The Hatching of Gold Leilanth and Bronze Prometh's Clutch
PernMUSH, June 3, 1998


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



 

You fly over and land upon one of the ledges.

<*> Melina grins and nods to her, "Never know what to expect. I think 
that's what makes it most exciting" She tosses a wave to Meli and T'saren 
then smiles as Rhonneth warbles a greeting to Lysseth.

<*> Kemith flies here from the air over the hatching sands.

<*> Prefeth flies here from the air over the hatching sands.

<*> Astride Kemith, Gaivn gibbers, "I think - I hope - this is - great!"

<*> Kemith warbles happily that he made it through the tangle of dragons 
and hummms towards the sands.

<*> Prefeth settles down on to the hatching ledges, crooning a greeting to 
the other dragons and only pausing in his gentle humming for a short while.

<*> Lysseth lands daintily on the edge of the ledge, already lowering her 
neck to let her passengers down. "Looks like we're well in time," Kassi 
observes, already unbuckling herself. "Slide on down and find yourselves 
seats while there're still seats t'be had!"

Everin unbuckles himself from Lysseth's straps and climbs back down to the 
ground, looking a little disoriented from the flight.

<*> From Prefeth's neckridges, Aphrael unstraps herself, grinning back 
over her shoulder, "We're here! Let me know if you need a hand down to the 
ground."

<*> T'saren gets everything situated,then turns to L'mis and gives him a 
salute, followed by a wink. "G'eve, Wingsecond. Sorry I didn't return your 
salute promptly, but I'm still not used to being the one saluted."

Rylle climbs down from Lysseth's neckridges with the help of her riding 
straps, looking grateful to be back on the ground. Lysseth eyes Rylle for 
a moment, rumbling quietly, before turning her attention elsewhere.

<*> Sturve clambers down Prefeth's side as the blue dragon offers a 
foreleg to assist.

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.

From high atop Kemith's brown neckridges, Gaivn leans over to Channie and 
wonders, "Is he really smug, or does he just sound that way?"

From Prefeth's neckridges, Aelynna laughs as she attempts gcalmbering off 
the dragon.

Aelynna clambers down Prefeth's side as the blue dragon offers a foreleg 
to assist.

Everin sways and has to cling to Lysseth's forearm for a moment before the 
shock seeps out of his system. Then he pats the green hide and apologizes. 
"Thank you," he tells Kassima with whatever dignity he can manage on short 
notice.

From Prefeth's neckridges, Waylund tries to say "No tanks, I'm fine, but 
manages, "No tha--" before falling flat on his face."

Waylund clambers down Prefeth's side as the blue dragon offers a foreleg 
to assist.

L'mis just quietly nods in agreement with T'saren. He then glances back at 
the sands.

From the hatching sands, K'tyn makes a motion to scrub back a nonexistant 
curl of hair from his forehead, the gesture one of long habit. "Indeed, 
Jehrina. I think tis one--" He laughs at Prometh's brief interruption in 
humming as he peers at his rider and makes a well-timed snort. "That will 
settle the pair of them!"

Rylle smiles fondly at green Lysseth and her rider Kassima. "I wam truly 
grateful for your kindness."

Caliath flies here from the air over the hatching sands.

Sturve is a little unsteady on his feet as well after his first drafon 
ride. "Wow."

Kyoteth flies here from the air over the hatching sands.

Kindre waggles a hand cheerfully at Aphrael, Channie, and Kassima, using 
the other hand to point to a wine-skin, before nodding more formal 
greeting to the arriving guests. "Telgar's duties," she offers and 
smiles.

Astride Kemith, Channie grins at Gaivn, "oh, a little of both! Quite a lot 
of wings out there!" she turns and helps with the straps, "ok...down you 
go lad!"

Waylund pushes himself back to his feet."Ouch."

Astride Caliath, Bradamante grins and waves to everyone "Fort's Duties!"

Aphrael climbs down from Prefeth's neckridges with practised ease.

From the hatching sands, A few more eggs begin rocking. Here and there, 
eggs alternate in rocking, then sitting as if they're plainly unhatchable. 
The queen on the sands seems to be looking over them all, though not 
concerned about any particular one.

From atop Kyoteth, D'ton says briefly, "Here we are." He sees to his 
passengers before disembarking.

Kassima swings down with practiced ease, bringing the strap-pouch down 
with her as she does. From this, she extricates a rolled-up hide and a 
wineskin, which she settles in her lap once she's found her perch on 
Lysseth's foreleg. "Don't mention it!" she tells Everin and Rylle. "Our 
duty and pleasure y'may be certain. Now...." More to the ledges in 
general, she shouts, "I'll wager on the first being green! Any takers?"

Astride Caliath, Bradamante shouts down to Kassima "Its gotta be blue!"

Channie slides gracefully down Kemith's shoulder and lands with a slight 
bounce on the ground. Kemith gives his lifemate a curious wuffle as she 
pats and scritches him lovingly.

Melina takes a seat on Rhonneth's forlimb as he settles on the ledge. She 
swings her legs idly, looking way down at the eggs. She looks at Kassi at 
her wager and grins widely, "I'll take that. I'll bet it's brown. 
Definitely"

Symoria looks over at Bradamante as she hears the word 'Fort', then smiles 
and waves.

Rylle smiles gratefully to the black haired and beautiful rider "Whenever 
in Igen, please find me, I'm Rylle., I'll gladly return the kindness as 
best as possible."

[Editor's Note:  I missed this pose in Hatching spam, I think.  Bad 
me.]

From atop Kyoteth, Lily pats Kyoteth's hide. "Thank you very much for the 
nice ride," she says. "You're a very polite dragon."

Amberan slides down off Kyoteth's back.

Symoria smiles as she looks over at Melina, saying, "I'm not betting any 
money here. I usually lose. But I think the first will be brown, too."

From high atop Kemith's brown neckridges, Gaivn takes a last-for-now look, 
along Kemith's smooth neck down to ledge and down, down, down to the sands 
below. He gulps, once, then follows Channie down, as best he can matching 
foothold for foothold till he's safe, too.

From atop Kyoteth, D'ton says "Oh, and Master Lily? Aladis gave birth to a 
boy."

Gaivn slides down to the ground with the help of Kemith's riding straps. 
The brown requards Gaivn curiously as his steps away.

"How much're you willing t'bet?" Kassi returns to those whose opinions 
differ. "Green I said, and green 'twill be--Lysseth agrees with me, don't 
you, lummp?" Lyss doesn't bother to break her hummmmmmmmm long enough to 
reply.

D'ton slides down off Kyoteth's back.

Aphrael slides to the ground, removing her helmet and as glances about the 
ledge, calling greetings to those she recognises. Finding herself a seat 
on Prefeth's foreleg, she settles down, eyes flickering to the sands below 
as Prefeth continues his incessant humming.

Lily slides down off Kyoteth's back.

T'saren hefts his beltpouch thoughtfully, then nods to Kassi. "Aye, but my 
mark's on blue. I think I've got enough to cover any bets I make tonight." 
The look on his face plainly says he hopes that'll be the case, but you 
never know when it's Kassi you're betting against.

From the hatching sands, Prometh stamps a foot, innate impatience and 
paternal urging coming to the fore as he shifts restlessly, waiting for 
the eggs to crack. K'tyn glances up, moving to place a hand on the 
bronze's foreleg. "Tis not long, now. Not long at all," he grins as 
another egg shudders spasmodically.

Melina fingers the marks in her pocket, "I have at least a mark that it's 
a brown"

Bradamante grabs a straps and swings down from Caliath's neckridges, 
barely touching an extended forleg for balance as she leaps for the 
ground. Once landed herself she turns and grins up at Caliath, patting 
him.

Channie waits to be sure Gaivn makes it down safely and then hurries over 
to Aphrael and attemps to steal a hug. "Aph!"

"Heya D'ton, eve Master Lily," Kindre calls from in front of Herath and 
smiles, "Telgar's duties," she offers to the latter.

L'mis peers a moment at Amberan, placing the face. He nods to himself 
silently.

Rylle smiles gratefully to see a ffamiliar face. "Gaivn! I'm glad you're 
here too. I'm sorry I fell asleep last night on your's and Lyndra's 
shoulders." She chuckles lightly, her eyes glinting merrily.

Bradamante chuckles "How much will it cost to disagree with you Kassima?" 
jangling her belt pouch.

Lily beams and gives D'ton a big hug. "You must be very proud. Have you 
named him yet? How's he doing? How's Aladis?" She squints down toward the 
sands, then to Kindre, to whom she smiles. "Minecraft's duty," she calls, 
"on this happy occasion!"

From the hatching sands, Kerlyn emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Asher emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Aurian emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Mehlani emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Jayna emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Arallia emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Krista emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Sandar emerges from the candidate barracks.

D'ton splutters at something Lily said. "Encil?!" he exclaims.

From the hatching sands, Kharty emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Alais emerges from the candidate barracks.

Kassima suggests flippantly to Bradamante, "A quarter mark, mayhaps? 
'Twill be seeking t'meet all bets, but there's nay point risking all 
m'marks at the very start!"

From the hatching sands, Berylle emerges from the candidate barracks.

D'ton says in a calmer tone. "Er, we named him Aladon."

From the hatching sands, Ro emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Jehrina nods as the candidates make their way 
onto the sands. "None too soon, it looks like."

From the hatching sands, Neliea emerges from the candidate barracks.

From the hatching sands, Kyria emerges from the candidate barracks.

Kemith whuffles Gaivn's hair all over the place in great excitment, not 
even stopping his humming as he does so.

Lily pats D'ton's arm. "It's a nice way of showing respect...Aladon? I 
like that. A very nice name. A Miner's name." Catchng sight of white out 
of the corner of her eye, she looks toward the Sands. "Here come the 
Candidates."

L'mis looks down and spies the one face he's watching for. He affords 
himself a quick, public smile before evening his expression once more.

Melina chuckles and nods, "I see that quarter mark. It'll be brown, 
Kassi."

Bradamante flips out a quarter mark and rests it on Caliath's blue forleg 
"Fair enough" and turns to watch the emerging Candidates.

From the hatching sands, Kerlyn strides out onto the hatching sands, 
riding leathers somewhat battered looking, leading a stream of nervous 
looking white-robed candidates. Once they are out on the sands of the 
cavern, she leads them around to form a semi-circle. After she steps back 
to the side, the canddiates bow nervously towards Leilanth's great golden 
mass.

From the hatching sands, Maylia emerges from the candidate barracks.

Channie looks around the crowd and spots A'lex, bounding over to him and 
Nraith to sit and watch the hatching.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek gulps and glances up at all the people.. 
and down at all the eggs!

Amberan chuckles at Lily. "Heh. Yes, a miner, your son will make an 
excellent miner, D'ton." He then looks down and grows silent when he sees 
Berylle enter.

Gaivn getting his head whuffled sends Rylle into a spasm of merry 
laughter.

Aphrael starts in surprise, nearly falling off Prefeth's leg as she 
happily returns Channie's hug. "Nie! How are you?" She asks happily.

Gaivn follows Channie's movement a moment, brown eyes wide at the clangor, 
then concentrates on getting him and his snow-slushed shoes safely over to 
Rylle. "Some sleigh ride, wasn't it? ...Wait, who did that?" and he looks 
back up over his shoulder at the merry brown, and can't help but grin.

Kemith is in such a good mood he gives Rylle the same treatment.

T'saren pulls out his own quarter mark, sliding it between his fingers as 
he watches the candidates make their entrance, followed by the 
weyrlingmaster and her assistants. "Gah, I should have been down there," 
he murmurs softly.

Melina pulls out a knicked old quartermark from her pouch and sits it on 
her knee, stilling her legs as not to loose it. Still, you have to wonder 
if the girl ever spends her money with the aparent age of that mark.

Channie motions for Aphrael to join her and A'lex near the edge where the 
view is better. "I'm doing great! How are you bluerider?"

From the hatching sands, Asher stands with both feet firmly planted on the 
sands and looks up away from the eggs towards the relative coolness of the 
sands. His bruised face breaks into a grin, and he looks away to his other 
friends, and smooths the front of his robe with jittering fingers.

From the hatching sands, Jayna starts to shift from foot to foot on the 
hot sands as she glances around, nervously.

From the hatching sands, Alais's pale, very pale, as she moves along with 
everyone else into the semicircle. Her fingers twine together, tight, and 
she fixes that wide-eyed gaze on the eggs. Here;s the moment of truth. Or 
the hours.

From the hatching sands, K'tyn shares a grin with Jehrina as he watches 
the candidates file out. A hopeful, expectant look brightens his saturnine 
features as he returns the salutations offered. Prometh merely continues 
to hum.

M'hryn swings one of his legs across Talibenth's broad neck to dismount 
and jumps down from the crouched bronze.

From the hatching sands, Neliea looks around wide-eyed at the people, but 
her attention is drawn to the eggs very much rocking at the moment. 
Suddenly she realizes that her feet are just a bit warmer as she glances 
down at her feet and shifts just a bit for comfort and part 
nervrousness.

From the hatching sands, Aurian reaches out without a single word to grab 
at Mehlani's hand. Her damp hair becomes even curlier as the heat of the 
sands starts to dry it. She can't help herself and smiles.

From the hatching sands, Arallia moves closer to Jayna and shuffles her 
feet as well, glancing nervously at everyone and then the eggs.

Richenda descends from B'fus's trusty green, rubbing her rump. "Bloody 
rider," she mumbles as she gives him a smile of thanks, then looks around 
at the masses massing massively.

Rylle nods fervently to Gaivn, removing her coat in the blustering heat of 
the crowdded caverns and warm radiating sands. "Yeah, it was great."

From the hatching sands, One of the smaller eggs, near the barracks bursts 
into what's surely a thousand tiny shards. The small green inside creeels, 
then launches itself out if its shards. The hatchling knows just who it's 
looking for, not even stopping to look at anyone but a younger boy from a 
nearby hold who's barely manged to sketch his bow to sire and dam.

D'ton asks T'saren, "Will Aladis be on the Sands then?"

From the hatching sands, Berylle glances up at the stands and galleries, 
as if she could spot her Da or anyone else she knew, then turns back to 
look at the eggs without apparent recognition of anyone.

From the hatching sands, Kharty takes a slow look about her, bare feet 
hopping from one to the other. The sands somehow seem hotter to her than 
when she walked out here for the egg touching.

Kindre chuckles a bit as she listens to the betting going on around the 
ledges. "I know better," she remarks with a sly grin, "to test my luck 
with marks at Hatchings." Waving Richenda over, she spots M'hryn and 
offers, "Telgar's duties to Ista," kindly.

