The Hatching of the Galactic Clutch

[yakura]

As alert as possible, Quell came racing into the large cavern, ricocheting off the wall magnificently before coming to a hurried stop. Shards. He could never seem to arrive to anything on time. As it was, he had been enjoying a pleasant, if slightly perverted, conversation with a passing drudge. Well, events such as this appeared to be there only to disallow him a moment to relax.

Already three dragons had hatched, he noticed with dismay. And none of them his. His gaze flicked around and he took up a position near the edge, head held high, the picture of calm. If anyone looked closely, they could see the nervous glint in his eyes and the slight twitching of his cheek. As it was, no one did.

[missa]

"Lay a hand on me, and I'll break it, I swear." Beka's voice was cold, distant. Completely the oppisite of what it had been the day with Lura, the certain green-rider Beka was trying to avoid. Oh no, but annoying people found her none the less. She had been ready to go to the Hatching Sands, only to be confronted with some blonde... Well, thing.

The quick movements of the other girl frightened Beka, despite her attempts of denying it. Even if it was only to herself that she was denying it. What more could they want from her? They wanted her at the Hatching, she was going.

Rie wasn't bothered by Beka's harsh words, her smile bright and a-glow with happiness as she skipped along, the white candidates robes occasionally getting tangled in what was a very annoying fashion. She didn't mind harsh words, nope, she didn't care. She had however, ordered Fiel to stay behind until she was off the Sands.

"That's not very ni-ice." Rielana's teasing tones were sing-song, almost as though she thought it amusing that Beka had threatened to break her hand. She wouldn't really.

Both girls bowed and then made their way to the other girls, only Rie looking upset she'd missed the three hatchings.
"Look at teh darling green, or... Oh wow!" Her eyes had widened on the brown, her eyes alight with enjoyment. Much to Beka's annoyance, her lips twitched in what may have been a smile.

~

Both Will and Ellanoran were out of breath after the race to the Hatching Grounds, Ellanoran blushing when eyes turned to him, if briefly, Will just grinning as he offered a quick apology to the Queen. Dragging the younger boy off with him onto the sands.

Shards! He'd missed three hatchlings! And what about that little green, she was adorable wasn't she? Somehow, she reminded him a little of Willow, who had portrayed she'd catch up later, when he came off the sands. Not went on, it didn't bother Will, eggs were shaking. Nothing would bother him!

Ellanoran however, was missing the companionship of his little brown, he really did miss him alot. Kell was always there, and now he wasn't because Ellanoran hadn't been sure whether to bring him. Once, Ellanoran caught himself dreaming, only to snap back. This was happening... Now.

[covera]

Covera walked as fast as she could without running. She wanted to be there when Verentinus impressed. When, not if. Covera was sure that her brother would impress, he was so much better than those other dimwits.
Finally she arrived and she immediately took a seat at the edge of the sands, watching the impression intently. So far Verentinus hadn't impressed but it was only a matter of time, Covera thought.

-------

When the brown dragon approached him and Zahin, Verentinus's heart began to race faster. Would the brown pick him? The chocolate brown dragon paused for a moment in front of him and Zahin and Verentinus watched him intently, praying that he would choose Verentinus. But he didn't.
Disappointment welled in Verentinus chest as he saw Zahin greet his new dragon. Only if he would get one too!
Pushing jealousy from his mind, Verentinus continued to watch the eggs, after all only three had hatched.

[Requiem]

((Work kept me away all day. Imagine my surprise to find Zahin Impressed first!))

S'rei stood in the stands, his sister's head cushioned in his chest as he cradled her. A feverish flush still took her cheeks. It actually made her look somewhat endearing, though she was still pallid from the childbirth...It was likely that the majority of her radiance came from the fact that she was cradling her newborn son in her arms. Had anyone not known the two dragonriders, they may have thought it was his weyrmate that he held, so tender was the intimacy between the siblings. But then, it had always been such with Lauranna and S'rei - though he had no recollection of it.

