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V Is Very Very Eggstraordinary


Date:  December 21, 1995
Place:  Benden Weyr's Hatching Galleries
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  I hesitated to add this log to my archives, because my
RP in it is... bad.  Very bad.  Obnoxiously bad.  However, the scene is 
relevant to Kassi's history:  this is the first day of the clutching of 
Dyinath and Valenth's eggs, the first of which to be laid would later 
produce a certain cantankerous green.  There's also some chat with 
Taylar and other characters who would later become important to Our 
Heroine.  The log begins in the Hatching Galleries, to which I came 
directly after Impressing a fire-lizard at High Reaches a couple of 
minutes earlier.  Why did I @tel across the world with no IC excuse for 
being either place?  Because I was a twink.  That's why. 

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The Log:

Public announcement: Asfala announces "It seems that Benden's gold Dyinath
has smoothed out a nice area on the sands where she wants to deposit some
eggs. For those who wish to come watch ICly, the galleries are #382, and
those who just want to +watch, it's '+watch on bdw-galleries'"

Dexius says "Has anything happened yet?"

Thera settles down and waits.

Thera pats the seat next to her. "Wanna sit by me Kassi?"

T'vor comes in from the bowl.

Merla spots Asfala as she comes in. Her eyes follow the young weyrwoman.

Jerissa comes in from the bowl.

Kassima sits beside Thera. "Of course, coz." She watches the Sands
anxiously, stroking Rhiannon's eyeridges.

From the hatching sands, Dyinath settles down to lay her first egg.


The background of this smooth egg is like the sand of the desert: cream in
color and evenly hued, though upon close inspection, finely pebbled.
Slightly darker areas wash over the egg like waves, but are hidden by huge
splotches of red. It is almost as if someone with a crude paintbrush
splashed great words of defiance in some unknown language, all over the
surface of the egg, to the point where the placid sandy wall is almost
totally obscured.


Taylar comes in from the bowl.

Jerissa steps down into the quiet seats.

Kindal bursts out of *between* and looks about for a landing.

Yombe comes in from the bowl.

P'tran comes in from the bowl.

Kassima watches the queen, waving to Taylar as she sees him come in.

Jerissa comes in from the quieter seating towards the back.

Latiar comes in from the bowl.

Anra comes in from the bowl.

T'vor waves to P'tran, "Heyla, P'tran."

Rickon comes in from the bowl.

Anra grins at all the people!

P'tran smiles as he walks in. "Good evening all," he says, grinning. He
glances towars the sands. "Dyinath finally explo ...er, clutched, eh?"

Quiq begins to chitter at Rhiannon.

Dexius waves to Rickon. "Sit over here!"

Kindal flies down into the quiet seats.

T'vor places his arm around Jerissa and finds a seat for the two of them.

Kassima waves cheerfully to the people she knows.

Latiar smiles at Anra, "Look at the big Dragon..."

Rickon grins, and looks over at the sands, with a bronze and a green head
following his gaze (no sign of his blue, though).

Rickon grins, and heads over to sit with Dexius.

Jerissa smiles and sits herself next to T'vor, leaning close to him.

Kassima's Rhiannon sleeps, still tired from hatching.

Alyssa nods with a smile to Jerissa, though her attention is clearly on
Dyinath.

Asfala starts to step onto the sands, but the gold dragon lifts her head
and glares her lifemate down. "Dyinath! It's just me!"

Quiq waddles over to Rhiannon and explains to her that coming out of the
egg isn't all that bad really, the world is an ok place, with the right pets.

Dexius says "How's life treatin' ya, Rick?"

P'tran finally sees T'vor trying to greet him and nods to him with a grin.
"Hellow, T'vor. Benden's duty. Glad you could make it."

Taylar moves over to sit with Alyssa. He leans over and whispers to her.

Rickon says "Not too bad. But I'll be broke if I lose the wager I have on
this clutch."

T'vor keeps his arm around Jerissa, and watches, he tells 'Rissa, "I love
Clutchings.." He smiles to P'tran, "Wouldn't miss it!"

