The Thirteenth

[brimstone81]

(no one needs to reply to Elisha directly, but even if you want to post your character's reaction, that would be interesting!)

It was nothing short of marvelous when Elisha realized that Adeloth produced an even 28 eggs following her flight. It had been a new winner, Unfurth, and Elisha had wondered what eggs would have been laid. She counted twenty eight thus far, a good, healthy number. Adeloth had to keep up that reputation of being a super queen! Of course it was slightly less than time Adeloth clutched, and six eggs short of the last new leader change, but Elisha was satisfied. Adeloth was full of surprizes, she wouldn't doubt it if the queen would squeeze out even one more egg.

The gold was a little tired, but not weak or sick. She retained her good golden color and lay next to her large clutch with her head in her fore paws. Adeloth's eyelids were heavy, but she refused to sleep. Adeloth lived for praise and compliments and once more she clutched very deservingly. The queen was proud of her accomplishments, and she would wait to see who would all come and see her. Adeloth was too thirsty for praise that she started it herself by a question, Mine, how well did I do?

"Very well, indeed. You are a wonderous beast!" Elisha exclaimed, rubbing the eye ridges of the queen. Her Adeloth was certainly living up to the job of repopulating the Weyr for thread's return. No one could deny that the golden queen was a good breeder. Elisha remarked in a hushed but awed tone, "Twenty-eight. . ."

[jerith]

J'ren was in his weyr, oiling Gliath with a good stiff bristle brush.
Do not forget the spot under my neck
"That shouldn't be a problem, you bring it up everytime there is a lull in our conversation." J'ren put the brush to work on the spot Gliath had indicated. The large bronze was grateful when J'ren finished. He bent his neck down so J'ren would scratch his eye ridges. His eyes whirled with blues and greens and then flashed a sudden yellow, "Gliath? What is it?"

There is cause for joy. Adeloth has laid her eggs, 28 in the clutch J'ren grinned, "That is good news, W'lam will be pleased." J'ren thought back to his conversation with the Weyr Leader about the strength of the fighting wings. "That will help our numbers"

[hrsegrl]

Ph'yn was told by his Bronze that the Senior Queen had clutched at long last. The number of 28 eggs still surpassed any of the other Queens on Pern and made Ph'yn even more proud to be born and raised from Telgar. I will prove worthy of her I should think.Of course you will, Ganymeth.

The growing seventeen turn old walked towards the Weyrwoman to congratulate her but not before paying his respects to Adeloth. She had done well, even with this new leader change. In fact the young Bronzer had been hoping to catch a glimpse of W'lam. No doubt the man was busy. Weyrleaders often were.

"Congratulations Weyrwoman. Adeloth has outdone herself yet again. Ganymeth sends his greetings and congratulations as well." The Bronze was nudging him mentally. Of course he would want to be added. The dark skinned youth turned away after the greeting to allow others in. Adeloth, for clutching such large clutches was not really a broody Queen, which meant the Weyr's curiousity was sated and less people snuck onto the sands. Beynath had been like that as well.

He wondered what Sheluth would be like on the sands, when that day came. Thinking of Sheluth, reminded him that he had to meet his brother in the dining hall shortly. So he walked away from the sands.

----

Marisol was not at all suprised that Adeloth had clutched well again. She was a little disheartened that it was less with this new Bronze but then W'lam and Unferth had other chances to prove themselves. Maybe it was the green in her but she thought the competition was the part that made a good clutch. Perhaps they needed more Bronzes to compete. With all the new Bronzes in the Weyrling classes, that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

The red head was still grounded until she no longer needed to feed her baby. She refused a nursemaid, as strange as it may seem to others but it was her baby and her mother had agreed to take care of him when she was done nursing. As if it wasn't the deepest, darkest wish of her mother to have more children around... hah... the woman was overjoyed. Maris was just glad that L'sander had agreed with that idea.

Seryth urged her rider to get back on the subject, clutching. The green sent her congratulations to the Queen from where she was sunning but after that, she took little interest in the clutch. Marisol laughed, they weren't the best when it came to admiring clutches. Adeloth always did so well, it was hard to think that most Golds on Pern had less than twenty dragons a clutch.

[wingrider]

Jannike sighed and headed for the Weyrhall. All of her chores were done for the moment and she was hungry! She was missing her mother now but she knew better than to speak of it. She would have to have patience for when her mother came back. She dodged people as she walked at a fast pace. She didn't want anyone stopping her. Her stomach was hurting with the hunger pains. She was walking by the Hatching Sands and she glanced in. She stopped dead in her steps. She had seen eggs as she grew up, but she was always struck by the sight of them. Jannike walked onto the sands only slightly. She bowed to Adeloth. "Greetings, Adeloth. A most beautiful clutch, as always!" She turned to Elisha and bowed as well. "Greetings, Weyrwoman. Congratulations on such a fine clutch your lifemate has laid."