Hatching of the Precious Stones Clutch

[serenity]

Bated breath with each dragonet that appeared, Garieon watched the baby dragons appear and choose their future riders with mixed feelings of happiness for their Impression but regret for his own lacking. That was, until, the Platinum Egg burst forth the most breathtaking blue dragonet he’d ever seen in his entire life. Without realizing it, Garieon was watching the blue dragonet as it examined it’s own shards of egg shell and made the most beautiful sounds as he did so. He moved so wonderfully across the sands, graceful and gorgeous, coming right towards…

him!

G’eon, mine-love, please feed your Ellath? I would absolutely adore a few nibblies! Was the voice that echoed through his mind, his soul instantly filled with a love and joy he knew immediately he could never be able to express properly nor explain to anyone who’d never experienced it. “Ellath,” He said, his voice thick and full of emotion, his arms wrapping around the finely boned dragon as he attempted to control the tears that threatened to well up in his eyes. “I would love to do nothing more than feed you, but first we must see the Weyrlingmaster.” The powder blue dragonet seemed to accept this, though it was not exactly how he’d wanted the events to progress.

Oh, how could he have ever doubted himself? Of course he’d not Impressed sooner… Of course he’d come to Selenitas… He’d been born for no other purpose than to be the rider of Ellath, his soulmate, his lifemate… the parts of himself that were lacking or incomplete. G’eon walked with a straight back and a noticeable smile of pride, his eyes having no other subject than the dragon that he still caressed as they crossed the sands to the Weyrlingmaster.

“G’eon and Ellath.” He said, shoulders thrown back and his chin up as he spoke. Come, feed me, please~! The almost desperate tone to Ellath’s voice spurred G’eon to walk faster towards the waiting food.

[lennae]

Lennae had been posed to speak against Keliris’s perpetual pessimistic views, though she stopped as the Tourmaline Egg hatched. Almost immediately, she began a squabble with her Lapis Lazuli sister, which soon resorted to physical violence. It wasn’t long before the fighting had ended and each hatchling made her way to her respective bonded. One went toward a girl that Lennae had never met before and the other was coming…to her?

Upon closer examination, it was clear the the Tourmaline Green was interested in Keliris, not her, and she couldn’t help but throw a smirk in his direction. He however, was far too focused upon the green. She bit her lip to repress a chuckle. So he had impressed, despite all he had said which claimed otherwise. Perhaps the green would install in him some sort of self-confidence. After all, the impossible, in his mind, had happened.

Her joy for him was short-lived, for as he left to join the rapidly growing ranks of weyrlings, she felt a pang of lonliness. Of the three that had been standing here, only she remained. And of what had been a rather large gathering of candidates, only a few remained. Not only that, but a scant three eggs remained unhatched. With a sigh, Lennae resigned herself to leaving the grounds without a draconic compain alongside her. Perhaps next time, though she didn’t know why it mattered so much. All she really needed was a stable place to live. Really, that was all she needed.

[missa]

Rielana, do not go anywhere near that stupid green, What other Green? Where was that voice coing from? And Oh, that Green, well, she was already Impressing, why would Rielana want to go anywhere near her? There was No reason to... Else your Jeminorth will not be very happy. Look at the scratch she gave me! Turning, she showed Rielana the scratch on her. Awwh! Poor baby, was she okay? It hurts! The moment those last words echoed, Rielana bent to hug her gently.

It's okay sweetie, we'll get you food, and all better in no time. Hands stroked her nose as Jeminorth crooned softly before allowing Hers to lead her away. Why her dragon had come with an arch nemisis, Rie didn't know, all she could say was she was truely, honestly happy.
"Rielana, Green Jeminorth. Oi!" The word brought Jeminorth up as she hissed over at Calistoth, for no reason other than she could see the other Green.
"You are a bully, leave her alone."
She started it!
"I don't care who started it, I'm finishing it, now eat girlie."