***

The healer had managed to drag herself down to the floor, where she now stood, barefoot, feeling decidedly out of place amongst all these young people. She watched the brown hatch, so placidly, from his egg, as if he had planned out the entire process weeks in advance. Her eyes followed the green that seemed to more shake the shell off her than anything else, and was silently grateful that she had opted to stand back. Even so small a hatchling might have knocked her over. Kalierre did not see the third hatch. Nor did she notice when the tall lad disappeared into the darkness. She might have, on another day, but weariness dragged her down. It would be nice if one of the hatchlings found her. As it was, this was her last chance to Impress. But she was a healer by trade, and at heart. It would not devastate her like some of the others if nothing came of this day. Really, at the moment, all Kalierre wanted was to rest.

***

Mutasim frowned. He was here. Why did the Lordholder of Bitra find reason to come to a hatching in Selenitas? The man's gaze bored into the candidate, who was not paying any attention to the hatching, so keen was the sense of danger prickling at the back of his neck. An impotent rage burned in the young boy, as he saw the image of his family of orphans hanged, as the memory of her fall flared in his mind, as the utter helplessness and shame he'd felt at the mercies of the inn's patrons surged within him. Mutasim swallowed back the anger as best he could. He wanted so desperately to plunge his dagger into that man's chest, to stab and stab and stab until the Lordholder no longer moved. It was only that overwhelming emotion that kept him from following through on it; emotions could not be trusted.

***

He wanted to run. The people, gathered tight around him, bumping him, above him and rumbling with the roar of excitement. They were so many. A great sea of crushing humanity. Even the great mass of dragons above only served to deepen his engrained fear. Sweat dripped from his chin, sliding saltily from his temples, a nausea gripping him so tightly he might have lost his breakfast if he'd had any. Stalwart as his build and manner was, the fear was overtaking him, and attempting to get to know the other candidates well enough to stymie it had been a foolish notion. He could never know them well enough for that.

Zahin trembled, frozen in place, chiding himself for being so cowardly at this age. Then the Saturn egg broke. The young man's gaze darted toward the sound, and then he watched, for a moment forgetting the others, as the milk chocolate hatchling poked his head above the egg shell. He blinked at the brown. Nervous though the dragonet must have been, he calmly shed the rest of the shell and proceeded to make his merry way through the candidates, his anxiousness seeming to vanish almost instantly. "I wish I could have your courage," Zahin whispered to the dragonet, though the brown would hardly hear him from this distance.

The chocolate hide still glistening from the egg's juices, it walked past boy after boy, never slowing, as if judging each and finding each wanting. Zahin felt his heart catch in his throat as the brown drew near him. He'd never thought he might Impress. Now, though, he had to admit that he wished for it, even if he didn't think he'd make much of a dragonrider. He was so timid when it came to crowds...And then the brown was passing between him and Verentinus, and Zahin let out a soft sigh. Too much to hope for, he supposed.

Suddenly he felt a pressure in his side, and the most delicious (no pun intended ;P) tones filled his mind, so sweet and dark in that pleasant duskiness sort of way, that Zahin found himself reeling in the sublime fullness of it all. My name is Jessereth, Z'hinMine! He met the soft, happily swirling gaze of his Bonded with muted wonder, completely humbled at the fact that this glorious creature had chosen him out of the multitude. "Jessereth," he murmured, quietly, kneeling before the brown. The two maintained the intimacy of that stance for a time, before Jessereth's growling belly interrupted them.

I'm hungry, the brown stated needlessly. Z'hin's response held a trace of amusement. "Then I suppose it's time we get you something to eat." The dragonpair made their way over to the meatbuckets. It was ever so much more sensible to stay near them, after all. Then it would take less effort to eat. Despite how ravenous Jessereth was, he managed to slow himself down, not wanting to over engorge himself. Now that wouldn't do, would it?

[Administrator]

((Ciara- I'll PM you the basics of Toryth, so watch how liberal you get in your description.))

Shmee shifted uncomfortably, watching as a boy ran off to a blue that never moved from the shadows. Where had that egg come from? she wondered curiously. More importantly, what was he doing? Most dragons thrived in the light, yet this one seemed almost opposite.

His eyes hurt when they look at the light, Aslath remarked curiously. Shmee paled. A photophobe? Dragons weren't the ones for nocturnalism- that was a wher's job! Feeling sick to her stomach, Shmee turned back to the remainder of the clutch, hoping that no more photophobes popped out.

For now, Shmee's fears subsided as the Venus Egg started to crumble on one side. It was so full of cracks that it was a wonder that the shards were not just dropping off, but it was visible that the cracked section was moving up and down with the force of the tapping dragon inside.