From the hatching sands, Ro looks over the eggs, pausing an extra moment 
or two to gaze at her favorites.

Kassima pulls open her wineskin with a faint *pop*, and takes a decent-
sized slug from it before offering it to the rider nearest by. Her other 
hand rests comfortably and confidently on her mark pouch; when the first 
to hatch *does* prove a green, she laughs and yells, "Green! Lyss, you 
bloody beast, you were *right* for once!"

From the hatching sands, Coming up out of her bow, Mehlani bobs her head 
mutely to Jehrina and K'tyn. Without a necklace or a ring, without her 
usual hat on her head or a fire lizard on her shoulder, without any of 
these things to occupy her hands, she thinks at first to clasp them before 
her -- until Aurian solves the problem for her. She curls her fingers 
around the other girl's hand, in a white-knuckled grip.

From the hatching sands, Maylia finds herself out on the sands, and offers 
a bow to the dam and sire of the clutch, followed immediately by salutes 
to the Weyrleaders. She takes her place, off a bit from the circle of 
candidates, watching with a careful eye.

From the hatching sands, Decorated Firelizard Cookie Egg has arrived.

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn scoots a bit closer to Ro and Sandar, 
wide-eyed as she watches the eggs.

Richenda and her cloak move toward the Telgar contingent as she says 
quietly, "Poor little things...they look lost and scared..."

Everin squeaks, absolutely un-harperly, "That's Alais! Go, Alais!"

Melina groans, "Shards" She flips the mark at Kassi and snorts, "One day, 
it'll be brown first"

From the hatching sands, Sandar plods his way into a spot amidst the group 
after the bow, his hands scuffling at his sides searching for pockets to 
hide themselves in - pockets they're unable to find on his plain, stark 
white robe. He watches one of the eggs produce a green and jumps back in 
surprise.

Meli espies the headwoman, giving her a wave as she sits beside Juliath, 
quiet but with a confiscated skin of good Benden red at her side.

M'hryn dismounts Talibenth and stands as apart as he can from the others, 
murmering Ista's duties where appropriate.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle shuffles her feet from place to place as 
she watches the small egg and hatchling with great concentration.

From the hatching sands, Leilanth hummmmmmms, then bugles as the first of 
her hatchlings finds a lifemate so quickly.

Bradamante ruefully tosses Kassima her winning ans leans up against 
Caliath "Well, at least He is happy its a green" she grumbles laughing.

T'saren glances over his shoulder as the wind of another arriving dragon 
makes itself felt. "Telgar's duties to Ista, M'hryn. How go Solarith's 
sons and daughters?"

Aphrael slips off Prefeth's leg and edges over to Channie and A'lex, 
grinning at the bronzerider, "Heyla, Wingsecond," She greets with a grin, 
before beaming to Channie, "I'm just great! How are you? Kemith's looking 
wonderful," She adds, looking towards the brown, before her gaze is drawn 
to the sands again, "Oh look, here come the candidates!"

Rhonneth croons at the new little green, his eyes whirling dizzily with 
excitement.

From the hatching sands, Kharty moves over to the side of the group of 
candidates to a place near Jaynelle. Her nervous smile is quickly given as 
her full attention is given to the eggs.

From the hatching sands, Ro grabs Mehlani's free hand in one hand, and one 
of Sandar's in the other. This seems to calm her a bit, as she had jumped 
at the sudden hatching and impression of the green.

From the hatching sands, Jehrina nods, "Green. Good. That'll make M'kla 
happy." She glances up at her loud dragon, and grins.

From the hatching sands, Krista shivers a little out of nerves, and lifts 
up her feet because of the heat of the sand while her eyes dart from the 
eggs, to the people, to Leilanth.

From the hatching sands, Jayna nearly pants as the first hatchling breaks 
shell. She stares, nearly forgetting to move or breath, as the impression 
occurs so quickly.

From the hatching sands, Asher moves himself slowly and resolutely across 
the sands, spreading himself out and away from the others, so that he can 
face the stands. There with his back to the high cavern wall he stands, 
and folds his arms over his blood-stained robe.

Rylle's eyes focus down on the sands. She squints down momentarily, her 
curious orbs scanning the Candidates. Abruptly her hand is thrust out, 
prodding Gaivn to look, "There, Neliea, she's from Igen Hold, where I 
live"

From the hatching sands, It's almost impossible to hear anything in the 
midst of the dragon thunder that resonates through the cavern.... just 
about anything except the commencing of the cracking of the shells. 
Candidate chatter is easily drowned out. This doesn't stop a nervous-
looking, eager-eyed Saskia from beginning to chatter to her nearest 
neighbors.

From the hatching sands, Kyria clasps her hands behind her backand stands 
quietly, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.

From the hatching sands, Decorated Firelizard Cookie Egg tumbles out of 
the pocket of sand it was in, twitching and shuddering with the first 
efforts of its occupant to break free. Grit showers off of the shell as 
the pounding from within jars it loose.

T'saren sighs and tosses his quarter mark to Kassi. "Well, that's one down 
and lost. Maybe one of these days I'll learn not to bet against you, 
Kassi."

Gaivn tugs at his coat, clammy fingers sliding over the buttons. "Could 
you help me?" he has to ask Rylle, and trades her by looking, "Which one, 
how can I tell? They're all white!"

M'hryn looks at T'saren. He coughs once, then smiles. "They do well. 
They're close to being ridden by their riders. They will be fine additions 
to our fighting wings, Bronzerider."

From the hatching sands, Ptodek's mouth falls open at the sight, and he 
seems to regain some measure of control-- straightening his shoulders and 
glancing around him alertly.

From the hatching sands, K'tyn trumpets, as well, his low basso a sweet 
counterpoint to Leilanth's brassy bugle.

From the hatching sands, Berylle looks at the green hatchling's impression 
and is awed by the sight. "Woah...amazing" she mouths to herself as she 
turns to watch the other eggs.

From the hatching sands, Prometh trumpets, as well, his low basso a sweet 
counterpoint to Leilanth's brassy bugle.

From the hatching sands, Arallia jumps at the hatchling breaking through 
it's egg and then at the dragon bugling. SHe reaches over to grab Jayna's 
arm, eyes looking wide as her feet move restlessly from the heat.

A'lex grins back at Aphrael before slipping an arm around Channie, "Heyla 
bluerider." But his attention is taken by the incoming candidates as well.

From the hatching sands, Neliea moves closer to Arallla as she watches 
some of the others fan out about the sands. Still looking around and 
mostly at the green's impression, she joins the others as they fan out.

From the hatching sands, She continues to hold Mehlani's hand tightly, 
though her free hand grips tightly at her robe. Aurian takes several 
steadying breathes.

From the hatching sands, Jayna puts her hand over her friend's and 
watches, eyes bright. She stands ready to move as the hatchlings crack 
their shells.

Kassima holds up her mark pouch to catch all the marks tossed her way, 
somehow managing not to look *too* smug about it. "The next will be blue," 
she theorizes. Lysseth snorts in faint disgust; how *can* one's rider be 
so obtuse?

D'ton looks at Lily as if she's just sprouted wings. "D'vin?" he asks.

From the hatching sands, Alais's grey-green gaze travels after the green 
that hatched and Impressed so quickly. But there's another egg that seems 
so near, now, and she watches it, shifting nervously.

Channie giggles softly as Aphrael, pulling her attention away from the 
hatching, "did you hear A'lex was promoted to wingleader?" If she puffed 
up any more she might just pop. "Oh, Kemith is doing well. Preffeth is 
good too?" It's so hard to be social and keep one eye turned to the sands. 
After a moment she gives up and just points and ooohs and aaahhs as the 
eggs start moving.

Melina shakes her head and grumbles, "Nope.. I still say brown. Brown's 
gotta hatch sometime"

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle takes hold of Kharty's hand as she 
starts to sweat from the heat of the sands. As with most of the other 
candidates, Jayne looks very nervous and more than a little awed by the 
whole thing.

T'saren nods his head to M'hryn. "Good, I'm glad to hear it. Maybe 
Solarith and I'll make a trip down there to see them in all their growing 
glory."

Oerth flies here from the air over the hatching sands.

Rylle nimble helps Gaivn remove his warm clothing, whithout even looking, 
"Down there, the midnight black hair. Tan face" she nudges with her head, 
pointing off in her direction.

From the hatching sands, Sandar bites his lip as he watches a nearby egg 
twitch, digging his toe absently into the hot sands beneath his feet. He 
glances at his friends, giving them encouraging grins, though he could use 
one just as much as any of them.

Alania holds tightly onto Oerths neckridges and swings down, lightly 
landing on the ground

From the hatching sands, With both her hands now grasped by Aurian and Ro, 
Mehlani flashes each girl a look of vivid gratitude. It steadies her 
enough that she peeks momentarily up towards the Stands, and then at the 
ledges where countless dragons and riders have gathered, before her blue 
stare travels back to the clutch, trying to take in everything at once.

Richenda moves closer to the edge where she can fret over the Candidates 
and see better what's going on.

From the hatching sands, Kharty keeps up the hopping foot dance as she 
remembers to breathe. Her face is serious and she smiles nervously as she 
feels Jaynelle's hand in hers. "It's ok." she whispers to her friend.

M'hryn smiles at T'saren weakly. "I'm sure that, uhm, would be 
appreciated," he says, seeming to lack any better response.

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn jumps as Prometh trumpets, eyes flashing 
upward toward the bronze, and back down to the hatchlings again. Blindly, 
she seeks out Sandar's free hand with hers, giving a soft squeeze of 
encouragement.

From the hatching sands, Ro watches the cookie egg, though her eyes glance 
back at her favorites to see if they are doing anything, trying to ignore 
the heat on her feet and the trickle of water dripping from her still wet 
hair. She flashes a nervous smile at Mehlani.

Caliath gently 'rests' his muzzle on top of Mante's head, supporting its 
weight off of his lifemate as they both watch the sands.

Alania dismounts waving over to M'hryn and T'saren as she leans agains 
Oerth.

M'hryn looks over at Alania and Oerth and smiles. "Hi, Alania," he says.

From the hatching sands, Decorated Firelizard Cookie Egg begins to show 
signs of wear and tear as the impatient dragonet inside works its way 
free. Jitter, jump, shiver, and shake--the egg dances to its own tune out 
there on its small hillock of sand, whirling blindly about in the rhythm 
that can only bring about the shell's own demise.

From the hatching sands, A slightly larger egg than the one the green was 
from shakes for several minutes, cracking and knocking into several 
others, causing them to crack as well. Eventally, it hatches. The brown 
inside wobbles a few times, then trips. At a quick nod from one of the 
weyrlingmasters, a candidate reaches over to help it up. As the brown 
regains it's feet, it looks into the boy's eyes and Impression is made!

Rhonneth wuffles his lady and sets his head next to her on his forlimb. 
Why can't she quit while she's ahead.

Alania smiles and pushes off Oerth, walking over to M'hryn "Hiya, how you 
doing?"

From the hatching sands, Kerlyn skirts around the edge of the cavern to 
the slightly cooler sands, guiding the newly impressed greenrider towards 
the weyrlingstaff waiting to take care of the young weyrling pairs. There 
is a lot of reassuring nodding, until she finally propells the new rider 
forward with a firm push on the back, and heads back towards Maylia.

From the hatching sands, Berylle takes a half-step forward, glances to the 
side at the other candidates, then looks back bravely to the hatching 
eggs. Her hands are a bit shaky.

Melina smiles widely and looks over at Kassi, "See! Brown!"

From the hatching sands, With a bright blast of sound, Prometh greets the 
second impression joyously.

T'saren doesn't seem to notice the Istan's lack of excitement, too caught 
up in his own over the Hatching. "I hope so. I'd really like to see how 
they're doing. Oh g'eve, Alania! Telgar's duties!"

Rylle cheers emphatically as a bond is made, the excitement overwhelming 
her nearly to tears.

Kindre is leaning against one of Herath's forelegs, the gold's head 
dipping down over the ledge a bit to the left of her rider. "Amazing," 
anyone standing nearby the rider might overhear as she smiles.

Amberan frowns at the brown, and looks relieved when it doesn't go 
anywhere near his daughter.

From the hatching sands, Ro flashes a smiles of congratulations to the 
newly-made brownrider.

From the hatching sands, Jayna beams, calling encouragement as the boy 
impresses the brown. She shifts her wait reflexively, barely even aware of 
the hot sands beneath her feet.

From the hatching sands, Neliea wipes her sweaty palms on her robe, 
casting a curious look to even more eggs. She may be curious, but smiles 
at Arallia or where she was before looking for other candidates to stand 
with.

Alania smiles "and Ista's too T'saren" She beams as smile at M'hryn as she 
goes to stand beside him.

Kassima makes a face at Melina. "Only," she retorts, "because nay marks 
were riding on it! Don't you *dare* sound so smug, lump. You'll see... 
'twill be a green next, I'll wager you."

Channie smiles at Kindre and gives a little wave, although it's more than 
likely missed in the press of people.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek lifts one well-toasted foot to cool it 
and, realizing he is in the way, steps aside so as not to impede the 
progress of the new dragonpair.

M'hryn smiles at Alania. "Merien let me leave to watch the Hatching. The 
weyrlings were old enough to come along, but Merien only let a couple 
come. There over there, with X'ander," he says, waving over towards an 
Istan group that consists mostly of older weyrlings.

Melina gives a small mutter and shakes her head, "No.. I think blue this 
time" She turns and watches the eggs, almost trying to will a blue out if 
its shell.

From the hatching sands, Asher stands on his own, blatantly, bullishly 
defying the rest of the eggs, the dragons, the watchers, the riders, the 
dragonettes. His feet he's forced to be still, for all that they burn, and 
he's squinting, as if to fully block out as much of the view as he can.

Gaivn spreads out his coat by Kemith's foot, wooly lining up, and sits on 
it. The two tiny hatchlings get curled back on his wrist, and only then 
can he reply, "I think, I think I see her. Curly hair?"

From the hatching sands, Arallia watches the brown impress and lets go of 
her death grip on Jayna's arm, whispering a nervous, "Sorry."

Alania glances over at the weyrlings and nods "another batch of them, I'm 
starting to loose track these day"

From the hatching sands, Sandar also grins at the new brownrider, a look 
of disbelief in his eyes as the young dragonet makes his pick. The 
disbelieving look is turned on the wobbling eggs, and then to the others 
gawking nearby.

