The Hatching of Gold Erith and Bronze Zyanth's Clutch
PernMUSH, February 4, 2001

The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Erith makes a deep sound, like a million
little wings fluttering, a humming. One that cannot be mistaken for
anything but what it is.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Qirith adds her hum to Erith's own. A higher
tuned and full-throated hum of welcome.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Jinieth's hum joins those around Fort as the
eggs begin to rock.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Aarieth adds her soft alto hum to the
chorus, full of excitement.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Rialeth hears the crooning and rumblings
from the sands at Fort Weyr. She lifts her voice and joins those of Erith
and Zyanth as the time draws near.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Farlioth begins his own hum, already
stationed in the hatching grounds above the sands.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Milnoth hums also, gold tones of excitement
tinging his amber tones.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Pryth croons then suddenly adds his hum into
the humm revibrating all across Pern. << Eggs hatch! I must watch! I must
see hatchlings! >>

Dragon> All dragons sense that Toniath's tenor rumble joins the extremely
noisy throng, with the muted thought that he's sure the hatchlings will be
quite nice even if he didn't help produce them.

You fly through the wide opening into the Hatching cavern, and then settle
down on one of the ledges.

<*> Wryn slides from Aarieth's back, a happy grin on her face as she looks
down on the rocking eggs.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Taralyth sends diamond-clear acknowledgement
even as talons scrape rock: called, they've come!

<*> Fluria is already crouched by her lifemate. One hand on a paw as she
watches the grounds below with rapt attention.

<*> Kichevio slides down easily from Saulith's neck.

<*> Lysseth's claws scrabble against the ledge as she lands as daintily as
the crowding allows, finding a place amidst the Telgar contingent. "*All*
right, then, first's t'be... green, 'twill say," Kassi calls after a long
look at the eggs. "Any willing t'wager yet?"

You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles,
cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully.

Talisha hops down from Imanath, landing on the ground with a soft thump.

K'tel waits until Zmeth crouches low, then grabs a hold of the riding
straps and slides quickly down his side, landing lightly.

Kichevio laughs as she hits the ground and shrugs out of her jacket. "And
here I'd thought we;d be early!"

On the sands, Vivian walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

From high atop Pryth, Sonya slides down shaking her head. "Bronze. I'd bet
Bronze to be the first one."

Sonya climbs down Pryth slowly.

Talisha shrugs out of her jacket as soon as she's down from Imanath, "Looks
like it's just staring, is it?" she asks, glancing around.

Wryn gives a raised hand in greeting to those she does, and those she
doesn't know, "Fort's Duties!" Then her attention is drawn back to the
sands, one hand on Aarieth's muzzle.

Tierth lands just before Lysseth, but her rider takes her time dismounting,
scanning over the sands below. "No, no, Kassi," the Telgari Weyrlingmaster
calls, shaking her head. "Brown first, I'm telling you." She doesn't,
however, offer any marks to back up her argument.

Maylia slides to the ground, giving Tierth a parting caress and a tender
smile.

Astride Taralyth's neck, "So long as it's not bloody..." and I'sai shrugs
his way down, remembering to spare a wave when he's halfway.

I'sai slides down from Taralyth's neck.

K'tel takes off his jacket and steps away from Zmeth's side. He looks
around, waving cheerfully to those he knows. Seeing Wryn, he smiles at her.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Erith increases the sounds of her humming.
It stops but only for a moment, as if she listens to the symphony in her head.

Kichevio answers Wryn with a half-wave, half-salute--seeing Maylia brings
back old habits. "And Telgar's to Fort!" She grins over at Talisha, nodding
toward the Sands, "Looks different from up here."

Ceria grabs hold of the straps and carefully slides down Carabeth's back.

Wryn is told of a smile in her direction and she looks over to see K'tel.
She steps away from her dragon to greet him, "Evening, K'tel."

Kassima grins at her Wingmate as she rummages for the all-important skin of
wine, "Don't see any Candidates on the Ground, do you? So we're early
enough--bronze, brown, I'll take those bets if'n one cares t'pay. 'Tis a
pretty green lass 'twill be; I've a hunch. Oh, aye, duties t'Fort and her
queens and all that."

Dragon> All dragons sense that Saulith thrumhums delightedly, adding her
own bright sound to the growing chorus.

Ceria slides down Carabeth's side, landing lightly on her feet.

Aisling slips off of Sielth and hastily makes her way over to the rest of
the Telgar contingent. "I brought skins of wine." She notes as she holds up
a pack.

Dragon> Farlioth bespoke Lysseth with << My rider says for you to tell your
rider she has one mark on blue as the first, and that the boys Lunan,
Saphan, and Roan, she places one mark each on them Impressing blue each.
More blues than greens. And the boy Kiryn for bronze, she is betting, one
mark on those too. >>

K'tel is almost deafened as Zmeth joins in the humming. He quickly moves
closer to Wryn, wincing, "Evening, Wryn. How are the two of you?" He speaks
loudly over the surrounding noise.

Wryn glances around at the gathering crowd and gives K'tel a bright smile,
"Oh, we are quite well. And the two of you? And Igen?"

"I've got wine too," Maylia calls, flipping open the carrysack attached to
Tierth's riding gear. "No, you know me. No marks - but I'll just -feel- I
won, if a brown hatches. Oh, Telgar's duties."

Lysseth> Farlioth senses that Lysseth takes this in with crystalline flares
for each fact. << My rider will take the wagers on blue-first and on more
blues than greens, but does not know the Candidates here well enough to put
marks on them. >>

K'tel chuckles, "We're very well, thank you. Igen is nowhere near as
exciting as here but at least it's cool right now." He gestures towards the
sands, "Know anyone standing? I haven't even had time to check the odds."
He waves at another group of riders he knows.

Public announcement: Vivian announces "Greetings Pern! Fort Weyr's hatching
will begin in 15-20 minutes. All are welcome to join us in the festivies!
#200 (center of the bowl - ground level) #958 is the Galleries. Sands are
+watchable (Fort-Sands). :)"

Kichevio fumbles in her beltpouch as she calls over to Kassi. "I've got an
eighth-mark, and I feel lucky...I say blue first, _then_ green."

Farlioth folds his wings against his back and warbles cheerfully around at
the other dragons. He is, conspicuously, without his rider.

Wryn smiles a bit, "I know a couple of the candidates. None of them too
well, but I look to see Kiryn impress bronze or brown. The only one I'm
willing to wager on."

Sonya reaches into her own pockets. "I'll toss in a quarter mark. Bronze
then blue then green." she laughs. She's in high spirits tonight. Pryth
hummmms non-stop.

Fluria shakes her head a little and then glances back at Sonya with a
smile. "Hey." She says, waving a bit in her nice corner of ledge.

Kassima settles herself on a conveniently outstretched green forelimb,
hides and alcohol all gathered. "You've got it, Kich. Now watch the gold
Impress first so that *none* of us win... at this rate, Ais, May, we'll all
get drunk and end up singing raucous ballads until even the hatchlings yell
at us t'shut up."

K'tel ahs, "You'll have to point him out to me then. Is he from Ista?" He
grins at Kassima's comments, "Sounds like it'll be wild tonight."

I'sai murmurs briefly to Taralyth, running his bared hand over that soft
cognac-dark muzzle; when the young dragon crouches back, neck arching to
see the others in the throng as much as over them, he wanders over Ceria's
way. "Forgot to bring something that's not wine, myself; you?"

Wryn nods at K'tel, "Aye, I believe he hails from Ista Way. A sailor, I
believe, before he met up with one of our over excited dragons."

Kassima tips her wineskin to K'tel, grinning broadly. "Aren't most
Hatchings?" she wonders in the tone of a rhetorical question. "In one way
or another? So long as nay anybody's falling off the ledges, 'twill be
content. Heard and witnessed, Sonya! Heard and witnessed!"

Sonya beams to Fluria. "Sovalin's Standing." she is soo proud. She turns to
wave a hand towards Kassima.

Ceria grins at I'sai and turns back to Carabeth, unstrapping a skinful of
juice. "Brought some juice," she says. "Want some?"

Greylin slithers down Kheprith's side to the ground.

Fluria nods a little. "I know. I've visited a couple of times. I hope his
lifemates down there too." She says, turning to look at the sands again.

K'ran eases down from Indrath's back.

Tierth scooshes over closer to Lysseth, as Maylia prepares to settle
against a silvered green forelimb. "Oh, stop complaining, I'm sure
Kvasith'll come, or you can curl up with him back at home." Maylia chides
the dragon gently. "Now, c'mon, make room for others." A smile is flashed
to K'tel, before she answers Kassi. "Just so long as you don't start
dancing about the living cavern afterwards - or I'll have to find you a
bright pink wherry-feather boa or something."

Kheprith rumbles to his fellow Telgari as he and his rider find a spot to
sit in by themselves.

On the sands, Ariandra walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

Kichevio waves to her clutchmates from a comfy perch on Saulith's foreleg.
"Hey Greylin, K'ran! Pull up a patch of ledge!"

I'sai says ever so kindly, "Nah, I'll leave it for you. Wouldn't want you
to get, what is it, -dehydrated-. And you look... wavy," he says as a
compliment, offering Ceria a hand over to Aisling and the others, Taralyth
returning the arrivals' greeting on a brighter note.

K'tel grins at Wryn, "Sailor's seem to do well. A good choice." He looks
over at Kassi, amused, and catches Maylia's smile, returning it, of course.
To Wryn, "Mind if I sit here? Seems one of the best views around."

On the sands, This is a day she had thought might never come. And Ariandra
has eyes only for her gold. Her hands come up, in a widespread salute to
Erith. And Erith rears back on her hindquarters and croons in a deeply
penetrating way. The echoes move, bounce, and glide around the area. The
dance of life has begun again.

Kassima drawls to Maylia, "Perish the *thought*," as Lysseth tucks her
wings in close to make room for the younger green. A rumble briefly
interrupts the pattern of her humming. "What, she's after Kvasith rather
than Solarith now? I can promise you 'twill *nay* need a pink boa. Whether
I start dancing around or nay."

Indrath wings down to join Imanath and Saulith, while offering a pleasant
greeting to the other dragons present. K'ran slides down from the young
bronze's neck with a amiable wave. "Evening."

Aisling scoots aside to make room for the two wingseconds, "How are you
feeling?" She asks Ceria in concern before taking a drink from one of the
skins.

Ceria looks amused by the unusual compliment. As she joins the others, she
smiles at I'sai. "Wavy?" she repeats. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
She glances over at Aisling. "I'm fine," she assures her wingmate.

Greylin waves back to Kich and Tali. "Hey, one of my fellow guard cadets is
standing today, I heard from my parents."

Talisha lifts one hand in wave towards K'ran as Imanath's greeting towards
Indrath draws her attention that way. "Heyla Greylin!" she calls next, then
grins. "Lunan?"

"You Guards get all the good dragons," Kichevio teases Greylin. Saulith
just snorts.

Kheprith lifts his head and rumbles in agreement with Saulith's rider!

On the sands, Then she turns, her eyes on the entrance, where the hopefuls
will come. Aria's smile is bright, but almost bittersweet. Dreams to be
filled, dreams to be broken, and people parting not to meet again. Making
her way to Vivian, Aria leans to touch her shoulder in a loving gesture.
She says nothing, but the emotion is clear. Shadows loom at the entrance
now, shuffling figures, eager figures. The candidates.

Tarlo climbs down from between Cariath's neck ridges.

Maylia drawls, as if noting for herself, "One pink boa. Surely the
weavercraft can assist me there." Yes, her eyes are a-twinkle with
enjoyment of the joke. "She does prefer Kvasith, always has. Solarith, well
- he's just caught her a few times. He takes up too much room on the ledge,
apparently." Greylin's arrival is greeted with a solemn nod, while Tierth
makes herself comfortable, ever so carefully NOT snuggling up to Lysseth.
Finally, the green is apparently finished shifting about, and May settles
upon a forelimb.

On the sands, Aluren walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

Tarlo scoots into a seat, giving everyone a quick smile and nod.

On the sands, Aedevan walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

Farlioth warbles a greeting to Cariath cheerfully, then looks back down
over the edge and resumes his hum.

On the sands, Vivian takes up a postion where she can see all the action
but remain out of the way. Her eyes sparkle and shine with anticipation as
gives Aria's hand an encouraging squeeze.

On the sands, Aluren walks in next to Aedevan. Sketching a deep bow to the
Gold, Bronze, Weyrwoman and Weyrleader she starts for the far side of the
Sands. Lots more candidates to come in after.

Fluria crosses her fingers as she rocks back and forth on her feet. Blue
eyes wide and anxiously watching the sands.

K'tel turns back to Zmeth for a moment, rescuing a flask from the straps of
the vibrating bronze. Turning back, he sees the candidates entering,
"Almost time!" He tosses his jacket on the ledge then sits down on it. He's
ready.

"Lunan," K'ran nods, his lips curving in a small smile. "Interesting lad.
Wanted to see how things went for him. Heya, Tarlo." For a moment, Indrath
lifts his attention from Saulith and Imanath to call a pleasant note of
greeting towards Cariath.

Kichevio waves to Tarlo before her eyes are drawn to the incoming
Candidates and she murmurs, "Yep, looks _very_ different from up here."

On the sands, Caralain walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

Lysseth no doubt radiates gratitude that Tierth is not snuggling, or would
if she weren't busy with this humming thing. "One very sharp knife. Surely
the Smithcraft can assist me there," Kassi fires back, trying to sound
ominous. "Oh, now, here they come."

On the sands, Christania walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Aedevan swallows noticeably and takes a deep breath. He bows
deeply before the proud parents of the clutch and moves away after Aluren.

On the sands, Caralain walks out onto the sands, bulky robe flopping about.
A skittery bow to the dragons, and Cara's eyes come to rest on those eggs
that are suddenly much more interesting.

On the sands, Christania strides nervously onto the sands, bowing deeply to
the dam and sire before moving into the semi-circle of nervous candidates.

"Flowy?" I'sai tries, then appeals to the greenriders for assistance:
"What's a better word to describe Ceria's dress, with her hair and..."
Taralyth looks; _he_ looks, breaking off to unnecessarily murmur, "There
they are."

On the sands, Dastra walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Dasil walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Erith and Zyanth regarding the entering figures with a much
more withdrawn manner than they had during the visits to the sands, it
seems. Like judges, like the parents they are, wishing only the best for
their offspring.

Sielth is more interested in the goings on down on the sands, watching
carefully. Aisling offers to I'sai. "Pretty?" But then her attention is
caught by the sands.

On the sands, Jenna walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Hiriwa walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

Maylia snorts a laugh, shaking her head. "Only one? You're awfully certain
of yourself." She tosses to Kassi, before unstoppering a skin of wine. "Oh
- here they come. Shards --" the weyrlingmaster leans forwards, securing
herself with a grip on Tierth's riding straps. "Can never see who's who,
not that it matters, I don't know them."

Qirith lifts her head and lets out one of her well-known and rather loud
bugles. High-pitched as always, EEE! Fluria is totally oblivious and simply
licks her lips, eyes rivetted to the sands.

On the sands, Dastra steps gingerly out onto the sands, one hand gripping
her overlong robe tightly. She swallows convulsively as she looks around at
the eggs and the dragons and all the people up in the galleries. Then,
remembering her manners, she looks back to Erith and Zyanth and bobs and
awkward curtsey before taking her place in the semicircle with the other
Candidates.

K'tel watches the candidates carefully, serious for the moment.

Talisha leans back against one of Imanath's forelegs, attention now turned
down to the sands. "Lunan certainly is interesting. Personally I came to
watch him.. and Terrel." and then she falls silent, just watching.

Greylin mumbles quietly, "Lunan was my only friend in the guards at Benden."

On the sands, Dasil hoves onto the sands, in tow with his little sister,
Dastra. He stops as they reach the right point and bows to both clutch dam
and sire. When they take up their places with the other candidates Dasil
offers Dastra a wink and then straightens himself up, like a guard on duty.

On the sands, Kiryn walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Jenna picks her way onto the sands. The sight of the
galleries momentarily stuns her. She stops, eyes huge in her face. Then the
bow to the dragons and riders is remembered - or is it a curtsy? Either
way, it's awkward, before she hurries on to the other candidates.

On the sands, Lijan walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, The winds of autumn don't really penetrate down so far in the
bowl. But when they do, they add to the humming of the dragons, like flutes
played by unsteady hands. Faint shadows from clouds trundling by paint the
sands in dark splotches, hiding, then revealing the eggs in the clutch.
Sand shifts, and shimmies, coming down from the slight, protective
barricades around the eggs. Something moves...or is it just the wind at play?

On the sands, Caralain studies the dragons intently after looking quickly
over the eggs, then peers over shoulder to the entrance, grabbing handfuls
of too-large robe. Spotting Lijan, Cara blushes even now, and turns to
hurry on into the group around the eggs.

Kassima points out, reasonably enough, "Given that the last time we dueled,
I kicked your rear, that's nay beyond the pale." I'sai, and Ceria's gown,
are duly glanced towards, but she shakes her head. No fashion plate nor
suitable judge, she. "Don't know 'em either, but a Hatching's a Hatching
whether or nay you've folk t'cheer for."

"Faranth." Tarlo remarks in amazement, and then nods and adds, "I
definitely want to see how Lunan does."

Fluria perks up as she notes one figure enter the sands. Quickly she slides
onto her feet and moves closer to Qirith, mumbling softly to the gold as
she points downwards. "Here we go..." She can be heard to say to herself.

Saulith deepends her hum, eyes whirling faster. Kich chuckles softly. "Yes,
that's the nice boy who played with you. Kiryn. I'm sure he'll do fine."

On the sands, Lunan walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Milque walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

Ceria just grins at I'sai and peers down onto the Sands as the candidates
start to emerge.

On the sands, Hiriwa's gaze darts to Eriath and Zyath and she stares at
them for a moment before managing a little bob of a curtsey. Sidling into
her place amongst the Candidates, she finally looks straight ahead to see
the big eggs that are currently the center of almost everyone's attention.

On the sands, Kiryn moves forward at a fair pace, his eyes more on his own
feet, than anything else. Glancing briefly to the lad beside him, Lijan, he
moves forward and then looks up, spotting the sire and dam. He bows then,
as soon as he's out a bit further, and moves off to join the circle the
others will be forming, seeking out the girl who'd been ahead of him in line.

On the sands, Lijan apparently must have gotten another push from behind,
but manages not to stumble /again/. He shoots a dark look over his shoulder
and then inhales. Bowing. Yes. He bows low to Erith and then Zyanth, and
his former etiquette teachers would be proud of him. Such a good boy.

On the sands, Milque walks onto the sands then bows to the queen, the
bronze, and then finally to the riders. Then she looks about and moves to
join the forming circle of candidates, already wiping one hand nervously on
her robe.

Wryn settles back against Aarieth and watches with twinkling eyes. She does
pause to point out Kiryn to K'tel, "There he is."

On the sands, Lunan walks on, eyes wide and for some reason, mouthing the
word "Four." He manages a few steps onto the sands, then freezes. Eyes dart
towards dragons, and he bows once, twice, three times. Then, finally, a
fourth time. Then he hesitates, eyes gazing up at all the people.

Greylin lets out a whistle and a cheer as she spots Lunan on the sands. "Go
Benden Guards!" she shouts.

On the sands, Saphan walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Roan walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Vivian watches with growing anticipation as the Candidates
take their place on the sands.

Qirith draws breath to let out another bugle, but a hand and silent word
from her lifemate lowers the tone of the bugle. Instead it is more of a
cheery and rumbling trumpet.

On the sands, Saphan nervously bows to the queen, Erith, and then to the
bronze, Zyanth. He then turns to their riders and bows again...once and
twice more.

K'tel blinks and peers at the one Wryn points to. He hmms, "Likely looking
lad." He smiles suddenly, "Will you look at that? Saphan is standing. I
didn't know that." He points him out to Wryn, "Treena's son."

Talisha gets up to her knees as Lunan walks out onto the sands, her lips
pull into a beaming smile, "Go Lunan!" she shouts loudly, then settles back
to watch again.

On the sands, Talene walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Sovalin walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Roan enters and looks around. He quickly bows to the queen,
the bronze and the two riders before moving out of the way.

On the sands, Lijan follows Kiryn and comes to stand next to him. He looks
at eggs, then remembers to look up to the galleries, where strangely enough
he recognizes his mom and her Craftsecond right away. He winces, and then
his eyes go looking for that other baker. Where's that Caralain? Of course
he's still flushed too.

Nepenth croons to those on the sands and begins to hum with the rest of the
dragons

Maylia promptly sticks her tongue out at Kassi for that jab. "That was
what, ten, twelve turns ago? I've been practicing, m'dear. And given that
you'd been sparring for turns at that point, and I never had... who do you
think has improved the most?"

On the sands, Caralain peers back again, and hisses, "Saphan! Lijan? Over
here?" The candidate edges towards Dastra and Dasil, gaze everywhere but
those eggs.

On the sands, Vaelyn walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Talene enters, walking in a stately fashion, with her head
held up high. She heads straight towards the Queen and Bronze. She bows
low, turning to their riders and bowing. She moves to join the semi-circle
after she's done, tilting her head back and looking up to the sky with her
eyes closed. Breathing techniques are a must.

On the sands, Terrel walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Sovalin walks in beside Talene already looking nervous.
"Time." he mutters. As he approaches he bows stiffly to both the queen and
bronze then takes two more steps and repeats the process in front of the
riders. Then he walks quickly towards the mostly formed line of candidates.

On the sands, Vaelyn moves listlessly along onto the sands with Terrel at
her side. She pauses to give a quaint and graceful bow to Erith, Zyanth,
Ariandra and F'ren. Her attention focuses in on her spot on the sands soon,
however, as she quickly makes her way to stand with the others, or moreso,
the girls, which appear to be clumped near the gold egg.

On the sands, Lunan spots Saphan and darts over to him, whispering to the
other Candidate and seeming to want to stay by him.

Kichevio cheers as more Candidates appear. "Go Saphan and Sovalin! And
Talene!" And everyone else!" Forget names, she'll just stick to random
well-wishes.

On the sands, Jenna nervously tucks hair behind her ears, eyeing the mound
of eggs. She grins as Kiryn and Lijan end up near, already sweating in the
heat.

Taralyth turns his head at that high-pitched noise - but then he's back
again, rider adding a wry, "Of course you are," Talisha's way... and, "Hey!
There's that baker kid, who sets things on fire. That's a good sign. And...
Stink-Foot, I think his sister called him, there they both are. And the
girl with the spoon: if she doesn't impress, Ceria, she'd better become a
baker: takes after Ceria."

Fluria grins brightly as she spots someone else enter the sands. She
glances at Sonya and says, "That's my brother." One slender finger points
out Terrel.

On the sands, More sand shifts, a long slow sound, like some tamborine
being shaken by unseen hands. Erith stirs, lifting herself higher now, and
she peers into the midst of the eggs, anticipation making her shiver, like
sails on a boat at sea, teased by the wind, gilded by the sun.

K'ran hooks an arm through one of Indrath's riding straps and leans forward
a bit, craning his neck to get a better view out over the sands. "Whole
different perspective," he remarks absently -- this probably directed to
the graduates of his own weyrling class. "There's Lady Mud-Covered, what's
her name, Christania."

On the sands, Saphan leans over and whispers something back to Lunan, then
pats him on the arm.

On the sands, Kiryn finally stops when he reaches Jenna, standing a step or
two away from the girl. A smile to her, and he glances back over his
shoulder next, eyes briefly searching the stands. And whether he actually
picks out whoever he's looking for or not, which is probably more likely,
with the gathered masses, the young man smiles a little, and turns his
attention back on the clutch.

On the sands, Christania shifts on her feet, left than right, eventually
finding herself next to Talene. She offers her friend a comforting smile
before swallowing hard and looking out at the big eggs.

On the sands, Dastra stays right next to her older and much taller brother,
gripping his hand convulsively when Erith rises up and starts looking out
over the eggs.

Aisling listens to I'sai's commentary, trying to spot each as they are
mentioned.

Kassima replies without so much as a blink, "You've improved the most, but
if'n you think I've nay been improving *since*, you've another thought
coming. Call me out again next time we're both proddy and we'll settle it,
if'n you like. But we should sell tickets this time." Ever an eye for
profit, and that eye now turns towards the rocking eggs to watch them with
anticipation.

On the sands, Terrel pauses in front of the sire and dam, offering them
both a graceful bow as Vaelyn moves on to take her place on the sands.
Immediately after, he bows to the riders, before pacing off to go stand
somewhat near to Kiryn.