Kassima grins. "Care to make a small wager, coz?" she murmurs.

Taylar mutters to Alyssa, "... just..."

P'tran hmms? and overhears Rickon. "wager?"

Dexius says "I'm sorry, Rickon, but I've gotta leave. I hate to do it but I
just remembered something I have to do."

T'vor perks up at the "w" word.

Thera winks. "What'll you pay me in?Flits?"

P'tran grins. "Don't tell me you bet everything you had on the clutch."

Anra leans far forward to look at the gold, "Mama?" she asks of Latiar?

Jerissa nods to T'vor and then grins. "Someone say wager?"

Alyssa blinks and looks up at Taylar. "What? Oh...no, don't worry about
it." To Rickon she calls, "42."

Kassima rolls her eyes. "Of course not. Marks, coz. Ever heard of marks?"

Rickon says "Well, I lost most of my marks on the Ista hatching..."

Dexius says "See, I'm up from the Starsmith hall visiting my parents at a
cothold near here."

Dexius says "Anyway, I have to leave."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath cocks her head, and relents, allowing her
lifemate on the sands, though she starts to glare at all the noisy humans
in the stands, especially any that get anywhere near the sands.

T'vor hrms, "I'm never good at guessing clutch size."

Dexius waves to everyone and gets up to leave. "Night everyone! Bye, Rickon."

Alyssa states again, folding her arms across her chest as she looks onto
the sands, "42."

Thera grins widely, "Yes i've heard of them...but you seem to have more
than enough flits to pay me with." and laughs.

Rickon waves to Dexius, and then watches the sands. "39," he says, firmly.

Dexius walks out to the bowl.

P'tran nods to T'vor. "Well, it will be a fair-sized clutch, I'd say. Still
need new riders for the ones we unfortunately lost during those erratic
Falls last Turn"

Alyssa says to Rickon, without taking her eyes off the sands, "42."

Yombe looks thoughtfully at P'tran.^

T'vor nods, "Igen shares your loss."

From the hatching sands, Asfala has arrived.

Kassima sighs. "I've only got four," she says, "and that's not so many. At
any rate, care to make a bet? I'll wager you three marks that there will be
more than thirty eggs."

T'vor hrms, and leans close to Jerissa.

Thera hrmmms thoughtfully. "Gimme a mintue coz."

T'vor mutters to Jerissa, "... say..."

Anra yikeses as Latiar sets her down. She toddles over to Alyssa and looks
up at her, blinking.

P'tran nods to T'vor semi-solemnly but recovers quickly, determined not to
dwell on that . AFter a moment his smile returns and he looks back to ths
sands. "I won't say exactly how many I think we'll havem, though, since I'm
usually wrong anyway on exact numbers."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath noses the first egg, setting it up just
right, then, emitting a curious croon, cocks her head and lays another egg.


Against a light grey background, stipples of white swirl gently across the
surface of this slightly dingy egg...snowfall against a backdrop of
unexotic, but warm and familiar, if dingy, grey. Near the narrower of the
egg's ends there's a cluster of three starlike ripples in the surface.
Towards the larger end, the otherwise uniform background swirls into
vaguely defined figures, grouped near each other, in seeming celebration.


Jerissa grins and nods. She mutters to T'vor, "... say... marks..." 

Latiar smiles at Anra, "Yeah, Mama."

Taylar ooos. "Wow, they sure are big.

Alyssa looks down at Anra, smiling as she says, "Can you see? Want a boost?"

Thera decides. "How about three marks for you if it's 30-35, but i get
three if it's over 35?"

T'vor nods to Jerissa, "Wager accepted."

Kassima hrms. "No," she says, "that's not a wager I'd care to take. How
about this--I get three marks if it's between thirty and forty, and you get
three if it's below thirty or above forty."

T'vor nods to P'tran.

Yombe looks on in amazement. Her eyes flicker as the outside images stir
internal imagry.

Rickon starts counting eggs. Aloud.