**

"Lir! You Impressed! Oh she's gorgeous!" For once, Beka actually acted excited, as she walked over to the other pair. Smiling brightly before giving the other Weyrling a quick hug. Drawing back almost immeadiately and bending to Thoth as her cheeks flamed. Stupid, idiot. Thoth, however, looked past her rather shyly.
Hello... Mine and Yours are friends... Isn't that ... Good? Can... Can we be friends? Hesitent and shy, the blue ducked his head slightly before hiding behind Beka once more.

"What's her name?" Simple maybe, but Beka truely was curious, even if Thoth was demanding alot of her attention by hiding behind her. Moments after she spoke, Anai popped in, clasping her toy close to her before examining the Blue. Hers Impressed, good. A Blue? Was he nice? And him too! A Green! Just like her!
"Arrogent flitt."

~*~*

Religna couldn't help but smile as Ith spoke. Her words confident, assured, patient. She never nudged FReligna for attention when teh girl turned to check on Rawign.
I hope he Impresses
Your CluthBrother? I am sure he will, he seems nice to me. But I don't know him. Oh she was so sweet, laughing softly, Religna wrapped her arms around the Green, holding her tightly before going back to feeding her.

[evendar]

"I'm just... I can't..." why was she hiding there? Because she thought she could feel the eyes of the Weyr on her? Because she felt inferior? Muta was right, why should she feel like that? Narna looked a bit sheepish as she shrugged, a slight blush covering her freckled cheeks. "I honestly don't know Muta. I, I felt like everyone was scrutinizing me, which is obviously silly." she stood a bit straighter, though she didn't smile. No matter how happy this occasion was supposed to be, she still didn't feel like smiling, not quite yet.

She grabbed Muta's hand and began to lead him from the shadows, content to go back out and face it all if he was there. Maybe it was time Narna really took back her life. She was healed, physically if not mentally, and she had a great support system in her life now. Not only N'vis, but Muta too. The hardships in her life could be mended, if she let them heal soon enough. As she lead Muta back to the line of anxious Candidates, not letting him leave her side or releasing his hand from her light grasp, she wondered what he had gone through to be in such a state. He was like her, only twice as pained, twice as much shadow in his eyes when he talked. The only time she'd seen the clouded look in his eyes rise and saw the pain behind his eyes was that one time by the river. She couldn't make him talk about what had happened, that was his choice to divulge or not. Though she hoped one day he would open up to her enough so that she could find out how he came to be so scarred.

[Requiem]

He did not argue with Aslath, obviously somewhat amused. Oh, they'd produced good stock. Certainly. There could be no arguing that count. But it didn't necessarily mean one or the other of them had good genes, or that the both of them together produced better than they would have with other dragons. Salenth didn't consider himself muscular, either. He was actually somewhat lacking on that score compared to his bronze brothers. It wasn't to say that he was spindly, per se, but he knew a few of the other bronzes here at the weyr easily outweighed and outpowered him. No, you are much healthier than Fath ever was, Salenth replied confidently.

He shifted in the sands slightly, allowing the larger dragon to take some of his weight for a moment as he found a position a bit more comfortable. That was better. Now he could see more of what was going on, and remember how it had felt to be one of these hatchlings when he and S'rei had fused. On these very sands, no less. It was somewhat sobering. Most dragons didn't have great memories - Salenth was no exception - but he did tend to have vague impressions of the more emotional times, perhaps cherishing them because, for a few anxious turns, the emotion was all he could share with His.

Your sire, Salenth? He was bonded to mine. Though Salenth realized S'rei had probably mentioned this before, he had forgotten, and the idea intrigued him. Then we are...bond clutchmates, too? The rider's amusement enwrapped his lifemate. I suppose. Yes. Something like that. In a brief flare of sentimentality, he hoped that his children had and would find lifepartners as supportive as His. That they would be happy, and that, together, they would all destroy Thread with ease and scare off the other Weyrs with their sheer presence. That...would be nice...I almost can't wait for them to fly at my side, he commented to Aslath. But they're so small and perfect now...that I also don't want them to ever change.