On the sands, Aine walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Caralain sidles up next to Dastra and pokes her - gently! -
and mumbles, "I hope she doesn't chomp us."

Talisha calls out more good-lucks and well-wishes as more and more
candidates file out onto the sands. Terrel of course, gets an extra loud
well-wishing, since it doesn't matter to Tali whether he can hear or not.

On the sands, Taralinda walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

Ceria gives I'sai a smile. "Takes after me?" she asks. "Does that mean if
she doesn't Impress now, she'll Impress after becoming a baker?"

On the sands, Miritha walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, T'shar walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

On the sands, Aedevan shifts his weight nervously, eyes moving from egg to
egg, looking for signs of which will hatch first. Again he swallows hard.

On the sands, Sovalin looks wideeyed over all the candidates then all
around. His short legs take him to stand beside Chrissy. On the other side
of Talene. "hi." he whispers.

On the sands, Aine makes her way quickly toward the entrance to the holding
room, pausing just outside and turning to keep a watchful eye on the
candidates.

Sonya bouncies. "There is SOvalin. There he is!"

On the sands, Milque shifts into the circle of candidates, watching the
queen and then her eyes are on the eggs. She rubs both hands on her robe
again then moves over a bit as the last of her fellow candidates make it
into the circle.

On the sands, The warm springs egg gives the faintest ghost of a shake,
displacing sand grains from around it

Greylin mutters, "Terrel... Terrel... why is that name familiar?" Then he
spots the Istan queenrider. "Ah, yes, her brother. He visited us when we
were candidates..."

On the sands, Vaelyn turns momentarrily to glance up in the tiers. Spying
what she seems to think is a section of her family and friends, she gives a
little wave and a smile.

On the sands, Talene fastens her eyes onto the clutch. She finds Christania
next to her, and smiles, slipping her hand into the girl's. Squeezing
gently, she gestures to the clutch with her free hand and whispers, "It's
time." Then she giggles nervously, "Finally!" Then the eggs move, and they
take up all her attention.

On the sands, Roan stands where he is looking around with a confused look
on his face but his attention is drawn to the eggs as they begin to move.

On the sands, Saphan's pat on Lunan's arm turns into a grab as he spots the
moving egg. "Look," he hisses. "It moved!"

"And the girl with the klah," I'sai adds oh-so-helpfully to Aisling, though
he does nod towards Vaelyn thereafter: "I think, anyway. Mostly can see
their heads... Hmm? Could be, I suppose. Why not. So long as she doesn't
name a daughter Adaria: there's only one of -those-."

Fluria glances back at Greylin and smiles fleetingly, but the next moment
her eyes are on the sands with rapt attention.

On the sands, Hiriwa nudges the sand with her feet, wriggling them
impatiently, hands clutching at her robe with fretful gestures. Moveing
eggs are watched, focused on with wide-eyed fascination.

Sonya catches what fluria said. "Really? I hope he does well too!"

On the sands, Lunan is keeping his eyes steadfastly away from the stands
until he hears something out of all the noise. He peers up and balks,
seeing some familiar Benden guards. He waves frantically, excited to have
somebody there watching him. At a nearby gasp, he turns, and goes very
still watching the eggs and grabs Saphan's hand back. "I saw!"

On the sands, Well, lots of candidates are shuffling around, trying to find
the best place, and it seems to be popular tonight to push Lijan around.
He's pushed right by Jenna and Kiryn, and somehow ends up not too far from
Caralain, Dasil and Dastra. His swearing would not have impressed his
etiquette teachers as much as his previous bow would have.

On the sands, Aluren tilts her head in a listening gesture. She steps back
and away from the group to hear better.

Ceria laughs. "I don't think that Pern could handle another," she says.
"She's been quite a handful."

On the sands, Kiryn glances over, noticing Terrel, and raises a hand to
gesture for the other young man to come over. He falls fairly still then,
with only the occasional look back and forth between the candidates nearest
to him. Yet then, as many start to watch the clutch, his eyes shift that
way as well.

On the sands, Dastra gulps, squeezing Dasil's hand tightly. "Didja see?
Didja? That egg over there! It moved." She looks to one side and sees
Lijan. "They're moving, they are! Already!"

On the sands, Deep thrumming, deep as a Harper drum. Erith sways now, a
foreleg out, lifted as if to make an encouraging gesture.

On the sands, Taralinda follows Aine, an attentive eye on the candidates
before she looks over at the eggs.

On the sands, Christania smiles and nods a little to Talene before giving
Sovalin a warm smile. She clears her throat, "Whatever happens, well... you
get the idea." Not one for sentimental schtuff, Chris just hehs a little.

On the sands, Vaelyn's attention is turns from the tiers to the sands as
someone mentions an egg moving. Standing up slightly on tippy-toes, she
peers over a few heads to see what she can see. Not spying the culprit, she
slowly walks over towards a small cluster of girls and asks them quietly to
point it out.

On the sands, Terrel moves up beside Kiryn, nudging him, and pointing to
the small blue and white egg, just in case he missed it. He doesn't say
anything, however... it doesn't seem necessary.

On the sands, Jenna takes a halfstep backwards as Erith moves, and then a
deep steadying breath. She directs a wan smile at Terrel, also motioning
for him to come stand with the small knot nearby, then, "Oooh! You saw
that, Terrel?"

On the sands, The molten lava egg shifts just a touch. Did it really? Maybe
so. There! It twitched again.

On the sands, Dasil raises he eyebrows at a particularly eloquent bout of
swearing and then chuckles a bit, perhaps at the direction it's coming
from. "Don't get to hear that kind of descriptive on an average day." He
mutters and then turns his attention back to the eggs, brown eyes darting
to and fro as they try to determine what egg will hatch first.

On the sands, Caralain glances over towards Lijan, lip clenched tightly
between teeth. It's released so Cara can call, all wobbly, "Did you see that?"

"A handful who's been getting her way lately," I'sai agrees with a certain
avuncular affection. He adds in a lower voice to those nearby, "Do you
think Kassima and Maylia are -really- competing, or just trying to up the
stakes?"

On the sands, Sovalin nods. "Yeah. I do." he flashes a winning smile to
Christania before clearing his throat gruffly. Then his head whips around.
"Moving? Did someone say they are moving?!"

On the sands, The fertile atoll egg twitches, a barely perceptible
movement, then subsides.

On the sands, Talene nods to Chris, with an understanding tilt of her head.
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees another move, and once again, her
eyes are fastened on the clutch.

On the sands, Lijan just nods to Dastra then eyes the eggs warily. They're
really moving. He gives a sidelong glance to judge Caralain's reaction and
then nods. "Yeah, saw that. Wow." There's something more interesting than
runners after all.

On the sands, Saphan swallows hard as he eyes the eggs, still hanging onto
Lunan's arm.

On the sands, Kiryn's head turns to look over, when Terrel points, and he
gives a slow nod. "Yep... they're all starting." Then the molten egg
catches his attention, and the young man looks that way instead. So many eggs.

On the sands, Milque is standing a bit by herself, not wanting to let
anyone see just how her palms are betraying her nervousness. She watches
out over the eggs, remembering which ones caught her eye in the touchings.

Kichevio hears I'sai, and laughs. "Kassi _always_ ups the stakes."

On the sands, Terrel finds his favorite egg, out of habit...and pales a bit
more as it twitches. Long fingers catch at his robe and twist at it,
plainly betraying his nervousness.

"Both." Aisling notes absently to I'sai, her gaze focused on the sands below.

On the sands, The warm springs egg trembles again, this time with more
force, definitely shaking itself free of the sound piled up around it.
Cracks seam its surface, changing the texture of the shell.

On the sands, Vaelyn points excitedly towards one of her more favored eggs
as it shivers. "Oh, did anyone else see that?" She spies Milque nearby and
shuffles over towards her.

"Upping the stakes is good practice," K'ran remarks, absently. "But I'd
doubt she's not willing to put money where mouth is."

On the sands, The tension builds and builds. Tightly twining around the
forms on the sand, palpable in the heat, in the faint golden haze in the
air. Eggs move, but when...when...

Maylia keeps her eyes on the candidates, but can't just let what Kassi said
rest. "Ah, but there's a limit, Kassi. A young dragon can't barely walk,
but once he can, there's not much room for improvement. Same goes for knife
fighting." Sure. She sounds awfully certain, and there's a wry smile. "Why
wait till we're both proddy again? Though, that certainly makes things more
interesting."

On the sands, Lunan is clinging to Saphan, and points with his free hand to
the lava egg. "Lookit!" Another glance at the stands, and saucer-eyes go
wider. He gives a wave to the Telgar riders that seem to be waving at him,
then turns back to gawk. "It's... opening! Cracking! Hatching!"

On the sands, The mud pots egg gives several quick shakes, sand slipping
gently from it's surface as it quiets down once more.

On the sands, The medial moraines egg shudders ever so slightly, the barest
of movement, then stills again.

On the sands, Caralain edges even closer, gathering far-too-large robe in a
white bunch, twisting it between both nervous hands. "C'mon, already.."
Murmured not to Lijan.

Ceria smiles at that. "I suppose she has," she agrees and then glances
toward Kassi and Maylia. "Doesn't matter to me as long as I'm not
involved," she says lightly.

Tarlo smiles to herself, an absent hand on Cariath's hide as she watches
the goings on below. She cheers loudly for Kiryn, Terrel and Lunan.

On the sands, Desert Earthquake egg begins to tremble. Barely visible at
first, it suddenly bursts open in an explosion of shards revealing a very
jovial little lapis blue Hatchling. He pauses, then scans the Candidates
and makes a line straight for a tiny girl from Nabol. She calls his name,
throwing her arms around him, and the first Impression is made.

On the sands, Roan begins looking at all the eggs as they begin to rock and
sway with a happy look on his face. He makes sure he is not jostled too
much as he thinks he is the right spot to see all his favorite eggs hatch.
"Its all so beutiful."

Fluria glances over at Tarlo now and then back.

On the sands, Saphan shakes Lunan's arm. "That muddy one moved!" He gasps
as one of the eggs hatches. "Look!"

Sonya ohs! "A blue was first!" she calls out pointing!"

Kassima forms another link in the overhearing chain; overhearing Kich, she
winks at the younger greenrider. "This is news?" she asks with
mock-astonishment. "Mayhaps I've nay been working hard enough... ach,
shardit. Blue. Well, but he's a pretty wee thing."

Talisha can't help herself, she just has to start cheering again--Kiryn,
Terrel, Lunan get the loudest--as well as cheers for people she doesn't know.

On the sands, Christania gasps at the blue hatchling and watches it impress
a girl from Nabol. She grins and looks over at Sovalin and Talene, "wow!
That was fast!"

Kheprith bugles as the first impression is made. Okay, so it was a blue.

Kichevio grins over at Kassi. "Half my bet won already."

On the sands, Lijan wouldn't be able to do anything anyway, even if
Caralain commanded him to, and besides, the trembling eggs command his gaze
now. His eyes are wide open and he tugs at his robe.

On the sands, Vivian grins openly as she watches the first Impression.

On the sands, Another egg rocks from side to side. All at once, there's a
loud cracking sound. One moment there's a Warm Springs Egg, the next
there's a Hatchling standing there with.... could that be a grin on his face?

On the sands, Talene's eyes widen as the eggs crack, and smiles at the girl
who Impressed, waving a little with her free hand. She smiles out at the
eggs, but there is a nervous gleam in her eyes.

On the sands, "Aw!" Cara yelps loudly, bouncing up and down, "Look! Blue!
Aw! Wow!" Lijan's arm is grabbed somewhere in the deluge of exclamation
points. "That is too awful nifty!"

On the sands, Frosty Ice Lake Blue:
Light dances off ice crystals that seem to form on the ridges of this dark,
murky blue dragonet. Beyond the wetness from his egg is a frosty formation
of icicles and snowflakes that give his rather thick form a hint of wintery
beauty. He's solid through the chest and shoulder, promising strength and
some endurance in his future. The silvery blue of the geometic ice clings
to his muzzle and under his yes, frozen tears of happiness permanently
imprinted on his being. His upper half seems to have been left out in the
snow, for it's in a frosty layer of icy blue from his head to his haunches.
Drifting lower, it gives way to a unique brownish-blue, as if he's been
sitting in the waters of the Ice Lake itself and letting himself be snowed
upon. The warmth of his lifemate will surely get past that icy exterior and
to the heat of the draconic heart beyond.

On the sands, Aine beams brightly and heads out on the sands to help the
first impression off the sands.

On the sands, T'shar doesn't seem nervous at all, but that's likely due to
the fact that his dragon's up in the ledges and not in one of those eggs.
"Poke me when it's my turn," he whispers to Taralinda.

I'sai slants a glance towards Thunderbolt's leader, sharp-featured
expression obscure - and then he's leaning down, looking long.

On the sands, Dastra runs one hand down the side of her robe, glancing
toward Lijan. "Lots of 'em are now. Oh wow." She turns her head this way
and that, trying to take it all in, and then the first hathcling arriving.
She just /stares/ at the little blue.

On the sands, Hiriwa shifts her weight, brushing away fine beads of sweat
from her face. "That one." she says suddenly, to no one in particular. "It
moved. And that one and..." She trails off, her gaze flicking over all of
the eggs as one after another twitches. "Oooh!" She exclaims over the first
hatchlings, her gaze stuck on it even after the blue Impresses. Then her
gaze whips back to the new blue and she stares again.

On the sands, Vaelyn jumps slightly as the first hatchling graces the
sands. "Oh! First born blue!" she calls cheerfully. Several of the other
eggs cause her head to spin one way, then the other. "Another blue. He's so
pretty..." she states, clasping her hands in front of herself neatly.

Tarlo cheers for everyone, but it's clear she's eager to see her friends
Impress.

On the sands, Jenna reaches out for Kiryn's arm. "Oh! Look! A blue!
Already! And there's another one!" She points, and then wipes sweat from
her forehead.

Maylia bursts into a laugh. "BLUE!" She shouts. "See? Good thing I didn't
wager - only thing that would've happened was that a green would've hatched
first, and I'd owe you marks, Kassi." Yes, the world revolves around her.
Her wager has the power to change the future. Or, at least, she seems to
believe taht.

Nepenth bugles to the first little blue that comes from his shell.

On the sands, Aedevan just beams as the little blue hatches and so quickly
makes a lifemate of the girl from Nabol. But as another blue emerges and
doesn't run right for his destiny, Aede shifts again, "Ready to dodge,
ready to dodge," he mumbles to himself.

On the sands, Milque smiles and looks down the arc of candidates to where
the first blue has impressed, her grin wide and the nerves of waiting
passing a bit. She looks as another blue hatches forth and watches it
closely, to see if it moves as quickly as the first to find his lifemate.

On the sands, Lunan watches the first hatchling Impress, looking startled.
"Did you see? Saph, the Nabol girl!" Then he redirects his attention to the
muddy egg, shared favorite with Saphan. Eyes dart from egg to hatchling,
incredulous. "He's... smiling?" he murmurs of the blue dragonet.

On the sands, Lijan blinks as Cara clutches his arm, but then nods all
eagerly. "Wow, a blue. Very nice colouring." He whistles and doesn't try to
remove his arm from Cara's clutching. He might blush again if he
consciously realized it.

On the sands, Talene gasps as she stares at the blue, "He's magnificent,"
is murmured under her breath. She just stares, which is understood.

On the sands, Christania's brow lifts as another blue hatches. She blinks
and looks around before squeezing Talene's hand and swallowing, "Be ready
to move."

On the sands, Taralinda grins wryly to T'shar and closes her eye in a wink
to him, "You get the one after me." She pushes her hair back over her
shoulder and smiles, "Ah, that's good luck isn't it?" At the first
impressed pair.

On the sands, Kiryn swallows. "That's one." He repeats his nervous ritual,
looking back and forth between Terrel and Jenna, and then to the clutch
once again. As calm as he seemed before, the young man is definitely
showing some signs of fraying nerves now, although he smiles back at Jenna
when she grabs him. "Yep."

On the sands, Saphan nods, his eyes wide. "They're so...so...beautiful," he
murmurs. He lets go of Lunan's arm reluctantly.

On the sands, The mud pots egg rocks back and forth, gently at first and
then with growing determination.

On the sands, Terrel has pretty well fallen still and silent, watching
owl-eyed as hatchlings start to emerge. He seems frozen, nervous, but
raptly caught up in the proceedings.

On the sands, "Don't didge too fast, I want to use you as a shield" Aluren
teases Aedevan, her wet hair starting to steam in the heat from the sands.

On the sands, Roan eyes the blue, "Its soo handsome..." he smiles with
pleasue and makes sure no one is crowding him out of his spot.

On the sands, T'shar watches Aine herding the first pair off, nodding at
Taralinda. "Much better when they know right away," he agrees.

On the sands, Sovalin shifts his feet. "Impression already? WOw." He ooohs
silently as a blue suddenly appears and stays on the Sands. "Another blue...."

On the sands, Dasil smiles to split his face as the first impression is
made. When a cool hued blue breaks forth on the sands his attention is
drawn that way. Sandals shift and grains of sand are caught between his
toes, something he doesn't notice at the moment, the excitement is just too
great.

On the sands, Frosty Ice Lake Blue tips his head upward, as if tasting the
air, he blinks a few times, then moves one limb forward, blinks, stops,
looks down at his own legs, then tries that again, setting off at a slow,
ungainly pace across the sands.

Kassima slews a look back towards the bronzerider on catching his glance,
her anticipation replaced by solemnity--but only for a moment, flickering
at that; soon she's laughing a reply to Maylia: "Then I can blame you for
the marks I've lost, can I?"

On the sands, Dastra stands up a little straghter when the dragons actually
break shell, shoulders back and head held high as her dark eyes watch the
uncertain progress of the little blue.

On the sands, The wind picks up, as if cued by some mysterious means. It
swirls a few tatters of the first leaves that are falling, edges curled in
brittle fists. The litter the ledges first, before beginning to drift down,
like sad snowflakes. One comes to rest on a bit of broken, upturned shell.

On the sands, Roan grins excitldly as the blue makes its first proud steps.
He resists the urge to rush over too it knowing that to do so might get him
trampled.

On the sands, Caralain doesn't let go of that arm, either - Lijan will be
lucky if he doesn't have to pry it off later. "There's another! You know
blue's my favorite color right? What's yours?" the skinny candidate gabbles.

A thought strikes Maylia, or so it appears from her expression. "Well, no,"
she reasons. "But perhaps I should start wagering, and you share some of
the profits when you win?" She suggests. Though how this would fool fate
into going 'her way', who knows.

On the sands, Vaelyn looks up to the tiers for her blueriding brother,
hopeful to perhaps catch a glimpse. She gives up after a moment or two
though, unable to spy his face amidst the sea of watchers. She turns about
and eyes that little blue again, making sure to mark his progress.

On Nepenth, Kaelyn watches those on the sands and turns to Jacera to speak
with her quietly.

"Off you go, little one," Kichevio mutters with a smile. "Find your lifemate."

On the sands, Christania hisses to Sovalin and Talene, "You know how Vaelyn
loves blue... maybe this one will like her?"

On the sands, Talene seems to have forgotten about the heat as she stares
at the hatchling. Her eyes widen even further, if that's possible, as he
starts to move. She clutches her robe in her free and tears her eyes away
to glance at the leaves. She smiles and turns her attention back to the blue.

On the sands, Jenna shifts nervously next to Kiryn and then turns her face
for a moment towards the breeze. Far from cooling her, it just seems to
make her warmer, for she wipes sweaty palms on her robe. "He's so slow.
That other just went so quick..."

On the sands, Hiriwa is fascinated, watching the icy hued blue with rapt
attention, her gaze tracking each ungainly step across the hot sands. Her
left hand has locked around one of her plaits, holding it taunt - and the
rest of her is just as tense. Not unlike a bowstring.

On the sands, Black Smoker Egg shudders right next to a bouncing Alluvium
egg. The former hatches to reveal a liquid green hatchling, the latter
cracks and leaves a treebark brown dragonet on the Sands. They head out
together, the green finding a willowy young girl from Tillek while the
brown bugles happily at a stout lad from the Bakercraft.

Kheprith puts his forepaw on a leaf that lands on the ledge in front of
him, a nice pretty brown leaf, brown like him.

On the sands, Lijan isn't humbles, has never been. "Bronze," he murmurs to
Caralain and moves to clutch the other candidates arm, just as his is
clutch. It must look odd the way they're standing there. They better be
fast if someone runs their way. "But that blue is really very handsome."

On the sands, Saphan squeaks excitedly. "It's a brown. That egg had a brown
in it!"

T'kar slides carefully off of Fasolth's neck.

On the sands, Lunan also lets go of Saphan, though he now seems to be
grabbing his own baggy robe just as tight. He watches the blue try out his
legs, grinning. The scared-speechlessness is gone, and he's just plain
excited, now. He hops a bit from the heat, thin sandals not helping. "I
saw... he was big!" he says to Saphan.

On the sands, Frosty Ice Lake Blue is starting to get the hang of this
walking thing. Yeah ... this is good, his cheerful expression seems to say.
And then boom, back legs don't coordinate with front and he tumbles, nose
plowing a furrow in the sand. He creels softly in surprise, picking himself
up with a shake of his head. And then he notices the circling faces, head
tipping to the side to examine them.

On the sands, Terrel laughs softly, murmuring to Kiryn, "He reminds me of
Telgar frosts... makes me want to shiver even though my feet are burning."
He shifts from foot to foot, scraping the hot sand off on his opposite
shins. He seems kind of overwhelmed, eyes darting from hatchling to hatchling.

On the sands, Aedevan chuckles weakly, "Well, how about I just grab you
when I dodge?" he teases Aluren. But his eyes never leave the unpaired
hatchlings.

Kassima makes a rude noise at her mentee. "Naught doing, May. I share
profits for *tips*, naught else--but since you haven't marks, and I don't
wager on such things... who d'you think that little blue's going to? He's a
pretty one, though really they all are."

On the sands, Taralinda chuckles softly to T'shar and moves away from him
to help the girl and her lovely brown. "Just this way." She murmurs in a
reasuring tone as the two are lead away.

On the sands, Christania swallows and watches the hatchlings nervously.

On the sands, Sovalin looks awed at the presence of the blue hatchling.
Suddenly a Green and a Brown appear. Then they Impress. "So quickly he
murmurs. "Go on little blue guy. Go find your lifemate."

On the sands, Kiryn nods slowly, his eyes still fixed out on the clutch.
"They're all different, really. Big and small, quick or slow, quiet or...
loud." At the last, he glances back over his shoulder, and again a warm
smile fills the young man's face. Then to Terrel he nods, "Yeah..." One
foot up, then back down. Then the other.

On the sands, Caralain tugs Lijan's arm, "Look! A baker, remember him? An'
I didn' mean dragon, I meant all, or is that still your favorite color?"
Cara catches the hatchling's plow, "Oooh, look, he fell down."

On the sands, Vaelyn just barely catches sight of two other hatchlings
moving about the grounds. A soft smile forms on her lips. "This is going by
fairly fast." As the blue falls, she wrinkles her nose in sympathy. "Ouch."

On the sands, "Deal! You dodge and take me with you. Ooh a brownrider
baker!" Aluren cheers for the former crafter as he gets his lifemate.

On the sands, Milque smiles as several more candidates impress, a brown
over to one side, a green over there. She gives a longer look, thinking
it's the candidate she was on chore duty with just the day before.

Saulith looks around briefly to thrum hello to Fasolth.

I'sai puzzles a long downward look, quiet now - if not, quite, silent:
"That one lad, he looks familiar; do you think..." and he murmurs the rest
more quietly into Ceria's ear.

On the sands, Dastra bites her lower lip, concerned, when the little blue
stumbles. "C'mon, get up," she whispers softly. Her face remains pale while
she watches the hatchling, but she does smile as the green hatchling goes
to the girl from Tillek, tugging on Dasil's shoulder and pointing.

Kaelyn climbs down Nepenth's side to the ground, as the dragon rumbles softly.

Greylin peers up at her lifemate, who lets the brown leaf go and flutter
down to the sands. Her eyes lift from the spectacle below to Kheprith, and
she reaches up to touch his side. He lowers his head and nuzzles his rider
gently.

Fasolth settles amongst his friends with rumbled greetings, T'kar making
his way over to the nearest open space he can find to the other Telgar riders.

On the sands, Roan smiles happily at the blue dragonet as it manadges to
pick it self up. Occasionaly he does glance about to see what the other
candidates are doing but his attention is always drawn back to the handsome
blue.

