Hatching Feast!

[saberlin]

Rilliana outright laughed at Covera's comment and guessed that it was probably aimed at a certain woman who, now looking around, seemed to be absent from the scene. Where was that obnoxious Weyrwoman? Probably hiding after such a clutch had hatched. Though by the first shell she would never say that out loud!

"Shall we sing?" She asked Covera motioning to the stage, "I normally sing first Suprano, how about you?"

((sorry short post))

***

R'ton was glad that Eya had taken his hand but was somewhat suprised by her statement. Knowing that the girl had a troubled past he looked her strait in the eyes, "Eya, if you ever do not want my company or attention, you have merely but to say it and I will leave." He did not want to make the woman uncomfortable in any manner, and wanted to merely take the time to build up a good friendship with her. After all, he needed a friend around here almost as bad as she did.

Thank you Rodonth

Never a problem rider mine. I go to visit Mayeth now.

Rodonths voice was very happy as he glided down from his Weyrledge to greet and spend time with the green. He put his nose gently to her shoulder in a friendly greeting. Being as cautious as his rider was. It would take a long while he was sure, but they could be good friends. He knew it!

Good evening Mayeth. How are you feeling tonight?

[paryal]

He was saluting her? Slightly bemused, Paryal gave a half curtsey back, unsure on the proper etiquette of weyrling to dragonrider. This was something Shmee would have to teach her, if Shmee ever bothered to do so. The Weyrwoman hadn't even come to her own Hatching Feast. Whatever kept her away had better be sharding important, Paryal thought to herself. Now, on to more important matters. Who was the man standing before her? A bluerider, judging by his knots. Besides that... It was hard to tell. Knots were only something the young woman had studied recently, in her limited free time as a Candidate. The... Weyrlingmaster? That had to be it. It was too complex to be a simple rider, and blue dragons normally weren't wingseconds.

"Thank you." Should she call him my lord? There was so much Paryal had to learn, and she felt rather socially inept, for one of the first times in her life. He would be teaching her much of what she had to learn, but only Shmee could teach her what a Queenrider should know. "It was a surprise for me as much as anyone else, I should think. I know other girls were favored over me." People always made bets, and the wily Candidate could hear her chances in the views of the lower cavern women if she listened carefully and looked unobtrusive. There had been a few bets on her head, but more on some of the other lasses. "Luckily I didn't bet, or I would have lost on myself." Laughing, Paryal carefully thought about extending a hand, but decided it would be too difficult, her hands trying to keep up the rather substantial wine goblet. As if to make the situation more awkward for Paryal, Fairamay chose to make her appearance then. Aezanth had been a source of much curiousity for the fire lizard, though the green had finally given her approval. She liked this dragon, even though she would never be as superior as a green. Nor would she ever be as pretty and as strong as Fairamay- at least in the fire lizard's mind.

Broadcasting images of a sleeping Aezanth to Paryal's head, Fairamay settled daintly on her shoulders, surprising for her relative bulk. It was then she spotted F'rah, and began to mantle her wings, hissing. "Fairamay, stop it! I'm terribly sorry- she just doesn't seem to like men." A struggle seemed to be going on under the fire lizard's skin- listen to her beloved Paryal, or defend her from this male? Paryal won out, as she did most of the time, and Fairamay subsided, at least for the moment. Her eyes still whirled a warning orange though, and her tail was curled possessively around Paryal's neck. "She's from the most recent clutch. Not much older than Aezanth really. I have two babies to deal with now." Not that Paryal minded it one bit. Grinning ruefully, she stroked Fairamay's wedge shaped head, carefully feeling for any splits in her flitter's hide. With the excitement of the Hatching, Faira hadn't been getting as much attention as she did usually, and was relishing this. It appeared that the most recently oiling had done the trick though. At least she wasn't growing at such a fast rate anymore. It seemed as if she would be grown up pretty soon, ready to have her own clutches.

[Tashe]

"What you are is what you have been, what you will be is what you do now. Obviously Queen Aezanth believed you were the right one to become a Weyrwoman... everyone else doesn't know best." Listening to Payral as she spoke about the bettings that go on before a hatching, the Weyrlingmaster let a hand wonder through his hair before responding.

"Betting isn't a thing that I take part of... I'm happy for whoever gets a dragon, for they will be spending a fair amount of time with me. A pity for them reallly..."

