The Clutching

[Administrator]

Aslath grumbled where she lay on the sands, discomfort at her size growing unbearable. Her swollen stomach weighed her down, and she couldn’t move even if she wanted to. Though the reassuring thought of a good sized clutch kept her sane, she hated this feeling of being so huge. Salenth, can you please come? she asked pitifully, pushing herself against the side of the Hatching Ground. Shmee had estimated that the clutch should be out any day, and Aslath hoped it would be sooner rather than later. I do not want to be here. It hurts,[/color] she told him unhappily, resting her head between her forelegs. Shmee had normally been with her for the past few days Aslath had retired to the sands, but at the moment, her rider wasn’t feeling well, vomiting up her breakfast in the chamber pot in the weyr next door.

Shmee sat back, that spasm ceasing. She was very pale, and intended to give the stupid drudge that had delivered her food a severe tongue lashing. He hadn’t made her the right tea, giving her something fruity and spicy smelling instead. Like that did her any good! She would have made it herself, but she had been feeling nauseous all morning, and decided to save herself some fluids by not moving much and not making it today. Wiping her sweaty brow, she slowly got up to rejoin her queen on the sands, only to be wracked by another wave of nausea. Whimpering slightly, she bent back over the chamber pot.

As if her rider’s nausea was a trigger, Aslath hissed, a contraction seizing up the golden body. Bugling in pain, her mindvoice cried out to her closest loves. Salenth, hurry now! Shmee, get out here now![/color] The queen writhed on the sands, but her maternal instincts won over. With her head, she burrowed her head into the sand, making a groove where an egg could lie while at the same time using the pressure on her head as an outlet for this pain. Wings unfurling, she trumpeted again, making it all very clear to the Weyr what was happening. Furling and unfurling her wings, she let out a low growl as a soft, emerald green egg fell into the groove.

Crooning to her first child, Aslath nudged sand around the egg, knowing it needed to be warm. We have one![/color] she announced, excited despite the ache that continued to haunt her. This egg was beautiful, unlike most of Fath’s old eggs. Its shining green shell was a beauty to behold, and Aslath crooned. Our egg is more handsome than all of Fath’s combined,[/color] she told Salenth, her eyes whirling a proud gold with a tinge of red as she anticipated her next contraction.

Clutching her stomach, Shmee darted onto the sands, wiping her mouth as she did so. Nothing in the world was going to make her miss Aslath’s clutching! “Block the entrance to the sands, but open the doors to the tiers!” she barked at a couple of nearby drudges, who immediately went to oblige. Excitement overcame her nausea, and she looked eagerly down at the egg Aslath was possessively covering with sand. Curling around it protectively, she began to make another groove in the sand. Join me here, Salenth,[/color] Aslath told him, awe-struck, yet proud. I want you to be with me.[/color]

Suddenly, another ripple shuddered across her stomach, and Aslath’s eyes quickly became redder. Thudding her tail on the ground, she situated herself close to the next groove, awaiting her next child.

“Oh, love,” Shmee exclaimed, determined to be there and soothe her glorious queen throughout the clutching. “This egg is absolutely beautiful. This clutch will be the envy of Pern!” Aslath hissed, and Shmee gritted her teeth, fighting back another wave of nausea. Shard it. Holding her breath to try and settle her stomach, she felt more beads of sweat on her forehead as Aslath let out another shriek, depositing a bright silver egg into the groove. Covering it with sand, her eyes went to her bonded.

If you vomit on my eggs, I will never let you see my children, Aslath warned as she nudged sand over the bright, soft shell. Shmee smiled weakly, wiping her brow with the back of her hand.[/size]

[glamourie]

Beggar swept up to Rawign and chittered curiously as the boy sat in the candidate barracks. He was changing the wraps on Keliris's foot, as the other boy had injured it none too long ago and due to having stepped on it wrong, the bleeding started again. Arina tended to it very well, but that didn't change that the injury was nasty. He finished the wrap to Keliris pulling an awkward face, no doubt disapproving of the fact that he was in pain at all (The boy was so proud that at times Rawign wanted to thump him over the head; he had even him beat, the deadglow!) and then stood back up. His blue chittered again and then landed on Rawign's shoulder and nudged his cheek gently. Affectionate was Beggar (especially around meal times) but even for him, that was a surprising extent.

And then an image of sand and an emerald green egg flashed through Rawign's mind and he understood.

"Such a shame you can't walk out there on your own," Rawign commented as he slapped Keliris's ankle, earning a hiss in response. If looks could kill, he'd be lying flat, but he couldn't resist the chance to needle the other candidate. Keliris was just mean on principle of being mean and Rawign had no idea how to deal with him except to get snitty right back. While not the most mature course of actions to be sure, at least he had managed to convince Keliris he wasn't worth fighting with. "Do tell Kaliran when he shows back up that the Queen is clutching, would you?"

Smirking at the agitated look he received (and yet still no verbal response), Rawign stood up and walked off. While Keliris looked angry, he had no doubts that he would inform his younger brother of the clutching. Kaliran and Keliris were surprisingly close and he was sure he would be joined by the younger boy on the Sands soon enough. He slipped out of the barracks and down to the Sands from memory, having taken the time to learn the layout of the Weyr after his unfortunate instances of getting rather lost. His blue firelizard took to trilling and offering almost rolling purr affectionately; no doubt there was to be no denying that Beggar was excited. But why shouldn't he be? Neither of them got to see a Hatching before. Well, Beggar did, but he probably didn't remember.