On the sands, T'shar takes his cue, heading over to the green weyrling pair
and trying really hard not to check the girl out as he says, "There's
plenty of food for her, don't worry," leading them over to the holding room
amid much joyful babbling and tears.

On the sands, Hiriwa tore her gaze away from the blue for a moment, enough
to see the green and brown eggs transfor to hatchlings and then weyrlings.
Back to the unpaired blue and she winces in sympathy as he tumbles.
"Babies. Baby dragons." she says in soft wonder: no matter how many times
she sees a newborn creature, she doesn't lose that wonder.

Kaelyn smiles at Greylin and leans up against her blue

Maylia wrinkles her nose. "I do so have marks. I just choose to not throw
them away, wagering on hatchlings." Her lips purse, tracing the frosty
blue's movements. "Which one? Oh - that short, dark haired lad. See? Beside
the blonde girl?"

On the sands, Lijan blinks. That's just like Caralain. Talking about colors
in general. He says "I like a very deep blue, I think the weavers call it
lapislazuli or something. Because there's a stone like that." He stiffens.
"Look at that poor blue, he just fell!"

On the sands, Talene starts to chew on her bottom lip as her eyes shift
from Hatchling to Hatcling. A brown there, a green there, two Impressions
there. She gasps as the blue falls, chewing relentlessly on her lip.

On the sands, Jenna ohs as the blue goes down. "I bet that hurt. Poor
thing." She shifts again, nearly bumping both Kiryn and Terrel, suddenly
awkward. "I swear, it's hotter than when we touched 'em."

On the sands, Frosty Ice Lake Blue takes a few steps forward, creeling
again, tail twitching back and forth and showering off sand from his
tumble. Then suddenly he croooooons loudly and makes a beeline for one of
the white-clad lads in the circle, practically galloping across the sands,
albeit awkwardly.

On the sands, Dasil whispers something in an excited fashion as a girl from
his home hold impresses a blue and then shifts his attention back to the
fallen blue as Dastra tugs on his shoulder. He makes a noise of
encouragement towards the dragon and then exchanges a glance with is
sister, knowing they are all to look but not try to touch the awkward young
dragons.

On the sands, Lunan points to the frosty blue hatchling as it tilts its
head. "It's figuring out who it's lifemate is. He got up quick," he says to
a candidate next to him. He hops, cooling his feet, and ends up near
Milque. He watches the rushing blue and points it out to her. "Look't!" as
if she can't see.

On the sands, Christania inhales sharply when the blue lunges towards the
other candidates, her hand squeezing Talene's. She swallows and hisses,
"This is it..."

Kassima retorts, "Which is precisely why I'm rich and you're nay, dear
Weyrlingmaster. That lad, y'say... could be him. He looks t'be having an
eye for the lads."

On the sands, Saphan nods at Lunan. "It's like he just...knows."

On the sands, Caralain lets go one hand from the other baker's arm to pull
the billowy robe out and fan it back and forth a little. "So did you end up
wearin' underwear? I bet Terrel's wearin' that thing."

On the sands, Vaelyn lips fall downward into a slight pout as the blue goes
trotting off. "Well, there will be pleanty more in those eggs, I'm sure."
She does however keep watching the one, curious to see which candidate is
going to get bowled over.

On the sands, Sovalin shifts his feet, ready to spring. "What it." he
mutters to those standing around him

On the sands, Talene nods sharply to Christania, "He's...very cute," she
manages to stammer out, but her eyes remain steadfastly on him as he makes
a beeline for the Candidates.

On the sands, The mud pots egg gains momentum as it rocks back and forth,
back and forth as the occupant within begins to demand release.

"Babbling," K'ran observes, amusement curving his lips. "Did -we- talk like
this?"

On the sands, The molten lava egg gives another, more violent, shudder.
Then another. Signs of internal stress can be seen. Hairline fractures
spreading across the surface. But it is not quite there yet as it suddenly
hops forward in its mound. As if the hatchling inside were ramming its head
against the sheel in the effort to escape.

On the sands, Roan does finally look a little scared as the blue begins to
gallop towards the candidates. He shakes his head as if toward away any
fear he might have but he does look tensed to dodge. Suddenly he stops and
says, "His name is Azureth!"

On the sands, Milque smiles and looks over at Lunan, "Do you think he has
already figured out who and is just taking his time to get to him now?" She
shifts on her feet, the thick boots starting to get warmer on the insides now.

Talisha glances across to K'ran, "I hope we didn't."

"I said 'oh shards' a lot," Kichevio offers. "Does that count?...oh, the
blue just chose!"

Sonya leans against Pryth's side, lost in the hatching. Pryth is just a
crooning away as he watches.

On the sands, Lijan blushes again and gives a sidelong glance to the
billowy sleeves. Too bad, can't see anything through it. "Um, yes," is his
reply to Caralain, and then he waits with held breath to see who the blue
is picking.

On the sands, Aedevan reaches a hand for Aluren, the grin on his face
plainly showing how very anxious he is. "But you have to pull me if you
dodge, alright?"

On the sands, Hiriwa eeks softly and jumps back a wee bit from the suddenly
swift moveing blue. "Who..." she trails off, gaze following him to his
destination although she does look away to check for any more eggs that
have metamorphosed. "Oooh! Roan!" The squeal is high pitched, excited as
she bounces in place.

On the sands, More sand falls, the sound lost in the commotion of dragonets
and candidates. A slow shower, a golden, silent avalanche. Do the eggs lift
up as if propelled by hands underground? Or is it just because of the why
the cloud shadows move as the sun begins toward the horizon.

On the sands, Kiryn's eyes flit to the charging blue, and his previously
dancing feet find a firm hold on the sands. Just in case he has to jump out
of the way, or something.

On the sands, Terrel hears his name, and cranes his neck to see who said
it, but...his attention is yanked back to the molten egg as it prepares to
shatter. Then...over to Roan, and a bright smile. "See?" he calls to him,
"You just had to wait..."

On the sands, Talene yays softly and jumps up and down for Roan, "Go,
Roan!" she shouts out quietly.

On the sands, Sovalin blinks as his eyes follow the blue's path to....Roan.
"Roan and...what did he say his name was? Oh wow! Way to go Roan!" he
cheers sooo loudly.

On the sands, Aluren clasps Aedevan's hand, squeezing it as Roan shouts out
a name "That looks so easy, how did he do that?"

On the sands, Vaelyn peers over towards Roan brightly. "Roan? Roan!
Congratulations! I knew you'd impress!" she calls cheerfully, waving a hand
frantically in the air towards her fellow candidate. "Nice name, too."

On the sands, Caralain points with that free hand, forgetting to let go of
the robe. "Aaaaah!"

On the sands, Jenna cranes her neck as well, to see where that blue got to.
"Who was it? Who got him? " She hops up and down a bit, trying to see. "Oh!
Roan! Congratulations!"

On the sands, Dastra blanches as the blue gallups toward the group of
hatchlings to her right and steels herself for..something when she sees it
stop right before Roan. "Oh, wow" is her comment. "Congratulations!"

On the sands, "Roan!" Ok, so Kiryn didn't need to dodge. But he still looks
pleased. "Good job." And then a quick reminder, "You get to run the
renunion!" Hahaha, poor him.

On the sands, Saphan yips. "Roan Impressed!" He cries out, his voice
cracking. He grabs Lunan's arm again. "He did it!"

On the sands, Lijan blinks then. "Oh, there's Roan. Wonder what his name
will be now. Azureth. Nice name." If he's maybe getting a bit more nervous
now, he tries to hide it.

On the sands, Azureth croooooooons fit to shake his little body and butts
his head into Roan's legs as if to say "Mine ... all mine. Now let's go eat."

On the sands, The limu o pele egg shakes a bit, then settles to quiet again.

Maylia winces appologetically over towards Kassi. "See why I don't wager?"
She entreats, nodding to where the blue's made his choice. "Never, ever
would've guessed him."

On the sands, The mud pots egg gives a violent shake and then suddenly
grows still.

On the sands, Miritha, standing until now with her hands behind her back
and smiling, gives a broader smile and moves forward towards the newest
weyrling. "Congratulations," she says cheerfully. "C'mon this way, Roan -
R'nal? - and Azureth."

On the sands, Lunan's eyes go wide. "Oooh, Roan... Azureth found him!" He
smiles up at Milque. "He found'm right away! Congratulations, Roan!" he
calls. He gazes at the new pair, grinning foolishly, then gets distracted
by the mud egg. Too many places to look, too many things to say!

On the sands, Miritha steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Christania oos and smiles, "Roan impressed!"

On the sands, The Mud Pots egg rocks hard to the left, spinning on end and
rolling down a small slope in the Sands. It lays there, shaking back and
forth as the dragon inside fights the battle of birth, working with all its
energy to get out! The egg splits into two huge pieces that seem to just
part ways, giving the creeling wet hatching plenty of room to wriggle out
onto the warm Hatching Sands.

On the sands, Turbulent Muddy River Brown:
With the ragged appearance of an earthslip or storm-weathered hillside,
this hatchling seems raw and exposed. The resemblance seems exacerbated by
his awkward and gangly hatchling movements. Brown granite hues shiver
through the ochre and tan shades of loose rock and then again in the muddy
grey shades of silty clay that covers his hidequarters and
tail.%r%r[space(5)]Dark swathes of colour sweep back from his eyeridges,
fields of earthy loam amidst the paler, slightly tan and ochre hues that
colour his body. His wingsails, when unfurled, appear muddy. Rivulets of
silt merging with the ruddy shades of red clay, and the tiny fleckings of
foam roil and roll on the turbulent, flood swollen waters.

On the sands, Aedevan clamps onto Aluren's hand, "Roan? Shard, Roan!
Congratulations!" He turns to Aluren, "This is really happening..."

On the sands, R'nal stares into the eyes of his new blue colored life mate.
"Yes yes. Lets go fill that empty tummy of yours." and he tries to lead
Azureth out.

On the sands, R'nal steps into the holding room.

I'sai whispers hastily to Aisling, something about isn't that name like one
of the fancy weaver words for blue? and he -is- blue and all, and is it
more interesting this way or if he'd have been brown instead, for all that
it -suits- this much more.

On the sands, Azureth steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Saphan tugs on Lunan's arm. "It's a brown. That muddy egg had
a brown in it!" He is nearly shaking with excitement.

Kheprith BUGLES as another brown hatches!

On the sands, Dasil cheers loudly out for Roan and his new lifemate! He's
still cheering as he sees the next egg crack somewhere nearby and release a
handsome young brown onto the sands.

On the sands, Milque smiles over at Roan, watching the impression up close,
blinks, he was just behind her on the way out. She just smiles at him in
congratulations, then cuts her eyes back to the eggs and other hatchlings
about, not wanting to come to mischief for not paying attention.

On the sands, Aine claps and nudges Miritha. "Look, a brown!"

On the sands, Vaelyn laughs a bit as she spies the brown fall out of his
shell. "That one didn't even make us guess. Brown from brown." She watches
R'nal walk off with his lifemate, a grin most likely permanently fixed on
her lips for the rest of the evening.

On the sands, Lunan stares at the brown. "He's so... brown! You were right,
Saph, it had a brown in it! Look't him! Looks so... muddy!" He sounds
extremely pleased. "Perfectly muddy," he says again, shaking his head in
wonder.

On the sands, Dastra turns from watching R'nal and Azureth to see the brown
dragon make his appearance. "Shells, look at all the colos on 'im. He's
pretty, Dasil, isn't he?" She seems to have relaxed a little, the color
returning to her face, and she's smiling.

On the sands, Talene's eyes follow Roan, now R'nal out, and then she's
turning her attention back to the eggs. She notices the new brown, and a
smile lights up her face.

On the sands, Sovalin tugs at Christania's sleeve, his excitement
overtaking him. "Impressed. He Impressed." he near bouncies. "Lookit a
brown. He'd be perfect for you Chris!"

Farlioth warbles happily down towards the Impressions and the new brown
Hatchling.

K'tel winces at the loud bugle, "I'm still awake."

On the sands, "No it isn't happening, I decided I am dreaming. Everything
is a lot more fun that way" Aluren informs Aedevan with a wink. "Ohh a
brown, I thought they said you can't tell from the eggs. I think I just
earned an eighth mark? Which way is it going?"

On the sands, Lijan elbows Caralain. "There's a larger one, look, a brown."
Big dragonet. Excited teenager.

On the sands, Christania grins and looks at Sovalin, "really?"

On the sands, Caralain pokes Lijan, "Hey, there's a bronze coming up behind
to bite you." Cara accompanies the lie with a worried look, a tug, a glance
over shoulder.

On the sands, Terrel peers back at the brown, then over at the lava egg. So
close, so very close. He's been taking bets with himself as to what sort of
dragon curls within that fiery prison. Still, the brown spilling out
catches his time for a moment and he grins.

On the sands, Taralinda walks back to her spot with the other assistant
weyrling masters and flashes a big smile to the next pair as Miritha leads
them off.

On the sands, Lijan blinks and turns to look behind him, once again falling
for one of Caralain's pranks. He mutters darkly as there's nothing behind
him but sand.

On the sands, Hiriwa tears her gaze away from icy blue Azureth and it
promptly falls on the muddy hued brown. "Oh my." she murmurs with interest,
apparantly rather taken with that particular hatchling. Still her left hand
clutches at her plait.

On the sands, Kiryn turns his attention back to the eggs and newly-hatched
dragonents, despite the excitement for his fellow, or rather former
candidate friend. His eyes very much follow the path of Terrel's, it would
seem, and come to rest for a while on the shuddering lava egg, despite the
brown nearby.

On the sands, Caralain adds sweetly to Lijan, "And you haven't been using
my full name lately, is something wrong?" Go for two in a row.

Fluria licks her lips and wipes her hands on her leggings.

On the sands, Aedevan doesn't really notice the brown yet, he seems to be
gazing blankly in that direction, but doesn't really see anything.
"Azureth, Azureth..." he repeats to himself, smiling foolishly. "This is
amazing."

Fasolth rumbles out at the sands. This latest dragonet is a good one

Kassima only shakes her head at May, still rolling the name over her
tongue: "Azureth. I do like the Z-sound in there. And I'm glad I didn't
make a certain series of bets--" Does she glance towards Farlioth there?
Maybe. "That brown, now, he's a fine little fellow. Reminds me of Rhonneth
in color."

On the sands, Jenna chews on her lower lip, shifting awkwardly in the sand.
The brown is given a long look, before she sneezes faintly from the dust
and sand that that breeze keeps turning up.

Tarlo cheers for the first Impression and continues to wait breathlessly.

T'kar grins as his brown rumbles. "Ah, you approve because he looks like
you, eh?" He chuckles to himself.

On the sands, Lijan just glowers at Caralain. "I've no time for that now.
There's dragons on the sands. Ask me later, baker...cutie." At this point
he grins, and then ducks as a turbulent green comes racing by. That was a
fast one.

Aisling takes a sip of her wine, before nudging the pack at her feet. "I
have plenty if people would like a sip."

Farlioth flicks his tail lightly and gives Kassima a quick look, warbling
and whirling his eyes a bright blue and green.

On the sands, Saphan lets go of Lunan again and sighs. "I can't believe we
were right about that hatchling," he says to him.

On the sands, Caralain blushes and pokes Lijan again. "Yeah, yeah, look at
that brown over there, he just impressed to Vaelyn." Three in a row, even
if the second one didn't work.

K'ran ventures a bit closer to Aisling. "How much is plenty?" he asks, that
slender smile of amusement still lingering on his lips. "Far be it from me..."

On the sands, Turbulent Muddy River Brown creels loudly as he is freed from
his tiny prison. He lifts muddy wings that shimmer and shine in the glow of
the cavern. Lifting his magnificent head, he voice carries on the soft
breeze another creel as he struggles forward, wingtips dragging behind in
the hot sands with the illusion of the swirling, muddy eddies of a murky
river.

On the sands, Vaelyn seems to be getting slightly uncomfortable in her
boots now as well. One foot is picked up for a moment of ease from the
sands, then the other receives the same treatment. Her eyes remain locked
on a few eggs still jerking about and that little brown. Hearing her name,
she glances over towards Caralain curiously. "What?" she calls out.

On the sands, Sovalin's head bounces a little bit. "Brown. Yes, you'd be
good on Brown." his feet lift. Right, then left then the right one again.
"This is sooo much different than watching from the Galleries. Oh!"
Suddenly he turns his head, first looking towards the seats where he and
fellow candidates spent so many days watching the eggs harden. Then he
looks up and to the ledges where the dragons are watching. "I can't see
her!" he complains. His head whips around though as a creel catches his
attention.

On the sands, Hiriwa tracks the brown although she's faintly distracted for
a moment. "Two blues, two browns and green." she notes with vague surprise.
"Thought there would be more greens." Again, she speaks to no one in
particular unless it is herself.

Saulith croons soothingly down to the struggling little brown, stretching
her neck downward to follow his progress.

I'sai catches that, and calls over with not a little teasing pride, "And
that's a good way to be looking, eh T'kar? Fine blood, Fasolth's." To
Aisling, murmured, "In a moment, please; want to ask that Fortian what
-she- thinks," his nod marking Wryn.

Aisling laughs as she begins to reach down. "Red or white?" She asks, hand
resting on the pack flap.

On the sands, Lijan huhs and peers at Vaelyn, and then the brown. "Did he?
What's his name? Are you sure?" He'll never learn not to fall for
Caralain's lies, but he elbows the other baker. "You lied, that's mean."

On the sands, Terrel mutters to Kiryn, "That brown has Lunan written
absolutely all over him." He grins. "Or even Cara... I can see it."

On the sands, Lunan nods and takes a deep breath, not wanting even to blink
as he stares at the muddy brown. "Milque, Saph... 'member that mud puddle a
couple sevenday ago? He looks like he took a bath in it," he pipes up,
going silent after his brief realization and watching the said brown. "Lift
up your wings..." he answers the creels. "T'won't be so hot!"

On the sands, The molten lava egg makes the barest cracking sound, but
amidst all the other noises it may not be heard. What follows is another
series of shudders and then, in that nerve-wracking way eggs have, it stops
movement all together. Perhaps the creature inside is gathering strength?

On the sands, Christania grins at Sovalin, "as would you."

On the sands, Milque watches the brown trail away from the remnants of his
egg, glancing over briefly towards Lunan and flashing a grin at him,
"You're right, he does at that!"

On the sands, Saphan nods, as he takes in the brown. "He really does. Poor
thing, his wings..."

On the sands, Caralain hisses at Vaelyn, "Shhhh!" but is too late, and
squeaks at Lijan's elbowing. "Yow."

On the sands, T'shar trudges back out onto the sands from the weyrling
room, pausing to sidestep J'tal as he returns to the AWLM corner, scanning
the sands quickly. "Lots cooler in there," he remarks to no one in particular.

On the sands, Kiryn looks over the indicated dragonet, at Terrel's murmur,
and slowly nods his head. "Maybe." Yet his eyes shift again to the molten
egg, watching closely as it seems to prepare for something. Guess he likes
that one.

"Either," K'ran returns, reasonably, his gaze still trailing the little
brown's progress across the sands. "I'm not fussy, when there's no meal
involved. Whatever's on top, Aisling."

On the sands, Dastra jumps in surprise at the creel from the blue. Her eyes
grow wide and she watches on as he starts moving, looking from the dragonet
to her much larger brother. She takes a tiny shuffling step backward. Just
in case.

On the sands, Talene nods in agreement to Sovalin, "You'd be great on any
dragon, Chrissy." She smiles at Sovalin, "And you too!" She watches the
brown and winces as he creels.

On the sands, Terrel hops from foot to foot again as the lava egg still,
more out of frustration than the heat of the sands...although the soles of
his feet are bright red from the latter. "Come
on...hatch...hatch....hatch..." he chants, in hope for it to help somehow.

On the sands, Vaelyn places her hands behind her back now, fidgeting
quietly. She watches with curiously the molten lava egg. "I bet that one
will be bronze," states to Milque. "Where's that little brown moving to?"

T'kar grins back, barely catching I'sai's comment. "Of course. Best way to
look. I'm sure this fellow has good blood, although his sire couldn't match
Fasolth's," the brownrider returns the compliment.

On the sands, Taralinda nods her agreement to T'shar, "isn't that the truth
though?" She squints at the brown on the sands and then looks to the
candidates.

On the sands, Jenna swipes a hand across her forehead, keenly interested in
the brown's progress. "Maybe what, Kir?" Distracted, she looks at Terrel
and is unable to help a giggle.

On the sands, Dasil starts to shake his left foot vigorously to dislodge
the amount of sand that's settled in between his toes as he's watched the
movement of dragons and candidates in an stricken manner. Once the left
foot feels right again he shakes the right one in like fashion, all the
time his gaze tracks on the roaming brown.

Maylia's still leaning out far, holding tight to the leather that encircles
Tierth's neck above her. "There, that short one, with brown hair. Think
he'll get that brown?" She asks Kassi. Tierth tries to bring her riding
straps, by moving her neck, closer in so her lifemate's not leaning so far
over the edge, but the motion brings her closer to Lysseth - a gesture
that's quickly ceased. "I'll not fall, love." May reassures her dragon.

On the sands, Terranes Egg hatches a cherrywood brown dragonet, Brooding
Drumlin Egg a springtime green, and Finger Promontory Egg a playful blue
all cracking shell at the same time, though on opposite areas of the Sands.
The brown finds his lifemate in a thick girl from Fort Weyr, the blue
dances around this Candidate and that until it finds a tall young man from
Benden Hold, while the green takes her time, examining each and every
Candidate until she comes back around to Impress to a graceful girl from
Harper Hall.

On the sands, Aluren circles around Aedevan, using his own arm to wind him
up like a canine on a leash that is trying to escape. She peeks from behind
him at the brown "Poor baby!"

On the sands, Lijan elbows Caralain again. "Look, Terrel is hopping like
mad. That must be the thong he's wearing. Probably riding up or
something..." He blushes. Did he just say that? Good his mother didn't hear
that one. He looks up to the galleries and shifts nervously.

On the sands, Kiryn glances back to Jenna, his attention ripped away from
the now imobile molten egg. "Oh, he was just saying that the brown might go
for Cara, or Lunan. I dunno, there's no way to tell." His eyes drift back.
Yeah, hatch, damn you.

On the sands, Saphan snorts as he overhears Lijan, his eyes following the
quick Hatch-and-Impress going on around him.

Kassima's ears perk up at the magical B-word; craning in her seat, she
calls to T'kar, "He's got a wee bit of Benden blood in him, y'know, through
Erith; she's descended from Cyrseth, who's...." Oh, great, now they've done
it. They've hit the Factoid Button. Thankfully, Maylia distracts: "I'm nay
*sure*. I'm going t'say a girl for that lad, methinks. Nay real reason,
just because--hey, did you see that green just then?" Lysseth rustles her
wings and sidles over a discreet notch. She wouldn't want people getting
the wrong idea about her and Tierth.

On the sands, Vaelyn overhears Lijan's comment, peers at Terrel, and can't
help but laugh. "Someone's wearing a thing?"

On the sands, Caralain laughs a little louder than was meant, and quiets
quickly to murmur, "I wonder if it's for luck or something. 'Cause, ugh,
why else would anyone ever wear one?"

On the sands, Sovalin leans over in front of Chrissy to beam at Talene.
"Isn't this sooo cool. I...there is so much to watch." he says to both the
candidates beside him. He watches then as three eggs burst open and three
hatchlings Impress. "Oh!" is all he says, breathless.

On the sands, Aine heads out onto the sands toward the new impressees. She
congratulates them and leads them off the sands, offering a "There's food
in the holding room," pacification to their worried notes that the dragons
are hungry.

On the sands, Dastra stiffens back up when those three eggs hatch all of a
sudden, not so much as breathing as the green passes by her on the way to
the girl from the Harpers. She overhears Lijan's comment and turns over to
peer at Terrel.

On the sands, Terrel actually hears that, and turns to complain at Lijan.
"Hey! It is n....Agh!" He turns beet red, and tries to stifle his dancing
about. Great, so he manages to get embarassed on the Sands anyhow.

T'kar grins at Kassima. "Right, I'm aware. You can give me the full run
down later."

On the sands, Christania hehs and gives Sovalin a nervous look,
"Yeah...cool...right."

On the sands, Talene watches the Impressions go by, with a happy smile on
her face. She waves her congratulations, even though they probably don't
notice it, and turns her attention to the brown dragonet on the Sands.