Smiling kindly at the soon-to-be important Weyrling, F'rah suddenly felt like kicking himself. He had forgotten to introduce himself to Payral when he had first greeted her.

"If you'll forgive me, I have forgotten my edict. I am Weyrlingmaster F'rah of Brown Styth." Motioning to the well sized brown who had immersed himself in conversation with a bronze, the Weyrlingmaster mentally sighed. It was slip up like these he hated...

---

Meanwhile the Candidate and her charge threaded through the crowd, only greeting people that knew Saraina or those who struck up the introductions in the first place. Being the elder of the two and apparently the less important, the female candidate was stuck with the formalities of introductions, though she left out the other woman being a goldrider at Kaegan's request.

Being one who stuck to the shadows and preferred not to be noticed, Saraina wasn't one to enjoy a feast such as this, and if it wasn't for practically being ordered to escort the Queenrider the girl wouldn't be here. In fact, the whole idea of a well lit and overly stuffed banquet made her cringe slightly...

Steering Kaegan through the crowd to the closest table with drinks laid upon it, Saraina twitched her nose.

"Right. I don't like feasts... rather I don't like public spectacles like this, so we're going to find F'rah and he'll be 'ur escort." Being her bold self, the candidate spoke this more as a comment than a question.

---

It felt slightly weird to be taking part of a feast that did not happen at Benden, though it definitely felt more joyous and freeing, for at her original Weyr Kaegan would have been flanked constantly by two bronzeriders. But now the only person who followed, more like lead, her was a strange candidate that she surprisingly took a liking to. Feeling herself being introduced and wheeled around, the Queenrider barely noticed her having been stopped at a table. Words drifted over her overwhelmed senses, but Kaegan was finally able to comprehend what Saraina had been saying.

Nodding slightly, the goldrider took hold of an offered glass of wine before looking around the crowded hall, trying to see if she could find any of those she might know.

[thialyn]

Eya shook her head, trying to get the haunted look from her eyes as well as a negative to R'ton's statement. She smiled a small smile, for his benefit. Shells it felt good to smile again, to have a reason to smile again. Even Hatchings at Fort had been hard, for Eya knew what lay in store after they Impressed. But that was not Selenitas. She may be at a Hatching Feast, but here, riders faced a brighter future than she had. Though, standing here with R'ton, her hand in his, she felt that she had been given a brighter one as well. She met his gaze once more, mostly relaxed again.

"A slip of the tongue, R'ton, nothing more," she said with that same small smile. "Now, perhaps you can show me what Selenitas Hatchings are like?" she asked rather shyly. She wasn't herself yet. That would take much longer than a few sevendays in an infirmary bed. Some scars couldn't heal.

Mayeth nosed the bronze right back, harder than he had on purpose. To show she was getting better, and to show he couldn't push her around, though the latter was a joke.

I can feel my toes, she said, meaning the leg that had been badly damaged. To demonstrate this fact, she looked pointedly at the foot in question and--guess what?--wriggle her toes, the claws clicking pleasantly. She focused back on the bronze, her eyes matching her hide. And how are you this night?

[Requiem]

Wrenth watched Hertith with contentment. He'd always liked the green, and had missed her when he and His were transferred to Fort. They'd gone through most of their weyrling life together. In the darkness, only the soft colors of his eyes could be seen, as his dark blue hide faded into the shadows. He is strange. The only woman he ever cared for was his sister, and he thinks Flight will mean he has to pay as much attention to another woman. I think, perhaps, he sees it as betraying his twin's memory. Wrenth continued to muse, silently, then shrugged it off. His next comment was bright and cheery. That doesn't matter, though. He can't stop me from giving chase!

F'lan could not help but hear Rell's half of the conversation with Hertith, and it didn't take a genius to figure out that the green must have called one of the dragons handsome. Probably Wrenth, he thought drolly. Well, I am the best-looking, nicest, fastest blue here. And browns and bronzes are overrated. Besides, they have their golds to chase. And you're just so humble, too, F'lan commented dryly.