***

She seemed uncertain again. All he could think was that she must have picked up on his rather melancholic mood, which just made him more irritated, though the irritation was turned inward. He'd been hoping to avoid this. Then, like a ridiculous child, he'd pouted about something that wasn't really that important, and now they had come to slide back a few precious steps. Well, there was no use dwelling on it. S'rei was certain that the aftereffects of the hatching and the innocent love Miguel never failed to show them would soon shift her mood, and then he could try to work at restoring some of that confidence. The fact that he wasn't at all confident in his own ability to do that lingered in the back of his mind like a bothersome sore.

He opened his mouth to speak, to try to erase some of what had come between them again, but a commotion had broken out on the sands, and a mild anxiety from Salenth drew S'rei to his feet, the Weyrleader subconsciously clutching his nephew close to his chest, protectively. What was this? Two greens fighting on the sands? Whatever for? I am...unsure. Ichor spilled onto the sands. S'rei's frown deepened. Salenth. They need to understand the consequences of their own actions. Pain is the best teacher right now. Besides...they part. And they did. The Weyrleader was none too pleased at this, however. They didn't need to have dragons physically tearing each other apart within Selenitas.I will speak to Styth. It won't happen again, Salenth stated firmly.

In the time that it had taken for the fight to resolve, S'rei had forgotten the look on Shmee's face, and when he returned to his seat with a somewhat pensive frown he neither looked at her nor spoke. It was strange, perhaps, but ichor tended to effect the man poorly. Sage had been coated with it.

***

He knew he had her. How could he not? Mutasim was a creature steeped in shadow. Even when out in full brightness, he cloaked himself in it, in a vain attempt to protect himself from the evil all around him. This boy knew just what sort of thoughts, what sort of validations, went behind acting as Narna had, and he knew how irrational they were. If someone was to point these same things out to him, he would have laughed them off, too far into the starless night to understand that he was being offered a candle, to care for something like rationality. But Narna could still appreciate it. And he could still feel of some use as long as he could be that voice for her. It was a strange duality, this creature who, on the one hand, understood the folly behind closing yourself off and hiding from the world, and in the other embraced that folly with a stubborn determination.

Every man saw himself as the hero of the tale, the one everything revolved around, and naturally thought his actions were scrutinized far closer than they were. It was the hubris of mankind as a whole.

He wasn't exactly sure what he'd planned on doing once she returned to the line of candidates, but it did not include holding her hand. It did not include being forced into the light he'd urged her to return to. A momentary flash of panic swept through him, but he didn't pull away, perhaps too afraid to do so. What was this fear? Docilely trailing Narna, Mutasim stood at her side when she finally came to a halt, instinctively pressing closer to her as the line of candidates shuffled with the frenzied movements of the enraged greens. He found himself disgusted with these dragons. Fighting for survival he understood, but fighting just to fight was so very wasteful.

Ichor on the sands. It reminded him of a very different color, and a very different struggle, the small boy's hand tightening on Narna's. He didn't tremble, and his eyes were just as inscrutable as ever, but that small bit of pressure betrayed his unease to the only one he was likely to reveal it to at this time. Death of a family - a family forged not from blood, but from hardship and suffering - weighed upon him, and to see these spiteful creatures tearing into each other with complete abandon, for no more reason than they'd hatched with a gutteral dislike for one another, stirred up a deep sadness and anger in Mutasim.

It was all so very senseless.

[Administrator]

Crooning at the compliment, Aslath nestled against Salenth even more closely. It wasn’t exactly hard to be healthier than Fath, but it was definitely important when it came to bettering the bloodlines. Her strong children would produce even stronger children, and even stronger children after that. Things like Fath would not blemish the future of Aslath’s descendents.

But now that the Hatching was over, Aslath was beginning to feel… somewhat empty. Looking over at Salenth for support, she soon turned her head so that they looked at all of the shards empty of dragon, being home only to egg goo now. She reached out to Shmee as her large eyes focused on the three remaining eggs. The last of her children from this clutch. The last of these healthy children.

Squeezing Salenth’s tail tightly, she felt Shmee’s mind reach back soothing her wordlessly. Aslath would be able to be freer for a little while, not confined to the sands by a clutch. Then, soon enough, Aslath would Rise again, create more sturdy children… However, Aslath, for now, felt rather empty. She had taken care of her clutch jealously since even just her Flight. Now, they were totally on their own.