On the sands, Milque looks back to watch the brown and gives a shrug and
calls out towards Vaelyn, "I don't know!" she calls back, not looking over,
there are dragons too close at hand to be taking her eyes off of them.

On the sands, Lijan can't hide his grin now. "Told you plain underwear is
much better than furry thongs!" And quickly shuts up again. He's as red as
his hair anyway.

On the sands, Turbulent Muddy River Brown shakes his head violently as if
to clear it of the confusion that fills it. He quickly shakes the excess
fluid from his wings before tucking them safely behind him, out of harms
way. With a deep harsh, bass voice, he announces once more his presence as
he studies the forms before him. The only a hint of hesitation, he moves
forward with purpose towards a small group of Candidates.

On the sands, Aedevan laughs wiht more ease this time. Turning to try and
look at Aluren, though she hovers behind his shoulder, "They're not even
headed this way yet.." he chuckles. "And besides, how can you Impress if
you don't let the dragons find you?"

On the sands, T'shar blushes slightly as he overhears snatches of the
candidates' conversation, and shifts his weight slowly, like he's trying
*not* to adjust something.

On the sands, Aine emerges from the holding room and whispers loudly to
T'shar, "What's going on?"

On the sands, "Uh oh, here he comes," utters Kiryn, as he watches the muddy
brown start to move in that all-to familiar determined fashion. Now it's
just a question of where he's going.

On the sands, Hiriwa watches, smileing at the second brown's Impression and
grinning widly at the green's. "Oh well done!" she murmurs, knwoing they
are too far away to hear a shout. Now, it's back to the brown and she
impatiently rakes strays wisps of hair back from her face, holding them
against her head in order to have a clear view.

On the sands, The molten lava egg doesn't move. Won't even twitch. The only
movement that can be seen is a small egg shard falls from near the top.
Within there is only darkness, but it is only a matter of moments. Twitch.
See?

On the sands, Lunan spins in a full, slow circle, trying to watch all the
dragonets at once. "Look't that one... over there, too! And look! That
one!" Suddenly he whips around to face the source of the bass voice. "He's
loud /and/ muddy," he exclaims appreciatively.

On the sands, Dasil gives Terrel the old eye as well, and then snickers
into his hand, "Thong!" The image, once planted in his mind is hard to
shake, no matter how gruesome. Only the movement of the brown dragon and a
good poke from a candidate nearby bring him back to some semblance of the
good guard he really is.

On the sands, Saphan holds his breath as the brown makes a beeline.

I'sai sketches that brownrider an easy bow, pale eyes warm with like humor;
"And let me congratulate you again for that wingsecond's spot, though I'd
think you'd have learned better than to take it," he adds - "Mmm, and that
brown of yours looks as if he's getting somewhere at last, too. Those
others just hatched and _went_."

On the sands, T'shar replies, rather too quickly, "I don't know!" He looks
over at the eggs and says, "Oh, look, a brown." How interesting.

On the sands, Caralain leans on Lijan, lifting up one foot to adjust a
sandal. "I'm wearing a thong too," Cara mutters naughtily. Falsely. How
many times in one hatching?

On the sands, Christania gasps as the brown starts to decide, "This could
be it!"

On the sands, Talene watches with hopeful eyes, she can never hide her
hope, as the dragon heads towards the Candidates. She goes back to chewing
her lip, glancing up and down the Candidate line to see where he's going.

On the sands, Dastra keeps on peering at Terrel, giggling at his protesting
comment. "Betcha you were right," she whispers to Lijan. Then she has to
stifle her yelp then the brown makes that terribly loud trumpet and starts
moving toward the Candidates.

On the sands, Vaelyn gingerly steps to the side, allowing the brown pleanty
of room for manuvering where ever he's running off to. "Hey, did my
favorite egg hatch yet?" She turns to look, but can't spy it amidst all the
whit robes.

On the sands, Aine eyes T'shar a moment, then shrugs and shakes her head.

On the sands, "Spotted furry canine thong" Aluren scorrects Dasil's
snicker. Aedevan gets a frown "I don't think they need to get within
clawing distrance to bespeak, umm do they?"

On the sands, Ariandra misses all the chatter about thongs. She's too busy
trying to dodge flailing dragonets and skittish candidates. It's like a
wherry roundup, or someone trying to herd felines.

On the sands, Lijan grins to Dastra. "Of course I was, little lady. I tend
to be right." Oh yeah. As Caralain murmurs to him, he proves that one can
indeed flush more, and he just stares and swallows. "Um, really? Whoa."

On the sands, Terrel tries very deliberately to -stop- paying attention to
the other candidates, and goes back to watching the molten egg with an
almost obsessive eye. Well, if nothing else, the suspense of watching the
shell splinter so painfully slowly helps him ignore all the mocking he's
getting. He's such a dark red, he's about matching his hair.

On the sands, Taralinda frowns slightly and eyes the candidates, as though
in fear of one of them being mauled while they're so concerend over what
they're underclothes look like. "...jays...." She takes a small step to one
side, keeping an alert eye on the dragons.

On the sands, Lunan's nose scrunches up and he turns for the quickest
second to glare at those who're talking about thongs. "Cantcha stop with
all that flirty gross underwear stuff even now? You're gonna gross out the
new hatchlings!" he whines. He quiets quickly as the brown speeds up, and
looks ready to dive out of the way.

On the sands, Caralain snickers. "-No-. Ew."

On the sands, Thongs? Nope, Sovalin knows nothing about thongs. He's far
enough away and it's loud enough that he doesn't hear much besides what is
going on beside him. "Did he Impress yet? Shells, I can't see him anymore."
he's calmed down considerably and stands still besides Chrissy.

"Why in the world does Terrel look like a beet?" Fluria wonders to herself,
one brow raised as she shakes her head.

T'kar chuckles at I'sai. "Ah well, Fasolth has always had ambitions. And
we're still trying out that knot, I imagine Kassima will get rid of me when
she figures out I don't really do any work." He laughs again, then peers
down towards the sands, trying to keep some vague idea of what's going on.

On the sands, Kiryn's with Terrel. Better things to do than talk about
underwear. Like oggle the lava egg. It's almost more interesting than that
brown, if not more so, and the young man's eyes do a noticable bit of
jumping, back and forth. It's all so interesting, he just can't make up his
mind. "C'mon... hatch." See, him and the smith will do verbal
encouragements, and that'll speed things up.

On the sands, Lijan sighs. Maybe it's disappointment. Or the heat. Or the
dragonet that just passed him by to Impress a stout (he'd call it fat)
holder lad from some remote hold in the Nerat area. But there's that brown
still.

On the sands, Turbulent Muddy River Brown makes his way as best he can
towards his goal. He lifts his harsh, brassy voice once again, as if
calling out to his lifemate. Neatly tucked wings droop as he forgets to
take care and drags them helpless behind, his only thought on the young
Candidate coming steadily into view. At last!

On the sands, Hiriwa waits for the next new weyrling to be revealed and in
the meantime, a little of her attention slides to the other Candidates.
"Thong?" is asked in mild puzzlement. "I missed that."

On the sands, Dastra nods soberly to Lijan. "Guess maybe you are," she
says, her eyes trained back on the brown dragon that's makng all that noise
and doing all that movement out there. "Yeah, Lunan. Yeah, that's be nice,
wouldn't it?"

On the sands, Jenna ohs at the brown, "Has he found someone? Who is it!
Listen to the lungs on him!"

On the sands, Christania gasps and watches.

On the sands, Vaelyn leans over, pulling lightly on the tongue of one of
her boots to straighten it. As the brown emits his decree, she glances up
to see where he's running to.

On the sands, "His name is Toranth!" Saphan shouts.

On the sands, The Molten Lava egg rocks a bit, then lies still. All at
once, a head bursts out of the top! A small croon comes from the hatchling
as he works to get the rest of himself out of his confining birth-home.
Next a foreleg, then the other, and... a tail? One huge push and his
hindlegs are out, though his body is still enclosed in the egg. He gives a
big shake and he's free with a small bugle of triumph!

On the sands, Velvety Midnight Sky Blue:
Deep in the sleepy hours of the night, Pern rests secure in the knowledge
that the stars twinkling in the velvety sky above are watching over her.
Immaculately consistent in its shade, his color is a perfectly even
midnight blue. A spattering of starlight sweeps across his jawline and down
his neck where it tapes into a swirl of mist. Each ridge from the top of
his head to his tail seems to have its own constellation of tiny stars. On
his hindquarters, another swirl of stardust runs from his flank to his knee
where it gives way to the soft velvet blue that is his true color. And his
wings, oh his wings! The universe itself could not hold so many pinpoints
of light, paling in comparison to the glory that is his wings. Long of neck
and limb, he's sure to be an arrow in flight when he reaches maturity. For
now, he's a tangle of neck, limb, and tail that still needs to grow into
his length. Glory aside, he is sure to dance amongst the stars with his
lifemate.

On the sands, Christania cheers for Saphan.

On the sands, Aluren winces at the brassy bellow "Oh, that is F'ren's
lifemate's son alright. Down to the voice."

Kaelyn smiles as she sees that Saphan has impressed. "Way to go Saphan"

On the sands, The fertile atoll egg shakes back and forth, far more
vigorously than it did before. And the back-and-forthing goes on longer,
long enough and hard enough to actually roll the egg a little. But, once
again, it slows and then stops.

On the sands, Sovalin moves his eyes towards a rather loud sound. "There
you are." he mutters. "Now....oh my. He chose Saphan!" Again he hollers out
in triumph for him.

Kichevio whoops loudly as the brown _finally_ chooses. "Go Saphan!!!"

Kassima gives T'kar a thoughtful look that can't be very reassuring, and
bends to scribble something on that hide. "That brown's making a rather
quick dash; either he's found something he's looking for or he's got a
taste for--*oh*. Toranth? Shells. Reminds me of...." She trails off,
glancing towards Maylia with a wry smile.

Kheprith bugles again as the brown impresses.

Talisha glances up, then smiles over at Fluria. "Who knows? He's your
brother right?..Everytime I see him he's blushing."

On the sands, Talene jumps into the air and whoohoos for Saphan!

On the sands, The desolate caldera egg gives a sharp and sudden tip into
the sand, the surface vibrating from within by a sharp tap-tap-tap that
makes the surface of the shell shudder as the life inside struggles with
its confines.

On the sands, Vaelyn smiles wildly, spying Saphan and his new little brown.
"All right!!" she cheers, though the presence of another blue has her
turned fully towards the little critter.

Nepenth bugles at the new blue hatchling

"Ha!" K'ran gives a short, victorious cry as that lava egg hatches a blue.
"Got some marks coming to me for -that- one."

On the sands, Milque smiles as the brown finally chooses someone off to the
right, oh, it's Saphan. She gives a little bounce on her feet and then
looks back as another blue has entered the fray.

On the sands, Caralain jerks Lij's arm again and bounces up and down, robe
flapping like some obscene bird. "Look! Toranth! Saphan.. ooh!"

On the sands, Lunan turns from chastising the others to listen to the brown
- then cheers! as Saphan Impresses. "Toranth! Didja hear? Toranth found
Saph!" He hops onto his tip-toes to watch, moving away from the other
Candidate slowly so he can enjoy his new lifemate. "Congrats," he murmurs,
eyes sparkling. "Congrats!"

On the sands, "Almost as loud as Qi... Yeah, Saphan!" Kiryn interrupts
himself, mid-thought, and calls out as another one of his ex-fellows
impresses. Then his eyes snap around to watch as the molten egg bursts.

Wryn leans forward in unison with her lifemate, peering over the edge of
the ledge across the sands to see who will impress...ah, Saphan, "Toranth.
Good sturdy name, doncha think, Aari?" The green dragon warbles a quick
response and then resumes humming for the newest blue arrival.

On the sands, Jenna is unable to conceal a quick flash of disappointment,
but then as Saphan announces the name she jumps up and down, whooping! "I
knew Saph would impress! I just knew it!"

On the sands, Hiriwa squeals again in surprise although she's plainly
happily surprised. "Saphan! S'phan!" she calls, bouncing up and down again
before her gaze is drawn back to the newest hatchling.

On the sands, Terrel starts to look over at the brown...but the blue
spilling out drags his attention back...ink spilling out of fire. Blue!
Well..not what he expected either way, but... "Faranth, he's gorgeous," he
comments to the candidate beside him.

On the sands, Dastra blinks when that loud brown stops before Saphan and
chooses him. "Saphan! Oh, wow! He found you. That's great!" She beams over
at her friend and then turns back to look toward the eggs and the new blue
who's appeared.

K'tel smiles, "Treena will be happy. Nice looking brown too."

On the sands, Aedevan's face spreads into a wide smile, "Oh Sapan! He
Impressed the brown! Congratulations Saphan! Wait, that's not his name
now.. what is it?" He turns to Aluren, directing his question to the hiding
candidate.

On the sands, Taralinda smiles to Saphan and Toranth, stepping through the
sand towards them, "Congratulations." Motioning towards the removed area
for the new Weyrlings, "If you two will just follow me."

On the sands, Lijan cannot help it and bounces with Caralain. "Toranth is a
really neat name," he says. And starts looking for the next dragonet that
might be anywhere close to them.

On the sands, Velvety Midnight Sky Blue throws his head backwards and
around the watch the egg depart his body. Now he stands there, in all his
nightime glory, and takes pause. A moment to look about as he raises
star-speckled wings high to dry. And then that first step is taken. Ever so
careful and perfect. Then another...and another...heading for the line of
candidates. Then he pauses and opens his great maw to let out a throaty
sound -- half croon and half trumpet. He is here.

On the sands, S'phan's face lights up, and he and his new lifemate follow
Taralinda.

"Fair enough, fair enough," I'sai accedes, and suggests in a lower voice,
"Don't let your handwriting get too readable. Then you have to write all
sorts of things and - oh, shards, no one I know. Yet. Well, they'll be
flying soon enough to even Telgar... Good lungs on him too, don't you think?"

On the sands, Taralinda steps into the holding room.

On the sands, S'phan steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Kevalth steps into the holding room.

On the sands, No trace of leaves anymore, unless some linger on the ledges
yet. They're ground to dust, mixed in with the sands in a futile
fertilizing. But the sands give up life, with every clutch the crop is
delivered. The wind dips down to create a tiny dust devil in the bowl,
sending a fine storm of sand over the gold and bronze off to the side,
obscurring their view for precious seconds. Erith bugles, but Zyanth
overrides it with his trademark clarion call, full and brassy, ringing out
over the bowl in concern and exaltation both.

Nepenth bugles again to the little blue offering encouragment.

On the sands, Sovalin rocks on his heels. "He is a loud one too." he
comments. "But I just looove that color on him."

Kaelyn smiles up at her beloved dragon and scritches his eyeridges,
enjoying the excitement that her lifemate is feeling.

Fluria grins as the blue hatched and reaches back to wipe bangs out of her
eyes. "Thats an elegant one." She comment to herself.

On the sands, Dasil hoots out his good wishes to Saphan, and then grins
over at Dastra. "See, it's not so scary! Look at that blue there!" Vision
tracks the arrival of the darkly hued blue while Dasil picks a stray leaf
out of his hair, "What the?" He asks even as he tosses the debris aside.

On the sands, Vaelyn watches the blue's every step, quite taken by his
graceful movements for such a newborn. "He's absolutely gorgeous," she
breaths.

On the sands, Lunan watches S'phan incredulously, proudly. "He did it, I
knew it!" He turns to admire the latest hatchlings, but looks after his
friend a few times before ducking his head and sighing. With a grin, he
turns to grin at the croon-trumpeter. "He sure wants to be seen!" he
chuckles to Milque.

On the sands, "Listen to that one," Cara enthuses. "He's blue, too." Such a
pechant for stating the obvious. Letting go the grasp on Lijan, Cara shakes
that robe out again and wipes sweat off forehead.

On the sands, Dastra winces at the loud trumpeting from this next blue.
"Shells, he's loud, Dasil," she whispers to her brother, keeping a wary
watch on the loud one. "But he is kinda pretty really. Guess he wants us
all to see it too."

On the sands, Aine steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Jenna claps hands over her ears at the bugles from dam and
sire. "Woah! They're hatching so fast." A quick, nervous look is darted up
to the stands, perhaps attempting to pick faces out of the crowd.

Tarlo cheers for Saphan, but her eyes still keep close watch on friends.

On the sands, Aine steps out of a small cavern off of the Hatching Sands.

On the sands, Taralinda steps out of a small cavern off of the Hatching Sands.

On the sands, Milque flashes a smile over at Lunan, then looks back to the
young dragons moving about. She doesn't seem to have heard what Lunan said,
her ears still ringing from all the noise.

On the sands, Taralinda slips back out and takes a stand beside T'shar,
"They're very fine pairs." She notes in a hushed voice.

On the sands, Lijan gives Caralain another sidelong glance. He's really
good at that. "So I see. That it's a blue. Looks different than the other
one too."

On the sands, Caralain bunches hands on the robe again and grins at Lijan.
"Your robe's stuck in the back of your underwear."

On the sands, Velvety Midnight Sky Blue swivels his head to and fro in a
slow and deliberate movement. Yellowy facet whirling slowly for the moment.
Those massive wings pull back against his side in an elegant manner,
drapping like a cloak as they drag slightly upon the sand. He does not
notice as he walks, not runs, right up to one candidate. For a moment he
looks, then snorts and turns to move down the line, his tail sweeping back
and forth and kicking sand onto feet.

On the sands, Christania watches the blue with baited breath.

T'kar nods agreement to I'sai, catching the latest hatching. He grins over
Kassima's way as well, all innocent cheer. "Hmmm. Been a long time since
I've seen one of these. I only half-caught our last one." His comments are
more or less to himself.

On the sands, Kiryn's eyes track the blue now, and the motion of his feet
on the sands becomes a little more noticable. It might be the sands, or it
might just be nerves. He looks sidelong at the two candidates standing with
him in turn, and then back. "Man..." Then a blink as he notices the
energetic blue's movements. Uh oh.

Talisha murmurs to herself, "He's a rather hauty one.." as she watches the
sands, and more important her three friends

On the sands, Vaelyn chuckles quietly. "It's like he's got the mannerisms
of a Lord Holder." She continues to watch his progress, flashing Kiryn and
the others a little grin.

On the sands, And indeed, Lijan's robe is doing just that. But as he's
heard enough of Caralain's blatant lies for the night, he just snorts and
ignores the other baker. "Right." So much about looking good on the sands.

On the sands, Talene follows Christania's lead and just watches now,
staring. Her lip chewing continues on, almost as if she doesn't know she's
doing it.

On the sands, T'shar grins. "Fort dragons always are."

Fluria strokes Qirith's side and nods. "Maybe not haughty, just careful."
She says in reply to Talisha's comment, not taking her eyes off the grounds.

Tarlo looks down on the Hatching, completely unaware that she's got tear
streaks on her cheeks as she smiles and cheers for each newly Impressed pair.

On the sands, Terrel is all but riveted on the blue at this point. "Look at
the -wings- on him. It's a good thing he's a blue... if he was a bronze
they'd be so huge he'd block out the sun!" He steps back a little, just a
bit of nervousness rising as the blue shambles purposefully down the line,
though he does crane his head forward a bit to see if he can get a better
look. "Just like the night sky over the Starstones."

On the sands, Lunan is bouncing on his toes, watching that blue. "He knows
what he wants, too..." he notes, watching it walk decisively up and down
the line of Candidates. "Picky..." he murmurs.

On the sands, Lijan pouts. "Did you see, that blue just snorted at me. I
don't like him."

On the sands, "What a Lord Holder that blue is, elegant and rude" Aluren
giggles. Hopefully not so loudly that any Lords in the stands will hear,
since she was speaking to Aedevan.

On the sands, Milque watches one dark blue dragon, "He sure is stately,
right out of the egg, isn't he Lunan?" She glances over to her left as she
points out the blue.

On the sands, Jenna follows Kiryn's look, and automatically tenses. That
blue is coming awful close to those white robes. Vaelyn's smile is caught
and returned nervously, even as she shifts, trying to keep an eye out for
any sudden charging.

On the sands, Dastra watches raptly as the blue makes his stately way
toward the Candidates, staying quite still as he passes by her. She shakes
off her feet afterward, however. That errant tail brushed enough onto her
feet to almost cover them.

On the sands, Ring of Fire egg rattles and rolls, taking it's time to Hatch
right under Erith's nose. The frisky young brown who hatches pauses to take
a good look at his dam, bugling up at her happily before bounding off
towards the Candidates. He falls over, picks himself up, dusts himself off
and bugles again, this time looking right into the eyes of a laughing lad
from the Seacraft.

On the sands, Caralain pokes at Lijan's arm. "No, no, listen, I'm not
kiddin'. Your robe's stuck in your underwear." A pause. "Nice underwear,"
Cara snickers.

On the sands, Sovalin stands still once again simply standing and watching.
"He was a happy brown." he indicates to the brown who hatched and Impresses.

On the sands, The fertile atoll egg trembles, almost imperceptibly, like a
fidgeting child staying out of the eyes of its parents when told to sit
down and stay quiet.

On the sands, Aedevan chuckles, "Nah, he's better than a Lord Holder," he
replies to Aluren quietly, eyes following the blue.

On the sands, Vaelyn watches the ring of fire egg split apart. "Oh, that
was one of my favorites!" The fertile atoll egg catches her eye as well
before she turns her gaze back to see where that blue has gotten off to.

On the sands, "Cara, can't you stop doing that, just tonight? You can make
fun of me another time. My mom's here, I need to look dignified." Lijan
runs a hand through his hair and just shakes his head at the other baker.

"Who knows, it could be you down on those sands again someday," I'sai
offers T'kar, with a nod towards Farlioth's perch. "It's happened. Just a
moment, though," and he's taking the slow route past other observers with
an excuse-me here and there, angling Wryn's way. "Saw your knot; anything
you think we should particularly look out for?"

On the sands, Velvety Midnight Sky Blue takes another pause now. This time
by a girl and looks up at her and then he seems to note something behind.
With an excited half trumpet he pushes past the two candidates. For a
moment he pauses and then circles around behind one other. There is a whuff
at that candidate's robe hem, blowing it upwards in an almost playful
manner. But it is more to get fabric out of the way of big hands. Which are
now nuzzled tenderly.

On the sands, Christania mms and shakes her head, "Jacob isn't going to
like that."

On the sands, Lunan follows Milque's gaze, chuckling. "He is, you're
right," he answers her. "Look... he's found someone, I think," he mumbles.
His head is wagging back and forth as he looks from new hatchlings to the
blue.

On the sands, Caralain looks skyward, then reaches over and just gives
Lijan's robe a tug to put it in the proper place. That done, that blue is
sought after with eager eyes.

Fluria gasps and places a hand over her mouth as she goes wide eyed and
starts to hop up and down with excitement. "OH! OHOHOH!" She says and
points at the impression below, unable to really speak for all her excitement.

Kichevio stares down at the blue, about an inch from slipping off Saulith's
forelg. "What's he doing, and who's he picking?"

On the sands, Terrel blinks and looks at the inky head shoved between his
oversized palms. Frankly, he looks like he's just about to cry.
"Lestith...." he mutters, then clears his throat. Louder, "He says his name
is Lestith," he announces, though his voice kind of cracks at the end of
it. Then, rather all-a-sudden, he throws his arms down around the blue's
neck, dropping to his knees.

On the sands, Kiryn does indeed have to dodge, just as he'd planned, as the
blue comes up to Terrel. But that doesn't stop him from grinning, as he
knows very much what it means. "Terrel!" It's a very loud yell, filled with
happiness for his friend. "Terrel, he's wonderful, good job!"

On the sands, Talene smiles as she sees the blue has found who he's looking
for. And it's Terrel! Her smile turns into a grin as she waves her
congratulations!

On the sands, Vaelyn waits patiently for a name to be announced, looking
slightly more dejected as yet another fine blue passes her by. "Who... "
she starts, then grins brightly. "Terrel! Congratulations!"

Tarlo cheers, "Congratulations, Terrel!" she claps excitedly.

On the sands, Dastra blinks as the blue passes by again, watching his
progress and watching him finally stop and blow air up a robe. She giggles
at the sight of this and then beams when she hears Terrel. "Oh, gosh.
Terrel! He's real pretty! Congratulations!"

On the sands, The Fertile Atoll egg sweats, if an egg could sweat, seeming
to have water forming over its surface. Perhaps that's the heat of the
sands, perhaps not. A foot bursts out of the back of the egg, then a tail
and the other hind foot. Scooting out backwards, the young dragon pulls
itself out of the egg and what do you know? There he is!

Talisha does jump up right then, bouncing around on her toes. "Go Terrel!"
she shouts.