He blinked owlishly at Relliga as she claimed that he wouldn't think this way if he'd participated in a Flight. Maybe not. Still, he never intended to, so it wouldn't much matter, now would it? F'lan's nature didn't allow him to consider that Wrenth might go against his wishes and participate in Flight anyway. The man was, after all, the dominant personality of the duo. Wrenth was certainly content to allow him to think that way, if only because he would find F'lan's reaction amusing when he took to the skies. Dragons must have their fun, too!

Coloring at her thanks, the coldness of his eyes warmed slightly, his expression vaguely shy as he glanced down at his feet. "It's the truth. You shouldn't thank anyone for just telling the truth." F'lan, in many ways, was little more than a boy. He hadn't grown up at all as far as women were concerned. His gaze flicked toward her, before he studied his boots again. "You and Hertith always did fine. Better than most." It was partly from watching the green that F'lan had birthed the desire to train so that Wrenth could be just as manueverable as his smaller clutchmates.

[saberlin]

R'ton smiled again glad that he ha not in fact done wrong. "Well I can only guess what they are like here. They were happy enough at Benden, but..... well I got here just a few days before you really. Shall we go pay our respects to the new young Queen. I hope her attitude is better than Shmee's. By the way if that is one thing I want you to learn, stay out of Weyrwoman Shmee's way. It is... non productive." He kept the inflection in his voice playful enough for the happy occation, but tightened his grip ever so gently on her arm when He meant to be serious. He angled them towards he new young Queen Rider Paryal and checked in on his Bronze.


How you doing big fella?

I am well R'ton.

I am glad you can feel your toes Mayeth. Do they feel better?

Rodonth was surprised at the strong nudging of Mayeth and warbled in pleasant surprise. So, she could be feisty could she? This would be fun! He put a wing over her, his eyes whirling a mischivious green before putting a front paw/hand on her face. Not hard, just sort of like a 'plop' And then removed it and stuck his tongue out at her. Rodonth liked a green that could play!

((ok Ill wait for Covera and paryal now ))

[covera]

((I would post Covera and V'nus but I'm waiting for Ciara... Sorry Saberlin!))

Hertith looked into Wrenth’s eyes, or what she assumed to be Wrenth’s eyes. Mine has had no sad experiences. That is good but that means I do not perhaps understand yours sorrow, Hertith said regretfully. Please forgive me if I ever show that, she pleaded before she too switched to a more cheerful tone, remembering her first flight. Mine was nervous before my first Flight. When she saw me change colour she begged to me too skip rising. I told her I would, mine did not understand that that was not possible. But she wasn’t angry with me after, she was glad. Humans should learn that the dragon always knows better, she said airily.

I am happy that Wrenth is back, she informed Rell. I do not understand why he went away in the first place, the green dragon said, puzzled. But all is well now, the dragon did not like to dwell on bad things, that would destroy her happy nature so it was kind of built into her system to erase bad things.

Rell smiled at F’lan, it was so cute to watch F’lan’s awkwardness, had he always been like that? Rell wondered. But then she remembered that he had. Deciding to play with him a little, putting on a stupid look and changing her voice to a slightly surprised tone Rell nudged F’lan slightly.
“Oh, is there a smudge on your boot? Or a bug on the floor? Because if it’s a bug, I can kill it for you, the boot I’m not so sure about, it would be pretty weird if I started to polish your boot in the middle of the feast,” she told him seriously, never cracking a smile. It would be interesting to see what the normally humourless F’lan would do.
Deciding as an afterthought that he might be angry at her, Rell grinned cheerfully at F’lan trying to make him forgive her.
“I’m just kidding with you, don’t mind me. I, er, like to say stupid things,” now it was Rell’s turn to look at the floor.
You’re silly, Hertith told her.
And you’re not? Rell asked her dragon cheerfully.
I resent that, Hertith said offended and continued to look at Wrenth, or Wrenth’s eyes.

[Requiem]

Wrenth rumbled in agreement. Humans just don't make sense. They would really have a much better life if they only listened to us. He edged closer to the green, looking like a floating pair of eyeballs, which might have been funny to Wrenth if he'd been thinking about such things. Don't worry about not understanding. That's not your job, anyway. Besides, mine will like Flight, I think, just like you said. He won't even have to feel weird. Wrenth meant unsure or awkward, however weird was the only word he knew to describe it. His mine often felt 'weird.'