The entrance to the Sands was blocked off when he got there, so Rawign followed a group of people he didn't know (nor did he speak to them in any way; he wasn't the type to do so) around to the tiers where everyone could view the clutching. He was grateful for that, actually, as it meant he wouldn't be anywhere near the dragons. He was slowly getting over his fear, but that lingering doubt was a nagging voice in the back of his mind, and when the queen came into sight, the very sight of her brought back all the fear without the remotest of hesitations. He bit his tongue and stared down with one hand over his face. The view was amazing but that was the biggest dragon he had ever seen. Even the small ones scared him, how was he supposed to go out on the Sands and deal with one that large, if only to look at the eggs when they hatched, or maybe sooner? He didn't know, he jus didn't know. The idea made him nauseous and he backed up as far as he could to avoid swooning. Beggar gave a quiet, worried chirp in his ear, eyes swirling his concern, but Rawign was oblivious.

What in the world was he doing there? Brains, thy name was not Rawign. He wanted to bang his head off one of the stone walls somewhere with the hope that sense would reach him. At least he didn't act on that temptation, though he glanced around frantically. He'd feel better when Kaliran, or maybe Cezine, arrived. Someone he knew, someone he didn't think hated him. He felt better with people, surprisingly enough.



[ This is utter crap, but I hope I did it right D; ]

[Requiem]

"You said this has been going on for how long?"

"Two weeks now, Weyrleader. The herdbeasts...the herd has nearly been decimated."

S'rei frowned thoughtfully. This holding produced a lot of the meat and livestock that the weyr consumed. A feline infestation. He just loved how the problems kept piling on. "We'll arrange for a wing to come down and stage a hunting party," the man decided. Felines were dangerous creatures to hunt, even for dragons, but they couldn't well just let them run free. Not with fourteen weyrlings and who knew how many eggs that would be spilling onto the sands any day now.

Aslath calls, Mine. She clutches. He glanced at the bronze, but otherwise didn't acknowlegde the comment. The two men spoke for a while longer, Salenth growing more and more anxious. Then, after a brief good-bye, the Weyrleader turned back to his dragon and mounted fluidly, the dragonpair taking to the air so fast it was almost dizzying. I thought you'd never stop talking. I'm sorry. But, if we're going to be able to support these hatchlings, that needed to be taken care of.

***

Salenth let out a bugle as he popped out of Between above the trees of Selenitas. Man and dragon didn't bother to attempt the ground entrance; they flew directly in through one of the holes in the ceiling, the bronze alighting on the sands a good distance from Aslath. He didn't want to upset the eggs she'd already laid. His eggs. Salenth edged just a little forward, looking toward his mate for permission to approach. One never knew how a clutching female would respond.

S'rei, however, exhibited no such hesitation. He was off the bronze's back and headed toward the Weyrwoman instantly, though he was still careful to skirt the area in which the gold moved. The man had been even more protective of Shmee since he'd found out about her pregnancy. And she wasn't looking altogether well, even considering the fact that Shmee fought nausea almost daily. Lauranna's pregnancy hadn't been nearly as miserable. His hand brushed her upper arm, gaze drifting toward the two eggs Aslath had laid so far, before the bronzerider brought his lips to her ear. "You think you're going to be alright, love? You're pretty pale."

His tail swishing across the sands, the bronze was riveted by the two eggs he could see peeking from their sandy envelopes. They are beautiful, Aslath. He wanted to help, but that was a little silly. It was all up to the golden queen now. She'd probably be cursing him for his 'help' before too long as it was. At least he'd get a chance to redeem himself a little when she was confined to the sands with these eggs - pampering her and giving the queen some time to herself by taking a few shifts of watching the eggs himself. How many would there be? A lot, by the looks of it.

Salenth's barrel chest swelled with pride, even as he shifted from pillar to pillar anxiously.

[boober]

While Cezine had no flitters to inform her as to the goings on in the Hatching Grounds, she was near enough to hear the sounds coming from within. She paused in her task (records, of all things!) and straightened, looking toward the Sands in spite of the numerous walls that separated it from her. Would Aslath allow the weyrfolk to be present as she clutched? Filled with immense curiosity, the Candidate stood, leaving her work, and made her way to the Hatching Grounds. There was only one way to find out; if she arrived and Aslath lashed out at her, then she would quietly leave again and wait until the Touching to return. But she was saved such a course of action upon finding the entrance to the Sands blocked, and she didn't hesitate to change course to go a different route. She didn't even need anyone else to guide her, having been there long enough to find her own way around. While the entrance was closed, Cezine was almost positive that the tiers would be open for the viewing of this particular event.

As she drew nearer to her destination, she was not surprised to find a group of people already ahead of her. The young woman didn't even look at any of them, didn't pick out faces as she quietly approached and looked down onto the Sands. A small smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she beheld the sight of the beautiful Aslath below. She was distracted only when the queen's bronze mate arrived. He too was a handsome dragon, but truthfully, what she was really interested in was the eggs. And there they were... a green egg, utterly breath-taking, along with a silver one. How marvelous. Only two eggs out and this clutch was already surpassing anything Fath had ever produced. Her mind took her back to the old queen's last clutch and Cezine suppressed a shudder. Nothing like that would ever come out of Aslath. She hoped.

It was only after her eyes had looked their fill of the beautiful gold and her eggs so far that Cezine lifted her gaze to look at the people around her. None of them struck her as remarkable, none of their faces stuck out in her mind. Just as she was about to return her gaze to the queen below, something pulled her eyes to the very back. Straightening, Cezine turned and blinked. What was Rawign doing way back there? Tilting her head somewhat, she almost beckoned to him to join her, wondering if perhaps he was unsure of himself because he didn't know anyone here, remembering their conversation in the barracks. But something stopped her; she got a good look at his face, and without so much as another glance at the Sands, she stepped away and approached the other Candidate. One hand came up to rest lightly on his arm as she peered up at him with a hint of concern. "Rawign? Are you all right?" Her voice was even softer than usual, so as not to distract anyone or draw attention. She didn't think either course of action would be appreciated.