From the hatching sands, Kharty ooos as she watches the brown impress. 
"That was fast." she comments to Jaynelle. She feels perspiration begin to 
bead up on her forehead as her body shakes momentarily at her nervousness.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle doesn't even seem to notice the 
Impression since she was not facing the egg nor the rider when the young 
dragon hatched. She nervously shifts from foot to foot in the hot sands, 
blinking back beads of sweat.

From the hatching sands, The egg resembling a graham, of sorts, wobbles 
and sways several more times before falling completely still. A game, it 
would seem...With a brittle explosion of shards, the firelizard cookie egg 
shivers into a pile of tiny blunt pieces. What remains admidst the crumble 
of shards is a flaxen-tipped lady seemingly plucked from the dewy grasses 
of the forest.

                     Forest Suncatcher Green Hatchling                     


        Sunlight through new leaves;
        Droplets of rain fall, misting--
        Clearest gold-green shines.


Alania claps her hands "A green!" she smiles broadly..

Aphrael leans forward, eyes fixed on the sands below as she watches the 
Impressions made, faint smile on her face as she's otherwise silent.

Melina frowns at the green. She shrugs and smiles, "It's pretty"

From the hatching sands, Aurian rubs the back of her neck out of habit. 
Her eyes locked on the various eggs, bouncing and cracking. She gives a 
reasurring squeee to Mehlani's hand before having her attention caught by 
the newest arrival.

M'hryn grins. "I don't feel old yet," he says. "I feel too young to be 
teaching weyrlings, but Merien says I'm doing well." He returns his 
attention to the Sand. "A green? Oh, I see."

From the hatching sands, Sorrowful Seashore Singing Egg has arrived.

"Another green," Kindre calls, this time loud enough for several 'layers' 
of onlookers to here.

From the hatching sands, Berylle looks away nervously, glancing at the 
other candidates again. She catches Ptodek's eye and they exchange 
encouraging, nervous smiles before turning back to the eggs.

Smiling brightly, her eyes continually focused upon the sands, she takes 
liberty to sit next to Gaivn, nodding to him, "Yes, that's her, I hope she 
impresses"

From the hatching sands, Leilanth bugles to welcome to next hatchling. 
Down below the queen's head, Jehrina nods, "Greens. Looks like we'll have 
a good number of them."

From the hatching sands, Ro shifts from one foot to the other, trying to 
give one foot, then the other a bit of relief. She looks at the lovely 
little green with facination....to be so close to all the action...

From the hatching sands, It's overwhelming, the heat and the noise. 
Mehlani sways for a moment, like a young sapling smacked by a stiff ocean 
wind. But she keeps her feet, and her grip on the hands of the friends on 
each side. A smile or two flickers across her face as she catches sight of 
this Impression... and that... and as green dragonets begin to emerge from 
their shells, her attention flickers to them.

Alania glances at the brown rider, then nods to M'hyrn "must remind you 
your own hatching, alwasy does mine"

From the hatching sands, Jayna keeps her eye on the hatchlings, ready to 
dive out of the way if necessary. She smiles reassuringly at Ara, and 
spares a moment to grin in excitement to Sandy.

From the hatching sands, Kharty draws in a quick breath as she watches the 
green shake loose from her shell. "Oooo.. I never thought it would be this 
wonderful!"

"Oh, I don't mind greens at all" Mante chuckles, reaching up to scritch 
Caliath's jawline.

M'hryn nods at Alania. "It does," he says. "Except that the Sands aren't 
black."

From the hatching sands, Neliea finally makes her way over the Arallia and 
Jayna as another egg breaks free. Due to her height, she can't make out 
the color. Placing one hand on Arallia's arm, she whispers quickly and 
softly, "What color was it?"

From the hatching sands, Ptodek's face breaks into a broad grin as he 
elbows the nearest candidate, pointing excitedly to the green hatchling 
and hissing some comment that is lost in all the hubbub.

Kemith shakes out his wings a little and croons to the young green on the 
sands, lowering his head so he can get a better look.

From the hatching sands, A green! Eyes a mellow turquoise, Prometh greets 
her with a gentle trumpet.

Richenda takes a seat near Kindre and pats Herath's foot, noting, "Well, 
it's starting now. Didn't think Lillane would Impress, but ah well."

Alania chuckles and nods "True, nothing like black sands for a hatching" 
she winks playfully.

From the hatching sands, Kyria ohs asa green tumbles onto the sands, 
watching in as many directions as she can see at once.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle looks more than a little nervous as she 
glances over to the newly hatched green. She glances to the nearby 
candidates and the other eggs before turning her attention back to the 
movement on the sands.

From the hatching sands, Arallia's own gaze turns toward the green 
hatchling and then back to her friends, before wiping at her face with her 
free hand. She turns and whispers to Neliea, reachings out ot take her 
hand as well, "A green!"

Kailia rushes in, "Heya! I got caught in the galleries."

Gaivn pushes coarse blond hair behind ears big enough to have been made 
for the task, and says to Rylle, louder than usual given the brown's 
croon, "But you wouldn't get to see her any more, then, would you?"

Channie tsks at her lifemate and shifts over alittle, "Kassi! Kassi? Where 
did that greenrider go?" She turns around to peer into the crowd until she 
spots her friend, "I bet there'll be a blue next!" She holds a mark 
between her fingers.

Kindre waves to Kailia, leaning on Herath a few steps away from Richenda.

From the hatching sands, Almost at once, the Forest Suncatcher Green 
Hatchling's legs give out to send her sprawling on the Sands. A decidedly 
petulant creel escapes her at this most unpleasant development. With a 
singular hastiness--and a glare that just *defies* anyone to claim that 
they saw her do that--she regains her poise and shakes bits of sand and 
shard from her glorious green hide.

From the hatching sands, Alais shifts her weight, towards the golden-
green, her eyes trailing it, wistful, hopeful -- but, too, she's 
distracted by the other eggs as they rock and crack.

From the hatching sands, Maylia hardly has time to stand still long enough 
to see Kerlyn heading her direction, and she's off to steady a lad as he 
nearly trips over his feet. Eyes wide, the white robed boy seems about 
ready to turn tail and flee, until he's propelled back with an encouraging 
word and a pat on the shoulder.

From the hatching sands, Krista smiles and winks at a candidate standing 
near her, shuffling her hot feet the whole time.

From the hatching sands, Sorrowful Seashore Singing Egg gives a little 
wobble, and a crack appears right at the top of its shell. A tiny piece 
flakes off, then the egg is still again.

M'hryn laughs. "Yeah. It gives a texture that this light sand doesn't. All 
the colors seem brighter on a darker background."

From the hatching sands, Sandar watches the green break free and wipes 
some hair, wet from the sweat accumulating since his first wandering onto 
the Sands, from his eyes as he gazes at the green. He cranes his neck to 
get a better look.

Everin sucks up a breath, his own green eyes squinting between Alais and 
that hatchling, that hatchling and Alais.

Sionelle slides down from Brynarth's shoulders, eyes on the sands as she 
lets go of her blue's heavy straps. SHe steps forward to find a better 
view, and ends up beside D'ton.

Rylle turns to Gaivn, her eyes gazing into his briefly with a twinkle, 
"Well, of course. But It would be the greatest of honors to our Hold if 
she does Impress"

Alania chuckles softly and nods "true, the greens and bronzes are much 
more vivid I think.

From the hatching sands, The barest flicker of an amused grin flickers 
across Asher's face. And than it disappears. He scowls down at the burning 
soles of his feet, flicks the length of the stained robe he's wearing, and 
looks up at the sands agian.

From the hatching sands, Aurian's lips curve with a smile as she watches 
the green for a moment. Her attention is drawn away as she notices another 
egg starting to rock.

Kassima calls back to Channie, tearing her eyes away from the green, 
"You're on, brownrider!"

From the hatching sands, Jayna watches the green hatchling with bright 
eyes. "She's beautiful," she whispers under her breath, shifting from foot 
to foot.

From the hatching sands, Neliea takes the hand and gives it a reasurring 
squeeze as she looks towards the green hatchling. With her other hand, she 
tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

From the hatching sands, A purplish egg fairly *pops*, like a squeezed, 
overripe grape. The blue hatchling inside nearly matches the color of the 
egg it came from. He whips his head back and forth before making a 
wobbling few steps toward a group of female candidates. Several of them 
scatter. The one who doesn't manage to get out of way fast enough takes a 
scrape across her foot from an ill-placed claw. As she yelps, she catches 
the eyes of the baby blue and immediately forgets her pain as the blue 
chooses her.

From the hatching sands, Berylle watches the green, then looks at the 
eggs, especially the one that's beginning to crack, and then back to the 
green again, and the eggs, and the green... She gets a bit dizzy and 
shakes her head.

Kindre nods respectfully to the Weyrsecond. "Evening Sionelle," she says 
and then cracks a wide smile.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek scoots across the sand towards the cluster 
of most vigorously rocking eggs-- a path which also brings him near the 
just-hatched blue dragonet.

Channie wiggles the mark between her fingers as she eyes the sands and 
ah-ha's loudly as the blue hatches. "yes!!"

Richenda gives Herath another pat and settles comfortably against the 
golden leg, happy for the warmth, happy for the perch, happy to be 
watching the organised chaos below.

From the hatching sands, Ro holds Mehlani's hand firmly. She diverts just 
enough attention from the eggs and hatchlings to be ready to catch her 
friend, if necessary. She blinks at the blue and the injured bluerider.
From the hatching sands, Sorrowful Seashore Singing Egg suddenly tips over 
onto the soft sand. It rocks a little as it lands, but doesn't crack open. 
However, it wobbles every now and then.

From the hatching sands, Jayna winces as one candidate is raked, and 
watches with concern until it's apparent that the injury is minor. She 
sighs, smiling, then, as the girl Impresses the little blue.

Sionelle lifts a hand in absent greeting to the goldrider, not taking her 
gaze form teh Impressions below. "Looks a little different from up here," 
she says. "I almost wish I'd have had the chance to see what the Telgar 
sands are like from below."

From the hatching sands, Kharty remembers to breathe in and out, tho the 
breath would be called anything but smooth. By now, she's not even feeling 
the heat from the sands, but every focus is on the hatchling and eggs.

From the hatching sands, Another Impression, and another bugle erupts from 
Prometh's throat! Like quickly snapping popped corn, things seem to be 
happening everywhere.

Gaivn looks at Rylle, and afterward looks down, studying the sands. "I 
guess... wouldn't be much fun when you're doing whatever you do, though 
maybe she'd visit you, later, and you could go wherever you wanted... does 
your stomach turn over funny, too, when you look down too long?"

From the hatching sands, Forest Suncatcher Green Hatchling gives her tail 
one last shake to dislodge a particularly irksome section of shell. 
There... that's better. Slowly, with eyes that burn a shade of red not 
dissimilar to Rukbat at the day's ending, she surveys her wildly chaotic 
surroundings. Golden dam and bronze sire receive a high, brassy trumpet of 
greeting before she turns her focus towards those white-robed things... 
and, with undeniable purpose, begins to sashay in their direction.

From the hatching sands, Maylia stands firm before one of the scattering 
girls, before grinning as the blue chooses. A few strides, and she's near 
the newly impressed pair, lending the girl support off the sands.

From the hatching sands, With rapidly moving head motions, a very sweaty 
Jaynelle seems to be unable to hold on just one sight as she looks around 
her area of the sands. Her eyes hold on the poor girl who was hurt, but 
she turns away with a smile as she realizes the outcome. She looks over to 
Kharty.

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn's eyes remain wide, blue saucers as she 
tries to take in all the activity on the sands at once. Blowing a strand 
of hair out of her eyes, she shuffles a little in the small hollows of 
sand made by her feet, and continues to watch.

Herath warbles quietly, twisting her head back to regard Richenda with a 
kind glance before returning her focus to the sands. Her rider laughs. 
"She says she likes you," Kindre notes quietly before pausing to sip at 
her wineskin. "Anyone who'll walk around in her mouth is a 'friend'"

Kailia peers down, finally remembering to sit.

From the hatching sands, Berylle hops from one foot to another, more from 
nerves than from the heat. Until she realizes she's hopping, then stops, 
self-consciously...and her feet get hot, and she hops again. She goes back 
to watching the hatchlings and eggs instead of her feet.

From the hatching sands, The Sorrowful Seashore Singing Egg shatters at 
last. Like the sea tossed against a rocky shore, its blue-green surface 
breaks against jagged brown, sending a spray of shards crashing upwards in 
a plume. Larger chunks of shell fall away like wav s receding, and in the 
quiet pool left behind a brown dragonet stands momentarily motionless on 
the sand, taking his bearings in the cresting surge of activity.

                      Streaked Russet Brown Hatchling                      


        Dappled chestnut flame;
        Sleeker than a runner's stride--
        Gambol, dance... pure grace.


Winking at both Herath and Kindre, Richenda says (as she waves to Kailia), 
"I am always afraid one of those children will do something silly and 
foolish and get hurt. Oh, dear."

Alania stretches where she stands, then finds a place to lean.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek backs out of the way of a careening 
hatchling.. right into Asher. "Sorry," he grunts.

Rylle chuckles politely at Gaivn, her hand resting on his reassuringly. 
"Try not to look directly down, look sort of across, you'll be alright." 
She adds, "I used to do a lot of rope-walking, so I'm used to hheights"

From the hatching sands, Aurian continues to hold Mehlani's hand tight. 
She wipes her freehand across her sweating brow, for once she looks 
thankful for the haircut she had to get. Her head turns in time to see yet 
another egg crack.

From the hatching sands, Ro lets go of Sandar's hand just long enough to 
wipe the sweat from her brow, to keep it out of her eyes. She wipes her 
hand on her robe before snagging the lad's hand again.

From the hatching sands, Jayna cheers as a friend impresses. She beams, 
her cheeks flushed with heat and excitement. As the brown breaks shell, 
she grins, watching him move.

From the hatching sands, Kharty catches Jaynelle's eyes and smiles what 
she hopes is a reassuring smile. A flying shard catches her eye and she 
ducks just in time to avoid it's course.

From the hatching sands, Asher catches Ptodek by the shoulders, steadying 
him. "Someone drop a vtol in your robe, Crawlie?" He pats Ptodek's 
shoulder with a hand that shakes betrayingly, and than refolds his arms 
over his chest.

From the hatching sands, Sandar stands very still, fingers pressed tightly 
against sweaty palms, watching in amazement as the multicolored dragonets 
abandon their former hiding places and stalk their way across the sands to 
find their new lifemates.

"They'll be fine, Headwoman," Kindre assures Richenda with a grin. "Just 
like Leilanth has to let the eggs go, you have to let them," she adds with 
a wink.