On the sands, Deep Sea Blue:
The sea, hours away from any land, is a deep blue, shining when the sun
falls upon it, and darker under clouds. Such are the colors of this
hatchling: The deepest colors of the sunlit ocean along most of his sides
and back and nec, but a darker coloring under the wings. Subtle streaks of
a slightly greener blue mingle in, here and there - barely visible except
close up. And along the ridges of the neck, the deep color lightens just a
touch, the brighter blue of the deep sea seen closer up.

On the sands, Sovalin sees who the blue has stopped in front of and beams.
"Talene! Allright!"

On the sands, Jenna nearly falls on her rump, looking for all the world
that her heart stopped for a moment as the blue stopped for a moment, then
pushed past. Then she bellows excitedly, "Terrel! Lestith! Oh, he's
beautiful, Terrel!"

K'tel looks back at Wryn, "I thought he was after your Kiryn there for a
moment."

On the sands, Lestith :rumbles deep in his throat and those star-touched
wings flutter again. As he is hugger by his lifemate the blue lets out
another oh-so-happy croon. Again he nuzzles at burgundy hair, beggining to
nibble at the ends as hunger takes over.

Clinging to Indrath's riding straps for balance while leaning precariously
out from the end of the ledge, K'ran chuckles easily. "Good for him, good
for him. Boy was a friend of yours, Tali? I'll have to split my winnings
with 'im."

On the sands, Christania wows, "Another blue!"

Nepenth bugles once more rearing up on his hinds at the new blue hatchling.

Greylin cheers for Terrel, and Kheprith bugles for the acquaintance of his
rider.

On the sands, Milque flashes a bright smile down towards Terrel and the
blue, bouncing a bit "Oh good, Terrel will be a good one!" Then her eyes
flick back to the hatching dragons, stepping a bit to the side just to make
sure her feet are ready to move her out of the way if need be.

Fluria is bouncing and turns to grap Sonya in a hug! "TERREL! MY BROTHER!"
Not very weyrwomany behaviour, but it is family.

On the sands, The medial moraines egg shudders mightily, spraying fine
grains of sand on the eggs nearby. It begins to show the first signs of
cracks just before it falls quiet again.

On the sands, Terrel laughs...another set of teeth to chew at his hair.
"Come on," he tells the celestial dragonet. "Let's get you something to
eat." A wave is given to the others as he leads his newfound companion off
the sands.

On the sands, T'shar waits for the initial hugging-and-crying moment of
realization to pass and then steps over to the newly impressed pair.
"Congratulations Terrel, er, T'rel?" he tries, then gestures for them to
follow him. "Why don't you and Lestith follow me."

On the sands, Lunan does a hop. "Terrel did it! Lestith! He's Impressed!"
he tells Milque insistently. "Oh, everyone's Impressing, look't that!" Duh,
that's what happens at hatchings. Another Candidate points that out to him,
but Lunan just shrugs. "Yeah, but... still. An' look't, another blue!" He
goes back to hopping, eyes darting to the shaking egg until it stills.

Talisha flashes a grin across to K'ran, "Friend..yes." before she settles
back down, perching upon one of Imanath's forelegs.

On the sands, Talene grins as she turns her gaze to the new blue, waving to
him in spite of herself. She nudges Christania, "There's another one!" She
says excitedly.

On the sands, Caralain tugs happily at Lijan, "And Terrel. Gee, Lijan,
everyone's impressing. You will next, I bet."

Wryn notices I'sai, but pauses for a moment to cheer for Terrel. She then
looks back at him and smiles, "Well, its hard to tell with the dragons,
isn't it. I'm wagering on Kiryn, the sailor boy there. And that Dasil, he's
a guard from up Tillek way, I think." She glances at K'tel, "Somedragon
will find him, I'm almost certain."

Kaelyn smiles at Fluria. "Congratulations"

On the sands, T'rel nods, following T'shar.

On the sands, Dasil cheers for Terrel with one arm raised, he looks eagerly
towards the nearest candidate and grins, "See that?" which of course, most
everyone has. He takes a breath in and makes the seems along the sides of
his robe creak in protest.

On the sands, T'shar steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Vaelyn smiles brightly as another favorite egg cracks,
revealing a beautiful blue. "So many of them. I was right to guess blue for
all the eggs." Dimples form in her cheeks as she smiles towards the newest
hatchling.

On the sands, Lijan looks behind him at the tugging, then glowers at
Caralain. "Shards, I missed the Impression. Never complain again that my
mother groped you. You tugged at my robe!" He shuts up at Caralain's words.
"Dunno, you might be next. You go green."

On the sands, T'rel steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Lestith steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Sovalin ohs softly. "Another blue. He's as wonderfull as the
others one's." his eyes shift though towards the eggs still waiting to
hatch. "Hasn't hatched yet." he murmurs.

On the sands, "Good job," Kiryn calls again, before his eyes are called to
yet another egg-explosion. It's going fast now, and the tall young man
settles back on his feet, from the tense position he'd taken to avoid the
passing blue. A glance back to Jenna, just to make sure she didn't impress
without him noticing, and he calms down to wait.

On the sands, Taralinda smiles and wipes at her eye a bit as she watches
the emotional display, then pulls herself together and watches the blue
make his progress through the candidates.

Sonya returns Fluria's hug tightly. "That's wonderfull! He's got an awesome
blue!"

K'tel smiles and looks back at the sands, "Still more to go. Very possible."

"Kiryn?" I'sai squints. "Dasil I know - well, all right, I've met him,
seems we've a friend in common - " he follows her glance to K'tel, "You
know him too? Or is it the other one?"

Fluria pulls apart and continues to clap happily. "OH! Oh Terrel! Blue!"
She sits down and lets out a sigh.

K'tel glances back at I'sai, "Me? Oh, no. I just heard about him from
Wryn." He peers back down, "I knew Saphan...He impressed the brown earlier."

On the sands, Deep Sea Blue pulls back from the shards of his shell, eyeing
it warily as he backs far enough away to see it properly. Comically, a
single piece is on his head, stuck above one headknob. He shakes his head
out to dislodge it, then noses at another piece before looking around.

On the sands, Aedevan lets out a sigh as Terrel, well T'rel, Impresses.
"Another one of us gone, Aluring... But he's a beautiful dragon, Lestith."

On the sands, The shalesscape egg twitches and shudders. Then it lies still
again. Oh wait, no...just the bottom is quivering.

On the sands, "Ew, green," Cara says, not really sounding displeased at
all. "They're fast though." And can't you just see Cara proddy, Lij? You
should know better. "An' I was just gettin' your robe out of your underwear."

On the sands, From where the sand is less likely to heave and huff,
Ariandra stands, surrounding by only memories of other hatchings. A hand
has come up to her mouth, knuckles grasped between her teeth, tears sliding
freely over the gold blush of finely powdered hatching remains. She watches
the mad tear to and fro, the trampling of shards into tiny bits, the yells
of happiness, the speaking silence of disappointment.

T'kar pats his brown cheerfully as he just stands there, watching quietly.

On the sands, Dastra tugs on the shoulder of her overlarge robe, pulling it
back up as she begins to fidget a little, shaking her feet to relieve some
of the discomfort from the heat emanating from the Sands. She watches the
newest hatchling make its appearance, giggling at sight of the piece of
shell on its head.

On the sands, The desolate caldera egg turns and rolls from side to side,
making a little valley in the sands as, thus far, the efforts of breaking
free prove to be futile. A single black line creeps over the egg's surface,
spreading quickly.

"Now there's a bet I *should've* taken," Kassi mock-gripes, still nursing
her wineskin with a hint of misty-eyedness. "Brown rather than blue, and
that Terrel, I'd a feeling he might end up on blue. Nay clue who this blue
lad might be meant for. I need t'do more *research* next time."

On the sands, Sovalin grasps Christania's hand and yanks. "It moved it
moved it moved!" he announces. "It moved." once again for good measure.

On the sands, Christania meeps a little and looks where Sovalin is talking
about, "Shells and shards be had!"

Wryn chuckles, "Yes, I suppose we do..." Her eyes are drawn back to the
sands, and towards Ariandra and Erith. She frowns for a moment and tilts
her head back towards Aarieth, who doesn't seem too concerned. Just humming
continually.

On the sands, Vaelyn chuckles softly, eyeing the blue. "He's definately a
pretty one." She turns a bit, looking over towards the others to see who's
still out here on the sands with her.

On the sands, The shalesscape egg shudders and twitches in its sandy
depression.

I'sai spares something of a smile for Fluria, cousin Laidan's name briefly
on his lips - then, "Which brown? I'm afraid I'm not acquainted with your
Saphan... or, now, wait. I'm sorry; heat gets to my memory. Toranth the name?"

On the sands, Lijan watches the blue and that shell on his headknob, then
grins. "Yes, Cara, green. I just know it."

On the sands, Lunan can't help it, the Deep Sea Blue hatchling has his
attention and his chuckles. "Didja see that egg shell stuck to it?" he asks
Milque. "OH! That one shook... a little. It's gonna hatch!" His voice
cracks as he points to the shalescape egg, and Lunan shuts his mouth, hand
clamped over it in horror. He looks around to see if anyone noticed.

On the sands, Aluren tugs Aedevan's hand laughing "Don't call me that. And
T'rel will make a wonderful rider. I keep missing things. I want eyes in
the back of my head too." So she compensates by trying to slowly spin in
place.

Saulith dips her head and nuzzles Kich, who strokes the green hide
lovingly. "You were once that small...I remember. You nearly ran me over."

On the sands, Sovalin points to the Shalescape egg. "I was looking at it
and it moved! See! It did it again. I talked to that egg, ya know." he
falls silent, sighing deeply as he watches.

On the sands, Jenna manages to steady herself as Terrel, now T'rel makes
his way off the sands. She edges a bit closer to Kiryn, taking a deep
breath. "It's going so quick." Sweat has begun to stain the back of her
robe, and she swipes again at her forehead.

On the sands, Milque grabs the sides of her robe, taking a deep breath to
calm herself down a moment. Then she steps over closer Lunan to point out
some more of the shaking eggs. She knows he can see them too, but it's just
too exciting to be completely rational.

On the sands, Talene murmurs, "Shards.." as she stares at the blue. She
then glances at Vaelyn, nudging Christania, "I bet this one's looking for
Vaelyn." She says with confidence in her voice. She then nods to emphasize
her point, turning back to the blue to stare and watch it's every movement.

K'tel nods at I'sai, "That's the one. Toranth is a good strong name for a
brown."

On the sands, Christania grins at Talene, "Or you."

On the sands, Caralain sighs and fidgets from one leg to the other.
"Haven't been any over here for a while. Maybe we oughta move." The
candidate leans forward to see where the blue's gotten to.

K'ven carefully slides down from Tzanth's back, giving his lifemate an
affectionate pat on the shoulder.

On the sands, Kiryn sidesteps a little, moving into some of the room
vacated by the new bluerider, with a glance back at Jenna as he does. "It
seems that way, once it starts. Like I said... everyone was complaining
this would never come..." his eyes trail back out to the clutch, "... but
now that it has, it goes by much too quickly." Memories coming to the
surface, there.

K'lynt unstraps himself from Usselth's back, and slidesdown his carefully
angled forelimb to land solidly on the ground.

Zmeth rumbles a greeting to Tzanth.

Kassima murmurs almost to herself, "'Twas a good, strong name for a green,
too. Or its close kin was." One gulp of wine follows before her hand picks
up speed, jotting notes against that hide.

K'tel looks back and waves cheerfully at K'ven.

On the sands, Vaelyn looks between Christania, Talene and the blue. She
waits patiently to see which direction the little fellow is jogging off to.

"Quite strong," I'sai agrees - only to add, light humor in his eyes, "As
Torinth was strong for a green, everyone's told me. And told me. And told
me. Too bad Myk had sweeps, all things considered. Well, it bodes well for
Saph... S'phan."

On the sands, The heat gets to him by now and Lijan shifts from one foot to
the other. Those soles aren't thick enough. "Move? Where to? You can't just
walk up to them, you know."

On the sands, Talene blinks at Christania, "Me? Nah." She shakes her head,
"Vaelyn, most definately." She smiles and pokes Christania gently, "Or
you." A smirk goes to the Candidate.

Wryn looks up and spies K'lynt, her smile brightening, "Evening, clutch
brother."

On the sands, "Probably 'cause of Dasil's feet," Dastra mutters to
Caralain. "Warned 'em about that." She, too, watches the little blue.

Kichevio manages to tear her eyes away from the action long enough to wave
and grin at K'ven. "Come watch this blue! Not _quite_ as handsome as
Tzanth, but still a looker."

Aisling glances towards Kassima for a moment before taking a long sip of
her wine.

Tzanth begins with a rumble and ends with a croon to the bronze Zmeth.

On the sands, Deep Sea Blue peers around at the others around him. The
white-clad Candidates draw his attention, and he stills as he watches them,
all but his wings: those wave back and forth, a tiny, tiny bit, more like a
leaf shivering in the breeze then anything else.

On the sands, Caralain oohs thoughtfully at Dastra. "I bet you're right.
See, Lij, we should move." A few moments, then Cara says from the same
place, "So Dastly, you scared?"

On the sands, Lijan blinks and looks at Dastra. "Is that what's smelling so
bad in here? Dasil's feet?" He wrinkles his nose, then moves to the other
side of Caralain, away from Dasil.

Maylia's ceased leaning far forwards, settling instead to nurse her
wineskin, and take a more relaxed approach to this whole watching-thing.

On the sands, Christania shifts her feet a little and then swallows, "Or me."

On the sands, F'ren walks onto the sands from the Bowl entrance.

K'lynt shoots Wryn a smile awash with excitement. "Heyla. How you doing
Wryn?" He takes a seat, grumbling about his late arrival. "What'd I miss?"

K'ven grins at K'tel and gives him a nod in greeting. He chuckles at
Kichevio and finds himself a comfortable place to watch. "He'll do." he
says approvingly.

On the sands, The medial moraines egg urgently begins to shake, the
hatching inside intense on finding release from it's birth prison. More and
more cracks appear on the surface.

On the sands, Milque laughs just a touch, "It looks like he wants to start
flying already, doesn't it?" She leans in over closer to Lunan as she
speaks to make sure he can hear over all the noise.

On the sands, Vaelyn watches the little guy quiver, frowning slightly. "I
hope he's okay," she breaths, turning a bit as another egg threatens to
break open.

Kaelyn smiles and nods to K'lynt

On the sands, Dasil relaxes his breath just in time to puff himself back up
and turn away from Dastra, "They don't smell that bad." Comes muttered
under his breath as he looks around and then sniffs, just to check.

On the sands, T'shar steps out of a small cavern off of the Hatching Sands.

On the sands, The shalesscape egg gives a lurch to the side and the sound
of cracking shell might or mightn't be obvious. But either way it is
getting closer to hatching.

On the sands, F'ren smiles as he arrives and makes his way over to Ariandra.

On the sands, Jenna gives Kiryn a swift, sympathetic look, and then turns,
craning her neck to follow that blue. "Oh, look, he's stopped. Where's he
gonna charge to, y'think?" The question is obviously rhetorical, sweaty
hands clenching in her robe.

On the sands, Lunan looks desparately up at the stands, hoping no one heard
the voice-crack. He glances up at Milque and grins weakly. "Look't the
blue," he whispers, squeaking slightly. He seems to decide against talking,
lips clamped shut. He nods to Milque emphatically to answer her question.

On the sands, The desolate caldera egg fissures with cracks that spread in
a network of black seams down the side from the top as the tapping grows
more insistent. There's a petulant creel from the confines as several large
flakes of shell cascade onto the hot sand.

On the sands, Dastra keeps watching that peering blue. "Lookit his wings,"
she says quietly. "Wonder if he's scared or something." She shakes her head
at Caralain's question, then nudges Dasil, teasingly.

On the sands, Sovalin nods feverently. "Yup. It moved some more." he does
look away time to time to see where hatchlings are on the Sands.

On the sands, A slow slip of her hand through F'ren's arm. She uses his
shoulder to hid her emotion-drenched face, and, perhaps, to whisper to him
her own set of hopes and diappointments.

Wryn chuckles at K'lynt, "Quite a bit. Several blues and a brown. Toranth,
I believe."

On the sands, T'shar returns, less one blue weyrling pair, and heads back
to Taralinda and Aine. "What'd I miss?" he wonders in a low voice.

On the sands, Kiryn looks back to Jenna, and shakes his head. He's allowed
to answer rhetorical questions, ha! "If I could predict that..." Again his
eyes drift to the sands outstretched before him, and to the now more
quickly-moving blue. He tenses a bit, once again, and one hand moves to
cover a spot on his chest.

I'sai'd hesitated for a few moments, looking at K'lynt - then, "Good to see
you again," he now says with a smile. "Does it feel like so very long since
it was you down there, finding Usselth?"

On the sands, Taralinda keeps her voice lowered, "lots of eggs rocking and
a couple young dragons milling around." She grins at T'shar, "How are they
settling in?"

On the sands, Aedevan shakes his head, "Nope, you're Aluring..." he
persists with a smile. Teasing, that will distract him. Ayup.

Greylin once more cheers on the former Benden guard cadet still on the
sands below.

Kassima murmurs to Maylia, without looking away from her scribbling, "Made
a few marks on which egg would Hatch what, at least, even if'n all these
blues are throwing m'color estimations off. Think a green next, or...?"

Tarlo choruses with Greylin to cheer on the cadet.

Talisha takes a cue from Greylin--and starts cheering again for Lunan.
Imanath adds her own soft croons of encouragement in for the dragonets.

On the sands, Deep Sea Blue jumps away from the shalescape egg, casting it
a startled glance. Now that he's not looking at the Candidates, the
constant murmur of sound from the gallery draws his attention, and he gazes
towards them for a moment or two. But that's all it takes for him to turn
away, back towards the more interesting Candidates. He takes a few bumbling
steps towards them, wings flaring out for balance. After another pause to
get his legs properly under him, he walks forward again - once more
awkward, and then suddenly with the fluidity of water he's moving
gracefully, picking out one Candidate to head towards.

On the sands, "Flatter will get you" Aluren starts to say then goes for the
distraction "What is that over there!" and points towards the general mass
of eggs. Something has to be going on that will catch Aedevan's attention.

On the sands, Caralain whimpers towards Lijan, "This is taking too long.
I'm hungry. I wish I could ha' brought cookies. Dragons don't eat cookies."
This with a sniff and a quick glares towards Ariandra.

T'kar yawns and leans into Fasolth.

"We _need_ a green or three," Kichevio says firmly. "Got to have something
for all these blues to play with when they grow up."

On the sands, T'shar shrugs. "No one's choked yet, so that's a good sign."
He wrinkles up his nose. "There's meat *everywhere*."

K'ven chuckles and nods, "Tzanth is definetly one to agree Kichevio."

K'lynt winces with dissappointment and watches the sands anxiously, as if
more of his attention now will make up for what he missed. In his
excitement he finds himself glancing about the ledges and catches sight of
a familiar figure, "Hey Red!" He yells to K'ven with an impish grin.

"And this bronze," K'ran appends, laughingly, to Kichevio's words.

On the sands, Aine turns to look at T'shar. "Good. That's all we'd need."
She makes a face too. "Ugh. Well, at least we won't have to clean it up."

On the sands, Vaelyn neatly folds her arms across her chest while her feet
continue to shift through the heat. She just watches the blue with a
certain air of curiousity.

On the sands, Sovalin points. "Lookit. He sees someone." his eyes cut over
towards the Shalesscape egg again. He's torn between so he watchs both. The
blue and the shifting egg.

Kichevio winks, and blows the bronzerider and the bluerider kisses.

Wryn chuckles, "Now, Aari tends to think there are plenty of greens. She is
quite happy with all the pretty new blues and browns."

On the sands, Stormblown Loess Egg topples over and a minty green Dragonet
rolls out onto the Sands. She sits there a moment, blinking as she wonders
why she's seeing the world upside down? Getting her bearings, she rights
herself and rumbles, red eyes swirling with hunger as she heads straight
for a group of female candidates. Shoving them aside, she finds a slim
young man from High Reaches Hold in the back, her choice and Impression is
made.

On the sands, Kiryn keeps standing there, as the blue gets closer and
closer, until he's just sort of staring at it. Staring for a long time. The
hand on his chest falls away, and the young man blinks once or twice,
before emiting a small sound. "Tavorth." His lips crack into a little
smile, and he falls forward to embrace the little dragonet. "His name is
Tavorth."

Kassima quips with dry humor, "Greens have better uses than being blues'
playthings, though, Kich--wouldn't you say?"

On the sands, The shalesscape egg rocks back and forth and again cracks are
visible across the surface. Then there is a slight *pop* from the egg.

On the sands, Lijan elbows Caralain again. "Don't mention food, that's not
good. Or so I've heard. Don't whine, this is supposed to be exciting." He
looks rather uncomfortable though, far too warm in here. "Oh look, Kiryn
Impressed that blue."

On the sands, Taralinda makes a face slightly and nods her agreement with
Aine, "Not yet anyway."

On the sands, Like a boulder that makes up part of its namesake, the Medial
Moraines egg rolls end until it stops by hitting another egg with a loud
crack of collision. This seems to give it the extra little oomph it needed
to get towards its goal, however, and a crack appears at the point of
impact, running down the side in two or three lines. The next moment
there's a dark, glistening wet head creeling with effort until the shell
falls away and leaves him there on the Sands.

On the sands, Fiery Molten Bronze:
Liquid metal runs its course at the forge of Pernese metalcrafters. Dark,
rich striations of dark bronze, some so dense a shade as to appear black,
are barely visible in the near perfect hide of this young dragon. The
majority of his color is a bright, golden bronze, as if lit from the fires
of the Smithy's forge. From his nose runs a dark, thin line that swirls
about his eyes, then continues on down his neck, over his shoulders and
hindquarters, wrapping in a spiral around his tail, as if someone had
stirred the metal and then poured it into a dazzling draconic mold. His
large wings, when spread wide, show what appear to be gloriously detailed
etchings of filigree, complete with the curls and swirls involved in such a
design, blacked by a paler, more delicate shade of bronze. As if a Master
took every precious detail to heart, this dragon holds intricate detail to
his very talons, each one circled with a thin line of dark bronze that
curls around the toe like a wire.

K'ven just grins at Kichevio, but his expression breaks off as he hears
K'lynt's call. "Whatever you say little-man." he says good naturedly. "Ahh
yes, and another blue Impresses. Oh, and here comes a bronze."

On the sands, Jenna ohs, stunned, backing off from Kiryn. Tears well up and
she positively beams at him, to split her face wide open. "KIR! And
Tavorth! Oh, Kir, he's beautiful!"

Aisling leans forward for a moment. "Was that another impression?"

"Got to be a green." Maylia agrees, nodding to Kichevio too. But, a bronze
breaks shell, and the Weyrlingmaster frowns. "See? Again. I shouldn't wager."

On the sands, Aine heads for Kyrin and Tavorth. She smiles at them and
motions for the boy and his dragonet to follow. "This way."

On the sands, A methodical tapping gets louder and louder. It moves from a
calm tip tap, to an urgent knocking, the dragonet inside working hurriedly
to find it's way into the world. Its efforts are not in vain, for a moment
later there's a head sticking out, followed by forelegs and a torso. A push
with hind legs and wet wings are revealed and soon the rest, leaving a
hollow shell sitting behind her on the Sands.

On the sands, "Oh, golly," Dastra whispers as the blue seems to have made
up his mind. "I wonder who it is that he picks...Kiryn! Hey, congrats!" She
beams over at him and his blue. And then gulps again, watching one
Impression and then seeing the bronze appear. "Golly," she qhispers. "Just
lookit him."

On the sands, Lunan's eyes widen more - how?? - as he watches the blue
spread his wings for balance. "Look, it went right up to.. Kiryn!!" He tugs
on Milque's sleeve. "Look't! Kiryn Impressed! An' look, a bronze!! Tavorth
'n Kiryn! An' a bronze!" His voice cracks about every other word, and he
quiets again, merrely hopping to show his excitement.

On the sands, High Mountain Green:
Mist curls around this hatchling's forefeet, tickling the undersides of her
belly as moisture-laden air is cooled on alpine slopes. The deep greens of
conifer forests, flecked with cyan, blanket her narrow shoulders, arching
upwards to follow a slender neck. There, the snowline hints at the approach
of winter, where a dusting of powdery snow clings to branches. Ice glints
with the pale light of the distant sun across her ridges, while a flurry
alights upon her nose. Across her haunches, the even coverage of the forest
is disturbed by craggy cliffs. Streams of icemelt course their way to
unseen valleys down her tail, cascading over the rocks that dare peek from
the timberland. When her wings extend, glaciers are retreating, a pale
icy-green shade, along the leading edge. Alpine meadows have claimed the
gravelly cirques left behind, covering her wingsails in lush verdant greens
with sprinkles of the final floral shades of autumn.