Finally, a head shot through the veil of shards, revealing a happy-looking blue of a nearly blinding cyan. With a firm kick, he sent his hindleg backwards, striking through the shell's other side. Grunting in pride that he could do this work, the Venus Blue wriggled himself out of the shell, enlarging his holes with kicks and pushes before the rest of him plopped onto the sands.

Eyes whirling in love, it seemed he knew who his bonded was even before he made eye contact with him. Running as fast as he could with his awkwardly-made legs, it was with a crash that Impression was made to Ellanoran, knocking him over. Lovingly, he announced, E'nor, your Clestioth found you! Food now, please?

Just as Clestioth ran over his poor new bonded, the Pluto Egg quietly broke shell, with one large shard tossed lazily from the shell, revealing a new opening and a green hide detaching itself from the egg. Pushing apart her opening, the green looked around the crowd, not even waiting to get out of the egg before she decided who it was she wanted.

This quick advantage had her know who it was the instant she ridded her shell from her, but she needed to do something quick first. Trotting over to her neighboring egg, she crooned to it, urging it to hatch and making sure it had the encouragement needed.

Fearing that this green thought these eggs were hers, Aslath bellowed at the little green, who scampered off to her bonded as fast as she could. AleneMine, the green creeled, Aslath doesn't seem to like it that her little Liamorth wanted to help her eggs!

[agdragoon]

Korli watched as every egg was shaking and then those that hatched impressed. It was always so quick. Her eyes trailed to the gold egg. Hmmm she must be taking her sweet time. Why didn't she want to be the first to hatch hmm? She shrugged looked to the other unhatched eggs. They were taking their time but then again the eggs were rather sickly looking. But the dragons seemed healthy enough right?

She continued to watch. If there was a gold egg there had to be a bronze somewhere in there. She chuckled softly taking note who impressed what and if they said the names out loud. Some of the boys she'd have to remember to call them by the shortened name.

[Tashe]

Shifting weight onto her other foot, Saraina silently watched the eggs hatch one after the other. A brown, a blue, a green, a blue and then another green... what color is to be next? Better yet... which egg? Sighing as the warm stone that touched her back slowly worked out the knots that had built up because of her daily training with the Weyrlingmaster, the female candidate looked upward into the stands. Speaking of the devil, Sara picked out F'rah almost instantly as he bounce his knees happily and looked to be thinking of something. Snorting at the hansom man, the young woman turned her eyes back to the sands and the celestial orbs that were on it.

/Well here we go.... jump and don't look back./

----

Chewing on the tip of his thumb, F'rah counted the total number of impresser's so far. And, unlike most, the Weyrlingmaster took it upon himself to learn all the candidates names and faces. Repeating the names of each of the new pairs in his head as they spoke their names to the recorder, F'rah smiled happily to himself.

/Uu'n and Blue Aideth, Z'hin and Brown Jessereth, Ciara and Green Toryth, Alene and Green Liamorth, and E'nor who impressed Blue Clestioth.... The first five of my new class./

/Do not get too excited Mine, you know you might loose some of these younglings... do not get attached to them./

[saberlin]

Rilliana watched in rapt excitement as the dragons began to hatch from their eggs. The milk chocolate brown was so beautiful! Oh, and he had Impressed the boy named Zahin. No, his name would more then likely be Z'hin now. That was very well and good. She loved watching the pair go off the sands and her heart filled with anticipation. Would her dragon be on these sands? Would she still Impress Gold? She turned her head back to the great Golden egg and once again began to think very lovingly towards it. She also thought how the pair of them could be great leaders for a place like this.

Seeing a healthy green hatch from the egg as well, thought its colors were rather odd on a dragon Rilliana almost let out an encouraging "whoop" though she refrained herself, knowing that her place as a candidate was for watching and hoping. Especially here, where the goldrider and her dragon had yelled at her for giving proper courtesy. What sort of tuber grown thing was that? Oh well, she knew she was going to stay well enough away from that woman and her dragon if at all possible, even if she did Impress the new young Queen.