From the hatching sands, Berylle looks at the new brown, sweat on her brow 
as she bites her lower lip nervously.

Gaivn tilts forward, staring - then shuts his eyes tight and sinks back. 
"I guess it was different, you know, flying. Or on the tower."

Richenda mumbles, "I sweat more over my little ones, and half of MINE 
won't find their partners out there...poor things."

Kailia looks down, "I'm surpried, some of the candidates are pretty quiet, 
just standing there."

From the hatching sands, Neliea, concerned for the girl who just impressed 
a blue, looks around at the the sands. Keeping a firm grip on Ara's hand, 
she looks about eager to wander the sands. Almost. The newly impressed 
girl, makes her run a trembling but sweaty hand on her robe.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle didn't seem to notice the flying shard 
and gets hit squarly in the middle. The end result is for Jaynelle to be 
looking directly at the brown hatchling.

From the hatching sands, Prometh greets the brown entering the world with 
a proud warble and a stamp of the foot.

From the hatching sands, Streaked Russet Brown Hatchling looks from one 
side to the other eyes tracking the moving objects. Then he starts 
forward, clumsily. In a few moments, he's tipped head first into the sand.

From the hatching sands, Arallia squeezes Neliea's hand and watches the 
new pair for a moment before she notices the brown hatchling. She shifts 
her feet continiously though she doesn't pay them much attention anymore.

Amberan frowns. "I just hope my daughter is unscathed by this when it is 
over."

From the hatching sands, Krista tries to breathe calmly but she still 
shifts around nervously.

From the hatching sands, Cheese Wheel Egg has arrived.

Rylle leans forward herself, her ponytail falling forawrd into her face. 
She grins widely as she lookjs down over the edge over all the people. 
"It's not that bad Gaivn."

Rhonneth trumpets to the new brown, almost getting up in his excitement 
before remembering his perched lifemate.

Kheveth flies here from the air over the hatching sands.

Kindre nods a bit sadly, agreeing with Richenda. "But they will stay here, 
we can hope, and mayhaps try again..." she says hopefully.

From the hatching sands, Brown catches Alais' eye and she shifts the look 
to see: russet. Her eyes shift between them all, and her weight as well. 
Unsure.

From the hatching sands, Jayna winces as the brown tips into the sand. She 
starts to move forward out of instinct, then remembers where she is, and 
instead relaxes in place, watching him for injury but ready to move if he 
jumps in her direction.

From the hatching sands, Forest Suncatcher Green Hatchling doesn't really 
need much time to decide. No, none at all. Why should she? Her choice is 
as clear as the cloudless sky at dawn--as fated, and as perfect, as she is 
herself. With utmost confidence, she strolls right up to... K'tyn. Whoops. 
Her creel to him is almost imploring, but something is not right here--a 
fact which seems to cause her considerable distress. She turns tail and 
sprints as far away as she can, only to screech to a halt as she senses 
the presence, the mind, of *the* one. And this time, it's the real thing.

Kailia nods, to Richenda, "And, we do need a few neww nannies, if anyof 
them may be good at it."

From the hatching sands, Ro looks at the brown with concern, trying also 
to keep an eye on the green. So many hatchlings, so few eyes. She looks at 
Mehlani for reassurance.

From the hatching sands, Sandar watches the brown hatchling fall, and 
makes a slight "erk."

From the hatching sands, Aurian continues to fidgit on the sands, her 
loose hand trying to find something to keep it occupied.

From the hatching sands, Berylle looks at the brown hopefully, but not 
daring to hope too much, and then gives a little giggle at the creel of 
the green.

From the hatching sands, Kyria finds her head fairly spinning as 
impressions continue thick in fast and everywhere at once.

From the hatching sands, Cheese Wheel Egg begins to rock back and forth, 
slowly at first, displacing the sand around its base. Though most are 
probably too far away to hear, amidst the cacaphony that any hatching 
presents, it does sound as though someone inside is ready to get /out/.

Amberan says "If Berylle does not impress, she is coming back to the 
minecraft hall."

Rylle's large eyes pop open at the cheese wheel shaped egg "Wow, that egg 
looks like it's been aged to perfection" She winks playfully.

From the hatching sands, Jehrina chuckles softly as another egg wobbles 
and cracks open. A large blue lifts itself out of the shards and finds a 
lifemate in a sea holder lad.

Kailia giggles at Rylle's comment.

From the hatching sands, Ro looks to _Mehlani_ for assurance? Well, there 
is a measure of assurance in the girl's delicate features, nervous though 
'Lani so clearly is. She gives Ro a fleeting smile, each corner of her 
mouth momentarily curling up on each side.

Gaivn dares to open his eyes, and voices dubious but willing agreement. 
"Maybe not... have you seen to one of, of these before? I don't even know 
quite where we are."

From the hatching sands, Streaked Russet Brown Hatchling straightens 
himself, one claw at a time. He's now quite, quite covered in sand. He 
looks around and starts to creel a complaint to the Cruel World when 
another moving object catches his fancy and he starts waddling towards it.

Alania is standing next to M'hryn and T'saren watching the hatching.

From the hatching sands, Jayna shuffles from foot to foot. Her body knows 
the sands are hot, even if her attention's diverted. She spares a glance 
for Prometh and Leilanth, and smiles, but her gaze returns to the eggs as 
another egg rocks.

From the hatching sands, Kerlyn can't hide the look of dismay which 
appears as the young green gives every impression of putting K'tyn back in 
/her/ weyrling barracks. It's with relief and an unconcious exhaling of 
breath that she hears the creel and watches the dash across the sands. 
"Out of the way!" she bellows to an inattentive canddiate.

From the hatching sands, Kharty watches the green move up to K'tyn and for 
the first time since she's moved out onto the sand, she allows herself a 
giggle. She repeats herself, "It's so warm, and so wonderful to see them 
hatch.."

From the hatching sands, Ro giggles at the green's trying to impress the 
weyrleader. That was not expected. Her smile deepens at the brown gets 
back to his feet.

From the hatching sands, Prometh rumbles, a low dangerous sound as the 
tiny green approaches. "Hey, now," K'tyn warns Prometh. "She's just being 
polite." Prometh doesn't back down, though.... relaxing only when the 
green dashes away.

From the hatching sands, Arallia blinks rapidly and pales her hands 
sliding out of her friends grips, then flushes again as she drops toward 
the green hatchling reaching down to hug her, "Her name is Miyath!!"

D'ton points at Arallia, "Hey!," he says, "Kyo Searched her!"

Kailia grins, "Ahhh! Congradulations to Arallia!"

From the hatching sands, Jayna blinks, and cheers. "Oh, Arallia!" she says 
to her friend. Her eyes are bright. "I'm so happy for you!" She watches 
Ara, beaming.

Rylle shares her giggle with the youing wwoman, then reaches over ans 
squeezes Gaivn's hand reassuringly. "I think it's probably about the same 
as any other ledge of any Weyrs." She winks at him. "Look, more 
impressions!"

From the hatching sands, Leilanth bugles greetings to each of her newest 
children. Her rider grins at the green, then up at Leilanth, "We need the 
smaller dragons. It's looking like we've gotten our wish."
From the hatching sands, Sandar wanders over to a cream and brown egg, 
still for the moment, standing beside it so as not to be right in the open 
where dragonets are dashing. Arallia gets a gape, wide eyes, and a big 
grin. "Arallia!"

M'hryn looks at Alania. "Miyath," he repeats. "I like that name."

From the hatching sands, Ptodek's head whips around from the brown 
hatchling to the spectacle of his mate Arallia's Impression. Envy, awe, 
and delight are mingled in his expression, though his exclamation is lost 
to the observers.

From the hatching sands, At Arallia's call, Mehlani smiles again, more in 
her eyes than round her mouth, but no less earnest a smile for that.

From the hatching sands, Ro grins at Arallia "That's wonderful!" She 
doesn't let her eyes stray from the brown or the rocking eggs for long, 
however.

"Oh! Is that...yes, the green found Arallia," Kindre exclaims and claps 
her hands together. "See Riche? It's nice, too, that some will find their 
mates." Grinning at D'ton, she teases, "Eh, so maybe that bronze is 
smarter than he looks," and winks.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle gives Arallia a small smile before 
returning her attention to the hatchling remaining on the sands.

From the hatching sands, Aurian laughs for a moment as a friend impresses. 
She smiles and then turns back to the sands. Her eyes brilliantly happy 
and squeezes Mehlani's hand as she goes back to watching the other 
hatchlings.

Alania smiles and nods at M'hryn "Yes, very feminine sounding" she beams a 
smile over at M'hryn again, pushing off from where she leans to stand 
beside him again.

From the hatching sands, Streaked Russet Brown Hatchling charges towards 
the moving object enthusiastically. Unfortunately, it's another egg. He 
looks at it, wings drooping slightly. This is definetly not the one he was 
looking for.

From the hatching sands, Alais brightens, then goes back to watching 
again. Arallia? Yes. But the brown's still out, and her gaze goes back to 
it.

L'mis eyes M'hryn, and mutters, "Kid has super-hearing or something."

From the hatching sands, Kyria ooohs as she watches impression take place 
again... and then saddens slightly it's over so quickly...

Channie smiles and claps for the girl and her green, "that is a right fine 
name for such a flashy looking green." Kemith croons his agreement.

T'saren nods to himself as a green Impresses to Arallia. "Good choice, and 
a good name."

From the hatching sands, Cheese Wheel Egg wobbles semi-complacently for a 
few moments more, then one huge heave of motion from inside sends it 
rolling end over end. Spider-webbed cracks shoot their way across the 
egg's surface.

From the hatching sands, K'tyn's shout is echoed by others as green Miyath 
makes her choice, a brassy note echoed by his overbearing dragon.

From the hatching sands, Neliea feel a hand slipping from her grasp and 
looks down at her friend now with Miyath. Smiling at her, she's happy for 
her and edges away to look at the other hatchilng.

From the hatching sands, A burst of congratulations from Saskia can be 
heard, as the girl beams at Arallia, trying to keep an eye both on the 
dragonets and the remaining eggs.

From the hatching sands, Kharty squeezes Jaynelle's hand tightly as she 
calls out to Arallia, "Congrats!" She looks back, watching the brown 
attentively.

From the hatching sands, Asher tips his head towards Arallia quietly, dark 
green eyes searching the girl over. When he doesn't seem to find what he's 
looking for, he gives her a gentle smile that she would not see. He leans 
back on his slowly scalding heels and folds his arms to wait for this to 
be over.

From the hatching sands, Kerlyn leaves Arallia to Maylia's minstrations, 
as she assists another impressed pair with disentangling wings from tail, 
and feet from egg shards.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle smiles as she watches the brown 
hatchling heading towards the wrong place.

From the hatching sands, Berylle allows herself a little smile for 
Arallia, whom she knows better than some of the other candidates, but is 
having a hard time thinking about anything besides the hatching baby 
dragons.

From the hatching sands, Jehrina nods at Arallia, her eyes quickly going 
back to looking over the eggs that are still unhatched.

From the hatching sands, Maylia hardly has time to fully admire the 
hatchlings, as she finds herself occupied maintaining her attention on the 
candidates, now and then helping a clumsy one to her feet, or running to a 
new pair. The time for admiring will come later. She makes her way over to 
Arallia, asking the new weyrling pair, "If you'd help Miyath this way?" 
Leading her off the sands.

Rylle places her hand ovber her mouth and stifles a soft giggle. Her voice 
twitters excitedly with giggles at the sight of the cheese wheel egg "I'll 
forever remember that dragon as the Cheesiest dragon"

From the hatching sands, Ro giggles at the brown, leaving Arallia and 
Miyath to Kerlyn and Maylia. She murmurs "We're over here..." to the 
little brown.

Melina looks around anxiously, "The green where'd it.. oh, Arallia."

From the hatching sands, Krista smiles nervously muttering congrats as 
canidates around her impress, turning to watch the eggs and hatchlings 
often

Gaivn awkwardly pats Rylle's hand in reply, and then takes his back with 
the explanation, "It's just slippery, so hot and all, even if Taif and 
Nory can sleep through it... but your friend, she hasn't gone yet, has 
she?"

From the hatching sands, Arallia rises to her feet and tries to usher 
Miyath after Maylia, "Food.." She blinks and looks around, "She's hungry!" 
She calls out as she follows after Maylia.

M'hryn looks at Alania. "Is that because she's a green? I mean, I'm, uh, 
well, it sounds like a neat name." He blushes for some obscure reason.

From the hatching sands, Still beaming over Ara's good fortune, Jayna 
spares a moment to watch her friend leave the sands. Sighing, though, she 
remembers where she is, and directs her attention to the rest of the eggs 
and the hatchlings.

From the hatching sands, Streaked Russet Brown Hatchling starts warbling, 
then decides to try and trumpet, in a distinctly off-key manner. This 
doesn't stop him from looking around to see if he's attracted anyone's 
attention.

From the hatching sands, Arallia heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

Rylle shakes her head in affirmation of Gaivn's observation. "No. She's 
not really a firend per se, I just have seen her a lot from the Hold. 
We're all very proud that she's standing tonight"

From the hatching sands, Forest Suncatcher Green Hatchling heads off 
towards the bowl on the way to the weyrling barracks.

From the hatching sands, Berylle looks at the brown, "Oh dear, I hope he 
doesn't sing songs like Kyoteth..." she mumbles to herself.

From the hatching sands, Maylia smiles warmly towards Arallia, including 
the little Miyath in the expression. "Of course she is!" As the pair head 
off the sands, she turns back to the clutch, which is rapidly ceasing to 
be a clutch.

From the hatching sands, Sandar squints and rubs his eyes, dry from the 
glare and from remaining, for the most part, wide open as he watches the 
hatchlings go. The brown's off-key pronouncement gets a boyish giggle.

From the hatching sands, Mehlani squeezes both Aurian's hand and Ro's, and 
as it's impossible for this quiet lass to make herself heard in the din, 
she doesn't even try. But she does watch everything she can in her field 
of vision, turning her head slightly when she needs to.

From the hatching sands, A pale white eggs rolls back and forth for 
several long minutes, drawing longing looks from the candidates nearby. It 
stops long enough for them to lose interest in favor of other eggs. At 
that point, it immediately starts rocking again. The egg splits down the 
center, revealing a larger bronze dragon. The bronze wades through a group 
of girls who are bright enough to scatter before he chooses a Miner 
apprentice.

From the hatching sands, Alais's attention /is/ caught: focussed for the 
moment, her eyes bright.