They are so sweet as hatchlings,[/color] she agreed with a loving croon. But we will have more, and these younglings will be more useful when grown. But... we can enjoy their littleness as it lasts.[/color] Nuzzling Salenth, she thought not only of how cute her hatchlings were, but how sweet she found Salenth's sentimentality.

--

Shmee watched S’rei actions without interjecting anything herself. Though she didn’t hear him speak, he didn’t seem to look that happy with it. But F’rah seemed to have the two greens under control. It was normal for the confused, mindless hatchlings to sometimes attack. Surely S’rei knew that? Or perhaps he was just being over-protective of the hatchlings.

Uncomfortable with the expression he bore on his face, Shmee quietly said, “The hatchlings are fine. Accidents happen…” Her voice trailed off, involuntarily thinking of her own accident. The one that had cost her a babe. “Can I hold Miguel, please?” she asked even more softly. Miguel seemed the best expert at chasing away these thoughts with his happy little babe-laugh. Without another sound, Shmee huddled up close to S’rei, leaning against him as her bright blue eyes watched the fate of the last three eggs.

--

At one final twitch, the tiny shards of the Jade Egg finally rolled off of the form it masked, splitting away from the sticky form little at a time. When the legs were able to step forth from the shards, the blue that was within the egg shook himself, sending a hard spray of shards at those closest to him. Crooning, the blue darted forward into the throng blindly, eager to find his lifemate before the two remaining siblings could. However, the little blue seemed to know what he was doing. Nudging a boy gently, he announced, S’ylon! I’m your Milipsith![/color]

The Citrine Egg came out a lot slower, with more precision of each crack. Every time it rocked, a good-sized crack grew along the egg. Naturally, when there were enough, this egg had an easier time of breaking open than the Jade Egg. When it did, the shards fell away to the sides, and yet another blue looked around sulkily. Taking extra time to get the shards off of his tail, he stepped closer hesitantly. Walking toward the candidates, he proceeded to pass past the row twice before stopping front of one boy. M’meer, can you please feed me? My name is Firianth.[/color]

Finally, the last egg lay on the sands, taking its sweet time in trying to hatch. The Opal Egg had web-like cracks running along the side of the hard, opalescent shell, with none of them looking too miraculous as of yet. However, a fluke happened in this graceful pattern: a deeper crack than usual splintered down the shell, and from the way the egg stopped shaking, it seemed to surprise even the inhabitant. However, the little creature plodded forward, before that crack grew wider and wider and green hide blasted through the shell. Wrenching the rest of the shell off of herself, the little green looked around in surprise. She was the only one left?

Feeling pressured, she darted into the crowd, finding Lennae quickly and easily. Mine! I am your Amith![/color][/size]

[lennae]

Two of the three eggs remaining had hatched, and each time a small swell of hope rose in her before crashing down as the hatchlings found their own, neither of them her. It seemed there was only one egg left, and far too many candidates standing. The egg, while it had cracks all along its shell, seemed to be taking quite a while to hatch, and so before her worry could eat at her, Lennae found herself concentrating on anything but this.

She thought back to what she could remember of her voyage down here, though the remembrance of riding on the ship made her feel just as sick as she had when she was actually there. Shaking her head, she cleared her thoughts and found that she was staring down at her feet, and her toes had been drawing patterns in the sand. Suddenly, her patterns were destroyed as a green hide filled her vision.

For a moment, she was afraid, but then a voice in her mind declaring Mine! I am your Amith! All other thoughts seemed to disappear as realization dawned on her. She…had impressed. And to the most beautiful dragon in all of Pern. Lennae opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again, for no words were necessary. The waves of unconditional love flowed over her, wrapped around her and she found herself very…hungry?

