The Croon Heard 'Round The Weyr(Hatching!)

[rosieposey]

Aldril smiled and applauded politely as more dragons hatched and Impressed. They all found their riders quickly, with no problems. He watched as a Blue hurried towards the candidates, but he was distracted by someone calling his name. Confused, he looked around, but no one had spoken. Then he saw the trembling Blue hatchling come to a stop in front of him. Will you feed your Etrayth, A'dril?

His teal eyes widened as he looked down and met Etrayth's whirling rainbow ones. He was flooded with the most wonderful emotions--love, acceptance. A surge of protectiveness welled up in him for the little Blue, his Etrayth, and he bent down and wrapped his arms comfortingly around the nervous young dragon. "Of course, Etrayth. Let's fill that hungry belly of yours."

Releasing the hatchling, but leaving one hand draped around his bright blue neck, A'dril let Etrayth off of the sands for his first meal. There was a proud, dreamy smile on his face as he went. He had Impressed Blue, just like Liastan, but the color didn't even matter. Whatever the case, Etrayth was the perfect match for him.

[thedreamerlady]

The Queen seemed vastly displeased with the candidates offered to her. Ripping through a Keroonian girl who Jenafa hadn't though much of, she snarled. It seemed as though her mother's legacy of violence was shining through on her Golden daughter, though Saharth's sons and greens had been mild. The next candidate, one with long golden tresses didn't inspire the same hatred. That didn't mean she would be allowed to remain unscathed. Tripping slightly as she attempted to move on, her wing tip shot out, slicing the girls face, and her claws used the girls leg to balance, ripping through muscle.

With out much thought, the Gold moved on.

While this was all occurring, less noticed members of Saharth's clutch were moving about. A Green, unhappily trying to find her mate slashed up a Candidate, before finding her H'sad. The candidate who'd found his leg slashed was comforted by his Green.

And while those two Greens had both found there mates quickly, a Brown was finding it much more troublesome.

But the eye of the crowd was still focused on the rampaging Queen. Already her body was drying, and it was apparent how beautiful she was going to be. She was by far the lightest colored Queen the Weyr had ever produced; taking after her mother, but without the obnoxious shade of Saharth. She was gracefully proportioned, and while she would obviously take after her mother's size, there was general glee at having such a beautiful Queen roaming the hatching sands, even if she had just crippled or killed her fourth girl.

And then, for the Queen at least, time seemed to stand still.

Oh Lazsreen! The clear voice rang out in one candidate's mind. Your Elfreth will never betray you. Will you love your Elfreth? And the white Gold had her tail curling up next to her Rider, her beloved, and the newest Junior Weyrwoman of Igen, the proud Weyr it was.

[hrsegrl]

Larissa was watched in horror as the Gold killed one of the Candidates. Immediately she wanted to go to the girl but felt frozen in place. Just whens he thought the Gold would move past her she knew the opposite was happening. No no no... go the other way..., the blonde thought to herself, hoping the dragonet would understand.

The pale beauty continued towards her. She bagan shaking uncontrollably. The Gold nearly tripped as her wing slashed into Larissa's body. The blonde Candidate let out a heart wrenching scream before everything went black.

Cymmi felt his mistress' pain and flitted between to her. The brown firelazrd looked around for what had caused his beloved to be hurt. The dragons were all so big and scary. So the brown flew to one of the people on the side and started making incoherant noises at him. Someone better help his Lara!

-------

Hierzet's mind was not on the Queen. What did he care who she impressed to? It wasn't like that Bitran girl had any chance. Other than her anyone would do. He watched as two more boys impressed to greens. Well then, weren't they lucky. Little Athekere was still standing with him at least. Smirking to himself he looked around to see a brown still searching for his.

Browns liked to take their time, he noticed. This was the first one he recalled so far in this clutch. It seemed odd to him that there was a Bronze already hatched and impressed and not a brown. The brown was better than any Bronze could be. Hierzet's father and grandfather rode browns and he knew them to be the best of the dragons. Hopefully this one would find its lifemate without a hitch.

-----

Laszreen's eyes went wide at the site of the Queen on rampage. She was not happy. It wasn't the little one's fault that that girl wasn't good enough. She deemed though it would not suprise her if the Queen had more than one reason to dispense with her. She may have simply been in the way. When Larissa screamed, that was, well, upsetting on some level. The girl had always been so nice.