Alania looks at M'hryn and chuckles, shrugging "Well, I think dragons 
should have names that reflect thier personalitites, and your right, it's 
a nice, name, and I am partal to greens' she smiles at Oerth where the 
dragon rests.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek grins encouragingly at the brown, shaking 
with laughter at his trumpeting.

From the hatching sands, There's another slight laugh from Aurian, as she 
watches some of the eggs. Both her hands now on Mehlani's one.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle blinks several times at the brown 
hatchling's rumble. She smiles and gives Kharty's arm a small squeeze.

From the hatching sands, Kharty giggles at the brown's trumpet. "He's 
cute, isn't he, Jaynelle?" Keep those feet moving. Sand's getting hot 
beneath them. Breathe. So much to remember.

From the hatching sands, Berylle jumps out of the way of the bronze, 
obviously not meant for her. She trips and falls on the hot sand, then 
gets up, wincing a little.

From the hatching sands, Jayna claps excitedly as the bronze Impresses, 
although the Miner lad wasn't a candidate she got to know very well. She 
can't help but smile. She looks around at the eggs, and finally glances up 
at the galleries, gasping at the number of people she sees.

From the hatching sands, Cheese Wheel Egg comes to a stop as it bangs up 
against one of the other eggs resting within the warm sand's embrace. 
Oops. The shudders from within become more violent, though, now that the 
egg has found a temporary resting place.

From the hatching sands, Neliea looks around at the other eggs and 
hatchlings on the sands, making sure to be careful where she steps. Out of 
the corner of her eye she sees the brown hatchling but moves one foot up 
and off of the hot sands. Smiling, she looks at the miner who just 
impressed.

Amberan hmphs. "Always taking the best of the minecraft. Oh, and you too, 
D'nton."

From the hatching sands, The Cheese Wheel Egg finally fractures, a silvery 
blue wingtip slicing through the shell like a knife. A shoulder emerges, 
cleaving the egg in two, and from the parted edges a young dragon stands. 
Tossing off the remaining wedges of hazy orange shell to rise awkwardly to 
his feet, he is a fleeting glimpse of blue lightness in the motion of the 
sands--cool color where the warm egg once rested.

                    Sky-Brushed Cerulean Blue Hatchling                    


        Azured horizon...
        Midsummer sky's purpled hue--
        The sun gilds cloudlets.


Oerth wuffles at Alania, then bugles loudly as a blue is hatched.

Rylle says "Must be blue chese"

Kassima slowly draws herself out of her seeming trance, though her eyes 
are still fixed on the Sands. "Miyath," she repeats thoughtfully. "Nay a 
bad name, that... nay bad at all. Who d'you think that brown'll go to?"

M'hryn looks at the Sands, then at Alania, then lets his gaze go to Oerth. 
He looks at her for a moment, then smiles. "I like greens," he says, then 
adds quickly, "And not just because of Tali. They fly so well. Oerth can 
dart circles around Tali, can't she?"

From the hatching sands, Streaked Russet Brown Hatchling shakes his tail 
disconsolately for a few moments, then perks up as he sees something 
promising. It's not looking at him right now, but he can make it look! He 
charges up towards one of the white-robed girls.

Rock chuckles at the Master Miner's comments as they have often been said 
in Healer Hall as well.

Lily nudges Amberan. "He's a lovely bronze. Now, hush. We should be proud 
for the lad." She loudly cheers for the new bronzerider.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek gulps and steps back from the blue that 
has just hatched right in front of him.

From the hatching sands, Leftovers Egg has arrived.

From the hatching sands, Maylia's at Berylle's elbow in a flash, eyes wary 
for any other hatchlings heading their way. Over the din of dragonets 
screeching in high pitched squeals, the humming dragons, the roar of the 
spectators, and the cracking of eggs, she says to the Candidate, "Careful, 
there. Steady?" That done, she's off again to assist the bronze and the 
miner lad he chose.

From the hatching sands, Someday, eventually, someone will get around to 
teaching Mehlani how to dance. But perhaps they won't have to work too 
hard at it, for there seems to be hardly any weight to her as with 
unconscious deftness she leans her weight from foot to foot. Her eyes 
soften palpably at the sight of the new blue.

Kailia groans, "Ohhhh, blue cheese..."

From the hatching sands, Ro smiles for a moment at the miner lad, then, 
more importantly, returns her attention to the hatchlings that have not 
impressed, and the eggs. She gives a quick squeeze to the hands she holds 
as she shifts back to her other foot, trying to ignore the burning sands 
as best she can. The confusion of the hatching helping her do that to some 
extent.

L'mis takes a closer look at the new blue, leaning over and shaking his 
head. He looks up at Golrath, and says softly, "But you're wiser, of 
course. Otherwise, quite similar."

Rylle snickers shamelessly at her pun. "Sor"

Alania smiles at M'hryn, the just shrugs "Well, way I look at it, each 
colour has it's place" then she nods "Well, she probubly could, if she 
wanted to that is" her eyebrows wriggle suggestively as she turns to see 
the blue hatch.

T'saren glances at Kailia with a raised brow, then shakes his head in 
amusement and turns back to the hatching.

From the hatching sands, Jayna gasps as the blue hatchling rises. "Oh, 
he's wonderful," she exclaims, then darts out of the way as the candidate 
next to her loses his footing and slips in the sands.

From the hatching sands, Aurian leans up a bit on tiptoe as now time has 
allowed the hat of the sands to sink in. She closes her eyes tightly.

From the hatching sands, Leftovers Egg thumps to the right in its hollow 
of sand. It slides on its rounded bottom until it lies dormant in the 
heated grains, waiting like a lump of dinner hurriedly left behind on the 
edge of a plate at the Bitran Gather.

Kailia points to Rylle. "Hey, she said it forst..."

From the hatching sands, Alais's gaze lights on blue, on another green, on 
a getting-ready-to-hatch egg,

N'var climbs down from Palineth's back, giving his a loving pat as he sets 
his feet on the ground.

From the hatching sands, A low warble for this new dragonet on the sands, 
and a bright trumpet for the one that follows! Prometh shifts, restlessly 
as he urges the hatchlings to seek and find their lifemates.

Rylle shrugs indifferently, her eyes glinting impishly.

From the hatching sands, Sandar moves around the brown and white egg to 
stand near Ptodek and Asher. He gives them a nod and what might be a grin 
as the blue shows itself, but his eyes don't leave the creatures on their 
first adventures across the sands.

From the hatching sands, Kharty squints at the new-blue, a smile on that 
flushed, red face. "Why, his color is just the same as my lizard, Doerin!" 
She leans forward a little to get a better view, tugging on Jaynelle's arm 
a bit.

From the hatching sands, Asher lifts one foot and stomps it down hard, 
sending a short spray of sand in the air. His arms are still crossed 
possesively across his chest. A dark-eyed glance about the cavern as he 
counts candidates and friends carefully, to see who's been taken, and 
who's been spared.

From the hatching sands, Streaked Russet Brown Hatchling comes to a gentle 
stop just in front of Jayna. His aim must be improving! He looks up at 
her, and warbles.

From the hatching sands, Casting her gaze over the newly hatched blue, 
Neliea wonders how she got seperated from some of the other candidates. A 
egg over in the distance starts to rock, and looks between the blue, the 
egg and she looks at that brown off somewhere.

From the hatching sands, Sky-Brushed Cerulean Blue Hatchling seems 
somewhat surprised to find himself sitting amidst the shells of his egg. 
Bemused by this sudden expanse of space, he takes a moment to absorb the 
new surroundings...unaware that a vaguely square piece of shell is resting 
on his head as a hat might. Wobbling, he pushes himself to his feet, and 
halts again, entranced by the white-garbed Candidates before him.

From the hatching sands, Krista smiles, her eyes squinching up a little 
bit watching all the hatchlings intently

From the hatching sands, Leilanth hummmmmms loudly, looking draconicly 
proud of each of her children.

From the hatching sands, Jayna blinks at the brown. Tears streaming down 
her face, she sinks to her knees. "Sioneth! What a wonderful name!" she 
says softly, stroking his eyeridge.

From the hatching sands, Ro smiles at the new blue "Oh, he's pretty." She 
grins at Jayna "Congratulations!"

Rock muses "Sioneth ... I have head that name before ...."

From the hatching sands, _Jayna?_ Jayna! Mehlani's approval flares up in 
her eyes, and Ro and Aurian perhaps might hear her murmur a very soft, 
"Yes..."

From the hatching sands, Kharty watches as Jayna impresses, clapping her 
hands and calling out, "Congrats, Jayna!"

From the hatching sands, Leftovers Egg rocks and totters once again. Like 
locomotory compost, it bounces, then wobbles. It quivers, then jerks. It 
even spins on its axis, as the precious life held tight within its grey 
and somewhat moldy-looking shell struggles to break free.

Kassima sits up at once, then whoops with glee as she realizes that 
Jayna's Impressed. "All *right*! Look, Meli--Juliath got one!"

Kailia waves her congradu;latoipns!"

From the hatching sands, Ptodek crows loudly in delight at Jayna's 
success. "Go Jayna!!" He flashes Sandar and Asher a big grin.

From the hatching sands, Sandar watches with growing excitement as the 
brown finds its lifemate - Jayna! He gives a little wave, knowing that the 
girl is almost certain to be too wrapped up in the moment to see it, but 
he does it anyways. "Jayna, wow!"

From the hatching sands, Maylia spies the brown impress in the blurr of 
white robes and eggshards, and starts towards her, but hesitates. Kerlyn's 
perhaps closer.

T'saren hmms to himself as Jayna makes her new lifemate's name known. 
"Sioneth, eh? Wonder if our esteemed ex-weyrlingmaster spent some time 
around that egg..."

Juliath echoes Kassi's sentiment with a bugle of her own, recognizing this 
one somehow.

From the hatching sands, Berylle smiles at Jayna, and glances to the side, 
"Did she say Sionelle?" She looks back at the blue as it gazes around.

Melina almost falls off of Rhonneth's leg as she realizes the brown 
stopped in front of Jayna. Her joyful cheer is drowned out as her mate 
bugles.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle looks over at Kharty calls out "Great! 
Congrats!" She tries to call over the noise and activity of the area.

From the hatching sands, Aurian sends Jayna a warm smile, she chuckles and 
turns back to the clutch. Eyes wide at all that is happening.

From the hatching sands, Looking over at the hatchling that stopped in 
front of Jayna, Neliea looks between them and the blue. Beaming at Jayna, 
"Oh, congratulations Jayna!" Looking around at another egg, she grins at 
Berylle. "Maybe?"

From the hatching sands, Prometh rumbles his approval at the brown's 
choice, breaking into a loud trumpet.

From the hatching sands, Jayna blinks. "He's hungry!"

From the hatching sands, Over to the far end of the sands, a pair of eggs 
knock into each other and break apart. The hatchlings apparently ignore 
each other and head in opposite directions towards groups of canidates. A 
medium sized blue ends up choosing a frail looking blonde girl, while the 
green he knocked into chooses a sturdy looking lad.

From the hatching sands, Kerlyn tugs a shell-shocked young seacrafter 
candidate back out of the way of a careening young green, to drop to one 
knee next to Jayna. After giving the young weyrling a few minutes to get 
used to some of the overwhelming new sensations, and the flood of 
congratulations, she puts a hand on her shoulder and nods towards the edge 
of the sands, where the rest of the impressed pairs are feeding and sating 
itches.

From the hatching sands, Sky-Brushed Cerulean Blue Hatchling cocks his 
head this way and that, finally dislodging that helmet of his--which gets 
a curious stare. Somehow hearing his Dam through the chaos, he swivels his 
head in that direction. How pretty she is! That's such a lovely color. 
White is just as nice, though, and the Candidates reclaim his attention 
once again. After a few experimental sniffs at the shards of his eggs, he 
shuffles forward excitedly.

From the hatching sands, Alais is genuinely pleased as she spies Jayna's 
Impression. Hwer smile is warm, fleeting, and then the somewhat hopeful, 
desperate look comes back to her eyes. Her gaze is quicksilver.

From the hatching sands, Jayna beams, stunned, as Kerlyn points her in the 
right direction. She helps Sioneth to the edge of the sands, gently 
murmering to the hatchling.

From the hatching sands, Aurian squeezes at Mehlani's hand. Her eyes still 
large and lost in the activity.

From the hatching sands, Cress Egg has arrived.

From the hatching sands, Leftovers Egg starts to decompose. A bit of the 
surface flakes off, followed by a sticky chunk of brittle shell. Then 
there's a pause, as the dragonet inside gathers its strength for a final 
effort.

From the hatching sands, Asher tips his head to the side with a admitted 
smile. Alright, okay. He's glad that Jayna impressed. And yes, you see, he 
won't throw too great of a fit about it later. He supposes.

From the hatching sands, Ro watches the blue breathlessly. Will he come in 
this direction? Only time will tell. She turns her attention to the 
leftovers egg. What color of dragon will come from it?

From the hatching sands, Sky-Brushed Cerulean Blue Hatchling seems to know 
exactly who he wants, too. After a few sniffs down the line of Candidates, 
paying attention to no one in particular, he stops dead in front of one of 
the white-clad girls. Ah-ha. This is the one.

From the hatching sands, Alais's gaze settles on the blue. Cerulean, 
bright, brilliant: she watches.

From the hatching sands, Jayna heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

Gaivn nibbles at his knuckles, elbow on crossed legs' knee, and studies 
the sands. He says to his neighbor, "I think it's getting better... I'm 
glad you know someone, and the other woman, she just about fell off her 
brown cheering. It's like getting to borrow people, even if you don't know 
them yourself."

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle suddenly notices the blue and stares in 
that direction "isn't he beautiful"

From the hatching sands, Cress Egg wobbles around in the sands, knocking 
into everything nearby. It rolls itself over several times before coming 
to a stop against a slightly higher mound of sand. The bits of cress 
looking marks on the eggs appear to be almost waving as the egg wriggles.

From the hatching sands, Neliea wipes her other hand on her robe, since 
there's no one close enough. Looking at the Leftover egg, she peers over 
at it curiously. But smiles at the blue hatchling. "Oh, Xylath! Of course 
I'll feed you!"

From the hatching sands, Sioneth heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

From the hatching sands, There's no fright in Mehlani's gaze -- at least, 
no more than usual. And it is rapidly giving way to wonder. She beams over 
softly at Neliea and her new lifemate.

From the hatching sands, The Leftovers Egg dissolves into its component 
parts. First a sandy brown snout pokes through. Then, the translucent 
amber of a wingsail breaks free, collapsing the shell into bits like a 
compost heap shredding down to amorphous bits of unidentifiable refuse. 
But from the egg-wet rubbish, into the chaos of the cavern, arises a 
perfectly formed hatchling and a momentary impression of color.

