Hatching of the Tropical Clutch

[Tashe]

In the wake of the Blue hatching, an unsure silence had settled over the sands, the only sound came from the hatching clutch itself. Both the Mother and her rider looked upon the little Blue in anxiousness and pride, he looked completely healthy which was something to be thankful for, yet his sight was not. Turning their sights to the next two rocking eggs, Kaegan and Millieth quietly sent their blessings toward both of the small dragons as they tried to find their partners. Hopefully the rest of the clutch came out completely healthy, even if they didn't, the Golden Queen wouldn't tolerate any dislike pinned against them. They were her children, and nobody was allowed to touch them.

---

The small Brown stopped in his tracks, and decided to take pity on his fumbling brother, this urge leading him back to the Blue cheerfully. Crooning to his Clutchmate, the larger of the two hatching watched as the Blue swung his head up above the egg that had stopped him. Chirping and cooing to him, the Beachsand Brown lead the other male free of the eggs, greeting the equally joyful dragonet before setting back off to the boys. His was here somewhere. But just exactly were was he? Weaving in and out of the candidates, the Brown happily looked for his Mine in the small crowd.

Raising his wings in thanks for the help his clutchsibling gave him, the little Blue cocked his head to the side and listened to the slither that the Brown made as he shifted across the sands. He had to go that way, so he would follow his brother and would hopefully find His somewhere in the loud and noisy room. The Blue knew in the back of his mind that something was different, that he should be able to see more than fuzzy blurs and shapes, looking like nothing more than shadows. But the hunger that drove all off the hatchlings was warding off that feeling, making him simply deal with the problem. Slowly but surely he made his way toward the males in the Candidate crowd, and even though he couldn't see the faces of the boys, he knew almost exactly were his Mine was. Using his nose to gently tap the legs of the candidates as he made his way through them by touch, the little blue stopped in front of the boy who would be his. /A'viarmine? Is that you? I cannot see... but I am hungry. Please feed me and don't turn me away. I am Benath!/ Crooning slightly, Benath was faintly aware of his Brother finding His.

Chirping happily as his Blue brother Impressed, the Brown daintily made his way through the leg forest before back tracking a few paces. How could he just pass by His like that!? He was happy for his Brother, that was why... but still! Swinging around and placing a paw gently on the leg of the boy, the small male cawed softly before speaking. /Mine? Q'inmine? Yes... yes you are Mine, and I am Russeth. Would Q'inmine feed me now? Please?/

--

The jerking of the two large eggs began to grow more violent, one in a threatening manner and the other in a random pattern, the Tribal Egg and the Mango Egg were about to hatch. And boy, did they hatch. Breaking free of their shells in simultaneous, loud explosions, the two dragonets rose to their feet in Unison. Both the Tribal and the Mango Egg yielded large powerful looking Bronzes, and if the crowd looked at them hard enough from their position in the stands, their hides were the inverse of one another's. But the people and the dragons in the vicinity didn't need their sight or hearing to see the despise that the two males had for one another.

The larger of the two [the Mango Bronze] unfurled his wings with a hiss, he didn't like his inverse twin, the emotions that came off of the male were his polar opposite. Snarling slightly, the Bronze lashed out at his Clutchbrother with surprising strength, causing the other to stumble backward. Although his actions didn't come without repercussions, arching his back slightly, the Mango Bronze tried to evade the return attack. Sliding to the side, the male tumbled backward as the Tribal Bronze pounced him. Snarling, rolling and fighting, the two somehow escaped the area of the unhatched eggs, though it was undebatable that the Tribal Bronze had something to do with that.

It wasn't a subtle notion that these two males would become the epitome of rivals, each being what the other is not... one drawn to the light, and the other to the dark. Their futures would always be entwined... And while the two were fighting the Sexton egg and the Palmtree Egg began to form cracks.

[irbre]

Quein dared to look away from the pair of hatching eggs for a moment to watch the progress of the two dragons. The brown had apparently taken it upon himself to lead his small, nearly blind brother along, guiding him towards the Candidates. Quein's lips quirked up in a warm smile as he watched the two, until they both met the line of male Candidates and split apart. The blue wander towards a boy and tapped the boys leg with his nose. He had apparently found His. Still smiling, Quein glanced back around curiously wondering where the brown had gotten off to, having seen him pass by only a few seconds before. He caught a flash of brown through the maze of legs and all of a sudden the Beachsand Brown was before him, a gentle paw resting on his leg.

Mine? Q'inmine? Yes... yes you are Mine, and I am Russeth. Would Q'inmine feed me now? Please? Q'in paused for a moment in disbelief, staring down at the beautiful brown. He squatted down quickly, taking the warm muzzle in his hands, his blue eyes wide and sparkling with tears. He quickly cuffed away the offended moisture and leaned closer to Russeth. The brown was undeniably small, but Q'in didn't notice. He was beautiful and he was his, and that was all that mattered. Russeth crooned softly to His, leaning in to butt Q'in softly in the chest. May I eat now, Q'inMine? he asked, the slightest bit of a whine working it's way into his voice.