A hand went to her soft golden hair again, it was comforting to play with her hair, to feel its soft strands running through her fingers. It was a fairly feminine thing to do, but then, feminine was also was Rilliana was. After all, she was a girl. She noted some of the other girls around her were everything from overly excited, to that Becka girl who was just overly rude. How dare she snap at people on the hatching sands. Did she want to Impress a Wher rather than a Dragon? Oh well, as the eggs hatched time would tell who Impressed and who did not. She just hoped all the eggs hatched and that each one of them was healthy.

When the photophobe blue hatched Rilliana almost missed the boy running into the darkness, and only saw the beautiful head and neck of the slightly purple hued dragon. She had no clue of the dragons strange condition...

[paryal]

The Hatching was happening. Electricity shot through Paryal's body, making her almost drop her mug of klah from fingers suddenly unable to maintain such a simple task as holding it. This was the event they had all been waiting for, Paryal longer than some. Now that it was here, she found her legs moving without her mind able to do anything, until finally she gathered herself and sprinted to the Candidate Barracks. Her robe was there, at the bottom of the chest that held her meager belongings. Ripping out the robe without any regard to the rest (they could be put away later), Paryal stripped down to just her underthings, not caring who saw. Soon enough, the white garment that seemed to hold her future was over her head, settling neatly onto her frame. It was ill-fitting, but that didn't matter. The robes had been worn by so many other people, not custom designed for one single Candidate.

Now dressed properly, Paryal continued to run, finally stopping before the entrance of the Hatching Ground to gather her breath. The nervous feelings seemed to suddenly leave her body then, as she moved with a firm conviction of her own abilities to Impress and her right to be there. If she did not Impress today, there would be other clutches. Bowing in the direction of Shmee and Aslath, but not leaving her position near the eggs, Paryal conveyed her respect as best as possible. That same calm made a small grin coat her face, as she looked at the other Candidates. Was she the only one who felt this way, this confident? It was a shame if that was so, but there wasn't much she could do about it at this moment, or the next moment, or the next. Several dragons hatched and Impressed, and Paryal felt genuine joy for those who had their bonds cemented so firmly. Greens, blues, a brown. None of them seemed to have come from any of the eggs she had liked, though the excitement made it difficult to follow what was going on. Time went on, and her confidence didn't wane.
****
Manna had cornered Partol for another one of her 'talks' about the importance of happiness and always being cheerful. The young man had become her project. Why was he always so sad? Sad things happened- he should be happy and cheerful! Manna simply couldn't comprehend these emotions of his. In the midst of a firm lecture on the values of being positive, Manna was interrupted by someone dashing through the Kitchens, screaming that the Hatching was going on. It seemed to take a moment for Manna to wrap her mind around it. The Hatching? Already? Now? Right now? Uncertain what to do, Manna found her tugged by Partol, who was looking rather grumpy as he pulled his mentor towards the Candidate Barracks. Catching the cue, Manna quickly jogged, reaching the Barracks and changing quickly. White wasn't a terrifically flattering color on her, against her dark skin and hair. It seemed to emphasize every pound of pudge on Manna, making her despair slightly. Appearance and confident in that was something Manna knew she would never have, but she couldn't worry about it now! Was Partol ready?

Partol was indeed ready, looking nervously down at his feet. Now that the event had come, he wasn't sure he wanted to go. He didn't deserve a dragon! There were so many other Candidates who deserved far better than he, deserved a rider who was cheerful and confident, not morose and withdrawn. Manna deserved a dragon far more than he did, even if she was rather annoying. She had those qualities, while he was just in his shell, unable to face the world. Partol wasn't even sure why had been Searched. Maybe as a joke? He knew he was rather pretty. Maybe the Searchrider had just wanted him for his bed, but hadn't gone around to doing so yet.

Seeing Partol lost in his thoughts, Manna tugged on his arm, leading him quickly. He didn't seem to notice at all, staring straight ahead. The moment the hot sands spilled into his thin and flimsy sandals, however, he came awake, blinking with confusion. He was here! With a gentle shove, Manna pushed him off to stand with the boys, before going to stand with the females. Some dragons were already Hatching, or had Hatched- they were running late, hesitance and uncertainty having struck the two rather hard. Several darling greens were already about, and some blues. Partol would be good with a nice blue, or a nice green too. He didn't seem to be interested in boys or girls, but he was young yet. Looking as cheerful as she could, Manna stared forward, her hands clenching into fists without her notice.

