to her feet and dashed away, all the way to the nearest entrance, as fast as she could run. She hunted around for a moment, before dashing back, hanging onto the unwieldy thing. "I have it!" She called, before sliding to a halt in the sand and offering it to Meira. Letting it go she backed away again, as she was instructed. In the flurry she never noticed that Orena was staring at the green in awe. Or that the pair had apparently bonded.

"If you need help with that, let me know." Emoyan told Meira, before turning his attention to redirecting the candidates in the area back to the hatching. Having them all pay heed to the mauling and ignoring the hatchlings would only lead to more maulings. Shardit, had any of them paid any attention to any of the lessons he'd given them?!

Letting out a pent up gasp of air, Orena dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the green's neck, tears running down her face. Between the joy, shock of the mauling, shock of impression, and the emotions running rampant in her new lifemate, it was all just too much! "I'm sure it'll be okay. They're going to take care of her, she'll be okay." She hoped, as she comforted her new baby dragon, stroking the green's cheeks and face, before hugging her about the neck again.

Mine. Riavorth answered, sulkily, possessively.

[rii]

Aephon was muttering something, but Jenna couldn't focus on it to hear the words. She bit down on the inside of her cheek, firming her expression to show all those staring eyes that she was perfectly fine. Head throbbing with each stab of pain, Jenna didn't notice Meira in front of her until the woman spoke. Not just any woman, but the rider to the gold that had laid the clutch. Jenna's tough exterior began to falter at her words.

"Please," Tears began to well up, ones she rapidly blinked back. "I want to stand."

Her mother, the Healer Hall, and now this too? Where would she even go after being here. Then Isori was running for a stretcher. "No!" This time the tears did spill over. Only a couple, tracing over her cheeks to fall into the hot sand. Aephon's kind gesture completely missed in the light of the fact they were all trying to send her away.

"There's only f-four.. " Her words trailed off, noticing the green that had mauled her had claimed one of the twins. "Three left.. let me stand.. I want to stand.. please. Let me.." The pain was making her nauseous, and sight of the blood running down her side made her feel faint enough to waver on the spot. Stumbling a step or two to the side to bump into Aephon. She stayed there a moment, enough to look at the remaining eggs and the wandering blue. "Just until it's over.."