Q'in gave a slight doubletake, still beaming at Russeth. "Of course, Russeth dear!" he exclaimed loudly, fingers arching over the brown's brow. Russeth crooned again, staring at His with wide, wanting eyes. Q'in stood up quickly, almost falling over in his haste. Russeth moved to his side immediately, pressing his warm bulk reassuringly against Q'in. Q'in ignored the pair of bronzes that had hatched. They did not matter now. All that mattered was Russeth. "Well, let's get you some food, shall we?" he asked in chipper tones, shuffling across the sands with an obedient Russeth in tow.

[mangotango]

Alviar had grinned wider then anything, to see the brown help that poor little blue like that. It was a kind, decent thing to do, and he really wished the brown luck in Impressing. Actually, Alviar missed the brown's Impression- he was much too busy with his own.

He looked down at the tap to his legs, and into the most unique dragon eyes he'd ever seen. The color was leeched from them, taken by the film of milky white. Through it he could see soft tones of light- Benath's emotions. The pure joy of the moment was pierced by pain. How could Benath even suggest he'd push him away? The boy didn't speak. Instead he reached out, slowly and carefully, until his fingers brushed Benath's hide. It was still velvet-soft from the egg, and faintly damp and sticky to the touch. "That's me, Benath. It's just me- you're alright now." His fingers ran lightly up Benath's muzzle, across to over the ridges over his whirling eyes.

The dragon pressed eagerly in. It was His! The way Benath crooned went straight to A'viar's heart. It was nearly a minute- a minute that lasted forever, a minute of love and joy and mutual rejoicing- before it occured to either of them that they weren't the only two creatures in the world. It was Benath's hunger that brought them out of it.

"Come" A'viar said softly. He had to stoop slightly to lay a guiding hand on Benath's head. The blue was eager to follow him, sticking close to His. The former Candidate cast the bronzes a nervous look. It was not a look of longing or even speculation. It was a look of fear. At least until they Impressed, they were wild and unpredictable. A'viar wasted no time in getting his precious Benath away from them.

Duty first. He went towards F'rah, his hand trailing behind to help Benath. The dragon, for his part, wasn't making it too easy- his head kept turning in a fruitless effort to make clear the half-shaped shadows and things that lurked in his vision. "Sir?" A'viar asked, trying to get the man's attention without being rude. "Umm... I'm A'viar now. This" and the pride practically dripped from his voice, "is Benath." The faintest note of doubt crept into his voice, and Benath's head snapped over, a faint croon the outward sign of telling His A'viarMine not to worry. "He can't see very well."

[Administrator]

Aslath let out a long croon, nuzzling him with as much affection as she could give him. She tightened her hold on his tail, nudging as close to him as was physically possible. Oh, he was so warm against her! She crooned again, her eyes whirling with happy colors. /I/ think that Yours should just go to the beach and drag her back. We're both lonesome,[/color] she replied fervently. Wiggling her body against him, she shot a quick glance down into the Hatching Ground before returning her loving glance to Salenth. Yours left ShMine something?[/color] she asked curiously. All she got was some food and some of S'rei's clothes. Is that what you mean?[/color] She paused. She's wearing the now, and she finds that they are much more comfortable. She was starting to get a bit too tight in her own clothes. S'rei should see her! She's getting so clutch-heavy, and I know that he would appreciate that,[/color] she told him brightly, crooning.

However, she was distracted by a sudden crack from the sands. Staring down into it, she watched it withan unblinking, unwavering gaze. The first one. Perhaps it would be healthy. That would certainly restore hope! Bugling a welcome as the little brown toppled out of the shell, she immediately studied him. Every minute detail, from the shading, to each appendage, they all had to be perfect. Grunting in approval, she settled back against her mate. Sure, this brown was small, but he would grow. Trumpeting a welcome, her eyes swiveled to the next one. However, she paused. She needed to look no further from his eyes the moment he opened them. She hesitated giving a welcome bugle to him. Was he... blind? She shifted uneasily, nuzzling Salenth more for her own reassurance than his. It seems those drugs did their work,[/color] she told him bitterly. Immediately passing the news onto Shmee, she paused, then bugled at the blue. There were other deformed hatchlings from the first clutch, and they were fine. This little blue must be, too.

And they Impressed! Relief settled onto Aslath like a breath of air. They would be fine, she knew. Her eyes moved to the newest eggs now, and she hissed at the two bronzes. Stop fighting, little ones,[/color] she snarled. You are wasting time,[/color] she scolded. Stupid little things. Well, at least they were healthy. But she would tolerate none of this. She growled.[/size]

[adair]

Devai had been so pleased when the first dragonet that had hatched had been a brown... Not as good a sign as a bronze would have been, but surely not a bad one either! But then her mood had immedietly plummeted when the next egg had hatched a blind blue, kreeling and stumbling over the sands... But then the brown had helped his brother, and both had found theirs... All of a sudden her emotions were more like a Flight than anything else, with twists and turns and highs and lows... She sighed as they both went to males before turning her eyes back to the sands...