She couldn't let herself think about it. Warm, welcoming feelings. Right. The little beauty was taking her time, as she should! The crowd was obviously in awe of the striking light Gold. So pretty. No one could say she wasn't amazing. The fact that she continued to injure Candidates did not scare Laszreen. In fact, not once did it enter her mind that the Queen would hurt her. Why should she? Laszreen was far better than those girls.

The brunette no longer felt the heat or the sweat, or how hard her heart was pounding, a miraculous event had occured. The Gold had stopped in front of her and was looking at her with multifaceted eyes swirling now a calm blue. Oh Lazsreen! The Gold's mind voice was so different from that of Ionuth. More beautiful and more commanding. Your Elfreth will never betray you. Will you love your Elfreth? Before she could answer the Gold was beside her with her tail curling up next to her Rider, her beloved, and the newest Junior Weyrwoman of Igen, the proud Weyr it was. I will love you more than anything in the World my darling Elfreth. The petite girl shouted, in a voice almost as commanding as her Gold's "Her name is Elfreth!"

With that she took the most beautiful little Gold off the sands, I believe food is in order.I do hunger. Not for long, my dear one.

[thedreamerlady]

Jenafa had already decided the Keroonian girl was dead when she approached the girl and her firelizard. The Weyrfolk who would have normally jumped to the blonde's aid were holding back because of the screeching brown, and Jenafa, had decided to prove Weyrfolk wrong by approaching him.

She did, however, pay close attention to where the little Queen was going. And when the Impression occurred to a short, dark haired girl, Jen shrugged mentally. At least it hadn't been one of the other's she'd interviewed. To be honest, there had only been three she approved of, and this one was one of them.

Shooing the brown 'lizard away from the drudge(which was what she was, now at least), Jen bandaged up the thigh carefully, and then picked up the girl without much thought. Ten turns as a dragonrider had left her fit. She'd carry the girl to the healers at the edge of the sands, and then continue watching the hatching- if anything was left by then.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Athekere was still sure his Green was coming. With the childish hope he had, until the very last egg, he would remain hopeful. It was part of who he was. And; his mouth dried at the thought of how horrific it would be if he had to wait for another clutch. That others had waited through numerous clutches didn't bother him.

She was here! His mind informed him. She would be coming! She had too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The brown continued to stumble about, looking forlorn. Once, everything about him seemed to brighten, and he approached a boy with joy evident in his blue and green eyes. Until the Brown backed off suddenly, leaving the boy to bleed sluggishly.

Y'jii, Y'jii, where are you? Your Danorth hungers! The dun colored Brown creeled, still looking for his Rider. With sudden speed, he moved quickly to the candidate he had chosen. Oh there you are Y'jii. You shouldn't hide from your Danorth!

Another Green- and another brown burst from their shells. The interest was almost palpable. It was rare to have a Gold, it was rare to have a Bronze, and it was rare to have two Browns. This clutch had been well done by Saharth, and the Weyrfolks warm feelings filled the Hatching Sands.

The Green seemed confused, and hobbled about, her wings drooping slightly. She was tired, and it was apparent she'd been fighting to burst free from her shell the entire hatching. She lugged herself across the sands, trampling a boy who didn't move quickly enough, before choosing her rider. His loud voice calling "Her name is Jerayth!" was slightly overpowered by a sharp crack, as the last egg split.

Before much could be discerned about the last egg's occupant, the second brown made his choice.

H'rzet, together with your Laerth, you will be the best. I must feed now! And the nut brown dragon peered up at his lifemate with as much affection as a canine.

And once that had been done, more attention was paid to the last hatchling. She was Green, and it might have been suspected she had waited until all the others had hatched before coming forth herself. The attention was obviously something she wanted.

Flaring her wet wings(something that might have been more impressive if she hadn't just hatched), the freckled bright Green charged forth, and found hers with surprising speed.

You were right mine. Your Nayath was waiting for you. She cooed, very pleased with her Mine.

[hrsegrl]

The moments seemed to go by forever for the little brown firelizard. Would no one help? He was about to fly back to Larissa when the tall dark woman came and shooed him away. He followed slowly to the sidelines but made no move to attack anyone, insisting on standing next to Larissa. Cymmi wanted her back!

----

Hierzet watched as another boy impressed the brown. There were few eggs left now and his options were fading. He was nineteen and he had come here so hopeful that this time would be his. The fact was that he still had a chance. He wasn't giving up till the end because Hatchings weren't over till they were out of eggs!