[Administrator]

Aslath looked up, her large, baleful eyes staring at Salenth for a moment, almost as if not recognizing him. Then with an extremely loud croon, she jerked her head in her direction. Come closer, love,[/color] she told him proudly, snaking around her eggs. Protect them as I lay new ones. Admire them now, though. They are strong![/color] The last statement was spoken with a triumphant bugle, not caring if she scared the spectators or not. This was her day and these stupid humans that desired to watch would just have to deal with that fact.

Her tail found Salenth’s, gripping it tightly, as if needing reassurance for something. Her worry was unclear, and unnoticeable to any that did not receive a clue directly from the great queen. This tight grip was one such clue, full of so many anxieties that were impossible to understand. Would there be many eggs? Would the hatchlings be healthy? Would there be a queen? Would her form slide back into shape after all the eggs were out? These thoughts worrying the mother dragon, her angry eyes looked to the spectators, giving them a warning glare. They wouldn’t dare come too much closer to her children. The only people who were allowed to was her, Salenth, Shmee, and S’rei- and all of them needed her express permission. Highly protective toward her brood, she turned her eyes back to Salenth. Make sure nobody sneaks down in here,[/color] she told him, knowing that even though she wouldn’t leave them herself, she could always use a second pair of eyes.

Abruptly, she let go of the bronze tail, and hissed madly. Thrashing her tail on the ground, she looked no better than a feral beast. Her red eyes whirled dangerously, and even Shmee took a step back as she sent waves of reassurance to her bonded. With another hiss, to the sands fell a small egg of a deep purple-red. Grunting, she shoved sand around it protectively, a hungry look to her eyes that gave the impression that there was nothing on Pern that would separate her from the unhatched offspring.

--

Shmee smiled as she saw S’rei dart over, but her eyes flickered quickly over to her bonded, who was writhing with the sensations of clutching. Was giving birth going to be like this? Not speaking of her worries, she smiled at S’rei. “I’m fine,” she replied softly, flinching at the emotions Aslath cast her. “I don’t think there’s anything left to throw up,” she added with forced brightness. Optimism was rather hard for her at the moment, but at least she could rely on this clutch to provide that. She smiled as the third egg fell to the sands.

“They’re so large… Bigger than Fath ever did,” Shmee pointed out. Stronger, healthier, shinier… Selenitas just needed a young queen, she supposed. One that could handle hard Flights and could carry many eggs without risking her health. Her hand found S’rei’s, and squeezed it gently. “Is Salenth proud?” she asked with a satisfied smile. That bronze should be. These were fine eggs.

So, only one of the four was clutching now, Shmee thought drolly, unconsciously putting a hand to her stomach. She had only gained a little weight, not enough to be noticed, but enough to catch the woman off guard. She hadn’t expected to get big for a while, yet here she was, already beginning to gain weight. Sooner or later, everyone would know. Right now, only a few people knew, and didn’t really tell people. S’rei, Robika, Marisina, Kalierre... and perhaps a few others. Shmee wasn’t denying it from anyone, yet she wasn’t really spreading the news.

If what she was told was correct, then pretty soon, she wouldn’t have morning sickness any more. At this, Shmee smiled. She was excited for the days to come where she wouldn’t need to worry about throwing up everywhere. Then again, that would also be when she would start showing… Sometimes, if S’rei wasn’t around, Shmee would put a pillow in her shirt and admire herself in a looking glass, and she wasn’t sure she liked what she saw. She just wasn’t meant to be a big person.

I was never meant to be this big, either,[/color] Aslath told her rider dryly. Shmee chuckled. The queen was calmer, suggestion a while might pass before the next eggs were laid. She had heard it sometimes took days to lay… That was not something Shmee was looking forward to.

--

D’vin solemnly looked down at the clutch. Three eggs so far, and the queen was still enormous. Fort’s Grenostith never looked this big. D’loro would be jealous. Smiling slightly, he tried to estimate how many more eggs were left, but found it impossible. Folding his arms solidly, he stared at the gold and bronze with a hard look. He knew that Salenth’s Catch was just a fluke. Morsrath would have won. He had reported that interesting tidbit to D’loro, and the man was now planning. He didn’t tell D’vin of his plans, but maybe it was because the Weyrleader hadn’t thought of any yet. He sighed. The man was crafty, and he didn’t doubt D’loro’s capability of thinking of a way to lure Shmee and S’rei over to Fort’s side.

Kamerai would be pissed, he thought with amusement. Grenostith had only had the maximum of thirty eggs in a clutch ever. Then again, Grenostith was still young at sixteen turns. She had time. Turning his attention now to the Weyrleaders, he found himself watching their closeness with bitterness. To be young and in love, he thought with a small sigh. He wasn’t old, really, but he considered himself too old to be caught in the drama of it now. It was pointless. He had found love, he had lost it. That’s just the way things were, and he needed to get used to that.

He sat, unspeaking, his eyes traveling back to Aslath, more specifically on her belly to see if it would ripple again. He needed to count the eggs, bring the number to D’loro to make it seem like he was providing sufficient information to Fort, then perhaps round up another slave. It was getting harder. The strongest of the dragonless—or most injured—had been taken here already. Now all that was left was the broken… They would be hard. They would fight him, but he needed to get them out. His gloved hands clenched.

--

Marra, too, was admiring the clutch, though not in the same was as D’vin. Having nothing better to do, she decided to come here for sport only. Normally, she would try to groom the flowers that Rawign had given her those weeks ago, but they had recently died after many attempts. It was disappointing. Even though Rawign was an idiot, the flowers were pretty, she was chagrined to admit. But now they were dead, like all things became.