And just in time too! Just as her eyes alighted back on the resting eggs two more of the rocking shells suddenly shattered, spilling forth bronzes and automatically she looked back over the assembled boys, wondering who they would go to... But it seemed they had other things in mind than finding theirs, the larger of the two hissing at his brother threateningly before charging, forcing them into a fight that caused her to roll her eyes even as she worried that they would be okay. It was just like males to fight during something supposedly as good-willed as a Hatching. The blond had half a mind to run out there and break them apart, if it wouldn't wind up with her dead or seriously maimed... She did have some sense of self preservation...

Some of the time...
____________________________________________________

Oh yes.. This was such a *great* time... First some brown had hatched, then a blue that everyone had gasped about. Only when it had turned around had Saidi seen the milky white of his eyes that had caused him to have to hide a smile... Oh the fun he could have with something that was blind.. They would never know what hit them.... Literally. But then again, the creature would always be around his human which might make it a little hard... A deep sigh echoed from his mouth when they both bonded, people probably thinking it was because he had wanted one of the two to bond with him... But Saidi just turned his attention away from them, looking back onto the sands where it seemed things were heating up a little.

Two bronzes had come next, polar opposites of each other in their hides and if he remembered the feelings he had gotten while Touching the eggs, different personalities as well... And then they started fighting, and Saidi was riveted... Maybe there would be a cut or something... Dark eyes watched the two large hatchlings roll over and away from the eggs, hissing and snarling and fighting all the way and he, in his head, began to root for one... The Mango Bronze's egg had been much more responsive to him than that of the other, so that was who he put his will behind, still grinning slightly as he crossed his arms. This Hatching might not be so bad after all.

[Kisha-Ra]

Jarathon watched the first hatchings attentively, knowing from his days in the stands that once everything got moving it all happened at once. He was surprised to see a brown and blue emerge from two of the smaller eggs. He’d been thinking those two eggs contained greens, now he forced to re-evaluate his opinion of the entire clutch.

The clear sight difficulties of the blue were a bad sign. Hadn’t the old queen’s final clutch been like this? He’d overheard, well eavesdropped on, several conversations about that clutch after the event, whisperings about drugging queens? Jarathon really, really, wished he’d paid a bit more attention back then.

He shrugged it off, the dragonets seemed cheerful enough, and that blue might not be totally blind, he could be very shortsighted or something. It was touching to see the brown turn back to lead his brother free of the shells, he hoped someone really nice Impressed that brown.

He actually managed to miss seeing the first hatched dragons Impress as he glanced back at the eggs. The biggest eggs were rocking like mad things now, they had to… Even as that thought occurred the two eggs shattered revealing two large, healthy seeming, and apparently very irate bronzes. Jarathon held his breath as he watched the bronze hatchlings fight, certain he wasn’t the only one to do so.

XxXxX

Odian wished for the calm, analytical state of being he had occupied moments ago. Maybe that serene fog would have shielded him from the shock of seeing a blind dragon, maybe it wouldn’t have been so sad then. Such a wonderful shade of blue that hatchling, briefly and for no reason Odian wondered if he could get thread that colour.

Odian would have literally jumped for joy at that blue and the smallish brown finding their bonded if the imposing [b}tribal[/b] and mango eggs hadn’t chosen that moment to break open loudly enough to startle him.

Before he could properly admire the bronze hatchlings they were moving, fighting in fact. He was just glad they were well clear of the other eggs; it would be terrible if they crushed a clutchmate with their scrapping.

XxXxX

Janisi was sort of disappointed to see males hatch from the happy little eggs she’d liked so much, both were small, one was blind, and yet, something made Janisi very sure that those two would be very happy with their lives once they got over the initial difficulty of Impressing.

That, Janisi thought, must be a terrifying thing, to escape your prison of shell and be thrown all bewildered onto the cruel hot sands (though the dragons liked heat so perhaps that needed more thought). To have to wander through what must seem like a great forest of white trees to find the one who would be your life’s partner, to pass all the people who might love you to find the one who would.

The dramatic hatching of the next pair of eggs yielded bronzes, small wonder then that they hadn’t welcomed her touch, bronzes would never Impress girls. Janisi chewed a strand of loose hair that had somehow got into her mouth as she watched the hatchlings fight. She hoped they didn’t hurt each other, or anyone else.

Ahh… Aslath was sorting that pair out. She couldn’t say how but Janisi felt sure that hiss accompanied a scolding from the senior queen. Ah, more eggs were cracking, now what colours would emerge?