Thera snorts. "Well, as long as you prom not to let me starve..."

Anra grins, and lets herself be boosted, she grins as she sees the eggs,
and bounces excitedly.

T'vor leans real close to Jerissa and whispers.

From the hatching sands, Asfala trots across the sands, happy that she's
wearing her boots. She approaches the queen and rubs the great jaw.

Kassima chuckles. "You're that lean in the pocket? Never mind, of course I
won't let you starve. Is it a bet?"

Jerissa raises an eyebrow at T'vor's whisper and turns to whisper a reply.

Thera nods. "'k. Gotta a growing flit to feed."

T'vor chuckles, and hands over a pair of gloves too small for him to Jerissa.

Kassima shakes Thera's hands to confirm the wager and watches the Sands
eagerly.

A blue firelizard pops out of between and, eyes whirling excitedly, swoops
onto Rickon's shoulder.

Jerissa giggles as she takes the gloves and shoves them into a pocket.
"Thanks."

Quiq waddles over and begins to suck on Rickon's pantcuff.

T'vor nods, "Your welcome." He leans back and watches.

Jerissa smiles and nods, leaning back and watching the sands.

M'kla comes in from the bowl.

Quiq waddles back to Thera and looks at her longingly.

Thera says "here you go, you winged stomach."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath croons worriedly, looking momentarily at
her rider. But then she settles down again, scooping sand into a pile to
prepare a place for an egg.

Thera hands Quiq a battered looking meatroll.

Ambros comes in from the bowl.

P'tran nods to M'kla as she arrives, and to the others as the arrive as well


From the hatching sands, Barely distinguishable against the darkness of the
Hatching Sands, this egg is the darkest of grays. Its smooth surface holds
no shine but looks almost cool, even soft were one to touch it. Uniformly
round, it would be lost in the shadows of the Hatching Cavern were it not
for the stark whiteness of its markings. Harsh against the dark shell are
markings that could easily be mistaken for the doodlings of a child, even
an attempt at a letter or two. Here and there a white rectangle appears
with white dust all around it. When closely inspected dark green lines
appear, widely spaced and perfectly uniform. It's as if this egg was
created just for learning.


Rickon says "3!"

Kassima ahs as the third egg appears! She begins to keep a careful count.

[Editor's Note:  If people sound a bit over-enthused about the third egg,
it's because the first two couldn't be seen when they were laid due to a
code snafu.  This was thus thought to be the first egg.  I've edited the
relevant poses where the players requested it, and also tossed the first 
two egg descs in where they should have been above.]

T'vor nods, "That's an georgeous egg."

Jerissa smiles. "Sure is pretty."

Thera places her elbows on her knees and oohhhs.

Alyssa leans forward to look closer at the egg admiringly. "Oh, well done."

Kassima grins. "Three so far, and all of them beautiful."

Fiona climbs off of her cot.

Latiar smiles, "It's beautiful..."

Anra grins and bounces, "Look, Isha!"

Taylar says "Look, Rickon. Here's a way for you to learn to read." Taylar
grins widely. "Or maybe me.""

Yombe quietly sighs. This sight is a far different one from the mine
tunnels and caverns.

Kerlyn comes in from the bowl.

Rickon shudders. "Who needs to read?"

T'vor pulls Jerissa close to him, and enjoys the Clutching silently.

Soril finds Merla and sits down next to his sister.

Merla smiles to Soril.

Kassima looks over at Rickon, surprised. "Why, everyone," she says.
"Reading is a great thing."

Jerissa smiles and leans her head against T'vor's shoulder.

Merla waves to Kerlyn.

Yombe almost automatically answers Rickon, "Those who wish to know the past
and to build the future."

Latiar glances around trying to find someone nearby to say something
to...ah well..he mumbles to himself.

Rickon shrugs. "I'm happy as I am."

Taylar stands fascinated. First, he saw a Hatching. Now, he sees a
Clutching. Both are wonderful in their own way.