F'lan recoiled at her touch, as much because it sent strange feelings through him as because it was unexpected. At her words, his blues darted up to her face, wide and oddly vulnerable as he colored. How could he tell her that it made him uncomfortable to look her in the eye? He couldn't! And yet, he couldn't let her believe there was a smudge on his boot. It would be far more shameful for the woman to do just as she suggested.

Her apology brought on another blush, though this was accompanied by the narrowing of his eyes, the openness of his face suddenly closing off. Just kidding? Just kidding! Haven't I always told you that you take things too seriously? At least she said she was sorry. She played me for a fool. She was teasing. The stiffness fled from his body with the anger, the man absently twisting a strand of his hair between his fingers. He bent his head, allowing it to screen his face for a moment. Maybe it was okay to leave it down sometimes, after all, if it allowed him a few moments' privacy.

Finally, F'lan muttered, "It's all right." Strangely, it was. He didn't mind her teasing him. Fiona had. When he lifted his head, this time meeting her gaze, the ghost of a smile played across his lips. It seemed to add life to his features - and humanity. "You'll have to tell me when you are, though. They always said I couldn't take a joke."

[covera]

((Make way pplz, make way! Make way for a crappy post!!! Read further for more details.))

Yes, Hertith said sleepily, I will not worry. The dragon laid her neck over Wrenth and promptly fell asleep.

A series of emotion met Rell’s eyes, first F’lan recoiled, then he blushed, then he looked angry, then he looked down and then he looked again up.
Trying to think what to make off it Rell smiled widely when she saw a hint of a smile appear on F’lan’s face, it was a rare sight and Rell planned on savouring that smile.
“I promise I’ll tell you,” Rell said seriously while checking her mind connection with Hertith.
“Oh. She’s fallen asleep,” Rell told F’lan and tried to cover a yawn. It had been a long day and Rell whished she could just go and get some sleep, some rest before Hertith’s flight.
“I should go get some sleep too,” Rell said regretfully. “I hope we can talk later,” she said with a smile and took a moment’s thought before looking the blue rider in the eye and swinging her arms around him in a friendly hug.
“Bye! It was nice talking to you,” she called over her shoulder when she had let go of F’lan and disappeared through the door.

Soon, Hertith’s sleepy voice came to Rell when she had left the Feast.
I know.

[thialyn]

Eya chuckled--actually chuckled!--at R'ton's statement, despite the fact it was too close to what she was used to. But this was not Fort, thank Faranth! She could start anew here! Start fresh! Then why did she always feel the urge to look over her shoulder? Habit? She felt it was more than that. There were so many riders here, transfer from Benden and Fort, refugees like herself. Could she truly trust any of them? What if, somehow, word got to Fort that she was here? Would they care? Likely not, but punishing her for running was not out of the realm of possibility. But the more likely option was, hey thought her dragon killed, and herself taken slave to Benden. That was known to happen and there was so much keening after battles! The option appealed to the green rider, but there could still be a traitor out there. She would keep her guard up until then.

"I will make sure to save my skin then," she said, a small grin turning her lips. The familiar itch at the back of her neck told her that she shouldn't act this comfortable around a bronzerider. But she ignored it valiantly. This was a new Weyr. She could try and give the male riders here a chance.

Mayeth bugled quietly in surprise as her nose was bopped downwards by the bronze's much bigger paw. When she saw his tongue sticking out, she snapped playfully at it, knowing that she would not actually bite it, but the point would get across. What that point was, the green didn't know, but snapping her teeth at such a bigger dragon was cause for some enjoyment. In retaliation, she kept a perfectly straight face, looking at his mischievious eyes. They feel very nice, she said as her tail snuck around behind him to poke him the rump before darting to its original position.

[ravenmane]

((Sorry!!!! School is killing e so I have been pressed for time. Very short post warning!!))
Ciara watched as the new Brownrider V'nus showed up. She msiled, giggling slightly at his comment about being the only male in their little circle. "Thanks, Everyone. I was mightiliy surprised to find my unusual little Toryth at my feet." Ciara's eyes had a dreamy haze as she thought about her unusally colored Green.
------------------
Skyler watched from the shadows, eyes showing the disappoinment he had for Skyler had not Impressed. He wathced as the new Weyrlings talked to each other happily, musing over how their dragons might turn out.

[covera]

((Mine is short too...))