[Tashe]

Snapping at her fighting sons, Millieth added her own command onto Aslath's, forcing the two apart. /Separate now. Go find Your's./ Adding a hiss at the end, the Golden Queen shielded her joy of two healthy Bronze sons, she didn't need time to tell that these two would become an interesting pair. Flaring her wings and almost toppling her Rider over, Millieth crooned to Kaegan before nosing her in the belly. /The rest of the clutch will be like these two. Strong and healthy... and large./ Flicking her tail in anticipation, the female turned her sights to the next eggs that were about to hatch.

---

Snarling at the command that was sent through his mind by the two Queens, the Mango Bronze pushed his obedient brother off of him. Staring at the Tribal Bronze, the large male quietly seethed to himself while he watched his clutchsibling make his way down toward the males. Although his attention was diverted from the other Bronze when a the rest of the Sexton egg crumbled apart, for apparently the little dragon had been watching the entire fight. Raising his wings slightly, the Mango Male immediately took a liking to the little male that had fallen out.

The Tribal Bronze rolled off of his Brother as soon as the Queens asked it of him, he was glad to stop fighting, and the two females couldn't have stopped them sooner. Snorting at the Mango Bronze, the young dragonet quickly picked his way through the young men, careful not to hit any of them on accident. It didn't take long for the male to locate his, and with quick deliberate steps, the Bronze carried himself toward the brown haired candidate. Planting himself regally in front of the boy, the Tribal Bronze trained his eyes firmly onto the human's face. /I am Jedirth, and you T'nmor, are my Mine. Let us go, for I am hungry and wish to leave my brother's presence./

Dealing a savage kick to the inside of his shell the Sexton Blue fell onto the sands, but as he rose from the fragments of shell, the large blue seemed as menacing as his Bronze brother. Quietly slinking out through the remaining eggs, the Blue wasn't as careful moving through them as the others had been, purposely slapping his tail against the outer casings. Approaching the Mango Bronze with a flare of his wings, the Blue stood staring at his clutchsibling, mirroring the other male's stance. Slowly the sinister Blue lowered his wings and tip his head, he knew that the Bronze could out match him, and frankly he liked his clutchbrother. Fluttering his wings and barring his teeth in a smile as the other male suggested something, the Sexton Blue silently slunk past the Bronze and hurried ahead. Screeching in delight as he slammed his tail into the legs of the nearest Candidate, the male moved onto the next unfortunate candidate, this time a girl. Sinking his forclaws into the back of Janisi's leg, the Blue drew back only when he caught sight of His. Loping forward and tackling the nearest boy to Janisi, the male sunk his claws into the arm of Laron, his snarling head only a few inches away from the boy's face. /L'ron. You will take me to feed. I am Fortith, we will leave after my Bronzebrother does./

Coughing in laughter as the Blue did what he was told with obvious enjoyment, the Mango Bronze slowly made his way down to the candidates who were now surprised by the pain that had been dealt. Stopping in front of the group of males with silent inspection, the male's eye's flickered between the male that his Blue minion had chosen and the others before finally finding the male that would be his. Slinking toward the boy with grace, the Bronze stopped and raised a paw before cocking one of his toes forward like he was pointing. /Your mind is dark... I like. I am Sitieth, and you S'adi, are Mine. Let us leave now./

All the time that the three males had hatched and impressed, a dainty Green had tumbled out of her shell and onto the blazing warm sands. Squeaking slightly as she opened her eyes and took in the large amount of Humans in the stands, the tiger striped female hid her head under one of the larger pieces of shell in fear.

---

Looking from the fighting Bronzes to do his job, F'rah smiled down at the young Blue and his Mine, they reminded him of one of his other weyrlings. "Don't worry A'viar of Blue Benath. We will find a way to allow him to see. Please go a head and go to the feeding area. I don't want you two to get drawn into the fight." Herding the newly impressed males toward the exit, the Weyrlingmaster wrote down their names on the slate before turning his attention back unto the clutch. The Bronzes had been silenced before they could really harm themselves, but now a Blue had graced the sands with his presence. He turned out to be no better than the Mango Bronze, cruel and unyeilding, escpecailly when it came to scaring the candidates. The bad omens were certainly outwaying the good ones....

[randi]

Others arrived, yet Laron could not shift his vision from the two rocking eggs to glance to see if any chose to skip out. He supposed, if they were going to, let them. Any who decided to sleep in favor of attending this in the late night were not worthy of a dragon, in any case. The hum became merely background noise as the Beachsand Egg broke, revealing, with a few moments of time, a small brown. The candidate turned his eyes to the second egg as it allowed the inhabitant escape, eyes widening slightly at the sight of the pale eyes of the small blue. Silently hoping that the blue was merely an accident, Laron waited for the cries to arouse, but the hatchling did not between, much to his surprise. Instead, the brown aided the weakling blue and they both Impressed, Laron making notes of the new 'riders before turning his head to the clutch again.