I hunger! Everyone is staring at us, did we do something? Sure enough, the eyes of the stands followed the last pair of newly made dragon and rider as they crossed the grounds toward the bowls of meat. As they passed, Lennae nearly forgot to turn to F’rah, but remembered at the last moment, proudly announcing themselves as “Lennae, rider of green Amith.” Amith seemed to not care for such formalities and so continued toward the meat, tail twitching with hunger, causing Lennae to run after her to keep up. Soon, Amith had reached the feeding tables and was allowed to eat to her heart’s content.

[kaedryn]

Eyes closed, hands clenched, a pained smile on her face Kaedryn stood alone on the sands. She had been overlooked by each and every one of the dragons that had run by her... Opening her eyes again, she swept back and forth as if somehow by doing that, another egg would magically appear or another little hatchling would stride forward to choose her... But it didn't happen. she gave a slightly teary smile at the others left without dragons still left on the sands, then clapped for those that had just been chosen. It was simply not meant to be this time. Kaedryn then threw her head and shoulders back and began her walk off the sands, bowing once again to the Queen and her rider before finally leaving.

[glamourie]

A low, almost melodious growl escaped Calistoth as her sister approached, and her eyes whirled dangerously. The hiss the other female made in her direction made her flat out hiss back, flaring her wings dangerously, only to be abruptly scolded in the form of a poke to her side. She turned her head, tilting her chin up defiantly, as though Jeminorth wasn't worth her time or her effort. Her tail thumped the ground, though she turned her head up to look as Beka and Thoth approached. Her eyes whirled curiously as she regarded her blue clutchbrother, who was hiding behind his person. Why in the world was he hiding? She rumbled her amusement, though it was most definitely at the blue's expense, her eyes changing to a pleasant blue-green that matched her hide well.

If you promise never to ever look at that horrible Jeminorth, we can be friends. It sounded like a perfectly logical response to her. If anyone wanted to be her friend then they would be hers and not that horrible Jeminorth's, because she was clearly superior, couldn't they see that? She tilted her head up, speaking only to hers, I don't see why you won't let me destroy her, mine...

"Because it's not worth risking you being hurt worse, beautiful," K'lir replied simply, then turned back to Beka. His eyebrows raised and he smiled slightly. "Calistoth. Her name is Calistoth. She doesn't like that other green at all." He sounded amused, and he did not even try to hide it, though his gaze dropped to Calistoth, who was looking at Anai. Apparently, the dragon had taken an interest in the firelizard, though she didn't speak to her. She wasn't going to talk to something smaller than she was! "We should go feed them, and I need to get Calistoth to a DragonHealer, she's hurt --"

You're a worry-wherry. I'm fine. She is hurt far worse... Despite her complaints, Calistoth allowed herself to be lead to the feeding tables without complaint, and K'lir gestured for Beka to follow him before looking over his shoulder and smiling at Lennae. They could talk later. Feeding of the dragons now, thanks.

* * *

Rawign tilted his head slightly, his eyes still on the clutch, as the last three eggs broke. His gaze followed the first, then the second blue... and then the last green, as a hint of disappointment settled somewhere in the back of his stomach. Nothing? Well... He tilted his head, glancing over at the group at the feeding area, before folding his arms over his stomach, which still hurt just slightly. Maybe it was because he was hurt? He tried not to let himself feel too disappointed; he'd surely have another chance... and... maybe it was for the better? He'd have more time to... get used to the dragons? He told himself that privately, although in his heart he didn't believe it. Some part of him was still immensely disappointed. Never the less, he turned and gave a flourishing bow to the queen despite the pains shooting up his sides, and stepped back and away from the crowds of people. At least Religna'd Impressed, right?

Back toward the exit he went, though not before casting congratulatory nods in the direction of all who had Impressed, and no one person in particular. His hands folded at the base of his back. He'd go find Marra, and his firelizards would calm him. He didn't have any reason to be depressed, even if he did feel disappointed. He still had three of the most amazing firelizards ever - he wasn't walking off the Sands with nothing, and Marra was waiting for him in a very skimpy top, thanks to her tearing it up. His dark clouds definitely had silver lining. And maybe next time he'd have a better chance, since he probably would be more comfortable with the dragons by then... not to mention he wouldn't be in pain from feline scratches. Ideally, anyway.