"I sing mezzo," Covera admitted. "My strongest side as a Harper is instrumental playing, I'm a good singer but you're probably better," Covera smiled at Rilliana and patted her guitar.
Covera stood up and settled her guitar. "So what should we sing? Maybe something about dragons, because is that not what this feast is all about? Dragons?" She asked with a nod to Ciara and V'nus.

V'nus smiled charmingly at Ciara. "Yes, they're simply magical those little creatures," V'nus said and coughed uncomfortably. "Is you're dragon healthy?" He asked concerned, there were far too many who had gotten a deformed dragon, he hoped that Ciara wasn't one of them.
"It's so sad how many of them are un-healthy," he continued sadly and silently thanked for his own healthy dragon.
Would you not want me if I was strange? Came the sleepy voice from his dozing dragon.
Of course I would! V'nus reassured Vemorath but the dragonet was already asleep.

[saberlin]

"Oh I am sure you sing quite well stop being so modest" Rilliana said to the Harper though at the back of her mind she really didnt doubt who was better. She would never let it show though! "Yes, perhaps start off with the Protection Ballad and then maybe follow with the one or two happier pieces?" She really loved the chance to sing in front of people and greatly enjoyed the fact that she was going to be able to sing for her new Weyr. After all this was to be her home until she Impressed or until she got to old to try. She glanced around looking for some of the other candidates, now Weyrlings that she had met, but she did not see any nearby, so she made her way up to the stage to wait for Covera to start.

**Rodonth nearly jumped out of his hide as the green prodded his behind with her tail. That was sneaky of you He was glad that he could joke around with her and liked her bravery and tenacidy to actually snap at him. Yes, she was much better than that arrogant Queen. Speaking of which, he had not seen or felt her around since the end of the hatching. Well that was all well and fine by him!

R'ton led himself and Eya up to the new young Queenrider Paryal, "Paryal, I come to bring my congratulations to you and your beautiful new Queen. I am R'ton and this is the lovely Green Rider Eya. We are both new here. Let me know if you EVER need any help with ANYTHING ok?" R'ton was of course hinting at the fact that the girl might not always get along with the Queen Rider, so he could help her if she needed to Vent or the like. After all, a smiling happy queen and rider were always much better than the alternative...

He then turned to the other rider that was standing there, "I do not yet know you either Sir, though I would love to make the acquaintance with you. After all, one can never have too many friends." ((speaking to F'rah))

[ravenmane]

Ciara glanced at the other weyrlings who had Impressed deformed dragons. Their lives would be difficult, especially when it came time to fly Thread. The Green Weyrling glanced at V'nus as he asked about Toryth's health. "She's perfectly healthy, but the only strange thing about her is her coloring. Toryth has a moss hide with darker streaks of green all over her. She's healthy and unusual." Ciara smiled as she described her wonderful Toryth. The Green was happy and friendly to everyone it seemed. Why wouldn't I be friendly, CiaraMine? [Nothing, Dearest Green. Go Back to sleep.] Toryth had done so as she talked.

[covera]

((This thread is kinda dead but oh well... Maybe it's my fault *blushes*))

Covera glared at Rilliana, Covera did not like to be patronized. "Please don't patronize me," Covera said through gritted teath. "You and I both know that you're a better singer, but I'm a better instrument player, why don't we just let it go at that?" She said menacingly, Covera might like Rilliana but that didn't mean that she turned into a whole new different person, Covera wasn't very nice most of the time.
Grudgingly, Covera made her way to the stage, standing next to Rilliana. "You should sing the main voice, I'll just be in the background with my guitar," Covera said to Rillian, daring her to patronize her again.

((So... I don't know the Protection Ballad so you're welcome to start singing! Covera will follow:) ))

------

V'nus sighed in relief when Ciara told him that her dragon was healthy, so she was one of the lucky ones.
V'nus suddenly felt like very tired, his eyelids dropped for a split second but he shook himself awake. "It was very nice talking to you, Ciara," V'nus said politely and stood up and bowed to Ciara. "But I am afraid that I am surrendering to the demons of tiredness, the only cure for them to stop bothering me would be to sleep, so I'm on the way to my new quarters, good bye," he said with a smile and strode out. V'nus had seen Covera preform often so he didn't need to stick around for her.

((Sorry that I just removed V'nus quickly like that, mwah, I just didn't want him to play here any more...))