"Huh." K'ran's gaze jumps back to the sands at that last Impression. "Lost
me the marks I made, there; would've sworn him for a bronze -- like that one."

"Yay Kiryn!" Talisha cups her hands around her mouth, shouting out her
congratulations to the ex-candidate.

On the sands, Caralain mutters, "And there goes that blue. Shards."

On the sands, Vaelyn spies Kiryn after Jenna's yelp and claps. "Oh!
Congratulations!" she calls. The bronze's arrival startles her, causing her
to leap slightly.

On the sands, Milque looks over at Kiryn and smiles brightly, "Look Lunan,
Kiryn must have impressed to that blue!" She shouts into the young
candidates ear.

Wryn jumps up and down, "Kiryn! Blue?! Ah well...Alright, Kiryn!" Aarieth
adds a bugle to the excited tone of her lifemate's cheer, but her talons
turn Wryn to see on of HER searchees impress green. Wryn beams all proud
and stuff.

Kichevio chuckles at Kassi. "Well yes. I just happen to enjoy the
playing-with-males part. Surprised?" Then a cheer for the new-rider K'ryn.

K'tel slaps his leg, "Ha! There goes Kiryn."

K'ven nods with satisfaction, "Finally a green."

K'lynt casts a sideways grin on Wryn, "Usselth happens to think there can
never be too many browns." He pats his stoic mate affectionately as the
named emits a quiet, but low rumble toward the sands.

Fluria gapes and her eyes just kind of god bug eyed. "OH!" She says and
falls back against Qirith with a totally shocked look. Happy, but shocked.

On the sands, The Shalesscape Egg topples over on its side and writhes
there for a moment under the efforts of the dragonet inside. Two or three
large cracks appear across the surface of the egg, dividing it into a
number of large areas. The first piece falls away leaving a wedge shaped
hole where a left foreleg, wing, and hindleg come appear. With a shake and
a grunt, a glistening green dragonet is left on the Sands next to the
remnants of her egg.

On the sands, Pale Moonlit Grove Green:
Standing silently alone amidst a sea of activity and life is a place of
solace, a single being that offers safety and seclusion. She stands alone,
the pale moonlight caressing her hide in beautiful dusts of silver from her
neck to her tail, as if this lone dragon was standing to catch the rays of
Timor herself. The green of a moonlit grove when Timor is full and flying
low in the sky, she seems a gift from the stars and a whisper on the
breeze. Perfect in every way, she seems impeccable, from darling
wedge-shaped head to long, lissome tail. Her wings, when spread wide, hold
the rich, fresh green of new ivy in the spring, wrapped with tendrils
throughout as if her wings were woven of fresh leaves and delicate
branches. Slim form holds the promise of agility and speed in flight, while
her quickly swirling eyes holds the hope and promise of life on Pern.

On the sands, Lijan bounces. "Look, Cara, there's my bronze and your
green!" He runs a hand through his hair. Where he gets his arrogance from,
is really surprising. "Or maybe that's your green."

On the sands, Sovalin watches Kiryn Impress, the green hatch and then he
just blink. "Shells. I...I can't watch it all at once!"

On the sands, K'ryn rises with his new-found friend, one arm still draped
over the creature, as he looks up, trying to decipher Aine's instructions.
A little difficult, but he manages, and starts to wander from the sands,
dragonet-in-tow.

On the sands, Talene follows the Hatching of the bronze and the two greens,
but after staring at the bronze for a few moments, she turns her head to
the greens. She can only watch so much...

On the sands, Aine steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Dastra can't quite keep track of everything that's going on,
looking first one way and then the other. "Gosh, lookit the greens too!"
she says in a hushed voice, staying right where she is and just trying not
to miss too much.

On the sands, Christania gasps as a bronze and green are hatched. She pulls
on Talene's arm, "Oh Talene!"

"Can't blame him there," I'sai claps in good company for their Kiryn,
pausing for those next hatchlings - and slanting a look down towards Dasil
and his sister, neither one yet eaten for all her fears.

On the sands, Caralain pokes Lijan for just about the thousandth time. "I
-said- I like blue better. You jus' wanna get a bronze and me a green so
you can chase. So cut it out."

On the sands, Milque bounces and smiles at Lunan, "Oh look, three of them
all at once!" She turns back to watch the dragons, three at once means
triple the dragons to dodge as they move around.

Kichevio beams as Saulith bugles welcome to her new green cousins. "There
we go, two greens! And both just lovely."

K'lynt grins as a candidate impresses and adds as a green hatches, "But he
does have a fondness for greens that he doesn't like admitting to. She's
beautiful."

On the sands, K'ryn steps into the holding room.

Wryn smiles happily, "Yes darling, I see the bronze. And there's a new
little green...okay, okay, we'll watch the bronze."

On the sands, Aedevan grins, "Oh, Kiryn Impressed. Oh Faranth, wow!" Then
he grips Aluren tightly, "Look at the bronze..." he gasps. "He's
breathtaking!"

On the sands, Vaelyn's head almost spins as right around her several
hatchlings emerge. She steps back away from the egg the girls have been
clustered around, for fear she'll be struck with a flying shard when it
decides to crack. "By Faranth's golden egg," she mutters, just peering all
around her.

On the sands, Jenna misses all the other shells cracking, watching Kiryn,
now K'ryn, and his blue Tavorth make their way from the sands. Her face is
still split into a huge smile, and she finally turns back to the eggs,
wiping at forehead and eyes now.

On the sands, Dasil pumps his hand and cheers for Kiryn and then quickly
takes a few steps back as he gets pelted by a fine spray of shards. He
looks to make sure Dastra is all right and then shakes himself like a wet
canine and moves back into place, eagerly looking at the greens and the
bronze.

On the sands, Talene winces as the girl pulls on her arm. She squeezes her
hand and nods, "I know, Chrissy, I know!" She shouts above the din.

On the sands, Aluren ended up pointing at the fast troi of cracking eggs.
She pulls back her finger and stares at it befuddled. So she tries pointing
at another group off eggs. They stubbornly do nothing. So she shrugs and
beams a smile for Aedevan "Gorgeous, and you are crushing my hand."

Maylia exclaims, "There! Shells, couldn't those greens have been faster?"
She jests, lifting her wineskin in toast to the two greens, who /almost/
made her right, in /almost/ beating the bronze from his shell.

On the sands, Lijan snorts and then shrugs at Caralain's words. "Why not?
You wouldn't mind that yourself, admit it. You called me cutie." His eyes
are all on the bronze now and he holds his breath.

Lysseth interrupts her regularly scheduled humming for a sharp bugle of
greeting to the dual greens, winning a grin from her lifemate. "Aye,
Lysseth, deafening people's a *fine* way t'celebrate a birth. Faranth's
teeth. And nay, Kich--but really, 'tisn't *fair* that you do that and then
nay spawn once in awhile, I still say."

On the sands, Fiery Molten Bronze :stands there in the remnants of his
shell for a good long moment, surveying his domain. It is *his* domain
after all, or so he thinks by his stance. A deep breath and he seems to
have made a decision, that along with the rumble in his belly. Nobly he
moves forward, down to the bottom of the egg mound, one foot, then the
other then.... oops! Head over tail he somersaults to the bottom, then
bounces to his feet as if to say, 'I meant to do that!'

On the sands, F'ren simply smiles as he watches the goings on, a pleased
look on his face as he comments on each of the hatchlings to Aria.

On the sands, Pale Moonlit Grove Green stands up and gives herself a
shimmy. Which promplty makes her fall onto her side. That was a surprise
and thus she gives an indignant little chirp of a noise. Let us try this
shake and stand thing again, shall we. And so she is on her feet and more
carefully flicking limbs now covered in sand.

On the sands, T'shar squints at the bronze and sighs slightly. "Not again."

On the sands, Caralain snickers, eyes catching on the bronze. "He's as
clumsy as you are, Lijan, you'd be perfect. An' you called me cute too, so
shut up."

On the sands, Christania grins at Sovalin, "There's a bronze... you'd be so
wonderful on bronze."

On the sands, Taralinda whistles softly and then grins over at T'shar's
remark, "What's that?"

On the sands, High Mountain Green shakes her delicately wedged head from
side to side, flinging the sticky and moist strings of membrane from her
silken muzzle, creeling softly from the ruins of her egg. Slowly one wing
unfurls and then the other, flicking slightly to dislodge a bit of shell
that sticks to the sparred tips. Small foreclaws grasp the edge of shell
and she leans forward with an unexpected tilt and then topple over as
ungainly wings fail to balance her.

On the sands, Milque shifts and bounces back a step as the bronze makes a
tumbling roll, even though she's not very close to that young dragon at all.

On the sands, Aedevan grins, "Oh, I'm sorry..." he releases her fingers. "I
guess I don't know my own strength," he laughs. "That green's beautiful
too. I bet she'll be over this way for ya, Aluren."

On the sands, Lunan sighs and watches the green hatchlings, grinning. The
bronze then captures his attention, so his head is wagging back and forth
slowly. He says nothing, his hopping and wide-eyed blinking saying it all
for him. He points to the bronze for Milque, glancing up once or twice to
see if she's looking.

On the sands, Lijan absently mutters "I'm not clumsy, you know that. Look
at him, he knows what's up. He'd be perfect for me."

On the sands, Sovalin says. "Oh...my." he blinks. "Hey, my favorite egg is
gone. Where'd it go?" he looks around. And sees three hatchlings moving
around. "Oh." he says. "I didn't see which one came from it. Maybe the
green..." he shuts up and looks to Christania. "Yeah. I would." he answers
absently. "He's....perfect looking."

Wryn giggles softly, "Isn't he adorable. Yes, he's a silly little thing, I
agree. But he'll grow out of it. Let's see who he finds...Dasil maybe?"

On the sands, T'shar grins. "He reminds me of Toniath."

On the sands, Christania grins at Sovalin and then looks at the green, "But
she's magnificent."

On the sands, A slight smile, gilded with a bit of moisture, sweat or
tears, hard to say. Ariandra leans against the bulwark that is F'ren, and
simply watches the chaos as it has its way with the hatching sands.

On the sands, The color has certainly returned to Dastra's cheeks; indeed,
she's red-faced and little rivulets of sweat are dripping form her chin.
She's not paying attention to any of that right now. She's clinging
desperately to Dasil's hand as the hatchlings seem to be taking their time
in figuring out how to walk. "I sure hope they don't get hurt."

On the sands, Vaelyn watches the bronze tumble, turning her head slightly
with one eye closed. "Oooh. Poor critter." She winces again as one of the
greens calls over. "Poor babies. Thank Faranth they'll get more coordinated
as they get older."

On the sands, Jenna shifts over towards the others, now that the ones
around her have impressed. Aedevan and Aluren are found in the crowd, and
she edges up, "*How* many greens are there? Shells, I missed 'em all
hatching."

On the sands, Talene grins at the Candidate, "One of those greens is
looking for you, Chrissy!" She leans over to see Sovalin, "And the bronze
is, of course, for you." She ays, her gin brightening.

On the sands, Christania grins at Talene, "How do you know that the green
won't go for you?"

K'ran finally leans his weight back, off Indrath's straps, and against his
lifemate's body. "Good looking bronze," he remarks, very softly. A pause; a
wry smile tugs upwards the corners of his mouth. "Not as good looking as
you, no, and you had the good graces not to act like you owned the place."

On the sands, Aedevan chuckles to Jenna, 'Trying to total up your winnings?"

On the sands, Aluren shakes her head and wraps an arms around Aedevan's
waist. "Not me, but I bet that metallic has an opinion. I hope it is about
you. All the colors are so pale, it reminds me of home."

On the sands, Milque smiles and steps back up near Lunan's side and nods,
oh boy, she sees the bronze, and both of the greens. She bounces a little
bit, getting a second wind of excitement even with all the strength sapping
heat.

On the sands, Fiery Molten Bronze is now covered in sand over his back from
head to tail. Of course, this is not supposed to happen to someone of his
stature and glory! He spreads his filigreed wings wide and gives a shake
like a canine, spraying sand all over everywhere. Sand and egg goo since
he's still dripping, of course. There, much better. Propelled forward by
that rumbly belly again, he starts on his quest to find *the* perfect man.
Well, as perfect as he is, anyway!

On the sands, Sovalin flashes a look and a smile over to Sovalin. "He could
be." he's never actually let go of Chrissy's hand. So he stands there with
two girls to his left, still holding a hand.

On the sands, Talene blinks and nods, "I didn't mention that? The other
green is looking for me." She says with a shaky confidence...under her
breath is the barely audible, "I hope..."

On the sands, Caralain snickers softly. "He's got an attitude, Lijan, and
Faranth knows you got one of them."

K'lynt gets quiet in the commotion of the ledges and sands. He looks on
with a still reflectiveness with purpose that one could not guess. A hand
goes to his towering lifemate's claw.

Tarlo chuckles wryly over at K'ran. "You mean Indrath didn't think he owned
the place?" she teases gently, her eyes on the green and bronze. "He is
exquisite."

On the sands, Aine steps out of a small cavern off of the Hatching Sands.

Kichevio winks toward K'ran. "But the bronze down there isn't checking out
the greens yet, either. Unlike another bronze I could mention."

On the sands, Christania giggles at Talene and squeezes her hand gently
before giving Sovalin's hand a squeeze as well. "Um... if the dragons come
running at us, we'll have to let go, right?"

On the sands, Lijan flashes a grin at Caralain. "See? And you'll have the
green to match it."

"He just had his priorities right," K'ran protests, with a light laugh.
"Look at the girls, -then- find your lifemate. I was more than understanding."

On the sands, Talene didn't think of that possibility, "No, we can all run
to the side."

On the sands, Pale Moonlit Grove Green starts down the mound at something
resembling a gallop. And for all hatching clumsies, she doesn't fall a
second time. At just before the bottom she makes a little leap and falls
*ploff* in front of a male candidate. Not very graceful, but she doesn't
fall over. And now she looks up at the male and snorts. Nope, not the one.
But she'll croon playfully anyway as she starts on her search.

On the sands, The limu o pele egg trembles lustily, if that's possible,
shaking with the urgent need to be free! Free! Freeeee!

On the sands, Jenna shakes her head at Aedevan, blushing faintly. "No.
Distracted. - Oh, and there's a bronze out there too?" She catches Aluren's
words, and edges near the others for support.

On the sands, The wind kicks up again, a long WHEEEEEeeeee sound to it as
it dips and tears down through the usually sheltered bowl. Gusts of sand
rise, like curtains drawn for privacy, shutting off some of the views of
what occurs. Something happens behind them, titivating bits of motions
suggesting impressions here and there. As quickly as it surged through, it
kicks back up, leaving only a shower of sand to fall in a slow descent.

"I could see that," I'sai says to Wryn on a laugh. "Not that I know any of
them well, for all that Terrel was at Telgar for some time... What about
those greens, any ideas? ...And, Faranth, that wind," even Taralyth's
lowered his innermost lids.

Kassima leans forward, forward, forward, though never quite forward enough
to fall; wineskin in one hand, charcoal in the other, and both hands making
fists. "C'mon, greens!"

On the sands, Sovalin shakes his head. "No, remember I told you i'd push
you...oh. Then I guess i'd let go." he suddenly drops her hand to cover his
eyes. "Hey!" he protests to no one.

On the sands, High Mountain Green sneezes as she draws her now sand-crusted
muzzle up and blinks in surprise. With a scuttling of limbs and wings she
rights herself and sniffs the air, bits of shell dotting her shoulder and
clinging to one wing sail. There's a throaty creel of amazement as she
lifts her head, looking up and up and oh my! Turning slowly around and
around on her hind-end she takes it all in and then slowly starts a
progress forward on wobbly legs.

On the sands, Lunan's mouth forms an 'o' as he watches the bronze, head
still wagging back and forth from watching the bronze, to the greens, to
the eggs. Abruptly his head jerks so he's looking up at the stands. He
waves to a couple female Telgari riders nervously with a faint grin, then
turns back to get ready to dodge hatchlings.

On the sands, Vaelyn reaches up, idly making sure that her hair hasn't
fallen from the bun she worked it into earlier. She then turns on her heel
to look at the hatchlings running around, and the other candidates. Hearing
the wind howl, she quickly places a hand over her eyes to shield them from
the blowing sands.

On the sands, Christania swallows and watches the hatchlings with baited
breath

On the sands, Aluren coughs, throwing her free arm up to protect her eyes
from the swirling dust and sand.

Aisling slips back to rest against Sielth's foreleg, sheltering a bit
against the wind.

On the sands, Caralain sneezes sand, coughs for a moment. "Ugh, that's
nasty, where'd that green get to?" Cara drags a hand across face, spits out
more sand, and coughs again.

Wryn hmms, "Well, I'm personally trying to see Dasil on green. That could
be interesting. Or mayhap Talene. Milque is another good candidate for
green. But I don't know them that well...and you know the dragons. They
tend to surprise us at times."

On the sands, Dasil quirks his head and coughs into his hand before poking
Dastra with one of his feet, "That bronze is a right handsome fellow, take
a look at him. Er, picture him without all the muck on him." He nods and
then pivots his head to stand prepared as one of the greens gets closer.

On the sands, The limu o pele egg rocks and rolls, bouncing against an
unhatched egg on it's left, rubbing against another on it's right.

Saulith draws herself further onto the ledge, out of the worst of the
sand-spitting wind.

On the sands, Milque makes a face, nose scrunching up and one eye closing
then she reaches up to clear some sand from her eye before she opens it again.

On the sands, Sovalin turns his head this way and that way to pick out
where the hatchlings. Leaning waaay forward he looks up and down the line
of candidates. "There are some missing now." well duh!

On the sands, Jenna echoes the sneeze of one of the greens, blinking sand
out of her eyes. Hands come up to scrub at her face, which only serves to
get sand *and* sweat in them. The grit is then wiped on her robe, muddying
it further.

On the sands, "Oh, gross," Dastra says as the bronze hatchling's shaking
flingss a gobbet of egg goo right into the middle of her forehead. She
reaches up to wipe it off and then wipe her hand on her overlong robe. She
watches the hatchlings move, her gaze wary. "Yeah, he is, but he got goop
all over me."

On the sands, Faranth, sand in his hair. Lijan runs both hands through his
hair. Got to look good when you're about to find the bronze of your dreams.

On the sands, Aedevan coughs a bit and pulls the collar of him rob up over
hismouth and nose until the wind dies down a bit. thankfully it's to big
for him, so there's plenty of room to pull it up and no embarrass one's self.

On the sands, Caralain mouths, "Priss," at Lijan with grey eyes highly amused.

I'sai doesn't have to look at Taralyth to laugh agreement with that one,
the young dragon supine but for serpentined head and blue-whirling stare.
"Sometimes more surprises than we'd have thought we might like, eh? And
which one's Talene? Milque, I remember: with the spoon, and apt to use it."

On the sands, Fiery Molten Bronze rushes towards a pair of similar looking
Candidates who not only look alike, but are holding hands! He is moving
quickly, sure he's sensing something from their direction. Skidding to a
stop, he sprays even more sand over the pair of them and eyes the girl
critically. Hm. Close, but not exactly what he's looking for. Wrong body
parts. But her brother... ah, that's what he's looking for! He closes the
gap between himself and the lad.

On the sands, High Mountain Green tosses her angular head from side to side
as she walks, nostrils flaring as she breaths in all the new scents. With a
delight trumpet, full of love and happiness she leaps forward, wings
fanning out to offer something 'like' balance, but the Red Star help anyone
that's in her way. She roars at her bronze brother who nearly tangles with
her and misses a near collision by falling flat on her tummy and skidding
forward the last body length to her lifemate.

Wryn points out a girl on the sands, "She hails from High Reaches."

On the sands, Christania gasps and watches with surprise!

Kassima has her hair thoroughly wind-disarrayed and her eyes somewhat
streaming by the time she reluctantly retreats back closer to Lysseth,
those hides held onto for dear life. Lysseth makes a rude noise at the
wind, as though by this she could cow it into retreat. "See, now, if'n this
wind were attending a *human* birth, 'twould make for a legendary story
later. At a Hatching, it just gets your eyes wet."

On the sands, Lunan opens his mouth to try saying something again, and gets
a mouthful of sand for his efforts. A pathetic grimace, and he spits, down
hear his feet. His eyes start to water as he tries to scrape sand from his
tongue with his fingers. This is the position he is in as the bronze and
green rush to their lifemates. He stands, tongue hanging out, watching.

On the sands, Pale Moonlit Grove Green comes around now as she walks
forward. First at a leisurely pace. But as she doesn't find the one she
wants quickly the trot quickens. Finally she is bolting across the sands,
both for fun and in her search. Finally the one is spotted. And she begins
to run across the sand, slipping along the way, but never stopping her
forward motion. The loud screeching, REEEEEEE! REEEEE!, can be heard before
she tries to stop before the one. Of course she can't stop on a mark yet,
and the sand beneath her carries her into the legs of her chosen. Together
they fall, together they stand. Together they are now bound.

On the sands, Taralinda winces and lifts her hands to her head,
"Jays....wait....move...oh..." she doesn't quite close her eyes though. "I
hope no one gets hurt

Wryn's eyes bounce from impression to impression, "Oh shells. So much so
fast..."

On the sands, Aine peeks from between fingers at the aftermath. Everyone ok?

On the sands, Vaelyn shakes her head slowly from side to side, quite taken
by how fast the three of them hatched and impressed. She scans faces,
waiting for someone to announce a name. The squealing only makes her wince
moreso than the hot sand picking at her skin is.

I'sai's caught leaning forward, wind or no - "I hope nobody gets _landed_
on - "

Kichevio ouches very quietly for that overenthusiastic green. "Saulith,
thanks for not running into me. I've never mentioned how much I appreciate
that..."

Wryn giggles at I'sai, "Too late, methinks."

Sonya jumps up and just hollers out her son's name. "Whoohooo!!!!!
He...she....whoa!" she falls into Fluria. "Oh, Lookit!

"Mmm." K'ran seconds Kichevio's sentiment with a muttered, "And not clawing
and thrashing and all."

I'sai colors, and substitutes, "Gets landed on too hard?"

Wryn chuckles, "S'okay I'sai. I think all is well..." She squints towards
the sands, "I think..."

On the sands, Sovalin falls over in heap. But he doesn't seem to care as he
calls out a name. "Vaerdanth!"

On the sands, Dastra blinks. "Oh, shells, they're coming this way," she
mutters, steeling herself. Her free hand clenches into a fist as the bronze
gives her a look-over and then barely manages not to run when the green
comes skidding toward her. Slowly, however, she kneels down to reach out
and caress the head of the little green at her feet. "Course it's me,
Cheylth." She giggles. "Who else would it be?"

On the sands, Caralain yelps and jumps away from the dragonets -right-
there, "Dasil! Dastra! Lijan, look look look!" Fingers reach out for the
candidate's hand.

On the sands, Dasil's jaw drops and he nods a bit as the part of his brain
that runs his vocal cords plays catch up, "Xannarth! I'm going to hold you
to that!" He lets go of Dastra's hand and reaches out to stroke the bronzed
hide.

On the sands, F'ren chuckles at the newest pair. "I sure hope this isn't a
preview of things to come with this pair."

On the sands, Vaerdanth lets out a happy and piercingly high creel in
return at her lifemate calls out. Her tail thumps him across his chest, but
lovingly.

K'tel gets up and collects his things, heading over to Zmeth, "Sweeps. I'll
have to catch the rest after." He waves to Wryn, "Nice seeing you again."

On the sands, High Mountain Green :whuffles warm breath up at Dastra, eyes
whirling up at her from her flat, sprawl at her feet.

On the sands, Lijan blinks and nods. He looks very disappointed though, but
manages a genuine smile for Dastra. "A lady for a little lady."

On the sands, Xannath :bugles proudly and sits regally in front of his new
lifemate. Perfect.

On the sands, The Limu o Pele egg shakes and shivers. The hatchling inside
seems to be having some difficulty getting out. Was that a grunt from
inside the shell? Cracks appear from the bottom, wriggling their way to the
top of the eggs when suddenly *crack*, the egg bursts into a flurry of
shards! There, standing alone and looking very proud of herself, if
somewhat hassled by the work she's just had to do, is a wet, gooey dragonet.