P'tran takes his seat and overhears Kassima and Rickon and refrains from
making comment, but he does idly glance at Rickon for his reaction

Gwennar comes in from the bowl.

Mireldeyn flies in from the bowl.

From the hatching sands, Valenth flies down from above.

Kerlyn salutes Merla and P'tran smartly, then finds herself some empty
bench space to watch.

Soril smiles to Gwennar.

Kassima raises an eyebrow, and sighs. "Suit yourself. It's your own
decision to make, your own life to lead."

Kiala comes in from the bowl.

Gwennar walks in, shaking some of the misty rain out of her hair and dress.

Taylar says "I can read somewhat and I plan to learn. I will attend the
classes in my free time."

Alyssa hugs Anra close, bouncing her a bit. "I'm looking, I'm looking!
Pretty, hmmm?"

Fiona finds a quiet seat off to herself, smiling and nodding to people as
she does.

Kiala waves to Soril.

Gwennar works her way through the crowd to sit near the Ruatha Steward.

Yombe says to Rickon, "The flying insect is happy right before it is
devoured by the tunnel snake."

Alyssa glances toward Taylar for a minute. "I can help you improve your
reading, if you want."

Anra nodnodnods, "Bigger 'n Dirt."

P'tran grins as he watches Valenth land on the sands. "Let's see how close
Dyinath lets her mate come to the eggs."

Kiala follows after Gwennar, carefully threading her way through the crowd.

Merla smiles at Gwennar as the young baker sits near her.

Mireldeyn flies to the back and watches unobtrusively.

Kassima nods to Taylar. "Wise of you," she says quietly. "My father taught
me, and I've never regretted the learning."

From the hatching sands, Valenth rumbles anxiously to Dyinath as he glides
down to a landing well across the cavern from her!

Jeshua comes in from the bowl.

Thera wishes she could read better.

Taylar looks at Kassima. "Maybe you can help me sometime."

T'vor chuckles to P'tran, "not very, it appears."

From the hatching sands, Asfala looks up and smiles up at the bronze
descending.

Jaen comes in from the bowl.

Merla waves to Jaen and Jeshua.

From the hatching sands, J'cot removes the riding straps and carefully
jumps down from Valenth's neck.

P'tran laughs and grins at T'vor. "He's being cautious. Smart dragon."

Jaen pauses at the edge of the galleries.

T'vor waves to Jaen, "Heya!"

Kassima smiles. "Maybe, though I can't say I'm any sort of expert."

Jeshua waves to M'kla and takes a seat nearby. "Ma'am," she says, saluting.
"What have I missed?"

T'vor is sitting with his arm around Jerissa, "Long time no see, Jaen."

Kiala shyly finds a seat, her eyes wide as she looks about.

Latiar peers at Valenth as he decends to the Sands.

From the hatching sands, Dyinath bugles to Valenth proudly! She then
rumbles a challenge to his rider, but subsides when her rider tells her to
be nice.

Taylar returns her smile. "Yeah, but you're better than I am. Any help
would be nice."

M'kla chuckles, "Three eggs is all, Jeshua. I'll wager she clutches at
least two and a half dozen."

Jerissa smiles and nods to Jaen. "Heya."

Gwennar smiles at Merla, remembering her from an earlier visit to Benden,
and as the pet to her younger green's dam.

From the hatching sands, J'cot swats at Valenth's side. "Shells and shards,
settle down! We're here!" He steps back just as Valenth spreads his wings
to runglide across the cavern towards his mate.

Jaen grins at folk as she moves through the crowd. "T'vor! Hello, Jerissa!"

From the hatching sands, Dyinath almost moves to greet her mate, but
decides instead to lay another egg.

Rickon says "4!"


From the hatching sands, White as the purest snow on one side, black as the
darkest midnight on the other, its surface glistens as if dusted by
fairies, sparkling with the light of the Hatching Cavern. Loodking to be in
constant battle with itself, it sits aloof from the other eggs, off to the
side, alone. Darkness battling light, day battling night. Is it good versus
evil in its unique coloring? Yet it still holds on to a magical dream,
covered in a sky full of stars. Looking at this egg one dreams of the magic
within the egg, and also of the magic within one's self, reminding us that
we are in constant battle, searching for our own light and our own
darkness, but always fighting to believe in the good in man.