[evendar]

((I IS BACK!!!!))

Narna's hands were sweating. Her hands never sweat. For seventeen turns she had been the strong one, nervousness was a thing she couldn't afford with Nevis on her hip all the time. But she was nervous now. As the golden egg rocked and shook she watched it, riveted on the emerging gold.

Nevis wasn't watching the hatching, he was watching his sister. She needed this more than he did. he could live without a dragon, he had a sister. She needed this golden queen to protect her, to be her staunch defender, like she was to him. She just had to Impress, she had too.

[thialyn]

((OMG! I got a Hatchling! *dies*))

From their ledge high above the Sands, both Dusk and Silt watched the procession of Hatching eggs and Standing Candidates. Throughout they continued to hum, but one event gave them pause, to be filled with raucous trills and an aerial dance before calming again.

They watched as a green Hatchling pushed her way from the shell, get yelled at by Aslath, and hurry over to her Chosen. Here thay cheered as much as any flitt could cheer, flying down to meet their new friend. They watched as their favorite, her knees suddenly weak, fall to the Sands and hug the neck of the green darling. She had not hoped of actually Impressing, did not know that there was a dragon for her.

AleneMine, Aslath doesn't seem to like it that her little Liamorth wanted to help her eggs! said the little green, a little bewilderment, a little humor in her voice. Alene felt the pang of tears in her eyes as she looked at Liamorth. The green looked over her shoulder at the eggs left to Hatch, crooning to them under her breath. She returned her gaze to Alene and butted her gently. AleneMine, I am hungry. May we go get food please?

[Administrator]

It was at this point when things began to slide downhill in the hatching. The lack of bronzes were not only worrying, but the photophobe was causing people to be anxious. All eyes were glued to the eggs- and the next one seemed to be a hatching that was expected, but desperately wanted to be untrue.

The Earth Egg was slowly shaking, and cracks slowly began to form on the outer surface of the egg, not quite sinking completely through it. The flat top of it managed to have a perfectly straight crack that flowed across it, yet looked like a mere scratch more than a crack. However, the dragonet inside pushed at its shell once more with a shudder, forcing the cracks to deepen. Astoundingly, much to the relief of the spectators, a bronze head pushed his way through the shell, creeling in hunger.

Once again, the bronze was faced with a problem. Slowly but steadily, he wriggled himself loose from his shell, only to fall upon himself. Warbling in frustration, he pushed himself up with his head. The crowd frowned- what was wrong with this one, the first bronze to hatch?

However, the problem was soon visible, and no sound was made in the Hatching Ground as people looked upon his defect- where a normal bronze had forelegs, this bronze had stubs. To his elbow-joint, there was nothing, leaving rounded little legs with no claw sticking out. His hind legs were normal- but his front legs were horribly nonexistant.

Not letting this stop him, the bronze pushed himself along toward the boys, approaching the first one that seemed capable of helping him. T'renMineBonded, he crooned, his head scraping against the sand as his hindlegs pushed him forward, Please help your Kasraith get food? It hurts to do this... Sure enough, a raw patch of flesh on his head showed how the friction had hurt him in his desperation to get to T'ren.

Seemingly urged on by the hatching of its buddy, the Mars Egg broke shell immediately. The outermost edges crumpled inward, and a vivid green leg managed to shatter it completely. The leg paused, almost as if horrified that she had done such a thing. Tentatively, the green leg delicately poked at her shell, as if politely asking it to move.

After several moments of doing this, her leg moved wrong, sending a flying, uncontrollable kick across the shell, collapsing the egg completely. A frightened squeal rang out, and the green within bolted out of that shell as fast as she could. Looking about wildly, her eyes were mixed with red and white, frightened of everything she saw. It was all so big, so new... Couldn't she just crawl back into her shell?

Tragically crooning, she ran as fast as her little legs could carry her over to the boys, attacking the first one with intensity, ramming her head into his legs as if trying to hide in them. P
tolMine, she whimpered in P'tol's head, Please can we go away? Everyone's looking at me and I'm just hungry and tired and pleasepleaseplease can we just go? Pleasepleaseplease don't turn down your little Llath?