He watched the last ones with hungry and eager eyes, much like the other Candidates did. A green hatched followed very closely by a brown. Hierzet couldn't believe the color dynamics of this clutch. A gold, a bronze and two browns. He felt really good to be standing for such a clutch but it would be very disheartening if he were to leave here without his life mate.

He was paying the green no real attention because he didn't think much of them, however he was looking at the brown, mentally noting the color of his hide as being a nice shade of brown. He didn't realize he was making noted of his life mate, not until that voice rang in his head. H'rzet, together with your Laerth, you will be the best. I must feed now!

He looked down at the peering blue eyed brown. We will be very great. Follow me for food. He smiled and let out, what every Candidate dreams of, the name of his dragon. "His name is Laerth!" He didn't stick around long enough to see what the last dragon was or to whom it impressed.

------

A'stin who had been in a little bit of a haze for most of the Hatchign had come back to reality. He'd be congratulating Jenafa all night if her clutch got any better! He was beaming, so many new riders for the wings. Even if the clutch was not his own he saw great potential in these new Weyrlings. K'nor would have his hands full. The Gold rider would give him more trouble than he was used to, if he knew anything about Gold riders.

B'rek too had a silly smile on his face. The Hatching had gone well. Watching dragons impress to their life mates was a big deal to him. He had a few thoughts on who would impress though most of the choices had indeed proved him wrong. The one that had suprised him the most was the Queen. He had met that girl on the way to the clutch and had no idea he'd be helping a future Goldrider. Well he counted himself lucky to have befriended her title could make her wary of Bronzeriders.

[brimstone81]

J'var stood in the stands, his eyes on his lovely friend Laszreen. Where they stood he didn't know anymore, all he could hope for was that she got every dream that ever popped into her beautiful mind. Oh how the girl made him burn and feel such loyalty. She owned him, and he both hated and loved it. How a woman could have such a power on a MAN of all things was beyond his comprehension. For turns all he thought about was himself, how he could elevate himself, how he could get more power and admiration. And then in walks some Bitran brat and flips his world upside down. Now he wanted her all to himself, and thought of how to secure her, instead of the most power. He was thinking for her best and not his own, willing to sacrifice his own seat if it pleased her. Sharding women and their meddlesome ways! He was a perfect and ambitious user, doing as he pleased, thinking for only himself, and he liked being selfish! Now he was obsessed with her form!

She stood there on the sands, and she stood next to his sister Larissa, the blonde little trollop that irked his mother to no end. He hoped she'd fare alright, though she has just as much chance as the rest of them to Impress the queen. He was sure Larissa wouldn't feel too bad about not Impressing, even be relieved. However, there would be no living with Janirsa if she didn't Impress. He half grinned, his sister would be wild with envy and rage if she was outed by another girl. This would be a hatching to end all hatchings, for him at least. And there was a certain amount of pride that came with it-after all, Io helped to father it!

J'var sat next to A'stin and B'rek, paying little attention to their conversation, his eyes on the eggs. He wanted more than anyone (save Jenafa) for the eggs to hatch and impress flawlessly. He didn't want any betweens. It was as if he stared at the eggs intently, everything would be going to plan.

Blues, greens, browns, and bronzes, all were hatching and all were Impressing. Fine lads, all of them, but they didn't mean a shard to him. He leaned forward, his his head in his hands: staring. Then it happened-the moment of truth- the gold egg hatched. It was a pale gold, but a beautiful one. J'var sat a little straighter. The gold killed her first victim, and then went to Larissa. Could she be the one? Seriously? But no! He stood in shock as the gold struck down his poor, innocent sister! Before he could reel in that pity, the gold was continuing on her trail of tears. Finally, it was ended with Impression. The gold, Elfreth, Impressed to none other than Laszreen. What was a joyous event was overshadoweded by his sister's downfall. What should be be feeling? Sadness? Or elation? Why was life so hard for him?

----
Kitya was ushered onto the sands with the other girls. She wasn't planning on Impressing, she hadn't even wanted to get onto the sands. There were more worthy girls, girls prettier and girls more ambitious than she. She stood, watching, wishing that she could have more options, but knowing it was impossible. Even at Telgar, girls were being ripped off the sands, she couldn't even wish to be transferred. Greens were pretty, but not for her. Then the gold hatching, and she was a frightning beast! She disguareded her unwanted candidates like old rags. Kitya hesitated and before she knew it, the gold was Impressed to another. Oh well. No big dissapointment there.