On the sands, "I don't even want to consider..." Ariandra trails off as she
watches and sighs, and just shakes her head.

On the sands, Talene's eyes dart back and forth, back and forth, glancing
between the hatchlings. She claps heartily for Sovalin, "Congratulations."
She claps for the other two as well, "Dasil! Dastra! Congratulations!"

On the sands, Deepest Lush Jungle Green:
Hidden deep within the Southern Continent, so remote that only the rarest
of humans get to experience it, is the heart of the jungle. Held within
that heart is a green so strong, so deep, and so lush that the color brings
a lump to one's throat. This is the green that this young dragon claims for
her own. Her color, so like that of the tropical foliage that carpets the
jungle, is dappled in varying shades of dark green. Perfectly wedge-shaped,
her eyes are encircled by a different hues of green, the left one very
dark, the right one still deep green, but two shades lighter. The dappling
covers her from head to talon, giving the image of leaves dampening falling
sunlight with their warm, moist life. Here and there, a lighter leaf green,
a darker leaf green, a deep moss green. She is covered by this plethora of
shades of green. Larger than the average green, she's also thicker through
the chest and shoulders than most. Her rear haunches show muscle already,
promising that they will be strongg and sturdy when put to work, powerful
for launching into flight. Her tail may be a bit short, to a critic's eyes,
but fits her form perfectly. Wings, when spread, reveal lighter shades of
green, as if dappled by sunlight through a canopy of branches.

On the sands, Vaelyn grins as Sovalin, Dastra and Dasil all proclaim names.
"Oh! Congratulations!" she calls, her hands clentched together to refrain
herself from bouncing too much.

On the sands, Aine heads out toward Sovalin and his green.
"Congratulations," she says to deaf ears. She waits a moment for them to
come to their senses and smiles. "Follow me and we'll get her some food."

Tzanth rummbles happily as another green hatches.

K'tel vaults onto Zmeth's extended foreleg and hauls himself up between his
neckridges.

Zmeth launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the Bowl.

K'ran's lips curve in a wider smile. "Alright," he muses. "Alright. Ahead
on wagers, again."

On the sands, Jenna beams! "Congratulations! Dasil! Dastra! And *Sovalin*!
How great!" She shifts awkwardly, "What were their names? Did anyone hear?"

On the sands, F'ren grins. "Oh, now I like this green!"

On the sands, Lunan bites his lips in excitement, then says quietly to
Milque, "Xannarth 'n Dasil, Dastra 'n Cheylth, and Sovalin 'n Vaerdanth."
His voice cracks, but he continues anyway to shout, "Congratulations! Oooh,
congratulations!!" He watches the newest green hatchling with a grin, but
watches after the newest Impressees mostly.

On the sands, V'lin shakes his head, managing to get to his feet. "V'lin.
I'm V'lin now!" he announces his own new name.

On the sands, Red Butte egg pops open in a shower of egg shards to reveal a
grassy green Hatchling. Nearby the Silent Avalanche egg slowly falls away
to reveal a darkened blue. The two head in opposite directions, the green
with a purpose, the blue taking it's time to find the perfect lifemate. The
grassy green arrives at that group of girls so easily shoved aside before,
looking into the face of a sweet and lovely blonde girl from Greystones
Hold. The darkened blue peruses a group of troublesome young men, choosing
the biggest pranker of the entire Candidate class, a freckle-faced boy from
Igen Weyr.

On the sands, Milque smiles and grabs for Lunan's robe arm, "Do you think
Sovalin's okay? That was some collision!" She bounces as she watches the
brother and sister impress as well, then her eyes are brought back to the
remaining eggs with a snap at the sound of cracking shell.

On the sands, Vaerdanth manages to get herself up and shakes again as she
rumbles in a very happy tone. Again her head nudges against him, but more
plaintively, as she again creels. This time the note is held as her stomach
rumbles hungrily.

On the sands, Dastra giggles and beams at Cheylth. "Hey, you're not hurt or
anything are you? You okay down there?" She reaches out to scritch an
eyeridge. "Hey, Dasil didja..oh, wow, you found the bronze! Gosh!" She
keeps one hand resting on Cheylth's headknobs.

On the sands, V'lin nods and moves over with AIne.

On the sands, "Look at those muscles, I pity the males who chase her"
Aluren laughs at the stocky lush green. The trio moving towards the meat
room catches her attention and she ooohs.

On the sands, T'shar steps forward, considers, and heads for Dastra and
Cheylth. "Congratulations," he echoes, making sure no injuries were
sustained during the impression. "If she's hungry, and I'll bet she is,
I'll show you to the food."

On the sands, Talene waves down at Jenna, "Xannath for Kiryn, Vaerdanth for
V'lin, and Cheylth for Dastra." She shouts.

On the sands, Taralinda lets out a breath as the dust clears and walks to
Dasil with a bright smile, "If you two will follow along. We'll get you
settled in with the others."

On the sands, V'lin steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Vaerdanth steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Aine steps into the holding room.

On the sands, T'shar steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Dastra pats Cheylth's head. "Hey, I think we're supposed to
go that way," she says quietly. "C'mon, let's go see."

On the sands, Dastra steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Christania watches the hatchlings walk off with their
lifemates and then looks back to the hatchlings still tehre.

On the sands, Vaelyn leans over and corrents Talene softly. "Xannath for
Dasil." She's still excited though as the green moves around the sands, and
a few eggs have as of yet, not hatched.

On the sands, Caralain points, "And there, another green, maybe -that-
one's for me," Cara teases Lijan.

Kichevio applauds. "Good for Sovalin! I'm glad he wasn't hurt--Vaerdanth's
a good name."

On the sands, Taralinda steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Cheylth steps into the holding room.

I'sai teeters that much further forward to see as best he may, "Think
you're right, Wryn. There they go. Walking is good. Walking is _very_ good.
...Too bad for K'tel having sweeps and all, but 'least he got to see most
of it."

On the sands, Rain Shadow egg topples over into the Frost Polygons Egg,
both cracking to reveal glistening brown dragonets. The former is a light,
sandy brown while the latter is dappled in the brown shades of autumn. The
first rights himself, shaking the egg goo from his wings before setting out
towards a pair of Candidates who are holding hands. He chooses the girl of
the pair, who calls out his name and is reluctantly released by the young
man. The dappled brown finds his lifemate in a short, studious young man
from the Smithcraft who vocalizes his dismay at having to give up
machining, but is thrilled to have such a perfect partner!

On the sands, D'zel follows the directions out, one arm slung as far around
Xannarth's neck as he can get it.

On the sands, Lijan nods to Caralain. "Yeah, I know you'll have a green.
Even if I won't have a lifemate, you'll have a green." For some odd reason
he takes Caralain's arm again.

On the sands, D'zel steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Deepest Lush Jungle Green bugles with annoyance, shaking a
stubborn piece of shell from her gooey hide. Disgruntled, she stands there
glowering for a moment before she realizes she's being watched. Watched by
not just one person, but a whole gigantic cave full of people. Well, ahem.
She gets herself together and strikes a pose, flipping her glistening wings
wide.

On the sands, Xannath steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Christania raises one hand to cover her mouth, trying to hide
a small smile. "She's... interesting?"

On the sands, Vaelyn snaps her fingers as the last of her favored eggs
hatch and the dragonet inside impresses. The green causes the candidate to
muster a smile, watching her awkward movements with intrigued eyes.

On the sands, Talene blinks at Vaelyn and blushes, with an enthusiastic
nod. "Xannath," she repeats. She nudges Christania, "If those weren't
looking for you, then that one.." and this is accompanied with a point,
"Most definately is." She seems confident about this, hope in her eyes,
hope for her friend.

On the sands, Aine steps out of a small cavern off of the Hatching Sands.

On the sands, The rolling mudslide egg shifts slightly upon its mound,
waterfalls of sand skittering down as it begins a slow descent to a rift in
the sand.

On the sands, Jenna ohs and gives a wave of thanks to Talene. Wasn't it
Talene that shouted? She darts a nervous look at Aluren and Aedevan, and
then back out to the eggs. The number is dwindling fast. "Oh! Did you guys
see that green?"

On the sands, Christania says "It may also be looking for you."

On the sands, The Rolling Mudslide egg shakeshakeshakes. Then it's still.
Is it going to hatch at all? Another few moments of silence, then another
bout of shaking until finally it shakes itself full of cracks. A piece of
shell falls away here, falls away there, until nothing is left but a wet,
shiney dragonet standing in a pile of its own egg shards.

On the sands, Mysterious Thermal Pool Blue:
Where the molten lava bides its time closer to the surface of Pern, pools
of water are warmed to steaming temperatures above. Dark, deep, mysterious.
The blue is so otherworldly as to seem unreal. And so is this beauty,
stepping into life with a slow cadence. The blue that covers his body is
jewel-like, but not sapphire. Along his tail, up his spine, and around his
eyeridges, the markings are more blue-green, as the water is in thermal
pools where living things grow at the edges, and minerals collect to
coalesce in beautiful patterns. The same markings dapple his legs. His
wings, when spread, shimmer in the light, and lacey dapplings of bluish
green fringe the edges, while the main sails are all that same deep,
mysterious blue of his body.

On the sands, "She's a priss too," Cara says, still cheerful - maybe at
that arm being taken? - "Just like you."

On the sands, Lunan grins and points his favorite egg out to Milque.
"Look't, the muddy one hatched! It's... it's... blue!" He seems surprised
as he watches the Mudslide egg shatter. "Ooooh, look't the patterns on'm!
He's so dark!" he squeaks.

Tzanth bugles happily to ring in the hatching of another blue. K'ven pats
his forearm with a smile.

On the sands, Lijan looks at Caralain, then squeezes the arm. "Don't call
me priss."

On the sands, Vaelyn's hopes take flight one more time as another blue
manages to pop free from it's shelly jail. "Blues are best," she states
proudly towards Lunan, after hearing his mention of the egg.

On the sands, Talene shrugs to Christania, "I don't think so." She says,
and then she's gasping, "And a blue!" She glances up and down the
Candidates, her eyes matching the blue up with a Candidate. She seems to
take heart from rooting on her friends, even if it doesn't work out as she
though it would.

On the sands, Aedevan nods, looking rather shocked, "It all just happens so
fast...." He lets out a heavy sigh as the eggs start to dwindle.

On the sands, Christania swallows at the blue, "That could be yours! Or mine!"

Aarieth rumbles her happiness as another blue hatches. Wryn just pats her
lifemates muzzle and chuckles to herself, watching.

On the sands, Deepest Lush Jungle Green holds her head high. Wow, the
center of attention! Whatever will she do with herself? She *struts*
forward, attention on those in the Stands and her sire and dam. She pauses,
eyes going wide and taking on a red tinge when a frightening rumble comes
from somewhere in the vicinity of her midsection. Panic! What was that!
Must find help and must find it now! She hurries towards the white clad
figures.

On the sands, Christania squeezes Talene's hand, "Be ready to bolt!"

On the sands, Milque smiles brightly at Lunan, then looks to watch the
blue, "He's very handsome!" She bounces a bit as her eyes dart from that
blue over to the lush green that's stalking out towards the candidates as
well.

On the sands, Caralain flushes again. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry."
Accompanied by a bright grin and a returning squeeze.

On the sands, Aluren tiptoes up to smooch Aedevan's cheek as he sighs
"There will be other bronzes. You wouldn't want someone elses lifemate.
That would be horrible, like having someone elses face and seeing it every
time you look in the mirror."

Kichevio winces a bit. "Watch for charging greens!" she calls down to the
Candidates--not that they'll hear her, but at least she tried.

On the sands, Jenna grins a bit at the green as she preens, "Whomever
impresses her will have their hands full - whuh oh! Lookout! She's coming
quick." A worried look goes to Aluren and Aedevan as she shifts her weight,
ready to run if necessary.

On the sands, Talene nods, her whole body tensing in readiness as she
squeezes back. "Gotcha," is said to her fellow Candidate.

On the sands, High Mountain Cirque egg shows a great deal of minute cracks
before it shatters into a pile of egg bits, leaving a windswept blue
Hatchling posed with a dazed expression in his eyes. He looks around,
realizes that rumble in his stomach isn't going to go away if he waits long
enough, so he heads towards the Candidates to his right. Passing ten or
twelve, he does an about-face, moving back four and crooning up at an
average young man from the Keroon area. Impression is made.

On the sands, Aedevan laughs, "Well, thanks, I think. There are a few more
eggs out there, but well..." He doesn't finish, he just watches the
hatchlings intently. Maybe one of those...

On the sands, Maybe not having a bronze is alright. Lijan at least has
Caralain to hang on to. "Look, if the green's for you, I could have the
blue and still get to chase you." He grins impishly. Standing on the sands
sure has made him more relaxed than before the hatching, oddly enough.

On the sands, Taralinda steps out of a small cavern off of the Hatching Sands.

On the sands, Aine smiles as one of the riders helps the latest pair off
the sands into the small room adjacent. Her attention is turned back to the
hatchlings and waiting candidates.

On the sands, The gold node egg finally begins to move. It twitches
slightly as its occupant begins its struggle to escape into the world.

On the sands, Abyssal Plain egg hatches to reveal a flowery green dragonet,
to it's left the Nuee Ardente egg cracks shell and drops away to show the
forest green Hatchling that's been inside. The two exchange a glance, seem
to argue with a series of chitters and wurbles, then head out in the same
general direction. The flowering green Impresses to a bawdy girl from
Benden Hold, while the forest green chooses the tall, dark haired young man
whose love Impressed a brown a few minutes before.

On the sands, Mysterious Thermal Pool Blue holds statuesque among the
shards of its broken home, wings outspread to catch the light and emit
sparkling droplets. He moves forward slowly, deliberately, his head lowered
to the sands, his muzzle methodically nudges shards from his path. Ending a
good dragonet-length from the egg remains, he halts. He moves his faceted
gaze from one end of the candidate spectrum to the other, apparently debating.

Nepenth bugles again loudly trying not to jostle the pair leaning up
against him

On the sands, Deepest Lush Jungle Green kicks shells out of the way as she
barrels towards the Candidates, urgency in her eyes and her bugle, but
these shells just *have* to go! She stomps forward, directly for a person
who's caught her mind. Yep, she's determined, all right. She's got a goal
and it's in her sites. She runs towards a group and skids to a stop, then
just sits there, looking up at a single girl with an impatient croon.

On the sands, Vaelyn keeps hopeful eyes turned towards that blue, trying
hard not to seem too intent on him.

On the sands, Caralain makes yet another face at Lijan. "You're funny. Oh,
look, there goes the green!"

On the sands, Christania watches the green with interest.

On the sands, Lijan peers. "Is she coming your way?"

On the sands, Talene pulls on Christania's arm this time as the green moves
for her lifemate.

On the sands, Lunan bounces on his toes to watch the blue hatchling from
the mudslide egg. "Move, I can't see'm!" he says to a taller boy in front
of him. "I wanna see!" He ducks in front of the other Candidate to peer at
the blue being picky. "He's clearing his own path," he chuckles to Milque.

"They breed them speedy at Fort," I'sai says half to himself - and then, as
the sparkling-winged blue straightens, "Excuse me, Wryn? There's likely as
little wine left as there is time," and flashes her a grin before beginning
to walk back across the stone.

On the sands, Taralinda rubs both hands over her head and looks around,
"Jays."

On the sands, Jenna cranes her neck, harried attention split with all the
eggs, trying to keep track of greens and blue. "Who? Who're they - oh,
those two." She wrinkles her nose at the 'lovers', "What about the other
one? And that blue?" Anxious looks are given to Aedevan and Aluren.

On the sands, Milque laughs and steps out to the side of the taller
candidate Lunan is trying to boucne around, "He's taking his time Lunan."
She smiles and looks down to see if she can see where that green ended up
in the circle of candidates.

On the sands, Aluren takes a startled step back, half crouching with shock
as a green stampedes her. She leaps forward from that almost sprinters
starting position to squeals at Stith "Silly Stith! I wasn't hiding!"

Aisling is slow, it takes a moment for words to seep through her attention.
"Wine?" She calls over. "Did someone want some?" She asks as she bends down
to pull out a skin. "Is Red allright?"

On the sands, Stith croons at Aluren with satisfaction.

On the sands, Vaelyn hears Aluren's voice ring clear over the sands and
grins. "Congratulations!" she calls, giving a quick wave to the other girl.

Kaelyn looks down at the woman, her full attention on her now. Her eyes
show a sadness of understanding. "No I didn't know. You never told me"

On the sands, Aedevan's jaw just about hits the sand, "Aluren... Stith?
Stith!" He takes a step back, giving the new pair plenty of room.

On the sands, Jenna's anxious look turns into a beam of pure delight.
"ALUREN! Oh, Aluren, she's great!" She hustles back, trying not to get
tripped over by Aedevan.

On the sands, "Aluren impressed!" Cara beams and waves an arm frantically
after the pair.

On the sands, T'shar steps out of a small cavern off of the Hatching Sands.

On the sands, Mysterious Thermal Pool Blue complets his deliberation,
moving stealthily forward to one end of the candidates' semi-circle. Sand
sprays to the side as he passes first one candidate, and then another, none
seeming to fit the bill. His pace is leisurely and calculated, his
inspection of the candidates scrupulous. He knows what he wants, and he has
not yet found it.

On the sands, T'shar reappears, wiping his forearm across his forehead and
getting his sleeve all sweaty and gross.

On the sands, Aluren glances around a little shell shocked at all the
thanks "Ohh!". She is grinning from ear to ear as she rubs her tummy in
sympathy.

On the sands, Lijan mutters darkly. "Okay, so I was wrong, and you won't
get a green anyway. But a blue." He points at the blue and nudges Caralain.

On the sands, Lunan is leaning forward enough to see Aluren's Impression,
and he grins, looking up at Milque. "Alu Impressed Stilth!" he tells her,
voice rising an octave before he can stop himself. He sighs and goes back
to watching that blue as he passes by him. He hops from foot to foot, feet
red looking now from the heat.

On the sands, Taralinda smiles and walks forward to Aluren and inclines her
head, "If you two will come with me. We'll get you settled in with the
others."

On the sands, Stith butts her head against Aluren urgently! Matter at hand!

On the sands, Aluren steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Taralinda steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Vaelyn leans back as she's sprayed with sand from the passing
blue. A quiet sigh escapes her lips before turning her eyes to reguard the
remaining eggs. "How many are left?"

On the sands, The gold node egg shakes more vigorously now. Its occupant is
definitely working to escape from her home of so many months. Crackling
sounds can be heard as the shell begins to give way.

On the sands, Stith steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Milque smiles happily as she glances to see Aluren leave with
her lifemate, then her eyes quickly go back to the blue that's tromping
along the line of candidates, watching him closely.

On the sands, Caralain turns from the impression to watch the blue. "Told
you blue was my favorite color," the candidate says hopefully, flapping the
robe again. "Shells, it's hot."

Kichevio leans forward again, braving the wind. "There goes the gold egg..."

On the sands, Lijan peers at the gold node egg. "Or maybe you'll have the
gold, you know." He purses his lips and seems to have forgotten all about
Impressing himself.

I'sai, after having been forcibly paused between two excitedly lashing
tails as Stith claimed her Aluren, finally makes it the rest of the way to
hail his wingmate with a lifted hand, "Please. Even red. So long as it's wet."

On the sands, The wind has died down now, gone on to other teasing
pursuits, perhaps far off to Nabol to kiss the ripening fruit there, and
tease the locks of holder girls. The sands like still, litters with
glistening shards. Knots of people still clump, but so many fewer now. The
end looms over the mound like a protective nanny, tucking in the cover of
finality.

Aisling tosses the skin towards I'sai. A nice gentle toss. "I haven't
checked, but I would imagine wine would be."

"Unless 'tis dehydrated wine," Kassima quips from where she sits with her
'skin. Still taking notes. Of course.

Wryn turns her attention to the gold egg now, with her lifemate constantly
nudging her to look at the blue still on the sands.

On the sands, Jenna chews on her lower lip, watching the blue out there.
"He's looking hard," she notes to Aedevan. A nervous look goes to the other
eggs, and then back to the dragonet. "And that wind's just /not/ helping."
She fans herself with one sticky hand.

K'lynt's gaze grows intense and focused as the gold egg moves. He squeezes
his lifemate's toe and glances anxiously at the group of tired candidates
left. "One," he whispers under his breath.

On the sands, Caralain snorts. "Ew, and have to stand on the sands for
months an' months at a time? No, -thank- you." Flap, flap, and Cara wipes
more sweat from forehead.

On the sands, Aedevan lets out a sigh, "Well, at least I got a kiss before
she was stolen away," he mumbles. "What? Oh the blue. Yeah, I hope he finds
his mate soon."

On the sands, Vaelyn shakes her head, seeming to agree with Jenna's words.
"Definately not helping." She waves her hand gently back and forth in front
of her face, attempting to cool herself down slightly. Little beads of
sweat have progressively been collecting on her forehead.

Tzanth, the picture of patients, stares down tentatively at the scene below.

On the sands, Lijan shrugs. "Just an idea, you know. She's not for me
anyway. What if she'll like you?"

On the sands, Ariandra presses against F'ren and murmurs. "So many of them
already gone. So many still left. I wish..." a hesitation and then she
says, in a rush, "I wish Erith had been a bigger gold so there could be
more eggs." Guilty glances cast at her lifemate, who simply regards her
with amused, draconian tolerance.

Maylia's been huddled against Tierth's neck, keeping out of the wind while
she watches. The wobble of the gold egg either is missed entirely, or it
just is another egg shaking - why watch those when there's a dragonet
stumbling about? "That blue picked yet?" She asks, peering around the curve
of Tierth's throat, to ask the others nearby.

Usselth inclines his head in a dip to gaze intently at the gold egg. His
focus as sharp as his mate's, but only a very keen observer would note his
interest.

Kaelyn shakes her head at Maylia. "Not yet. He is taking his time"

An equally easy catch, and I'sai makes a show of shaking the 'skin by his
ear to hear it slosh; "Promising, promising," he says. "If it's, what did
you say, dehydrated... then so much the stronger. Now, Ais, why did you
provide this now, instead of -before- we all made our bets?"

On the sands, The Gold Node egg shimmers, seeming to undulate with the
distorting heat from the sands. Pulsating with life, the hatchling inside
takes her time getting out. Soon tiny cracks appear, scuttling over the
surface of this perfect egg. The shells seem to melt away, falling to a
pile at the feet of this dazzling young creature and leaving her to stand
there in all her glory.

On the sands, A moment is spared as Talene glances up, moving her eyes away
from the Hatchling and the eggs. She glances down again, smiling at the
Hatchling. She wipes at the sweat on her face, and then she's squeezing
Christania's hand comfortingly as her gaze flits from the eggs to the
Hatchling.

On the sands, Scintillating Sunset Gold:
When the sun descends, and the water waits to catch it, on perfect nights
the sun goes down in only golds. She could have been taken from such a
sunset, her body a deep, peachy-gold, like that of the sunset just before
it touches the water, Down along her undersides, her tail and legs, the
color darkens to a deeper, almost antique golden shade, as if the light
there was submerging. The rush of lighter color runs up along her neck,
becoming more and more yellow gold, with darker ridges around her eyes. Her
head is perfectly shaped, and the gilding shows off her fine structure.
Delicate of form, she holds out the promise of grace and elegance in
motion. As her wings extend, they are the beautiful heavy yellow color of
freshly minted gold, with darker spangles, drops of metal flung against
them, interspersed with droplets the color of the dying sun, and the light
shade of the upper layer of the sunset.

On the sands, "I said ew," Cara states firmly and peers towards the eggs.
"Shards, they're almost all gone. An' where did that blue ever go?"

On the sands, F'ren simply smiles, shaking his head. "Both Zyanth and I
find our mates to be just the right size." This is reenforced by a squeeze
from F'ren's arm at the same time as Zyanth lets out a low, pleased rumble.

Kassima shakes her head to Maylia, after a moment's squint. "I don't think
so. Any thoughts on him?"

On the sands, Lijan shakes his head. "No idea. Not my way." He shifts on
the sands to find the blue. "Hm."

On the sands, Mysterious Thermal Pool Blue quickens his pace, sending
continual showers of sand. He skitters to a stop as he reaches the end of
the Candidates. Could he have missed something? Movements hurried now, he
backtracks, passing the halfway point. And then, he skids to a stop. Could
it be? Inquisitive, he moves inwards, passing one Candidate. Finally, he
stops. It's -him-.Tentatively, he barrels into his chosen.