He noted the two eggs rocking again, as if to take the place of the two who had just Impressed. The loud noise of the Mango and Tribal Eggs yielding their hatchlings made him wince slightly. The two bronzes immediately began fighting, and, for one reason or another, Laron silently found himself rooting for the bronze that had attacked first, though he knew better than to encourage that fight in any way. Entranced by the two large creatures, he failed to notice the cracking of the two other eggs until the queen had separated the two duelers.

The Sexton Blue drew Laron's attention, the way he moved through the eggs and to the Mango Bronze almost causing the candidate to admire the air the young dragon carried. True, had he harmed the other eggs, Laron might have felt otherwise, but, as it stood, he didn't mind in the least.

His eyes followed the blue's path, noting the attitude with a smirk. When his claws sunk into the girl, he found himself slightly wincing, a ghost of the pain running in his own leg in a form of empathy that he wasn't fond of. Noting the closeness of the girl, he almost shifted from his spot, but the blue turned toward him. His heart thumped loudly a few times, and he could have sworn that it stopped as the dragon came fast at him. Allowing the tackle to knock him down, Laron found himself his as the ghost of pain from Janisi's own encounter became reality in his right arm.

While in fear and pain, Laron... L'ron found himself staring at Fortith, most of his momentary issues forgotten in favor of shock. He had finally Impressed? "Fortith?" He asked quietly, meekly. The blue leaned on their point of connection for a brief moment before getting off His, watching the other pick himself up. For a moment, Fortith second guessed himself, but when he saw again how the boy carried himself, he thrummed momentarily with content, before he saw L'ron moving ahead to the Weyrlingmaster.

He nudged at L'ron before he could get very far, hissing quietly. We will leave after my Bronzebrother. Fortith repeated, turning his head to the Mango Bronze, considering the one he has chosen. He would not question his brother's choice. With a bit of delight, his eyes tracked his other two that he had encountered before finding his L'ron, gleed especially at the sight of the girl. He turned his head for a moment, spotting L'ron holding part of his robe to the marks left by his own claws. The red stained the white, engulfed, altered it. His wings fluttered with amusement as his need for food grew, gaze drawn again to his brother and His, waiting for their movement before his own.

[neeuqtar]

((AHHH HATCHING AHHH!!! WHY AM I SPENDING MY SPRING BREAK OGLING A HOT GUY INSTEAD OF BABY DRAGONS???))

Rath knew, just knew somehow, when the children he had sired began to shell. Mine! Now! It is now! he hissed urgently at R'non, who was up to his waist in mud, attempting to retrieve something shiny which looked rather like jewelry of some sort, lying so prettily on the deceptively smooth bottom of the crescent-shaped lake. The man growled. Perfect timing, Millieth, he sighed, more to himself than to Rath, and struggled to extricate himself, to no avail. The bronze, not inclined to wait for the feebleness of humans, dove from his position in the sky, his intentions plain in R'non's mind.

Cursing mentally, R'non made a grab for the glittery bit, getting it and a handful of mud moments before toes grabbed him, the talons barely pricking him through his clothing. Without any aplomb, Rath dragged his rider through the river, rinsing the mud off, before taking to the air, letting the man air-dry in the short hop from the river to the Weyr. The bronze literally dropped his rider on the ground at the human entrance, before soaring to take a position above the Hatching Grounds, his voice rumbling into a powerful, purring hum that thrummed through the air.

R'non shook himself off, rather like a canine, before dashing inside, looking rather the worse for wear, though at least clean, if dressed in plain enough riding clothes (certainly not suited for mud or rivers). The man shouldered through the crowd, eyes taking note of every reaction to both Hatching and himself. He--rather rudely--shouldered through the crowd at the Hatching, to get to Kaegan's side, murmuring his apology. "I'm sorry it took so long--I was, er.. well, buried up to my waist in mud."

The man flashed an apologetic smile, then turned to the Grounds. Interesting... all of the Hatchlings looked to be sound of body and of mind, unlike Fath's decimated Clutch. Millieth and Rath had produced a healthy Clutch by the looks of it, and he felt a spark of pride. Against all his ruined plans, there was still that one joy to look to.

But no... it seemed he had missed one obviously damaged dragon, a near-blind blue. That one will never fight Thread, he muttered to Rath, who (as expected) ignored him except for increasing his humming a trifle, as if it would drive away any further damages to the dragons.

---

Varrana hadn't really intended to go to the Hatching. After losing her child, the woman had spent most of her time in the glassforges, making everything from the normal glassware used at the Weyr (she had made more cups than she ever wished to again), to finer wares such as goblets and decorative bowls, and things purely to amuse herself, such as the delicate glass dragon she had wrought in pulled and blown glass, in the natural green of glass, and fully as large as her torso, though much of it was whipping tail and mantled wings. A thing of beauty... and, as such, utterly unlike the dark pall that shrouded her heart.

She had nothing left to live for but glass, now...

But she had been caught up in the wave of people going to the Hatching, and so she sat in the Stands, eyes vaguely watching the dragons and Candidates, though her most intense focus hit on those at the edges, those ignored... and even more, those rejected, given the moment of hope-filled anticipation before having it snatched away in one awful moment. She wanted to cry, her heart shuddering from remembered pain and memories no one should have to carry...