Shaking those pessimistic thoughts from her skull, she looked down at the three eggs with a look of determined happiness. This is birth, not death. Sighing, her eyes roamed the crowd. Speaking of the devil, there was Rawign, talking with a girl named Cezine. She was vaguely aware that she was a twice-tried candidate, but nothing more. Shard it. Looking back to the clutch, she admired for a moment. Fath’s last eggs were mostly ugly things, but these were more of a beauty to behold.

She wouldn’t stay long, she figured. This was just as boring as being in her apartment, but she was proud. She actually got herself into society today. So what if she didn’t talk to anyone? She was still out, wasn’t she? Smiling at that thought, she swung her arms behind her back, clasping her hands as she looked down at the clutch almost as if with new purpose.[/size]

[glamourie]

A familiar voice stirred Rawign out of his musings, and though he did not speak, it took all of his effort not to throw himself at Cezine in maniacal glee at her presence. She was the only one he'd ever admitted his feelings regarding dragons to aloud, and though he was slowly adjusting to things at Selenitas, slowly becoming less and less frightened at the sight of them, every so often his stomach cramped up uncomfortably as a feeling of fear washed over him. Usually that was a result of being faced with the biggest and strongest of the dragons at the Weyr... like, oh, the Weyrleader's bronze, and the Senior Queen. Biting the urge to spin around and be ill, Rawign brought one hand up to his face. He was going to be okay, none of them cared a lick that he was there, he was just a face in the crowd, and he was being ridiculous. Nothing at that Weyr was like in the north, no one was like them, and he was just -- just being a wherrybrain. Deep breath. He just had to keep reminding himself that the creatures at that Weyr were not the ones who caused the damages in the north, they were not the same. And that it wasn't the dragons to blame at all.

"Yes," Rawign whispered, the words meant over for Cezine. "I'll be fine." He didn't need to explain why he was upset because she would know and that in its own way was a comfort. He was sure there were others who would suspect, no, even guess as to what his exact problem was, but he didn't deign to admit it aloud. There was a different between being bothered by something and being willing to admit it where others could hear... others like Marra.

Because over Cezine's shoulder, he caught sight of the harper and cringed, looking straight away. She was the last person he wanted to deal with, the absolute last being on all of Pern he was up to bickering with when he already felt like he was dying a little on the inside. What was she doing there? -- Oh, of course. The same thing as everyone else. He had to remind himself that to think she showed up just to be an inconvenience to him was very egotistical, even though he strongly suspected she was spiteful enough to do something of that nature. From the looks of things, the harper girl was sufficiently distracted with the queen and her clutch (He couldn't see from his spot behind people how many eggs she'd laid, but he was sure he'd find out soon enough). Perhaps she hadn't even noticed him? Well, best not to tempt fate by lingering... even if he was almost ready to collapse in his curiosity. Were all human beings drawn to the things they feared, or was that something unique to him? Dragons terrified him - yet he wanted more than anything to go look at the eggs. He was afraid of dragons, yet he hadn't backed down from the idea of being a candidate.

Clearly he was dim. Looking up at Cezine, Rawign took a deep breath and properly composed himself before glancing around, "But I think I'm going to leave." The words were whispered, still meant only for her. "This is attracting a crowd, I'm sure there will be other times we're allowed to come here to look... so maybe I will see you later?" Was he running from Marra? You bet your boots, he was.

[Requiem]

For a long moment he thought the young queen might attack him, but then he saw the recognition in her gaze, followed swiftly by her words. Salenth moved closer. The eggs - so perfect. It had been a horribly long time since he'd seen a healthy clutch, and the fact that he had sired this clutch, that they were Aslath's, was enough to inspire tremendous pride in the bronze.

The golden queen seemed a tad unsure to him, though he couldn't truly fathom why. Silver and a brilliant jade could not be subdued by the sand, still glistening with fluid. His body half-encircled them. What was there to be unsure about? The first two eggs had proven to be whole and true, and she had many, many more to come. Maybe even more than the first clutch he'd sired in Benden, aided by the drugs. Soon these eggs would yield hatchlings. A great many hatchlings to aid in Threadfall, only these would be whole and healthy. They are perfect, he stated in wonder. Do not worry, Aslath. No one will touch them.

Alone of the three on the ground level with Aslath, Salenth did not shy back from the thrashing gold. The bronze helped cover the small, brilliant egg, changing his stance so as to watch over all three of his unhatched spawn.

S'rei watched the two dragons with muted curiosity. He couldn't help but catch some of the pride that was flooding from his bonded, the man's hand lingering at the Weyrwoman's waist as he drew her into his side. "I suppose that's one way of looking at it," he remarked dryly. His characteristic half-smile held just a touch of genuine happiness. "Healthier than I've seen in turns, love. And I doubt Salenth could be prouder. Just look at him." The bronze's gaze was flickering about the eggs already clutched, his tail curled around them protectively, though he kept on looking at the eggs as if not quite believing they were there. "Aslath brings honor to the weyr," S'rei finished quietly. His arm tightened around Shmee for a brief moment.

Kalierre and Lauranna watched from above, the two women mounted on Reysalth, who, despite being a little reluctant to come at first, was gazing upon the eggs now, enraptured. The dragonhealer's main purpose was to be there to make sure everything went all right, while Laurie wanted to see the eggs. She remembered when it had been her father on the sands at the clutching. D'vo had always spoken of one of his sons becoming the Weyrleader someday, and here it was, though she didn't much like the idea of Shmee being pregnant. Not that the Weyrwoman would ever know she felt that way.