                       Desert Sands Brown Hatchling                        


        Drowsy heat, warming;
        Sepia shade in summer--
        Frost is far away.


From the hatching sands, Berylle breaks into a grin, "Oh, Neliea! That's 
wonderful!" She smiles happily for her friend.

From the hatching sands, Sandar watches the blue make his choice, 
accidentally backing up into one of the wobbling eggs in the process. He 
jumps! and spins to look at it, then turns his attention back to the blue 
and his new lifemate, keeping the egg in his field of view. "Xylath," he 
echoes with a big grin. "Neliea's new lifemate!"

Hugging her knees close against her torsoe, Rylle lifts her head from the 
perch on her knees.Her eyes glint in merry agreement with Gaivn. "Yes, I 
know what you mean. It's like you feel as if right now, right here, you 
know all of those people down there. Everyone is so alive"

From the hatching sands, Kharty fairly beams when she sees Neliea impress! 
"Oh Neliea! I'm so happy for you!" Her feet keep moving and she remembers 
to breathe, if not the hot air about them. "Jaynelle! Look!"

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn smiles widely as she sees the blue look 
to Neliea. "Oh, how perfect!"

From the hatching sands, Aurian chuckles as another one of her friends 
finds a lifemate. Her eyes send a smile to Neliea. However as another egg 
cracks, she leans over and murmurs to Mehlani, "I knew she'd impress."

From the hatching sands, Neliea smiles over at Berylle and 'Lani. 
Blinking, she looks down at her lifemate. "Food! Of course!" looking 
around, she dosen't see any. Where's somone that can help her out?

From the hatching sands, Ptodek stares in shock and awe, frozen, 
overwhelmed by the enormity of the events he is witnessing. Staring from 
one egg to another, his gaze finally lights on the brown hatchling, and he 
watches intently to see what its next move will be.

From the hatching sands, Alais lets out a breath, slow and long. One more 
down. And so many more to go. The other brown is there now, too.

L'mis looks a little disappointed at the blue's selection, but then his 
expression eases. "They belong together, yes Golrath." He doesn't seem to 
care that he appears to be talking to himself.

From the hatching sands, Krista smiles over at Neliea and offers a quiet 
"Congrats" with her eyes still glued to the eggs and hatchlings

From the hatching sands, Maylia finds herself almost right next to the 
Candidate chosen by the little one, and smiles with delight. "Neliea? This 
way, and congratulations."

From the hatching sands, Ro beams at Neliea "Way to go, Neliea..." only to 
have her attention grabbed by the newly hatched brown "Oh, how 
-beautiful-!" the exclamation excapes her lips, without her realizing she 
said it.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle has the largest grin on her face as well 
"Oh Kharty isn't that great. She waves over in Neliea's direction but is 
too far away to be heard.

From the hatching sands, Prometh bugles, a long, sustained note that 
welcomes the brown to the world and rejoices in the young blues' choosing 
of a lifemate.

From the hatching sands, Cress Egg wobbles again, flipping almost end over 
end in the other direction. It heads for a larger grouping of girls, 
threatening to knock them over like a stack of pins.

From the hatching sands, "He is beautiful," breathes Mehlani, back to 
Aurian. She's always been partial to blue. On the other hand, she's rather 
partial to brown, too, and she looks over, marvelling, shy, to that 
sand-hued brown over there.

From the hatching sands, Neliea smiles at Maylia as she walks next to 
Xylath and off the sands.

From the hatching sands, Xylath whuffles complacently around Neliea's 
feet, eager to follow her wherever she might lead him.

From the hatching sands, Neliea heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

From the hatching sands, Sandar wanders over to Ro and Mehlani, veering 
around a large pile of moistened shells cracked and drying on the sands. 
"Did you see that?" he asks, excited. Not waiting for an answer he turns 
to look in the other direction where the brown is exploring his new world.

From the hatching sands, Xylath heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

Rylle's large eyes open widely. "Neliea, she did it. She's made Igen proud 
tonight"

From the hatching sands, Desert Sands Brown Hatchling staggered forward 
once free of his shell, but after a moment of unsteady forward motion, he 
stop and stands still in the sudden rush of color and sound. Eyes whirling 
red with hunger and confusion, he croaks out an unpracticed demand. 
Somewhere in this babble of voices, he can hear something deeper-- 
something intriguingly like himself, and something he needs to find in the 
noisy haste all around him. He turns, to look behind.

From the hatching sands, Ro nods mutely in awed response to Sandar's 
query.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle steps back from the Cress egg, pulling 
Kharty along with her. She watches the egg wobble with absolute attention 
and a large smile.

From the hatching sands, Berylle, like most nearly everyone else out here, 
is watching the brown intently, hoping, waiting, nervously.

Gaivn tries on a small smile, only a hint of gapped teeth showing. 
"...Well, almost like that, anyway, but maybe it'll get that way after a 
while longer. Can you see how many eggs are left? All I can see are 
people... wait, wait, that -is- her, your friend?"

From the hatching sands, Maylia escorts Neliea and her new lifemate, 
Xylath, from the Sands, returning in a flash. Soon, she's circling the 
candidates, lending a hand where needed, but staying back a step or two 
otherwise.

From the hatching sands, Mehlani bobs her head to Sandar. Color has risen 
in her cheeks, but it's a flush of reaction to the heat that stands like 
walls around her, rather than one of her all-too-common blushes, and it 
manages to make her blue eyes look brighter.

Lysseth warbles her approval at each of the pairings, with trumpets given 
as an addendum for each of the greens. Kassi is clearly too delighted to 
care that her lifemate is slowly deafening her. "They're perfect... all of 
'em perfect. And I'm going t'be *such* a rich woman when this is over!" 
That must be the real reason for her good mood. Or one of the real 
reasons, anyway.

Amberan crosses his arms, frowning.

Avroth flies here from the air over the hatching sands.

T'dry swings gracefully from Avroth's neck, using a thoughtfully extended 
forleg, he slides to the ground. His eyes are distant as he speaks 
silently to his dragon before giving him an affectionate rub on the nose.

Everin slants Kassima a dubious look, but decides on diplomacy, by all 
appearances: He returns to watching the dot that is Alais with avid 
attention.

Rocking back and forth, ridding herself of all the excited energy she has 
within her, Rylle turns to Gaivn , nodding silently.

From the hatching sands, Aurian watches the hatchlings, her hands still 
latched onto Mehlani's hand. She breaths slowly and deeply.

Rock still watches to see if his appretnice will be stolen away by the 
flying lizards (and that is thought in the most affectonate way)

From the hatching sands, Cress Egg shudders in the sands once it comes to 
a stop. The cress on the egg seems to be growing as the egg expands 
quickly as the hatchling inside struggles to be born.

T'dry hops down quickly from Avroth's neck and tries to scramble about for 
a good view of the sands.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek is so focused on the rocking eggs and 
hatchlings all about him that he seems not to notice he is standing with 
one foot in an abandoned eggshell. Damp, sticky, perhaps; but not quite as 
hot as the sands.

From the hatching sands, Desert Sands Brown Hatchling picks up speed once 
turned in the opposite direction. The voice at the edge of his hearing is 
louder this way-- more clear, and more vibrantly colored as it invades his 
perception. He weaves to the right, staggering awkwardly on new legs in 
the hot sand, then lifts his gaze to look ahead.

Symoria shifts slightly in place, her attention completely fixed on the 
events down below.

From the hatching sands, Asher gives his dark head an indignant toss, 
throwing the tiny baby's down wisps from his eyes. He elbows Ptodek 
lightly in the side, mildly asking, "Are you watching this?" Stupid kid. 
Someone smack him, he must be suffering from a lack of direct blows to the 
head.

From the hatching sands, Aurian breathes to Mehlani, "I don't believe 
this." Her eyes look to her friend then back to the clutch.
From the hatching sands, Ptodek yelps! "What're you hitting me for?" he 
demands, not taking his eyes off the brown staring in their direction.

From the hatching sands, After several long moments of dancing around on 
the sands, a silvery muzzle finally breaks past the crisp surface of its 
hatchling-home. A few more decisive moves occur before the crystal 
wingtips pierce the shell and begin wiggling free. Soon this young 
hatchling is unfettered from her encasement, the whitish shards stubbornly 
clinging to her frosty hide as she lifts her regal head to glare about the 
cavern. Free and, it would seem, determined, this lady is quite a creature 
to behold.

                     Silver Ice-Tipped Green Hatchling                     


        Silvered grey-green glints;
        The sea on a stormy day--
        Ice-capped ridges glow.


From the hatching sands, Cream Puff Egg has arrived.

From the hatching sands, Berylle looks over at Ptodek and Asher and hisses 
"knock it off, guys!", turning back to watch the brown wobble around.

From the hatching sands, Asher mutters back into Ptodek's ear, "I wasn't 
hitting anyone. I asked you if you were paying attenion."

From the hatching sands, Alais presses her lips together, looking from one 
candidate to another, to the brown that seeks -- and settles on thenewly-
hatched green with a long outdrawn breath. "Oh," she says, softly.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek mutters to Asher, "... attention..... 
there's... green!"

From the hatching sands, Kharty shudders a little as she looks about her, 
broken shards strewn about on the sands. Keep the feet moving, keep 
breathing. The lessons fly about her head, reminding her to be attentive. 
"A green!" she whispers the words.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle jumps back another step as the green 
hatches nearby "Kharty, look"

Kassima whistles lowly at the arrival of this newest green. "She looks a 
bit like you, Lyss... though nay as pretty, a'course." Lyss snorts again. 
That, after all, is a *given.*

From the hatching sands, Prometh greets the tiny green on the sand with a 
trumpet worthy of royalty.

From the hatching sands, By now, with the cacophony of dragon hums and 
shattering shells seeming to pulse in her breastbone, with the blaze of 
the sands threatening to sear her soles, Mehlani can't manage to speak at 
all. But she does bob her head vigorously to Aurian, and she gasps without 
sound at the newly hatched green.

From the hatching sands, Cream Puff Egg shudders convulsively, and a 
myriad of cracks splinter across its springy surface. Bits of crunchy 
brown shell flake off and flutter to the sands surounding it.

From the hatching sands, Silver Ice-Tipped Green Hatchling stands up. Her 
wedge head tilts back and forth as she regards all those white and pink 
things over there on the sands. She flickflicks bits of shell off her feet 
and walks out of her shards, headed right for those white and pink things.

Gaivn nods back to Rylle, then drops his gaze to study the hatchlings-
curled wrist. He murmurs softly to them, and strokes an awkward forefinger 
down first one firelizard back and then the other, as if that way they 
could memorize the clamorous scene.

From the hatching sands, Ro smiles "Wow, look at that green, Sandy. Have 
you ever seen a green quite that shade?"

From the hatching sands, Asher smiles at Ptodek and calmly replies, voice 
low, "Yes, it is green, isn't it, Crawlie?" He patpats Ptodek's shoulder--
his hand is still shaking-- and than he puts his hands behind his back, 
lacing his fingers together. Little tough guy.

From the hatching sands, Maylia sights on the brown, staring straight 
ahead. Of course, to the opposite side of the semi-circle of candidates. 
Weaving through the gaps left by those already Impressed, heads in that 
direction, softly cursing the sand which makes it hard to move quickly.

From the hatching sands, Aurian watches with every move the hatchlings 
makes as Mehlani nods to her. She just hugs her friend for an impulsive 
moment, before returning to watch the eggs.

Rylle's gazes falls down to Gaivn's hatchlings, "you get another then, 
Gaivn??"

From the hatching sands, Sandar gulps - or at least, would gulp, if his 
mouth weren't so dry - as he watches the brown weave its way toward the 
boys. The green catches his attention as it bursts from confinement. He 
nods to Ro, then shakes his head. "Bright," he near whispers.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek just looks at Asher out of the corner of 
his eye, then moves nearer to Sandar. And the green.

Gaivn reddens further, now in embarrassment rather than just the heat. 
"Yeah. She... it was sort of an accident, but I'm glad. Now I have two to 
feed on the trail... see, look at her, down there, she's like Asperth," 
even if all hatchling and dragon have in common is being green.

From the hatching sands, Berylle looks at the green, "Hmmm, pretty." She 
takes a tentative step towards it, then looks over at the indecisive 
brown.

T'dry finally spots Symoria and stands not too far from her, his gaze 
rather intently on the sands still.

From the hatching sands, Cream Puff Egg jumps! And then jumps again! After 
a third, it falls onto its side, and rolls onto the sand (which sticks, 
amazingly, only to the creamy white part). Several more cracks appear 
across its surface as it wobbles about.

From the hatching sands, Desert Sands Brown Hatchling tries his voice 
again, this time with a well-voiced attempt at a triumphant bugle. He's 
found her! Straight ahead of him, she's holding hands with someone else, 
talking to her and not looking his way. He lets his wingtips drag beside 
him, leaving trails in the sand as he gallops exaltedly to her, skidding 
to a halt at the edge of her hem and collapsing at her feet. As his head 
thumps down on Aurian's ankles, his eyes shift from red to softer colors 
of joy.

Her eyes full of genuine adoration for the beautiful creatures laying 
about Gaivn's wrists, Rylle smiles brightly at Gaivn's accomplishment 
"Two flits in less than a week. And a gold and a bronze for you. Well 
you'll have a fare soon with a pair like that!"

Kailia clapps her hands, "Oh, Aurian! Congradulations!"

From the hatching sands, Mehlani willingly answers Aurian's hug with a 
one-armed hug of her own, her face alight, hesitant and awestruck and 
unnerved and thrilled... and she squeals in delight as that brown comes at 
last to her cluster of Candidates. To Aurian. Her friend!

From the hatching sands, Silver Ice-Tipped Green Hatchling trumpets to her 
sire and dam. It's a tiny trumpet, but the tone of it is rather imperious. 
Apparently she's quite sure of herself. She continues her walk across the 
sands. She examines a group of girls without finding what she's looking 
for. She moves on to the next set of canddiates.

From the hatching sands, Asher's eyes widen in surprise; horror; 
disbelief. He stares at Aurian, hands fallen empty at his side, mouth 
slightly open, and makes no sound at all.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek grabs Sandar's sleeve. "Lookit!" he cries, 
pointing to Aurian and the brown.

From the hatching sands, Kharty watches the brown as Aurian impresses, 
calling out, "Aurian! A brown! How wonderful!"