Jaen shrugs at T'vor. "I was alittle busy being pregnant, I'm afriad."

Alyssa beams at the interaction on the sands before saying to Taylar,
"You're plenty smart, trust me." She waves a hello to Jaen, then says again
to Rickon, "42."

Brooke grins to her father, then moves about through the people over to
Jerissa.."Hi, Rissa.." she whispers, then oohs as she peers out at the eggs.

From the hatching sands, J'cot shields his eyes from the stirred up sand,
then starts walking towards Asfala.

You say "Four! I tell you, Thera, there will be at least thirty here! Wow,
look at that one."

Rickon says "39!"

T'vor smiles, "I'd imagine that would do it."

Jeshua grins. "I'm hoping for more like forty. Got a backrub bet on it."

From the hatching sands, Asfala steps towards J'cot, one hand up towards
him in welcome, smiling proudly.

Soril hears betting, "thirty two...I bet thirty two!"

Kiala laughs at Soril.

T'vor looks at Jerissa, "Back rub. SOunds good, doesn't it?"

P'tran grins at the enthusiasm of the people around him. He glances at the
sands and hmms thoughtfully. "Talk about contrasting colors ..."

M'kla chuckles, "Thirty, no more. It's only her second clutch."

From the hatching sands, Valenth bugles happily, then nuzzles Dyinath's
neck lightly. He rumbles proudly and looks over the first few eggs.

Anra grins at the newest egg and turns to Alyssa, "Like Isha?"

T'vor smiles at M'kla, "Same number I chose."

Jerissa winks at T'vor. "Yeah, better than a dip in the lake."

Taylar's concentration on the conversation is broken by the arrival of the
white and black egg. "Wish you could tell the dragon color by the egg color
like a queen."

You say "So long as it's between thirty and forty, I win...."

Jaen eyes T'vor narrowly for a second although her face remains amiable.
"Well, perhaps when all this fuss has died down, I'll introduce you to
Jerrue, here."

Rickon shrugs. "Bet that's a green. It looks moody enough."

Brooke squeezes Rissa's hand in case she didn't notice her earlier, and
peers out to the sands, her eyes glewed to the eggs.

T'vor nods to Jaen, "I'd be delighted!"

You say "No, it's so... I don't know... aloof. It's a bronze. I'm sure of it."

From the hatching sands, J'cot looks hesitant as he approaches Asfala,
until he spies her smile. He steps forward a bit more confidently and gives
her a quick hug. "He made me come."

Alyssa nods to Anra, her smile bright. "I like very much. Dyinath and
Valenth make good parents, don't they?"

Latiar smiles brightly at the latest egg, he stares down at it mubmling
some more.

Brooke grins as she sees Latiar. "Hi, Latiar!"

Jaen turns to study the sands.

Taylar laughs at Rickon's remark. "Be careful, lot's of green riders about
that might not want to be called moody."

Jerissa smiles at Brooke and leans back a little further against T'vor. She
wrinkles her nose at Jaen. "I think you can count me out. Nothing personal."

Anra cocks her head slightly and looks confused, "Like Da and Mama?"

Latiar turns his head to peer at the voice, "Brooke! Hey!"

Brooke sighs softly, and peers out at the eggs. She waves to Latiar, and
smiles.

Rickon says "Well, nobody would deny that greens aren't moody
at...er...certain times. Or haven't you been near a proddy one lately?"

From the hatching sands, Asfala is certainlyl less restrained, and give
J'cot a better hug. "You're supposed to be here!"

Jeshua sighs, listening to one of the people who probably makes fifty marks
from experience alone.

Kiala turns to Gwennar, "What happened to Aph?"