The women sat in silence. Even Miguel didn't make more than the occasional mewing noise, and Zephyr was, for once, rather sedate. They didn't seem to notice when a blue, also with two passengers, settled near them.

Mutasim and F'lan said nothing, either. Wrenth had grown quite fond of the quiet candidate. Yes, there was a darkness to his mind, but also a fierce protectiveness and deep gentle streak, not to mention a growing fascination with all things draconic. The boy watched - wide-eyed and seemingly younger than he'd ever looked. There was an ease to his stillness that wasn't usually there. F'lan, too, didn't much mind Mutasim. Neither of them were talkative, which suited him just fine, and he sensed in the child something that was very similar to what lurked inside himself.

The young candidate twisted the ring on a long slender finger and watched as, one by one, the eggs were dropping to the sands. Out of each one would hatch a dragon like Wrenth. Each one would find a love amongst the candidates that were trickling into the barracks. That sort of love he'd never had, or any love beyond that which necessarily formed amongst those who relied on each other for their very survival, and Mutasim found himself desiring that with all his heart. Though how could he expect any hatchling to love him?

He was a thief. A killer. One of those dark men that people instinctively shied away from - even if he was just a boy. The candidate battered down the brief flare of hope, but still he couldn't take his eyes from the eggs, wondering what sort of creatures lay inside.

[evendar]

Arina tossed the clutching queen a passing glance before turning back to her current project. It was time for Hawna's first test run. The gold looked about excitedly from place to place, her eyes a whirling mix of green and yellow. She was so excited.

"Alright Hawna, now you're to go and see if you can listen in on the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader. I'm sure theres nothing exciting to be heard. But you never know." she told the gold. Who chirped in excitement. The plump flit darted off. She darted straight for a clump of excited Candidates, involving herself with their conversation like she was always there. A few of them balked at the intrusion, but when they reached out Hawna let them pet her. They were soon absorbed in her, petting offering treats.

Arina slapped her palm to her forehead and motioned to Sirca, who darted off. The green came up to the gold and began chiding. Hawna hissed at the interruption, but Sirca was insistent. The gold finally consented, feeling it worth her while to please her mistress. The gold fluttered in to land on the shoulder of the newly arriving headwoman.

"Why hello there. And who might you be?" Mari asked as the gold sidled up her plump arm and nuzzled herself against her cheek. Tami on the other side hissed warningly, but a warble from the queen set her in her place. Mari pat the gold and walked on. There were enough of the little flitters that she didn't take much notice. If the gold wanted to rest on her shoulder, Mari wouldn't complain.

"Weyrwoman!" she called out across the Sands, not entering them yet. "You shouldn't be out there in your condition." she called, Hawna on her shoulder setting up a racket in apparent agreement with the plump woman. Who's ever flit this was, she was a smart little gold.

Arina was slightly impressed. The little gold had attached herself to one of the most important members of the Weyr, and hadn't been shooed away. It was unorthadox, but perhaps it would work. If Hawna radiated about the women of the Weyr's, Arina might yet have a worthy spy on her hands.

Mari on the other hand had called for a drudge, Biri bringing back two promptly. "I want chairs brought for the Weyrwoman, Weyrleader and myself." she told them. "I'm not about to let a new mother wear her feet away by standing on hot sands all afternoon. Its obvious she's not going to leave her queen's side, not that I blame her. But she will be sitting as sure as I am headwoman." she said this next mostly to herself as the drudges rushed to get chairs. Picking up her skirts, she began to mince her way across the sands. Fath had never been one to complain much about others on her sands, why should Aslath.

[boober]

Cezine didn't want to push; he'd said that he would be fine. But she didn't buy it, not for a second. She struggled with an overwhelming feeling of dismay. If this was how he reacted to seeing and being around dragons, then how could he ever stand at a Hatching, with large dragons all around and small (ironically more dangerous) ones drifting around the Sands? She forced the thoughts away; the Hatching was quite a ways away, and Rawign had plenty of time to get over his fears between now and then. For some reason she couldn't explain, Cezine wanted more than anything for him to be there when the day of the Hatching arrived. She had always stood alone before, and the thought of finally having someone on the Sands that she knew and liked was... actually exciting for her, more than the Hatching itself was.

But she was being selfish. If Rawign would (or could) not stand, then she would be going alone. Just like always. Cezine had no intention of speaking of her wants to him. While it may have seemed unfair, the feeling that if she told him and he felt he /had/ to stand as a result seemed even more unfair to her. She didn't know Rawign enough personality wise to know if he would actually feel pressured to do such a thing or not, but she wouldn't take chances. It was entirely his choice, not hers... no matter how much she wanted it to be.

And so it was that she simply nodded to him, her hand still resting slightly on his arm. She still looked concerned. She didn't catch the other Candidate's reaction to spotting a certain harper, but when Rawign stated that he was leaving, Cezine felt compelled to say or do something. "I'll come with you." Perhaps he would need someone to talk to when he got out of this crowd, or... something. Anything that she could do, she would. As for the clutch, there would be plenty of opportunity to see it later. She'd already seen the first two eggs laid, having missed seeing the third when she had gone to see Rawign. Somehow, Cezine felt that the clutch would make more of an impression when she saw it as a whole rather than laid one egg at a time. Besides, clutchings could sometimes take days; and she certainly wasn't going to stand around that long. There were Touchings and the Hatching to look forward to now, and she could wait for those. She was going with Rawign.