From the hatching sands, Sandar blinks at the girl standing nearby, and at 
the brown. "Aurian!" he quips, "l-look!" He backs away as he watches the 
connection about to take place.

Rylle's eyes and head snap quickly back towards the sands as she hears 
another Impression made. She rests her head upon her knees once again, 
smiling whistfully at the newest pair"

From the hatching sands, Alais keeps her breath held tight, chewing on her 
lower lip as she's inspected in her turn.

From the hatching sands, Prometh warbles! Another impression! K'tyn laughs 
up at the bronze, and cheers himself for the pairing that's ocurred.

From the hatching sands, Krista watches the cream puff egg, that was one 
of her favorites.

Rock curses loudly "Bugger .... Another fantastic apprentice lost to the 
riders .... well half their bloody luck!"

From the hatching sands, Berylle gives a cry of delight! "Aurian! 
Awesome!" She grins from ear to ear.

From the hatching sands, Aurian starts to laugh helplessly, she kneels 
down and blinks, "Kvasith," she caresses the head laughing.

From the hatching sands, Jehrina grins, "Did we look that stunned?"

Amberan nods to Rock and frowns.

From the hatching sands, Ro cheers, a tear coming to her eye 
"Congratulations Aurian!" After a few moments she turns her attention back 
to the green. Maybe this one will want her.

From the hatching sands, K'tyn grins at Jehrina. "I think I fainted, 
actually. Well, after I fed Prometh."

Rock pulls out a flask of benden red and takes a sip. He grins ruefully 
and offers the flask to the master miner.

Symoria's breath is quickly expelled in a quick laugh as she says 
joyfully, "Kvasith.." Looking around her suddenly, she notices T'dry, 
saying happily to him, "Aurian's impressed!"

From the hatching sands, Jehrina laughs, though she keeps looking over the 
sands, "I seem to remember hearing about that."

From the hatching sands, Mehlani, now that one of her hands is free, 
step-hops back out of the way of Aurian and the brown, a smile having 
bloomed into being across her face, spanning from ear to ear. She squeezes 
Ro's hand, instinctively.

From the hatching sands, Maylia's not far behind the brown, and her face 
breaks into a grin as she sees who he's chosen.

From the hatching sands, Cream Puff Egg scoots itself across the sand in 
little hiccups, eventually coming to right itself relatively far from 
where Leilanth deposited it oh so long ago... By the time it comes to a 
stop, it's criss-crossed with several large cracks.

T'dry grins back. "I knew she had a dragon waiting for her on some sands 
or another. I'm glad they finally found each other."

Gaivn hastily attempts to shush Rylle, at least about his hatchlings 
rather than the others, "It's not like that, I didn't mean... well, it was 
an -accident-, really, and no more feeding. Going to be on the trail."

From the hatching sands, Rolling across the sands fluidly, like aged 
brandy falling into a glass, this egg comes to a rest not far from the 
candidates. The shard seems to have buckled against the occupant's toils 
to move it as there are places that sag in the once-perfect oval shell. A 
brassy snout sticks out of one of the 'craters' and sniffs the air 
experimentally before slowly pouring himself out of the ovoid. He simply 
gazes around for several long moments as the sands dry his bronze hide.

                       Pale Stained Bronze Hatchling                       


        Shattered brass glitters;
        Arrogant nobility--
        Tarnished verdigris.


From the hatching sands, Krista chuckles as she watches the cream puff egg 
scoot around the sand.

From the hatching sands, More eggs hatch now, faster. Blues, greens, 
browns, even a bronze here and occasionally there. With relatively little 
indecision, they seem to choose their lifemates. The weyrlingmasters 
veritably scurry about, directing dragons and new riders off to the side.

From the hatching sands, Maylia stands back a little, not wishing to rush 
the moment of Impression, letting Aurian savour it for the time being.

From the hatching sands, Burnt Toast Egg has arrived.

Alania nudges M'hryn "A bronze"

From the hatching sands, Aurian smiles and laughs as she touches the 
lovely brown, "Oh dear Kvasith, I don't even know if I can move." She 
continues, "But we'll get you fed."

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn's eyes widen as the bronze hatches. 
"Ohhh, isn't he lovely!"

From the hatching sands, Ptodek gasps! "A bronze!" He stands stark still 
and gazes, enraptured.

From the hatching sands, "I've gotten a but sturdier---Great Shards! Look 
at that!" K'tyn exclaims. Prometh blasts the cavern with a trumpet that 
makes his rider's ears ring.

From the hatching sands, Kvasith bumps playfully at Aurian's legs, gazing 
at her with adoring eyes as he follows her from the sands.

From the hatching sands, Berylle says "Oooh, handsome. I don't think he'll 
care for me much."

From the hatching sands, Ro gasps as she sees the pale bronze, and keeps 
an eye on him lest she need to dodge out of the way, but turns her 
attention back to the green. The bronze is most certainly not for her.

From the hatching sands, Kharty giggles at the little snout as it pokes 
out of the shell. She turns to Jaynelle with her hand pointing toward the 
bronze. "Ever seen one so little?"

From the hatching sands, Sandar can't help but let loose a low "ooh," as 
the bronze makes its first appearance. He bites his lips and watches as 
the creature gazes about, his hands finding themselves clenched together 
in front of his stomach.

From the hatching sands, Aurian finally moves, she just blinks at Kvasith. 
She grins and moves towards the barracks.

From the hatching sands, Stained Cointreau Bronze Hatchling unfurls 
himself, standing tall and letting his wings dry. No rushing here, nope. 
He knows *someone* is here for him, it's just a matter of finding -- oohh! 
Over there!!

From the hatching sands, Aurian heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

From the hatching sands, "Kvasith?" Maylia asks, still smiling. 
"Congratulations, Aurian. Go get him some food, hmmm?" And with that, she 
gestures off where the other pairs are heading, helping them just as long 
as she can before dashing off to help others.

From the hatching sands, Burnt Toast Egg has been silent during the 
evening's festivities...nary a shake, nary a shudder, nary a tap-tap-tap 
on the shell from within. Patiently its occupant waits, its time to arrive 
approaching but not yet here. Then, quietly, there is a shimmy and a crumb 
or two of sand falls off.

From the hatching sands, Kvasith heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

From the hatching sands, Silver Ice-Tipped Green Hatchling practically 
stomps through the sands, walking through, and almost across a group of 
candidates who barely move out of the way fast enough. The little green 
holds herself up regally as she looks over a likely group of boys. With a 
graceful (mostly) move, she stops in front of a boy with wispy hair and 
croooooons up into his face.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle smiles and nods as Kharty speaks "They 
are very beautiful"

Rylle's eyes glance over at Gaivn' her eyes peering out from behind her 
knees. "Oh, Sorr, I think its wonderful. I'd love to have one companion to 
me. but anyway.." her voice trails off, as she realizes by his reddened 
cheeks that perhaps she's offended. She averts her eyes downwarde towards 
the sands again, her brows furrowed.

From the hatching sands, Suspecting that every visiting bronze in the 
cavern is now adding their approval to the onrushing HUM, and not even 
needing to guess whether a Benden bronze by the name of Tzornth is 
trumpeting his support, Mehlani silently beams. She's got one arm around 
Ro, now.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek steps out in front of the gaggle of girls, 
daring to approach just a little closer to the bronze hatchling.

From the hatching sands, Stained Cointreau Bronze Hatchling takes a 
tentative step forward, then another. This is easy! Now, which way was 
that...

From the hatching sands, A'sher stands very still for a moment, and tha he 
throws his head back and laughs. Laughs out loud, until tears pour from 
his eyes. "Ah, Yasinth, he was right! Char him, he was right!"

From the hatching sands, Mehlani's face is no less wonder-filled as that 
green finally chooses her rider.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek twists his body around to stare at A'sher 
and Yasinth. He did it! Asher did it! An exultant shout bursts from 
Ptodek's lips as he breaks into his biggest grin of the evening.

From the hatching sands, Sandar gazes at the bronze, his miscolored eyes 
catching the bronze's every step. The green's croon catches his attention, 
however, and he beams at Asher - A'sher, from this point on, with a toothy 
smile. "Ash!" he calls approvingly.

From the hatching sands, Stained Cointreau Bronze Hatchling walks 
casually, almost carefully around the sands, listening for that *voice*. 
After several minor course corrections, he appears no closer to finding it 
than he was several moments ago. As a matter of fact, he's standing right 
next to the shards of his recently vacated egg.

From the hatching sands, Alais's gaze glints, grey-green, as A'sher gets 
the small breen. Her smile's ale, and her gaze shifts to wtahc bronze in 
idle curiosity.

From the hatching sands, Berylle smirks at A'sher, and shakes her head in 
disbelief. "...he'll be unbearable now...wait, he was before." She looks 
back to the dragons and eggs after muttering to herself.

From the hatching sands, Maylia peers over the shoulders of two girls, and 
is off again, this time toward Asher. Or, rather, A'sher. She softly 
repeats the name, "Yasinth," as she approaches the new pair, ready to 
assist them.

From the hatching sands, Kharty waves her hand in excitement then pulls it 
down quickly. "A'sher! A green!" Her other hand wiggles Jaynelle's, feet 
pulling up and down alternately.

From the hatching sands, A'sher goes down on one knee, tears still on his 
cheeks, and touches the chin of his lady. "Now?" he wonders, a smile on 
his face, and than he repeats that order for everyone else to hear. "I 
believe that she's hungry. Now."

From the hatching sands, A'sher heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

From the hatching sands, Leilanth bugles to the green and bronze 
hatchlings. Jehrina grins, "There, more bronzes for you. And greens for 
Prometh to nmake a nuisance of himself over."

From the hatching sands, Prometh bugles to the pair that's just impressed, 
the tone turning sharp as he urges his confused bronze son to make up his 
mind, and just pick someone. K'tyn laughs, looking like a young boy 
himself --gleeful and giddy.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle beams a large smile at A'sher as he 
walks off the sands.

From the hatching sands, Yasinth heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

Rock sighs and has to go before the event is over .. but the sick tend not 
to care for the healers schedule. He smiles and nods to those he passes on 
he way out. Just before he leaves he smiles ruefully and shakes his head 
"Fly well Aurian".

From the hatching sands, Burnt Toast Egg moves complacently from its 
nestled position within the sands, a place it has rested for sevendays. 
Quiet descends upon it before a mighty bounce carries it a yard or so, 
then it rolls on its side, offering up the better part of its shell for 
viewing. Upon its surface tendrils of cracks appear, then again silence.

From the hatching sands, Sandar watches the bronze weave its way back to 
its original position, and grins, his eyes darting to where A'sher is 
wandering away with his new lifemate. The excitement roots him in place as 
he watches for the new bronze's next steps.

From the hatching sands, Not taking his eyes off the bronze, Ptodek plucks 
at Sandar's sleeve. "He's looking at us," he hisses. "Isn't he? Look-- 
he's staring right at us!"

From the hatching sands, Ro stands lightly on the balls of her feet, ready 
to get out of the way if the bronze should come for Sandar or Ptodek, who 
happen to be standing close to her.

Gaivn says in obscure apology to Rylle, "I've named her Nory, you see, 
after the headwoman..." and then adds, shifting awkwardly on the coat-
covered rock, "Look, look! The boy and his green, I got to see his face 
right when it, It."

From the hatching sands, Alais shifts back a step or two as she watches 
the not-for-her bronze apprach.

From the hatching sands, Mehlani unknowingly tucks her lower lip under her 
teeth, and surreptitiously points a dainty finger at Sandar and Ptodek, 
for the bronze. Over there. Go over there!

From the hatching sands, Stained Cointreau Bronze Hatchling harrumphs, a 
bit frustrated, and looks up at the person directly in front of him. 
Focusing his whirling eyes on the Weyrwoman, he croons LONGINGLY for a few 
moments before suddenly changing directions. There! There! He moves 
quickly across the sands, scattering several startled candidates.

From the hatching sands, Sandar grins at Ptodek as he beholds the stunning 
creature's every movement. As the bronze starts making his move, the boy 
takes an unintentional step backwards.

D'ton squints. "What is it with this batch of hatchlings and our 
Weyrleaders?" he asks no-one in particular.

Avroth stops humming just for a moment as a spot opens up next to him. He 
shifts sideways, edging closer to Taminath.

From the hatching sands, K'tyn stares at Jehrina, his mouth quirking up in 
a grin. "Always thought you had a heart of bronze," he quips, chuckling, 
as the young bronze dashes off.

From the hatching sands, Jehrina rolls her eyes, "Definitely Leilanth's 
child."

From the hatching sands, Ro releases Sandar's hand andjumps out of the 
way, pulling Mehlani with her, not wanting either of them to get trampled.
From the hatching sands, Leilanth snorts, then hummmmmmms.

Rylle 's brows unfurrow as the momentary tension fades, her eyes emerging 
from behind her knees, glinting with grateitude that she hadn't offended. 
Her large eyes follow Gaivn's prodding, her own body shifting forward 
intensely as he shows her, "What..What did it -look- like?"

Rylle says "I mean, what was in the face?"

From the hatching sands, Ptodek moves, but not backwards-- forwards, 
toward the bronze (remaining prepared to jump out of the way if 
necessary)...

From the hatching sands, Alais lifts her fingers to her lips, eyes 
twinkling as she eyes the bronze. It might be worth.... but naaaaah.

T'saren turns to D'ton with a chuckle. "Guess they think Kiat needs 
another dragon to lavish attention on."

From the hatching sands, Mehlani skitterhops along with Ro, glancing over 
long enough to mark the path of their retreat before glancing back to 
mentally urge the bronze on.

From the hatching sands, S'dar gazes at the bronze, his jaw dropped and 
dangling somewhere in the vicinity of his chest. After a moment of 
complete bewilderment, the boy manages to get out a word. "Chezroth?" he 
sputters. Then once more, his eyes widening with the realization of what's 
just happened to him - to the both of them. "Chezroth!"

From the hatching sands, Burnt Toast Egg jolts again and, from within the 
confines of the ovoid a small draconic creation begins to assert its will 
over the tenacious eggshell. No panic, no fuss, just direct, meaningful 
action on breaking free. Then, with explosive results, so it does.

From the hatching sands, Kharty hops up and down as S'dar impresses! 
"Sandy! A lifemate!"

From the hatching sands, Berylle smiles again for San...er, S'dar. And 
looks at the other eggs that have yet to hatch.