[irbre]

Tenmor watched with a blank face as the blue and brown dragons Impressed. He could not help but feel pity for the nearly blind blue with his opaque, misted eyes, yet he seemed healthy nonetheless. The brown was also smaller than normal but had no deformities and Tenmor hoped that that only meant there would be a healthier clutch this time around. His eyes flicked to the next pair of eggs which were hatching, the Tribal and Mango Egg. The two eggs exploded and produced a pair of large, healthy looking bronzes with inverse hides. And apparently inverse personalities as well.

The two immediately set to fighting, though Tenmor was able to see that the Mango Bronze was the initiator of the battle. He blinked in slight surprise as the two rolled about, fangs and claws flashing across bronze. Even as he watched he was able to discern that the Tribal Bronze was responsible for moving the fight away from the fragile, hatching eggs, towards the edge of the clutch. Tenmor found that he was watching with bated breath, urging the smaller bronze on. He had hardly to wait before the pair was interrupted by the Queens and separated. The larger bronze was hardly as willing, but Tenmor was already watching the progress of the Tribal Bronze as he made his way along the line of Candidates.

The bronze came closer and then halted, turning gracefully to face Tenmor, his posture decidedly regal. Even as the bronze looked him in the eyes Tenmor's breath caught in his chest, his own gaze meeting the patiently whirling one of the hatchling. I am Jedirth, and you T'nmor, are my Mine. Let us go, for I am hungry and wish to leave my brother's presence, he announced warmly, still staring up at Tenmor. No, not Tenmor. T'nmor now, the boy thought, his heart swelling with silent joy. The blank mask that he had worn so often slipped off his face and was replaced by a soft, slightly crooked smile as he leaned down to his new dragon.

"Jedirth," he said simply, running a hesitant hand along the bronze neck, feeling the warmth of the soft hide, still slightly damp with egg goo and speckled with sand from the short brawl. He brushed the sand off lightly, mind split between this sudden change. He had been left Standing so many times, and this.... It was well worth it, he knew, but he couldn't help but feel guilty for those who would fail to Impress. Jedirth moved closer to His, head sweeping to the side to cast his bronze brother and the blue minion a disgruntled look before looking back up at T'nmor, eyes swirling with contentment and a bit of hunger as well.

They are not...comforting, T'nmorMine, Jedirth said when T'nmor cast the bronze and blue a glance. The bronze moved as if to impose himself between them, his body arching protectively again T'nmor's. Let us hurry, please. I believe that my belly is making noises,[/color] he added with affection, steering them away. T'nmor cast a belated glance back at Mutasim, who he had almost forgotten about during his Impression. "Good luck, Mutasim," he called softly even as he and Jedirth moved away.[/size]

[adair]

Devai had shivered as she watched the bronzes battle, all thoughts about getting between them gone now... But then she sighed in relief when the Queens broke them apart, the Mango Bronze shoving his brother off as easily as one would wave away an insect before standing himself, even his posture scary, even though he was a mere hatchling. The Tribal Bronze was quick to find his, even as his brother waited on the Sands, and the blonde's attention was stolen away as yet another egg hatched...

This time it was a blue, just as haughty and angry as his bronze brother had been, he actually walked up to the much larger male as if he was about to start a fight, but backed down some minutes later, head bowing before it cocked towards the bronze, as if they were sharing a secret. She had a bad feeling as the blue walked away from his brother and towards the candidates and subtly shifted away... Lucky enough for her as he attacked one candidate, then another before finally picking his... Instantly Devai walked forward to the injured girl, Jenasey or something like that, and ripped off a piece of her shirt before holding a hand out to the girl. "Come on, lets get that bandaged up before you bleed all over the sands" She said with a small smile, her eyes darting from girl to the eggs. It seemed a green had hatched next, finally after so many males and Devai had to smile at it, a slighty sad smile as she watched the little green shiver and shake... She wished she could help it, but this girl needed her help a little more at the moment.

____________________________________________________

Dark eyes had watched the preceedings with amusement, lit from within with dark intent as Saidi watched the goings on... Somewhat dissapointed that the big golds had stopped the fight, he had merely watched calmly as the Tribal Bronze found His among the males gathered before turning back to the Sands. It seemed that the other bronze was not quite ready to make his way off yet, and another egg Hatched before he could do anything anyway... This time it was a blue from the Sexton Egg, the one that had radiated evil intent and for a moment he thought this one would start yet another fight before he bowed to the larger dragon before moving off.

And things had gotten interesting... The blue had lashed some eggs with his tail, causing quite a bit of fuss before making his way to the assembled candidates and Saidi's eyes had lit up again as he whipped one male with his tail and he hissed under his breath with pleasure when he had clawed the girl, eyeing the blood that spilled down her leg... For a moment he hoped that the blue would come to him, so that they might cause such lovely pain together, but it was not to be as the blue found His as well.