[saberlin]

((edited Muse ))

R'ton knew of the clutching only by the rumbles that his Bronze Rodonth was making, if somewhat disgruntledly. He loved new births, but still had a fairly large dislike for the Queen. She was so incredibly arogant, not that he blamed the actual Queen in any manner, just her rider Shmee. R'ton had been laying comfortably in bed just relaxing and enjoying the fact that there was yet to be thread. The only threats came from Fort and Benden and so far he had not had to deal with either irate Weyr other than the wisperings that had been going about the place. Shmee had apparently had a rather good run in on after the last hatching, so R'ton naturally assumed that the parents of the ill fated clutch had come from one of the Benden Bronzes that were from the clutches after his Rodonth. He got up then and moved closer to his dragon, placing a hand on his rumbling Bronze.

I am so glad that you were born before this debotchery started to happen. The dragon nodded his head and looked out of the their Weyr over the glorious river that was down below. Time would tell what would happen on the sands and he was sure that Rodonth would notify him of anything that he heard.

Rontue settled onto his bonded's shoulder and crooned happily. Today to him would be a good day as long as there was food and sunshine.

[Administrator]

((Sabe, they can't see the hatching grounds from their own weyr. The weyrs are alongside the waterfall, and the Hatching Ground is an arena-like thing at the top of the falls.))

Aslath looked at Salenth for a long moment warily, then grunted. Good. Nobody but us is to come near our eggs,[/color] she told him with a growl. These were her children, her offspring, the healthy children of her and Salenth. If anyone dared try to have their way with the younglings, they would find themselves torn to pieces by dragon teeth. Breathing heavily, she curled up around her eggs, watching as Salenth covered their newest with sand. Such a good sire already, she thought with pride. Very few queens could boast of a good mate like Salenth. Morsrath probably would have stepped on them! She grunted. That idiot. Good thing he didn't catch her.

Abruptly, another contraction seized her body. This one was a hard one. She shrieked in pain, planting her head onto the ground and pushing the sand at it, trying to dull the pain as well as make a little nest for this hatchling. She snarled at her spectators, and fortunately didn't notice Marisina dart in through her pain. Her eyes completely red, one would have guessed it was one of them that had fallen to the sands in the shape of an egg. Like those multi-faceted eyes, this egg was a luscious red color, and enormous. Tiredly, Aslath pushed sand onto it.

I don't feel another one coming,[/color] she told Salenth miserably. Shmee said this would take days. Does it?[/color] Her tone was pitiful, looking at the four eggs laid so far. Her golden belly was still stretched with the unlaid eggs, and the four that were out were very close to her. She lay her head on the ground, her eyes already beginning to close. I am too tired. Make sure nobody comes near them as I sleep, and wake me if they do.[/color] With that, she was asleep within moments.

--

Shmee smiled lovingly at the queen, who was now falling asleep around the four eggs presently on the sands. That last one was huge, she thought in wonder. Bigger than Aslath's egg had been. "They outdid themselves," she told S'rei softly, smiling. Perhaps this would be how her own babe would be, possessing the finest traits of both parents. Obediently, she came closer to S'rei's side as he pulled her to him, and she leaned into his body lovingly. This clutching just made her seem so at peace with everything.

Her smile turned proud as he praised Aslath. "Thank you," she murmured in reply. She paused, then smiled. "I love you," she told him simply, almost randomly. These feelings of goodness gave her such a large surge of love toward S'rei that she just needed to let him know of it. Gently, she turned to collect her head in her hands. Smiling briefly, she pushed herself onto the tips of her toes to kiss him affectionately.

Hearing her title called, she turned, and beamed at Marisina. "There's four eggs!" she called out excitedly before the Headwoman's words sunk in. She blushed. "A little bit of heat isn't going to make things worse," she replied with a little laugh, a pleased look upon her features. Three months was the estimated time elapsed, and she was ecstatic. Second trimester was coming up... She had heard it would be easier, so she was excited that morning sickness would perhaps be over by now. Of course, she thought giddily, she would get morning sickness again. She was definitely planning on more babes after this one. S'rei was keen on the idea, and Shmee was just as eager. She still needed to talk to S'rei about the babe's upbringing, but that could wait till later. Shardit, she was more interested in the naming aspect of giving birth! "What should we name it?" she asked suddenly, her hand going to her stomach with an excited smile. She had been patient long enough. Now she just wanted to name this little babe!

However, the movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Eyebrows shooting up at Marisina, she held up her hands in warning. "I'm sorry, but Aslath won't have anyone near her eggs," she told her apologetically. Well, the queen was dozing, but one ill-timed contraction could have the Headwoman killed in a heartbeat. Skeptically looking at the flitter on her shoulder, she added, "And flitters aren't allowed at all. Aslath thinks they're stupid and would sit on her eggs like an ordinary perch. Not to mention they can be obnoxious." Shrugging guiltily, she nestled back against S'rei, burying her head against him.

--

Marra's head turned back to the spectators casually, only to find Rawign looking uncomfortable, some random woman talking with him. She rolled her eyes. Women could be even worse than men. From the way she looked, it seemed she was trying to get onto Rawign's good side, perhaps bed him a few times before turning her mournful eyes to the next victim. Rawign apparently must be liking this attention. She felt things were rather awkward still since their 'talk' in her apartment, and he had yet to prove to her about the so-called goodness of others. Idiot.

Raising an eyebrow at him that she hoped he got, she turned back to the grounds, watching with a frown as Aslath screeched before depositing a shining, red egg onto the sands. It was a nice one, she had to admit. Pretty large, too. Perhaps she should try to convince her brothers to Stand. They would make fine dragonriders.[/size]

[evendar]

Mari frowned as she picked up her pace, beaconing to the drudges who stood fearfully on the side with chairs. She then looked first to Tami, who chirped obediently and left to sun. The little gold on the other hand, proved to be more difficult. The gold was adamant to listen in on the conversation. With a shrug the headwoman picked up her pace. Her plump body beginning to sweat with the exertion and the heat. She really wasn't cut out for this.