From the hatching sands, The top of the Burnt Toast Egg distends, not 
unlike the rising of a freshly baking loaf of bread. But eggshells aren't 
meant to rise, and the pressure exerted on this one from inside is 
evidenced by crackling and creaking sounds, though mostly hidden within 
the charcoal blackness. In moments, two nostrils poke through one end--
then a snout, a small blue head, and a bit of neck. The hatchling pauses 
there, getting its first breath, before it resumes its slow struggle. 
Agonizingly slowly, he finishes squeezing out in egg-slimed glory, shaking 
the now-deflated egg from his tail with a last effort.

                        Noonday Sea Blue Hatchling                         


        Truest blue bronze-lit;
        Sundrops splattering the sea--
        Freedom in the air.


From the hatching sands, Ptodek stares in shock, disbelief, dismay, and 
delight for his friend. "Way to go, S'dar!" he cries finally.

From the hatching sands, Alais lets her eyes widen. /Sandar/," she 
breathes, and watches for a wistful moment before turning away to the blue 
that hatches nearby.

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn grins widely as Sandar -now S'dar- 
Impresses, dancing in her hollow of sand. "Sandy! I knew it!"

Kailia waves, "Sandar!!!! Congradulations!"

From the hatching sands, Mehlani lets out a delighted little noise that 
might almost be laughter.

From the hatching sands, A joyous blast for the bronze and his new 
lifemate -- a pure note that turns softer, more welcoming for the dappled 
blue hatchling on the sands.

From the hatching sands, Ro ventures close enough to give the new 
bronzerider a quick kiss on the cheek and murmur congratulations in his 
ear, then steps back to Mehlani's side to watch the newly hatched blue.

From the hatching sands, Krista says "Congrats S'dar" but quickly looks 
back at the newly hatched blue.

From the hatching sands, One of the final few eggs hatches. It contains 
another, deep, klah-colored brown. He toddles unevenly across the sands to 
a group of boys. He bumps into one before choosing a boy from an outlying 
hold in the Telgar area.

From the hatching sands, S'dar leans over to brush some sand off of 
Chezroth's gleaming back. "Of course," he whispers as he runs his hand 
along the bronze hide.

From the hatching sands, There's a slight lull, and Maylia catches the 
name of a dragon shouted. She whirls, seeking to find the new pair. Nearly 
out of breath, she murmurs to S'dar, "Congratulations." As she directs 
them off the sands.

From the hatching sands, Kharty catches sight of the little blue tail 
emerging from the shell. Staring right at it, she takes a step forward. 
Breathe, she remembers, as sweat drips from her chin.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek swallows hard, and heaves a ragged sigh. 
He'd been so sure the bronze was looking for him! But there's a blue, now, 
and more... he schools his expression and returns to his place in the 
semi-circle.

From the hatching sands, Ro 's brow furrows as she watches the unhatched 
eggs get fewer and fewer. She squeezes Mehlani's hand nervously as she 
gazes at the scattered shards.

From the hatching sands, Noonday Sea Blue Hatchling lifts his head from 
the remnants of his former home and tosses his head to dislodge a 
spattering of shell clinging, like a frightened child, to his left cheek. 
One foot raises experimentally, then is settled on the sand, and he nods. 
So that's how one walks. Ah. A second step is essayed and completed 
without error, and he lets out a tenative trumpet. Thinner than the 
bronzes', it nevertheless rings of proclamation. He is here.

From the hatching sands, S'dar stumbles across the sands with his new 
lifemate, very nearly tripping over some shards scattered before him due 
to his eyes' refusal to stop gawking at the magnificent bronze.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle slowly moves beside Kharty again, 
filling in the rest of the semi circle. Her wet hair is now pinned against 
her head, with the short pony tail drooping behind.

From the hatching sands, S'dar heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

From the hatching sands, Berylle grins at the blue. "He's kinda cute."

From the hatching sands, Stained Cointreau Bronze Hatchling follows right 
behind S'dar.

From the hatching sands, Alais chews on her lower lip, well and truly 
nervous now, allowing her gaze to follow the blue closely.

From the hatching sands, Stained Cointreau Bronze Hatchling heads off 
towards the bowl on the way to the weyrling barracks.

From the hatching sands, Mehlani squeezes Ro's hand in reply, her gaze 
coursing over the remaining eggs, and that questing blue. Her eyes are 
without worry; there's no room for it in her thoughts, with so much else 
before her to absorb.

Gaivn can only say to her, "Harpers, they're not the craft Ma wants me to 
apprentice to. But... and see, that one there, how he finally got out 
after all that work?"

From the hatching sands, Ptodek's hands clutch at the fabric of his robe; 
without being conscious of it, he is wadding the sides of his garment in 
his hands as he casts a gaze over the hatchlings seeking lifemates. *Is* 
there one for him?

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn wrings the damp white robe between her 
hands as she watches the hatchlings pair off with their 'mates. Still, her 
eyes watch the sands intently, though she starts to back away slowly.

From the hatching sands, Maylia watches across the circle. As the eggs 
numbers narrow down, impressions come more slowly. The WeyrlingMaster, on 
the other side of the waning numbers of Candidates, helps out a new pair, 
and Maylia holds still, ready to seek out the next.

From the hatching sands, Noonday Sea Blue Hatchling flicks a noisome bit 
of shell from his wing and squares his shoulders, showing none of the 
clumsy uncertainty hatchlings so often demonstrate. Someone is here for 
him, someone whose presence thrums a harmonious chord in his very being, 
and he will find that someone. A series of strides bears him over the hot 
sand, though he pauses, with red eyes swirling like maelstroms, to regard 
his sire and dam. A more strident bugle, throatier, deeper than the first, 
is tendered to them in greeting before he carries on toward the white-
robed people close by.

From the hatching sands, Krista watches the blue, still ready to move, 
wondering if it will come towards her.

From the hatching sands, Berylle looks at Ptodek nervously, seeing her own 
worries reflected in his expression.

Rylle scrunches up her eyebrows in cconfusion at Gaivn, "Why, your mom 
should want you to be accepted to such a presitgous Craft. I dont 
understand, what craft would she like you apprnticed to?" Her head cranes 
around curiously to see what Gaivn is pointing at.

From the hatching sands, Ro smiles at the blue, as he seems to know what 
he wants.

From the hatching sands, Now that Aurian has left the Sands with her new 
brown, Saskia edges anxiously and hopefully towards Mehlani and Ro, and 
Mehlani flicks a smile towards the other girl.

From the hatching sands, Kharty scans the shard-littered area, focused on 
the blue as she hears his bugle sound. Her nervous hand flits up to her 
brow, hastily removing beads of perspiration. "Hot." she simply says.

From the hatching sands, Alais shifts her weight: blue, there, in her 
grey-green gaze.

Gaivn hunches his shoulders up, at her question, and from his wrist, Nory 
creels. After a deeper breath, he explains while trying to soothe the 
pair, "Well, see, it's because I'd be no good."

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle nods to Kharty as she too shuffles about 
in the sand. She looks down at her feet as she accidently steps on shard.

From the hatching sands, Ptodekglances nervously at Berylle, and shuffles 
a bit closer to her, reaching out awkwardly to squeeze her hand before 
going back to wadding and unwadding his robe.

Rylle flashes a goofy smile at Gaivn as he leans in closer to her, her 
eyes glinting impishly.

From the hatching sands, Noonday Sea Blue Hatchling bends forward to nudge 
at a section of discarded shell and, while his head is still lowered, eyes 
the Candidates grouped to his right. Slowly does he straighten, head now 
cocked almost perpendicular to the ground, and with more curiosity than 
timidity he steps toward them. Black...black...black...yes. Black is the 
color that lures him close, that serves as the signal that the one he 
wants is *there*. All he had to do was catch sight of her and single her 
out from the others. Two long strides and he stands before Kharty, a 
head-butt to her tummy announcing his intent.

From the hatching sands, Ro looks around at the faces of the candidates 
still on the sands, and the very few eggs left. She smiles at Kharty, 
though it is doubtful the bluerider sees her.

From the hatching sands, The suspense, for Mehlani, grows about as 
powerful in the perceptions as th noise and heat and color in the vast 
Hatching cavern. Her fingers cling to Ro's own, her knuckles turning 
white, her hair beginning to darken with a faint hint of sweat.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle gives Kharty a huge hug as the blue 
comes close.

From the hatching sands, Kharty looks deeply into the blue's eyes, barely 
able to move. One word escapes her lips, "Virroth! I know you! Virroth!"

From the hatching sands, With a note that's not quite silence, more like 
lack of noise, the last of the eggs hatches. The dragons out of the eggs 
find lifemates and are quickly escorted off the sands towards the weyrling 
barracks. Leilanth lifts her head and lets out a brassy bugle, ending the 
previously incessant humming.

From the hatching sands, Maylia follows after the blue, hardly paying 
attention to which candidate the hatchling's after. Suprise, and a smile 
(which might suprise others even more) flicker across her face. 
"Congratulations, Kharty." She tells her cousin. "There's food for 
Virroth? Virroth, in the Barracks."

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn lets out a long, deep breath as the last 
of the hatchlings pair off. The searing heat from below finally permeating 
the nervous daze, she shifts again, backward, toward the exit.

From the hatching sands, Ptodek looks around at all the successful 
Candidates, tears already brimming in his eyes. But where is *his* dragon, 
his lifemate?

From the hatching sands, Ro's free hand fidgets with her robe, the other 
squeezes Mehlani's, though not too tightly. She certainly wouldn't want to 
break the girls hand.

Everin blinks. Blinks again. "Oh, Alais," he says in a very small voice 
and then looks around for Kassima.

From the hatching sands, Virroth croons contentedly and again nudges 
Kharty, insistence in his movement.

From the hatching sands, Berylle glances around. There _must_ be another 
egg here, right?

Symoria sighs as she sees the hatching come to an end, her eyes lingering 
on the remaining candidates. A sad expression crosses her face, one that 
doesn't lift until she looks over into Taminath's slowly whirling eyes.

From the hatching sands, It's over...? It's over. Mehlani exhales softly, 
and turns to hug Ro close.

From the hatching sands, Alais's gaze turns striken, her face pale, as she 
looks around in faint desperation. Too old, she told them she was...

Amberan sighs a happy sigh of relief. "Excellent."

From the hatching sands, Prometh's trumpet follows the last to hatch and 
impress pairs off the sands, a sound pure in its note and timber.

Alania sighs softly as she heads back to where Oerth is waiting for her.
Rylle leans over close to Gaivn, her eyes intese.

From the hatching sands, Kharty rubs noses, her nose on his. "Virroth!" 
She hugs him, tugging him close to her! "Oh oh oh oh..!"

From the hatching sands, Ptodek stares at his feet, trying desperately not 
to sob aloud in front of all these people. He doesn't dare look at any of 
the remaining candidates, or the departing riders.

From the hatching sands, Ro returns Mehlani's hug, heaving a great sigh, 
her expression waxing stoic.

From the hatching sands, Berylle kicks at the sand, and looks around, not 
sure what to do now.

From the hatching sands, Krista sighs, her shoulders drooping "I guess my 
dragon wasn't here."

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle gently hugs her friend's arm before 
stepping out of the way.

From the hatching sands, Maylia waits for Kharty, noting the last 
impression but leaving that pair for Kerlyn to handle.

From the hatching sands, Jehrina lets out a long breath and steps forward, 
addressing those left on the sands, "Dragons choose as they will. I'm 
sorry your dragons weren't on the sands here. Those of you who wish to 
stay at the weyr are welcome to. Those who wish to return home to their 
hold or craft may do that as soon as they wish."

Amberan chuckles at D'ton. "I win, you lose." He seems a bit too pleased 
at this.

From the hatching sands, Maylia heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

T'saren nods to himself as the last Impression is made, then stands and 
moves to his lifemate's side. "Well lump, are you ready to go? There's 
nothing more for us to see here, and we don't have weyrlingmaster duties 
to attend to this time." The bronze lowers his head and butts gently 
against Tas' stomach, almost knocking him off his feet.

T'dry can't help but look at the disappointed candidates milling about. 
Slowly, he closes his eyes and turns back to his own lifemate, pausing to 
lean against the bronze's neck for a few moments before climbing up.

From the hatching sands, Kharty giggles, taking one last swipe of her nose 
on Virroth's before leading him away.

T'saren uses the straps and Solarith's offered foreleg to mount the 
bronze. T'saren thumps Solarith's neck affectionately in thanks as soon as 
he is settled.

From the hatching sands, Kharty heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

T'dry steps up on Avroth's thoughtfully extended forleg and climbs quickly 
up on his neck, seating himself securely between his dragon's neckridges.

Alania reaches up to hold the riding straps firmly. With a gentle nudge 
from Oerth, Alania swings up to sit comfortably on her back.

From the hatching sands, Virroth heads off towards the bowl on the way to 
the weyrling barracks.

Oerth leaps off the ledge.

Solarith leaps off the ledge.

From the hatching sands, If there's a word to sum up Mehlani's expression, 
that word might be 'peace'. There's no disappointment in the girl's eyes; 
if anything, there's a kind of relief. She turns her gaze towards the 
Weyrleader and Weyrwoman, silently looking to see if the remaining 
Candidates should leave the Sands.

Astride Avroth, T'dry calls over to the Fort Goldrider, "Symoria, you 
headed straight back to the weyr?"

From the hatching sands, Alais' gaze is tear-bright and sea-green and she 
nods numbly to Jehrina, one hand pushing at her hair and tearing the thong 
from it with the motion. It falls, unnoticed.

From the hatching sands, Jaynelle walks over to Mehlani and gives her a 
small smile as well.

Meli climbs smoothly up Juliath's extended foreleg and settles herself 
between the neck ridges, as the green gives a welcome rumble from deep in 
her throat.

Juliath leaps off the ledge.

From the hatching sands, Jessalyn wraps her arms about her middle and nods 
politely to Jehrina and K'tyn. She, too, looks more relieved than 
disappointed, glancing up toward the stands every now and again.

Rylle holds her head on her knees and sighs as she looks at thew people 
left on the sand. "You know, as disapointed as they may feel right now, 
they're really fortunate to have been searched in the first place"

Symoria walks slowly back over to Taminath, rubbing her hand against her 
dragon's jaw. Hearing T'dry's question, she answers, "I've not decided 
quite yet? How about you?"

D'ton looks over at Amberan, then down at the Sands. He's quiet for a 
while, then just says, "I'll take you and Master Lily down to the Bowl."

From the hatching sands, Jehrina smiles faintly, "I know it doesn't help a 
lot, but you're welcome here." With that, she steps back to address the 
stands. She raises her voice to those higher in the cavern, "There will be 
feasting in the living cavern for those who wish to celebrate with us. 
Thank you for coming!"