Then his head twisted again, watching the almost reddish colored bronze stalk down the line of males, watching some flinch away from the very feline-like Mango Bronze, but Saidi did not back off, instead he grinned ferally at him, daring the bronze with his eyes. The bronze looked away from them for a second and seemed to grin at his brother's choice before his head slowly turned back and he rose one forepaw, curling several toes under until only one remained, pointing out a single candidate. And before Saidi could completly comprehend the action, a dark purring voice that could so easily turn painful. Your mind is dark... I like. I am Sitieth, and you S'adi, are Mine. Let us leave now.

S'adi blinked for a moment before something dark swam through his eyes and he took a step forward to the bronze. /I am no one's, young Sitieth... You would do well to remember that. But I will let you join with me./ He hissed back, outwardly stroking the bronze's face who merely looked back at him before baring his teeth and nipping him on the hand. After he released he gave a coughing, barking laugh that probably sent shivers down many a candidate, making them worry about actually having to have lessons with the 'evil' Sitieth. We shall see, S'adiMine. Oh, the pain we can cause together... I can already see it... But now... Food. Come, S'adi. Come Fortith. Let us go eat together.[/i] Sitieth said once again, wings flaring as he chuffed, head swinging once to his Blue minion before he began to walk off, his S'adi at his side.

[midnight]

Natian

Natian held his breath as the first egg hatched into a healthy looking Brown who Impressed right away. Next to hatch was a blue, but it seemed like there was something wrong with him. He hadn't known that dragons could be blind. He wondered if the Blue would be able to see when he got older.

The Mango and Tribal eggs were both rocking hard, and he wasn't surprised to see two bronzes hatch. He frowned as the pair began to fight. He knew that dragonets could be violent at Hatchings, but he still didn't think it was right for them to fight each other. He was relieved when the Queens convinced the two bronzes to break away from each other. He watched with bated breath as the pair found their riders. They ignored him completely, but he tried not to feel too disappointed. There were still more eggs in the clutch, and that simply meant that none of the dragons hatched yet were right for him.

So far, so good. He could only hope that the rest of the Hatching went as smoothly as it had so far.

-------------------

Sikowy

Sikowy peered after the blind blue as he found his rider. That was unusual, she had never heard of a blind dragon before. She wondered if it had to do with the drugs, or if it was just a fluke. And was the blind dragon different in any other ways? She decided to keep an eye on his development, because it would surely be interesting.

Two bronzes hatched next. Sikowy cringed as they started fighting each other. She knew that angry hatchlings were natural, but the sight of one dragon fighting another still gave her chills, especially when she thought of all of "accidents" that had occurred at Benden. She was relieved when the two of them broke apart and Impressed. At least they seemed strong and healthy, not affected by the drugs at all.

She was glad to see a green at last. Maybe a girl would finally get lucky, unless the green wanted a boy too. For her, the prospect of Impressing a green or blue was an exciting one, because at Benden it had been taken for granted that girls only wanted Gold.

[Requiem]

Mutasim watched it all through narrowed eyes. The tiny brown and blue, one blind. The fighting bronzes. He noted who Impressed. Alviar...something different, now. Yes. That boy was too innocent, but at least he was someone who lacked pretense, if only because he was incapable of such a thing. He didn't really know the other one so well. The fighting bronzes, though, disturbed him. Mutasim didn't much like bronzes as a general rule, and their riders even less. There were a couple decent ones. Maybe. He couldn't think of any at the moment, but he was sure they probably existed somewhere. An exception to every rule, as they say. But someone who would Impress the two bronzes that were born fighting? Undoubtedly people to avoid.

Although he must say that the larger of the two, the one that seemed to be rather attached to the nasty blue that had joined him on the sands, was probably the worst of the lot. What a wonderful Hatching this was. Fath's clutch had been pathetic. This one? It seemed pretty ominous. The boy was tempted to turn on a heel and leave the sands. He probably wouldn't Impress, and hoped he wouldn't. But, knowing his luck, he'd end up with one of the nasty, monstrous things that seemed to derive pleasure from attacking everything within reach. Shifting nervously from foot-to-foot, he cast a glance at Tenmor, just as one of the bronzes passed in front of him. Muta did a doubletake and shied back.

What the - ? Tenmor couldn't Impress a bronze! Already, though, this newfound friend was speaking the smaller bronze's name, the damage already done. Why couldn't it have been a brown? Browns were okay. Mutasim didn't mind Jessereth at all. Blinking, a small, half-hearted smile touched the boy's lips, as he nodded to the new dragonrider. Fine, then. And Tenmor, or whoever he was now, seemed happy enough. Frowning, Muta turned his attention back to the remaining eggs, still considering the exit.