However, any of the eyes Llath was afraid of soon turned away in disinterest. The Cosmos Egg was shattering, the shards jingling on each other like glass. Each little chink of glass drew attention away from every egg, even the little Mercury Egg that had stopped its moving completely and everyone assumed had now died. Something much more important was happening now: The queen was definitely hatching.

Regally, the queen broke her head through the shell, knocking away at the pieces that remained on her with elegance and serenity. Looking upon her subjects, she let out a miniature bugle. Everyone needed to look at her now- couldn't they see their new leader was here? Her hide glimmered, a peculiar shade of a white gold color, but definitely had a golden shine to it. Her legs were splashed with a goldenrod color, as if she had merely stepped in ink. She even possessed a few 'freckles' of that same color on her face, but to her, it was a crown. She took a long, drawn-out step forward, as if knowing that she alone could captivate everyone who saw her.

[evendar]

((Ohhh the queen sounds so pretty.))

Narna turned her head as she heard the gasp from the crowd. She was scared for the clutch now. The only bronze and he was deformed, what did that mean for the queen? But her fears were gratefully shattered as the queen broke herself free of her shell. She was beautiful. Narna wanted so to rub that soft golden muzzle, have it burry its head into her knees and call for food. But she wouldn't push it. The dragon chooses, and she knew that whatever happened she would remember this moment for her entire life.

Nevis on the other hand was doing all he could to nudge the gold in the direction of his sister. He thought as hard as he could that Narna was the best choice she could make.

"Please little gold, she's perfect for you. Just pick her." he breathed, making little urging motions with his hands. The rest of the hatching forgotten. She had to Impress, she just had too.

[neeuqtar]

Adith soon finished the bucket of meat, and Uu'n was struck with an idea. What about... a blindfold? the young man asked, his arms licked clean by the (still) hungry blue dragon. The dragon tilted his head to the side. ...Huh? He sounded so confused that Uu'n just had to laugh, yanking his white robe over his head with enough haste that it tore, the seams along the shoulders giving way with a sigh of unhappiness. But that was all for good, for Uu'n quickly tore a wide strip off, then tore the remaining cloth in half, carefully making two pads and setting them over the dragon's eyes, before tying them in place with the wide strip.

Adith snorted in surprise, taking a step and bumping into Uu'n, spreading his graceful wings for balance. I'll lead you, Uu'n said cheerfully. Holding the bucket in one hand, the other resting on Adith's head, Uu'n walked slowly into the brightly lit area of the cavern. Are we in the light yet? Adith asked anxiously. Uu'n's peal of laughter rang out in the silence that followed the bronze's Hatching, and he flushed a bright crimson when he felt the stares of recrimination. Glancing about wildly, he saw just why it was so quiet at a Hatching, and clenched his teeth. That was going to be a tough malformation to live with, for sure... We're already in the light, silly, he told the blue, his mind-voice holding a touch of cheer.

The dragon's surprise was almost palpable. It doesn't hurt! he exclaimed in surprise, rushing forward and blundering into a Candidate, tripping and falling on his snoot, burying his nose in sand. That hurt, Adith observed mournfully as Uu'n helped him back up. Let me lead you, Di, the young man repeated, smoothing the amusement at his silent conversation from his face. And then they were at the buckets again, and conversation ceased as Uu'n struggled to feed a ravenous and (temporarily) blind dragon at a rapid enough pace.

[thialyn]

Taren was nervous. Actually nervous! What if he were left Standing? As more and more eggs Hatched, it looked like that was going to happen. His mind didn't remember that most of the eggs had yet to hatch. And yet his hands actually shook slightly in his anxiety. He was definately wrattled.

But all that changed when he set his eyes upon the deformed bronze. His heart went out to him as he struggled to get free of his shell. And was met halfway. T'renMineBonded, please help your Kasraith get food? It hurts to do this... T'ren knelt to his bronze, a smile radiating from his face. He picked up the bronze's front half, despite his weight, and stood. Kasraith crooned his thanks and leaned his head into T'ren's shoulder.

"Let's get you some food, shall we?" The little bronze rumbled an affirmative, the ichor on his head already clotting. His deformed legs hung over T'ren's arm and would have looked perfectly normal had the lower half not been missing. But he didn't care. He had found his lifemate. And as the pair walked, Kasraith's back legs while his front were supported, T'ren knew he didn't care either.

((Akward position that one.))