"Congratulations." she said as she approached, the drudges standing awkwardly with their burdens of chairs. "Put those down and get off the Sands you spineless wherries." she chided to them, and with bows to the Weyrleaders they deposited chairs and left. "I assure you I won't stay long." she paused a moment to attempt to dislodge the queen flit once more.

"Shoo you. No flitters." she said. Hawna merely squawked indignantly and preened her wing. Mari shrugged, the gold was firmly perched on her shoulder, and Biri would set the young queen straight if she tried any funny business with the eggs. "I can't make her leave," she explained to Shmee, beckoning to the chair that was now available, sinking into herself gratefully and fanning herself with her pudgy hand.

"Now, Shmee my dear, I know you want to be near your queen in this time of celebration and birth. But you really shouldn't be on the Sands to long. At least sit." she gestured to the chair again. "But what I really came to discuss was the future of your child. It is traditional for dragonriders, queenriders especially, to foster their children out as I'm sure you well know. Now anyways, as my youngest is well past infancy, and I won't be having any other kids I'm afraid, I'd like to offer my services as a fostermother." she said with a smile. "As you near the second trimester it will become more and more apparent that you are with child and there will be women, some well equipped, some ill, that will be coming to you looking for the chance to foster. If you wouldn't like my services, which I will understand if you don't, I'd also like to offer a list of available women who I know are very capable mothers and well equipped to handle an extra child." she said, her face brimming with happiness. Babies, her favorite part of being Headwoman. Not only did she get to have as many as she wanted, she got to watch each and every little dragon hatch and bond. To see her own children Impress those mighty beasts, it was something she'd never forget. She smiled again at the Weyrwoman and Leader and looked back briefly to the napping Aslath and her bronze protector.

"They are so lovely. You dragonriders are so lucky." she said absently before turning back to await the womans response.

[glamourie]

She was going to come with him? And miss the clutching? That seemed ridiculous; Rawign was tempted to scold her for being silly. He'd be fine, he would, he just couldn't handle the largest of the dragons at the Weyr yet. He was getting better, there was a time when he wouldn't have come at all. He'd seen enough, and really, he could have handled himself just fine if not for that girl being there. And a single glance at her signified she'd seen him, too. Oh bother. What was with that look? Raised eyebrow and all. Shaking his head, Rawign looked back at Cezine and fought the urge to turn her around and tell her she had to stay, see, and count the eggs so he knew how many were there. It wasn't his decision to tell her what to do, even if he felt awful at the idea of her leaving because of him. It wasn't the dragons that chased him away, though their presence helped to secure the idea that he was better off leaving. No, it was Marra; he had no desire to talk to her when he was already uncomfortable to begin with.

He hadn't forgotten his 'challenge', despite how his behavior may have made it seem. No, he was going to prove to Marra that there were some good people, some people worth leaving her apartment for, worth giving a chance. He didn't know how he intended to prove that yet (and he was pretty sure he'd end up asking around for ideas), but he would do it nonetheless. Not everyone on Pern was awful. While the bad people outnumbered the good (It was always that way, wasn't it?), there were some who made it worthwhile and hardening one's heart forever would keep the good out with the bad. That was simply unacceptable - for both him and for her. So it was that he hoped to prove to her, and himself in the process, that there were some people worthwhile, some things that weren't completely stained with dust, debris and darkness.

Rawign gave Cezine a reassuring smile before shaking his head. "You should stay. I don't want you to miss the Clutching because of me," he said quietly, though he made no effort to leave. If Cezine was going to leave because he did, then he simply wouldn't. He did, however, filter to the other side of the crowd as he spoke, making sure to stand completely away from Marra. While some people might have said the Clutching was the perfect time to begin his 'project', the truth was that he didn't trust himself not to pick a fight with her just because he was uncomfortable. If he expected her to go in with an open mind, the least he could do was try to give Marra the benefit of doubt as well. And he strangely trusted her to try. No one wanted to be miserable and alone, and that was what she was, whether she liked it or not. He was determined to fix that, if he could... though really, he didn't know where to begin at all...

[saberlin]

Rilliana had been perched up in the tree's singing yet again when she heard the rumbling start. Slowly she climbed down out of the tree, careful not to get her dress caught on any of the branches on the way down. Her hair had gotten longer in her stay at the Weyr and she now had it kept in a high and tight braid that wove its way down her back. She may cut it at some point, but for now it made her feel so much more like a woman. This place after all, was not in the same regard as the Harper Hall and did not seem to boast too many true ladies. Though she secretly did fancy Paryal and the new Queen. Those two she admired. The young Queen seemed to be growing healthily enough to which Rilliana was quite happy to keep up with in gossip. Often did she day dream about the day when she would have another chance at standing on the hatching sands... If Shmee would let her.

A few more feet and she finally shimmied her way down out of the large tree that made its tops out of the candidates barracks. Then it was down the stairs and out the door. She moved towards the hatching grounds but went no where actually near them. She heard Aslath making so much noise as she gave birth to the eggs and didn't fancy becoming a draconic birthing meal. Rilliana was quite sure that if she made the wrong sort of move that the Queen would just eat her up! Not that any normal or healthy dragon would do so. But an overprotective mother just might. Her feet moved smoothly over the ground and she finally found a fairly large rock to perch herself on. She liked being as high up as she could wherever she was that way she could get a better view of what was around her at all times. But not always could she find a place like that inside. And besides, with such nice hot days, why would anyone want to be stuck in doors. Especially on a day when the Queen was giving birth to a new clutch! Rilliana was sure there would be a banquette tonight for the auspicious occation. Noting this fact she decided to move from her rock perch and get just the tiniest bit closer towards the hatching sands. She at least wanted to HEAR what was going on if she would not be allowed to see. Rilliana also wondered at the back of her mind whether or not this Aslath would be letting anyone touch her eggs at all? She was protective enough of someone elses eggs, what would she be like around her own?