***

Salenth nuzzled his weyrmate - or, former and soon to be again weyrmate, seeing as how she'd been spending her time at the beach this past month. He refuses. I think there was some logic behind it awhile back, but I can't remember now, and his thoughts are all fuzzy. Mine doesn't really sleep anymore, you know, the bronze confided worriedly. His eyes remained on the Hatching. So she didn't find the note. It was in with the clothes. I think he was hoping it would bring her back, but he wouldn't tell me what it said. We miss you two. If Mine won't go to the beach, can't you just drag her back? It's lonely at night without you.

Laurie wasn't too pleased with the turnout thus far. Two little runts (one blind), two scrapping bronzes, and a blue who seemed to take unholy joy from lashing out at those around him. The greenrider glanced at her brother, to see what his reaction was to all of this, but he didn't seem as if he was paying much attention at all. When she followed his gaze, it seemed to be directed at an empty spot on the sands. Lauranna sighed. How utterly boring, with no one here to talk to. Kaegan was down on the sands, and R'non had joined her. Annoyingly serious man. She sniffed significantly, before her face fell into a colossal pout. Maybe F'rah wouldn't mind her sneaking down near him. As long as she wasn't too distracting. A knowing smile came to her face. As if!

[Tashe]

As the unsure applause faded into an undertow of nervous murmering, the little Palmtree Green lifted her head off of the sands, trying to topple the shell hat off. Lifting her body up and pushing herself onto her feet, the little female twitched her tail like a scared child. She wanted hers and she wanted hers now, she was afraid. Hesitently taking her first steps over the shell shards, the Tiger stiped Green quickly picked up her pace, the staring humans were making her even more uncomfortable. Loaping by the time she got to the candidates, the young female squeaked as she zeroed in on Her's. But why was she in pain? Darting past the scary people blocking her way, the Green quietly nosed Her's in the leg that hadn't been hurt. /You know what Janisi? I'm Storith! Are you okay? I'm hungry... you know what? Are you really okay?/

The Valley Egg's shell broke away to reveal a slender tail of a seafoam green hue, nothing remarkable, a slow and quiet hatching compaired to some of the dragon's clutchmates. A few minutes passed and the egg finally split in half to reveal the Green who had been inside, her hide completely covered in the color that had been preveiwed on her tail. Opening her jaw to send forth a croon, the female cocked her head to the side when no noise came out. Fluttering her wings in a dragon like shrug, the Valley Green rolled her neck in a well needed stretch before picking herself up and slinking herway down to the Females. She could sense her mine, now as to where she was was a mystory to her. Opening her mouth in a soundless coo, the young Green trundled her way through the sea of legs before finally finding her Mine. Dipping her maw at her Greensister, the Valley Dragon looked up at Her's. /Devaimine. I cannot seem to say anything... oh well. Can we eat please?... I am Sendreth by the way./

The next egg to hatch was the Lagoon Egg, but instead of the whole body appearing, all that broke through the shell were it's two glistening wings. Draping down the sides of the outer casing, the two membrained appendages looked as though they were a cape of greenish blue. It took several minutes for the dragon's head to push through the shell, the wait was not caused by the thickness of the casing, but the fact that the Dragon within was just... lazy. Finally flopping out of the egg as both the Shipwreck Egg and the Compass egg begain to crack, the Lagoon Blue slowly raised his head and yawned. Hunger and tiredness began a tug of war in his mind, and the victor would spell out his next action.

[adair]

Devai watched quietly as the two bronzes and blue stalked off the sands, each following Theirs, most likely to go get fed and was glad to be rid of them. Even the 'good' bronze had scared her somewhat... And then the green that had been hiding under her shell hat finally extended her head upwards, craning it around and upwards until she finally got up and made her way to the candidates, heading in her direction and she had held her breath for a moment, thinking that maybe the young green was heading towards her... But no... The frightful young one had gone to the injured girl that Devai had still been unable to help.

She had sighed for a moment before looking back to the sands, almost missing the Hatching of the next young dragon, it was so unremarkable compared to those of the others that had surrounded her. But she was indeed a pretty color, her hide the shade of seafoam, not something that was stunning, but certainly a lovely shade in its own right. Only, when she opened her mouth to make some noise, nothing came out... Thankfully it didn't seem to bother her too much as she set out to find Hers among those gathered around her... And yet again a dragon started heading in her direction... But this time, just as Devai was sure the young one would turn away, she instead stopped just in front of the blond, making a soundless noise at her sister before looking up at her.

Devaimine. I cannot seem to say anything... oh well. Can we eat please? Came a beautiful strong and proud voice in her head, causing her mouth to gape suddenly as she looked down at the Green. Devai instantly moved forward to stroke at the green's forehead and down her neck, sweeping around to see if there was anything hurting her... Her Sendreth was mute, like that blue had been blind earlier... But that was fine with Devai, she had enough voice for the both of them, surely... With a grin she nodded, looking back down at the injured girl and telling her congratulations, Sendreth letting out another soundless croon. Food now, Mine... You can make friends later, but not now... Your Sendreth is too hungry for that.