T'vor introduces Jerissa, "Jaen, do you know Jerissa? Rider of green
Amrieth, Igens Oasis wing? Jerissa, this is Jaen, a very dear friend."

Taylar says "Well, yeah, I've noticed, but I try not to mention it around
them."

Alyssa smiles to Anra and says, "Very mich like your Mama and Da, yes."

Thera laughs. "Well, hopefully a wee bit under or a wee bit over 40, for my
marks."

Gwennar looks over towards the bowl entrance. "I think she was looking for
K'nan, but I expect she'll be along soon." :)

Kassima's Rhiannon rouses her green head just long enough to chirp a
protest at Rickon, then falls back into sleep.

Rickon shrugs, and turns back to the sands.

Merla says something quietly to Soril.

Jerissa smiles and nods. "Jaen and I met awhile ago. How's Notreth, Jaen?"

Jaen nods to Jerissa, "We've met, I think."

Anra giggles and leans back against Alyssa, settling down a little.

Yombe quietly takes out a small notepad from her dress pocket and begins
writing a few notes.

Brooke gives Jerissa a smile, and lets go of her hand to bound over to
Latiar. She gives him a monster of a hug, then mutters something to him.

Aphrael comes in from the bowl.

Taylar says "Rickon? Want to bet on the color of that egg? I say bronze."

Ansset glances about, looking for a familiar face, then spots a few.

Kiala waves to Aphrael, "Aph, over here."

Jeshua mutters to M'kla, "... of... wing?"

Ansset shrugs, and goes to where it's less hectic.

Jaen reaches out a hand to Jerissa anyway, the other wrapped securely
around the baby sleeping against her shoulder.

Kassima shakes her head, grinning. "It's likely to be in the high thirties,
but forty or below. Those marks are practically in my grasp!"

Fiona looks up with a smile as Aphrael enters. She waves shyly.

From the hatching sands, J'cot returns the hug, then looks at Asfala. "You
certainly didn't want me around last time I was here. I wasn't sure if you
wanted me here now or not."

Aphrael wanders over to Gwenn and Kiala, giggling as Gwenn whispers
something to her.

M'kla shakes her head at Jeshua, She mutters to Jeshua, "... on..." 

Latiar smiles at Brooke... "How you dooing?"

Kassima grins at Taylar, who agrees with her on the egg's color. "You'll
win," she calls.

Rickon says "No more bets until I know how many marks I'll have left after
the clutching."

Brooke quirks a brow at the betting people,. then whispers to Latiar.

Kiala stands up and makes her way towards the entrance of the cavern,
accidently bumping into a young woman.

Taylar says "Ok, but I'll remind you later."

Soril nods to his sister, and stands, making his way out of the cavern.

Jerissa smiles and takes Jaen's hand.

Soril walks out to the bowl.

From the hatching sands, Asfala looks a little sheepish, and squeezes
J'cot's hand. "I want you to be here."

Fiona catches Kiala before she falls, "Ooops. Are you ok?"

Brooke mutters to Latiar, "... beautiful?"

Jeshua nods, sitting back.

T'vor mutters to Jerissa, "... She... me to... innocent,... he... It's..."

From the hatching sands, J'cot nods slightly. "You sure?"

Kiala looks down at Fiona, "Yes, I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

Jeshua says "Did you bet, M'kla?"

From the hatching sands, Dyinath nuzzles Valenth, though without taking her
eyes off the eggs.

Ansset sits down in a seat with a good view of the sands.

Jaen raises an eyebrow as she catches T'vor's words, barely, in the noise
of the crowd.

Jerissa giggles softly and nods to T'vor.

Fiona grins, "Nope I'm fine. I'm Fiona, apprentice weaver."

M'kla nods, "Aye. I'll probably loose. Can't keep good luck forever."

Latiar nods, He mutters to Brooke, "... how... times I... their..." 

P'tran edges forward and leans on the railing as he looks over the sands, a
kind of wistful look on his face, as if remembering something

Kiala smiles and extends her hand, "Well met, I'm Kiala, stable hand at
Ruatha."