[Requiem]

His attention, too, had focused on Aslath, such that he missed Marisina and her drudges in those first few moments. She was in such pain. A stab of guilt went through him, before it was overwhelmed by a sense of pride at the great red egg that dropped gleaming into the sands. It was monstrous! The dragon that hatched from that would certainly grow to be far larger and stronger than his sire. At her tired tones, the bronze's head swiveled, the male briefly pressing into her flank in a gesture of reassurance. It does take awhile, but I won't leave you. Rest easy. No one will harm our clutch. Not while he was there.

"Weren't you the one worried about it being a small clutch?" S'rei chided Shmee gently, an amused twinkle in his eyes. These eggs were a far cry from Fath's pitiful clutch, and they were merely the tip of the iceberg, by the looks of it. Her hands cradling his face, he clutched her close to him as if wishing to fuse their bodies together, deepening the kiss. It had an almost hungry feel to it, that kiss, though it stopped just shy of being forceful or demanding.

The voice interrupted the kiss, Shmee turning from him, and S'rei was not altogether pleased, though he hid the annoyance behind a small half-smile. The Headwoman. Her words, however, did not at all improve his mood as she bustled toward them with a handful of drudges, of all things. These grounds had been closed off for a reason! Did she think he couldn't take care of Shmee? The half-smile thinned, his eyes darkening. His stance likely alerted the Weyrwoman to his shifting mood, though few others would have any idea that the man was angry. Marisina really had no right being here, and she certainly had no right to criticize him in this, no matter how indirectly. S'rei took his care of Shmee far too personally for that.

Salenth's gaze immediately swung toward the intruders, alerted by his rider's sudden burst from complacency. Had he been younger, Marisina would have been fleeing from the sands in the next instant, her drudges close on her heels - if all of them even made it out. Instead, he growled low in his throat, the hue of his eyes clear indication that these people were in distinct danger. A bronze was hardwired to protect his brood.

Shmee did not seem overly perturbed by Marisina's presence. S'rei tried to let his annoyance go. They were in a public place, after all; he couldn't expect not to be interrupted. Nor should he really blow up at an unintentional insult. Most intentional insults didn't faze him, after all. The baby's name? His smile gained some genuine feeling at that, the man ruffling her short hair affectionately. "I haven't really thought about it, but it's about time, isn't it?" His hand drifted down to the tiny, unnoticeable bulge at her waist, covering her hand with his. "Something spirited. You can already tell it'll be a handful." He grinned.

His gaze followed Shmee's, greys narrowing. What in Faranth's name was the Headwoman doing this close? As usual, though, the bronzerider allowed the Weyrwoman to speak for them, which was, in this case, wise, as she was handling it much better than he would have. His arms tightened instinctively around his weyrmate. One would have to be a complete fool not to realize that this was more than a bond forged from a simple dragon mating, and with that ever-present smile gone, it was a wonder that this woman didn't realize what shaky ground she was on with the Weyrleader. His eyes showed no emotion, nor his face, slack with the effort it took not to rage at her. Some of this was Salenth's strong emotion. And some of it was entirely his.

His gaze followed the portly woman with unwavering intensity. She had the temerity to sink into such a chair herself, ignoring Shmee's politely phrased request and making her piddling excuses while she continued to chide Shmee. One brow arched up into his hairline, the tight smile returning, though this time there was no doubt that it was an annoyed expression rather than an amused one. He blinked. What...in...Faranth's...name?! By the egg, Shmee was just a few months along! His brows descended then, even that half-feral smile gone, a storm gathering behind his eyes. She put them in an awkward position as it was, by making the request, but doing so this early, before they'd even had a chance to talk about it themselves, was nothing short of idiotic. And infuriating. In Shmee's presence, S'rei was often overlooked, and he was okay with that. Mostly. Marisina continued on, oblivious to the danger signs emanating from Shmee's shadow.

Stiff with barely contained rage, the man gently moved Shmee to one side, stalking to the chair in which the Headwoman sat. His next move was vicious and entirely uncharacteristic. The man kicked the chair. Hard. One of it's legs snapped under the force, there was so much power behind the move. It was good, truly, that he'd lashed out at the chair rather than the woman. "Get out," he growled, his voice deceptively soft. "You think you're above everyone else? That you can waltz in here without any regard to Aslath or Salenth's wishes? That you can insult me by suggesting that I am not taking care of my weyrmate properly? Shmee is in her third month. You dare to put us in so awkward a position as asking to foster our child before anyone else, when you well-know that as Headwoman no others will feel comfortable doing so knowing you've already put in a request?"

His form was so tense from the effort it took not to physically attack the Headwoman that the tendons and veins were literally standing out from his skin. "Did it ever occur to you that we haven't even discussed this amongst ourselves yet? Or that the father might also have a say in it? If we do decide to foster, Headwoman, know that you will never come within a hundred feet of our child." He squatted, then, bringing his face bare inches from Marisina's. "Now get the hell out of my sight!" In contrast to the quiet, angry tones, this was a full scream, brutal and undeniable.

Salenth's enraged roar sheared up to join S'rei's voice. The bronze moved forward, snarling, his rage easily matching that of his rider's, and there was nothing whatsoever about an angry bronze that could be anything short of terrifying. He would help this deadglow who dared to defy Aslath and His leave the Hatching Grounds, and she had best not show her face around these eggs anytime soon. The bronze's fangs snapped on the quiet that had resulted from the bronzepair's outburst.