On the sands, Lunan watches the blue, curious as to who this calculating
dragon will choose, being so careful. Absently, he swipes at his tongue,
sand grains still there and sticking firmly. "Ah, gahvah, ilsh," he
babbles, tongue hanging out as he desparately tries to clean it off. His
eyes dart to the gold hatchling respectively.

On the sands, Vaelyn spares the gold hatchling a favorable look as she
presents herself onto the sands. Her attention is leaning more towards the
little blue however, lifting her head up to try and find where he's off to.

On the sands, Christania watches the hatchlings with interest, primarilly
the gold, but eyes not straying from the blue for too terribly long.

Wryn oohs softly as the gold hatches, "Oh, Erith did herself right proud,
didn't she..." Aarieth croons softly in agreement once her attention is
swayed from the blue.

Tzanth bugles happily as the gold hatches.

On the sands, Scintillating Sunset Gold rises unsteadily to her feet and
shakes the remaining bit of shell off her brightly shining hide. She blinks
a few times as she takes in her surroundings.

Maylia leans out again, now that the wind's died down. "That little lad,
red hair in a 'tail?" She suggests, picking one seemingly at random.
Knowing the futility of her attempts at picking so far, random's as good as
any.

On the sands, Milque gets ready to jump as the blue barrels back into the
line, her eyes only getting a moment to see the gold hatchling escape from
her shell before she watches out for that blue.

On the sands, Talene's eyes widen as she spots the gold. Her chewing now
produces blood as she bites down hard. She suqeezes her companions hand,
"She's beautiful, Chrissy!" She manages to tear her gaze away long enough
to glance at the blue. "They're all so beautiful..."

Maylia whups. While she was correct - it would help if she could make a
call that's right /before/ Impression happens. Kinda spoils the effect.

On the sands, F'ren points now, "That's a careful gold we have here, eh?"
This said to Aria.

On the sands, Jenna misses the latest egg breaking, instead looking for
where that blue got to. "Who's he after? Who is it?" She darts a quick look
to Aedevan, and then back to the sands.

T'kar raises an eyebrow. "Hey, a gold." What a bright guy he is.

Nepenth bugles with the other dragons as the little gold has finally broken
her shell.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Jaecinth bugles loudly proclaiming the birth
of a new gold Queen at Fort!

On the sands, Lunan's tongue dangles, then is quickly stuffed back in his
mouth by his fingers. "Did you hear that?" he shrieks. "Did you?! Alirath!
It's him! It's /you/!" His voice rises octaves, then drops again, then
rises. "Alirath!" he repeats, dropping to his knees to accept the barreling
head into his arms. His wide eyes are shut now as he murmurs, "Alirath, my
perfect Alirath!"

Usselth rumbles a low bugle of greeting to the new gold. The heralding call
joins many other draconic voices that bounce from ledge to ledge like a
twirling dancer.

On the sands, Vaelyn rubs at her eye. Whether it's because of a grain of
sand, or because that little blue toddled off to someone else's embrace,
one might never know. "Congratulations," she offers with a faint smile
towards Lunan. "It's a lovely name."

On the sands, "She is beautiful," Lijan says with a look to the gold. "Are
you sure you wouldn't want her?" He turns his head. "And there was the
blue. Lunan Impressed."

On the sands, Aedevan shrugs to Jenna, "I don't know..." He stares after
the blue and beems as he spots Lunan. "Oh Lunan! Congratulations!"

On the sands, Ariandra nods, the guilty little flush expunged in a sort
order. A hand comes up to tease back a long lock that has escaped from her
hairdo, resting on her forehead, as if to hold back the volume of noise
that overflows her thoughts.

Kassima makes an inquisitive sound at T'kar's comment. "Huh? Oh, gold."
That acknowledgment done, she goes back to tracking the blue. "*Ohhhh*.
Alirath, Lysseth says! What a lovely name, don't you think, May?"

On the sands, Talene waves excitedly to Lunan, "Congratulations!"

On the sands, F'ren just busts out in a good natured laugh at Lunan as the
impression takes place.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Erith crooons in delight. <<My daughter is
born!>>

Indrath leans forward a bit, nose back out into that dying wind as he eyes
the gold hatchling with the cautious intensity of a connoisseur. He gives a
rumble of protest when K'ran throws a fist up in the air and gives a cry of
triumph. "Lunan got that blue. Alirath?"

Kichevio cheers as Saulith bugles. "And the Guards do it again, Greylin!
Well done, Lunan!"

On the sands, Taralinda steps out of a small cavern off of the Hatching Sands.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Zyanth rumbles, << Our daughter, dear. >>

On the sands, Caralain eyes the gold for a moment. "Aah, she's okay. And
Lunan? Oh, Lunan!" Robe flaps as Lijan bounces to look over at Lunan and
the blue.

Imanath lets out a sudden, loud buggle--just as Talisha starts cheering
loudly for Lunan.

On the sands, Scintillating Sunset Gold watches her bronze brother find his
lifemate, then steps slowly down off of the egg mound, looking regal and
surprisingly graceful with each step. Her wedge-shaped head sweeps around
the remaining circle of candidates, looking at each one for a moment.

On the sands, Milque gives a little cheerful shout for Lunan as she backs
off a bit, that barreling was pretty close. Then she steps out a bit more
to the side, looking to see where the other young dragons are now.

On the sands, Vaelyn focuses in on the only hatchling left on the sands.
Tilting her head curiously, she surveys the young queen, then looks about
her at the prospective choices that lay ahead.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Erith is not all all abashed, <<Yes. Ours.>>

Dragon> All dragons sense that Ladonyth croons her congratulations!

On the sands, Christania watches the gold with interest, swallowing.

On the sands, Alirath status

Dragon> Zyanth bespoke all dragons with << Not that Zyanth is proud or
anything like that, of course. :) >>

Dragon> All dragons sense that Aarieth croons her congratulations and
pride, << She is magnificent. >>

Dragon> All dragons sense that Saulith sparkleshines. <<She is beautiful!>>

On the sands, T'shar waits through the flood of name proclamations and then
grins at Lunan and his blue. "Congratulations, Lunan," he says. "If you and
Alirath want to come with me?" He holds out his arm, gesturing for the pair
to follow. What gold?

On the sands, Jenna lets out a cheer, "Lunan! And what was that blue's
name? Al-something?" She grins over at her friend, and finally takes an
eager look back to the sands. Upon seeing only the gold there, her face
whitens. "Uh oh. She hatched." Feet bring her closer to Aedevan for support.

Greylin shouts out Lunan's name, and rises to her feet. "Go Guards!!!!" she
bellows, her fist in the air.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Tierth's thoughts, silvery fresh, flow
through the dragon's chatter. << Your entire clutch is beautiful, and will
be talented. >>

On the sands, Talene smiles at Lunan and his new lifemate as she turns back
to the gold, wiping a little blood from her lip. She stares at it for a
moment, suprised to see it, but then her eyes are caught entirely by the gold.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Toniath's mindvoice is only a little on the
oily side. << Very pretty indeed. >>

On the sands, Parched Riverbed egg produces a dazzling violet blue dragonet
while nearby the Steam Fumeroles egg cracks shell to reveal a fresh green
hatchling. On the other side of the Sands the Shimmering Sinter egg hatches
to show it held a beautiful kelly green. The three head out in different
directions, the first green joining with a dark haired beauty from the
Healercraft, the second green finding a plain, chubby young lady from
nearby Fort Hold. The violet blue heads straight for a former Weavercraft
Apprentice, bugling as the boy shouts out his name, the final Impression
being made.

"Mm-hmm," I'sai says equably to T'kar, eyes narrowed to see the
greenish-blue dragon find his mate. "Lunan, Lunan... amazing wings on that
fellow, the way they, hmm. Ripple. Wavy. Things. Yeah," and drowns his
cough with a deep sip of that wine.

On the sands, Aedevan laughs, "Yeah she hatched... Ya think the biggest
brightest egg on the sands is gonna be a dud?" He welcomes the closeness
though and extends a hand shoudl Jenna want it.

Nepenth bugles at yet another blue hatchling

K'lynt leans forward, so intent is his interest, and he doesn't seem to
notice until he tips a little. His foot shifts to accomodate the shift in
weight and he glances about embarrassed. His eyes, however, dart promptly
back to the gold.

On the sands, L'nan is biting his lips and hugging Alirath, staring into
the blue's eyes. "Yes yes yes, Alirath, c'mon, we'll follow T'shar there,
c'mon!" He hops on and helps his new blue off the sands."

On the sands, T'shar steps into the holding room.

On the sands, L'nan steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Alirath steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Vaelyn spies a zip of blue and quickly lifts her head up to
follow it's progress, only to be dissapointed again as it runs into someone
else. "Well, there's always next time," she breaths, idly curling one palm
closed and rubbing at the top of it with her other hand.

On the sands, Jenna does indeed take that hand Aedevan is extending. Then
as those three eggs crack, she looks hopefully in their direction. Her face
falls as they quickly impress. Unable to keep a quick expression of
disappointment from her face, she squeezes the hand she holds.

On the sands, Scintillating Sunset Gold moves toward the candidates and
peers at several of them. After each one, she seems to shake her head a bit
then moves on to the next.

On the sands, Milque nervously grips her robe again, her hands having
gotten that clammy feeling yet again. She looks around now, the candidates
to either side of her gone now, more and more holes have appeared about the
circle. She looks out at what is left of the mound of eggs, her eyes
watching the regal gold take her time in looking everyone over.

On the sands, Christania sees the last of the eggs hatch and tries not to
look too disappointed, though her features are falling noticeably. She
gives Talene a small smile, "Well, we gave it a good shot, right?"

Tarlo beams with pure pleasure at L'nan's Impression, and lets her eyes
fall on the gold. Cariath croons her encouragement to the pretty little thing.

On the sands, Vaelyn reaches back idly to dust the sand out of her bun,
relenquishing it's hold to allow the hair to fall back into a runnertail.
This allows her to more easily relieve herself of the grit, shaking out the
length of hair gently.

On the sands, Caralain points towards the last impression. "There we go,
Lijan.. shards. Only that gold left. I hear hatching feasts are awfully
good though." Face brightens.

On the sands, Talene stares at the last hatchling, her eyes getting misty.
She smiles at Christania, and squeezes her hands, "It was really nice
meeting, Christania." She tilts her head to the side and offers a genuine
smile at that. She points to the gold hatchling, "Might as well see who she
Impresses too. We have to hear the speech they give afterwards anyways."

On the sands, Lijan nods, then suddenly his face falls. "Hatching feast.
Mom will be there...think you can hide me somewhere? Please?"

On the sands, Christania smiles at Talene, "Of course. I'll be heading back
to High Reaches. H'am's here to give me a ride. Want a ride back? I'm sure
H'am and Llanarth wouldn't mind." She still keeps an eye on the gold, but
it's not near as focussed as earlier.

On the sands, Scintillating Sunset Gold stops in front of a young candidate
with very blonde hair and stares at her for several long moments. Suddenly
she snorts, blowing the girl's hair back, then moves off across to the
other end of the line.

On the sands, Caralain peers at Lijan. "Oh, your -mom-. This robe's prob'ly
big enough for two." A weak grin accompanies the tease. A pause, "But I
don't really wanna see her either."

On the sands, Talene nods gratefully, "Thanks. I'd appreciate that, unless
someone is here to give me a ride." She whispers quietly, glancing up at
the Galleries. She shrugs, "Ah well." A glances is offered to the gold, and
she smiles.

I'sai's attention flicks briefly to K'lynt, and he murmurs on a low laugh,
"She'll grow up soon enough." He swallows again from his wineskin, more
sharply now - "Poor lads, knowing there's none left for them."

Maylia leans out again, eyeing Kassi and the others. "Well, what do you
think?" She asks, nodding towards the sands, and the scattered shells in
general. "Any from Telgar left down there, we should pick up if they want
to come home?" Comes as an after thought.

On the sands, Lijan smiles wanly. "What about grabbing some food together
and then hide somewhere?"

On the sands, Vaelyn perks up at the mention of family. "Which reminds me.
My whole family is up there in the tiers. I'm sure they'll be dying to eat
after all this is over. It'll be nice to visit with them for a while!" She
too watches the gold out of the corner of her eye, smiling lightly at the
very blonde candidate.

On the sands, Aedevan catches Jenna's falling expression, "Hey, it's not
over yet..." He offers, though he can't completely hide the defeat in his
tone.

On the sands, Milque chews on her lower lip a bit as she watches the gold
pick her way along the candidates. She leans forward just a little bit,
then leans back, bouncing on her feet again just for a moment.

Kichevio shrugs. "No one I know, though if any of them want a lift,
Saulith's got room."

On the sands, Jenna holds on tightly to Aedevan's hand, "Oh - there she -
oh, no." She gives the blonde girl a sympathetic look as the little queen
turns away. "Almost." She jokes softly, "And I thought Sovalin was supposed
to impress her too."

"Methinks they'd be upset if'n I swooped down t'collect shards, more's the
pit--oh, did you mean about the gold?" Kassi asks, startled out of her
train of thought. "Thought 'twere asking about the shells. Nary a clue. I
don't think Telgar has any Standing this round, so we can probably make
clean our escape, though I'll need t'make sure Miritha gets her mark. Or
marks."

On the sands, Scintillating Sunset Gold stops in front of an older
Candidate this time. She watches the Candidate as she bounces on the hot
sands, then begins to croon deep in her throat.

"So does Taralyth," I'sai assures, stretching - as, behind him, prismatic
wings fan slowly, surely, showily wide - "Would you share, if there were
only one to take back? A couple long ropes..."

On the sands, Taralinda watches quietly, keeping eyes on the last of the
candidates and the last of the action out on the sands, a small smile
playing at her lips.

On the sands, Aedevan laughs, "I just wish she'd pick already. Here are the
choices darlin' just pick one.... Oh there she goes!"

On the sands, "Hidin' sounds awful good," Cara says. "An' we can play
cards, maybe? Oh, I think the gold.."

K'lynt's gaze breaks sharply as a voice is aimed at him and he scratches at
the back of his neck casually. He wasn't thinking of -that-! No! He nods to
I'sai and nonchalontly grunts in agreement. "Always tough to see."

Maylia offers Kichevio a nod, glancing back down at the sands again,
squinting. "I don't know of any, either. Nah, Kassi, I meant the whole
thing. But we can ask about shard collecting?"

On the sands, The 'eyes' have it. Locked on the gold. The only dragon
moving on the sands now. Breath is held until lungs could burst, released
in hard, hot gasps, juttering little sounds from the sands and the gallery.

On the sands, Christania watches the gold infront of Milque, she assumes,
and ohs quietly. She grins back at Talene, "Well. As I asked, would you
want a ride back with us instead of someone else?"

On the sands, Vaelyn spies the gold near someone whom she thinks is Milque
and smiles quietly.

Wryn leans forward, "Comeon little queen. Give us a good goldrider."

On the sands, Talene waves to Milque and smiles softly, "Good luck, Milque!
And congrats!"

Aisling peers down at the sands. "Did she Impress, I can't tell. Can you?"

On the sands, Milque stops bouncing, staring straight ahead into the face
of the firey young gold, "Yes Elynth! We are all the ingredients together!"
She steps forward and wraps her arms around her neck, her eyes bright with
happy tears.

Kichevio nods, the smile on her face warm and wide for the girl. "Milque. I
think we met once or twice. Good for her."

On the sands, Aine beams at the new pair and heads out onto the sands to
usher off Milque and Elynth. "Congratulations," she says to the pair.
"Follow me off and we'll get her some food."

Wryn grins, "Ah...very good." She leans back against Aarieth and pats the
green's forearm.

On the sands, Jenna lets out her breath in a faint whoosh of relief.
"Congrats, Milque!" She turns to Aedevan and smiles a trifle sadly. "Now
it's over."

I'sai, distracted, distracts back; he doesn't look over, but says to K'lynt
as acknowledgement instead, "-That's- done. And there's a little wine left,
if you want some."

Tzanth rumbles, satisfied. His lifemate gives him another pat and smiles,
"All great pairs."

On the sands, Milque steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Scintillating Sunset Gold steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Aine steps into the holding room.

On the sands, Vaelyn smiles towards Milque and her Elynth, waving to them
as the leave the sands. "Congratulations," she calls before looking towards
Ariandra and F'ren.

On the sands, Taralinda follows Aine, Milque and Elynth in.

On the sands, Taralinda steps into the holding room.

Usselth rumbles intently at the new pair and continues watching them as
they leave the sands.

On the sands, Lijan sighs a bit, then nods. "Playing cards sounds good. You
never taught me that game you kept playing with the others." He still
clings to Caralain's arm.

On the sands, Talene nods quickly to Christania as she rubs her eyes,
"Yeah. I'd like a ride home, if you please."

Kichevio disappears up onto Saulith's spring-green back.

On the sands, F'ren nods to himself and steps forward towards the
candidates still on the Sands. "If you all will follow me, please."

Kaelyn looks down at the sands and smiles at Christania

Saulith launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the
Bowl.

K'ran straightens, uncoiling his body from its casual slouch against
Indrath. "Met her once or twice," he agrees. "Nice enough girl." A hand
raked back through his hair and an aside to his lifemate: "And, yes, that
Elynth is lovely."

On the sands, "Thought I did," Cara says, picking up the robe so as not to
trip, heading after F'ren.

K'lynt grins playfully at I'sai, "I'd -love- some." He stretches his back,
cramped from sitting in the same position too long.

On the sands, F'ren turns and makes his way out into the bowl, motioning
the others to follow.

On the sands, Ariandra stand there, in the shadow of her gold as Erith
looms over her, and they watch, together, the new dragons disappear. But
then, she turns to watch the remaining people on the sands, and her
expression is a softly disconsolate one.

On the sands, Christania nods a little to Talene, "Sure. No point in
hanging around here anyway, right? Friends are gone, and it'd probably be
easier on our emotions." She puts an arm around the girl and looks over at
F'ren. "Great. The 'We like you and want you around even though you didn't
impress' chat." She winks at Talene with a smile.

On the sands, Aedevan lets out a long sigh, his grin kinda of weak. "So do
we sleep in the barracks tonight or do they stick us in the residents
room?" He asks, Jenna, eager to look to the future again. He also moves to
follow F'ren.

On the sands, Jenna nods to the Weyrleader, finally releasing Aedevan's
hand. "Guess we'll find out."

On the sands, F'ren walks out of the Hatching Grounds, to the Bowl.

On the sands, Lijan is dragged along, as Caralain follows F'ren.

On the sands, Jenna walks out of the Hatching Grounds, to the Bowl.

On the sands, Caralain walks out of the Hatching Grounds, to the Bowl.

On the sands, Lijan walks out of the Hatching Grounds, to the Bowl.

On the sands, Aedevan walks out of the Hatching Grounds, to the Bowl.

On the sands, Christania walks out of the Hatching Grounds, to the Bowl.

On the sands, Vaelyn nods towards the Weyrleader, following quickly behind.
She gives the weyrwoman a quick wave before leaving the sands.

On the sands, Vaelyn walks out of the Hatching Grounds, to the Bowl.

On the sands, Talene walks out of the Hatching Grounds, to the Bowl.

Kassima swings her leg about in order to stand, stretching her arms towards
the sky without, somehow, dropping any of those hides. "Nay much of a
profit this time," she admits cheerfully, "but a minor one, and any
profit's good news. Heading straight back, May?"

K'ven mounts Tzanth, aided by the riding straps, and settles himself
between his warbling lifemate's neckridges.

Talisha scrambles up the sun-kissed green of Imanath's hide to perch in an
unoccupied neckridge.

Imanath launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the
Bowl.

Fluria lets out a sigh as she stands. "Well, hopefully I can see them
tonight." She says and turns to mount Qirith

Aisling slowly stands, joints cracking as she does so.

I'sai hands over the 'skin, "Red, too, K'lynt; Aisling brought it, so I
can't take too much of the credit. You two met?"

Astride Tzanth, K'ven grins and holds out a hand in a wave to the occupants
of the viewing ledges and gives his lifemate the silent request to depart.

Qirith launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the
Bowl.

Tzanth launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the
Bowl.

Fluria uses Qirith's forelimb as a step up to reach the straps. Then
proceeds to climb up to sit between the gold's neck ridges.

Wryn mounts Aarieth with the help of the riding straps and a proferred
foreleg.

Aarieth launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the
Bowl.

Aisling glances towards K'lynt, her smile warming her features. "Not that I
remember." She offers quietly.

Maylia swings off Tierth's forelimb, and presses the cork back into her
wineskin, not that there's a lot left in it. "Back to the Weyr?" She asks
of her fellow Telgar folk. "Or stick around?"

K'lynt takes the skin greatfully, (very greatfully), and shakes his head.
"No, I don't believe we have.."

Raking a hand back through hair, K'ran hauls himself back astride Indrath.
"I'll count my marks against yours later, Kassima," he calls over to the
Thunderbolt Wingleader. "See which one of us did better." This good-natured
challenge delivered, he clips himself into riding straps and urges his
young bronze skywards.

K'ran clambers upwards onto Indrath's back.

Sonya climbs up Pryth slowly, helped by Pryth's foreleg.

Pryth launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the Bowl.

T'kar hoists himself up to Fasolth's neck.

Indrath launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the
Bowl.

Kassima points out with a mock-grumble, "That's what *I* asked--" With
care, she rolls up the betting hides, tucking them lovingly into the pouch
of Lysseth's straps. "Fair enough!" she yells back over her shoulder to
K'ran. "Don't suppose you'd care t'bet on it?"

I'sai explains, "Met K'lynt here back when I was around for Nioth's clutch,
you know how it goes - hmm? Either way, Maylia, either way; I'll have to
report."

On the sands, It is, perhaps, fitting that the sun has drawn a curtain over
the final act. Shadows creep, long fingers, moving over the shattered
shards like echoes the the dragons and hopefuls of the hours past. Ariandra
stands there, taking comfort from Erith, eyes closed against a rush of
emotion. The weight of her years linger on her shoulders, heavy, but not
rough hands. And with a last look, she moves away, picking a path through
the maze of memories now born.

Kaelyn climbs up onto Nepenth's back, using his straps as handholds.

Nepenth launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the
Bowl.

Greylin manages to get aboard Kheprith.

Kheprith launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the
Bowl.

Maylia pushes her wineskin into the carrysack, and flashes a grin at the
departing K'ran. "I can tell you, I came out ahead of most wagerers.
Neither lost nor gained." That's what happens when one doesn't bet on
hatchings.

Aisling nods her head, "Well met, then." She notes before nodding to I'sai.
"I had forgotten about his clutch there."

Kassima makes an impolite noise. "'Tis a wonder you've *any* marks, mentee
mine--welladay, methinks I'm off and away m'self, and 'twill ask after
shards when I come back t'pay m'wager-losses. See you back at the Weyr?"

K'lynt offers Aisling a return smile. "Well met." He indulges in a long sip
of the wine. His features communicate his opinion of it, but he remarks
anyway, "That's -realy- good wine."

On the sands, Taralinda steps out of a small cavern off of the Hatching Sands.

On the sands, Taralinda walks out of the Hatching Grounds, to the Bowl.

Aisling nods to Kassima. "See you later." She offers before grinning at
K'lynt. "I can take any credit for it, I just took it from stores."

Maylia just shakes her head at Kassima, and doesn't comment. "Well, I think
I'll head back, then. Lots of folk to ensure any Telgari who're here get
back, standing or otherwise, and I've Tasayli to tuck into bed."

Maylia swings up to her place astride Tierth, her lifemate welcoming her
with a rumble.

I'sai exaggerates surprise, stretched between lifted brows and dropped jaw;
"How could you forget something like that, something so climactic, crucial,
and... Faranth, I need another C-word. Anyway. So you can tell the
difference between your wines, K'lynt? Convince Kassima to try out some of
her -special- drinks on you sometime."

Kassima nods agreement, once, takes a look back, once, and starts to climb
up aboard her mount--though not before commenting, "Trying t'murder the
poor man, I'sai?"

You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly.
You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower
neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered
foreleg.

<*> Tierth launches off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to
the Bowl.

<*> "Only slowly," I'sai laughs, and casts a wave after her - and Maylia,
with a, "Hope she sleeps well!" to boot.

<*> K'lynt nods at I'sai, "Pretty well, yes." He hands back the skin. "Hate
to drink and run, but I'm gonna take off soon." The statement is literal.

Kassima nods once to the bronzerider in return for the wave, and then
Lysseth is gone in a flash of charcoal wings.

You launch off the ledge, banking through the aerial entrance to the Bowl.