Jeshua grins broadly. "I'm sure it gets better, not worse, the longer
you've been a rider. How many times have you been surprised?"

From the hatching sands, Asfala steps closer to J'cot and smiles at him.
"Of course!"

From the hatching sands, Valenth croons happily, then looks over at his
rider and snorts.

Fiona takes the hand, "Well met. Isn't this exciting? I think I'm the only
weaver who could make it here."

Alyssa glances to one side and notes P'tran's expression, drawing a soft
smile from her, then she hugs Anra closer and moves her attention back to
the dragons.

From the hatching sands, Dyinath disengages from Valenth and prepares
another area of sand, this time digging a small depression.

M'kla chuckles, "In the last ten Turns? Once, when I over estimated one of
Zaerith's clutches by a half dozen."

Jerissa thinks a little and then grins. She mutters to T'vor, "... what...
were..." 

Brooke nod s to Latiar, and smiles dreamily out towards the sands at Asfala
and J'cot.

Aphrael shifts in her seat as she peers out at the sands, unable to see
clearly what's going on.

Kiala grins and nods, bending closer to whisper to the young woman.

Kassima tries to think what's in the other eggs. She decides that the red
one is a brown, the bell shaped one is a green, and the slate one is blue.
She's probably wrong, but it's fun to guess!

From the hatching sands, J'cot smiles happily and nods, hugging Asfala
again. "Wonderful. I have wanted to be with you." He looks over at the two
dragons and smirks at his. "Yeah, yeah. Enough of that from you."

Jaen squeezes Jerissa's hand warmly and with a wry smile at T'vor, turns to
make her way towards M'kla.

Anra points to Valenth, "Like Zorf."

T'vor nods to Jerissa, 'Aye!"

Kiala says "Can I sit next to you?"

Thera curls her legs up under her and watches the sands thoughtfully,
refusing to guess, only to count.

Fiona nods to Kiala, "Sure. I'd like the company."

Jerissa grins a little wryly and then turns her attention to the sands.


From the hatching sands, A vivid array of vibrant colors cover the surface
of this oblong egg. Green, blue, orange, and yellow wrap it in a
psychedelic bloom of over-large flowers and swirls. Its rough surface is in
constant motion, never letting a glimpse rest in one place for long. Could
it really be moving? Did it slide across the sands just then? It seems to
be alive with colors and patterns, a groovy combination rolling over this
egg making it a true sight to behold.


Kiala sits down next to Fiona and glances out over the sands.

Latiar peers down at the eggs, obviously not even notcing the riders at the
bottome...juts the eggs.

Gwennar blinks. "Oh, that one makes my eyes hurt."

Kiala laughs, "Look it's a paint pot egg."

Kassima grins! What an egg!

Alyssa smiles and nods to Anra, then gasps at the newly arrived egg.
"Ohhh....now that is wonderful."

Brooke makes a soft noise as this egg is clutched, and grins, elbowing
Latiar. "Hey. I bet it's a green."

Rickon says "Five...and yick, what...meaning no offense to the queen, what
an ugly egg. I hope the hatchling's better looking."

Yombe shifts in her seat and squints looking out over the watching people,
looking at the awsome spectacle of the eggs being laid in front of their
very eyes.

M'kla chuckles, "Pity the weyrling that gets that hatchling...if it matches
it's shell."

You say "Now, that one is a green!"

Latiar smiles, "Only a green could look like that...."

Thera smiles at the egg. Ugly, but special.

Brooke hears Rickon, and scowl. "Not it's not!" she ignores him, and turns
back to Latiar.

P'tran blinks a few times and he clears his throat, as if only realizing
now how many people there are around him. His wistful look fades and is
replaced with one a little less removed.

From the hatching sands, Asfala steps back after the egg appears and peers
up at J'cot. "That hardly looks like an egg!"

Aphrael half stands in her seat to peer at the latest egg, and sits down
with a blush as a rider behind her mumbles something.

T'vor chuckles, "Interesting." He smirks at M'kla's comment.

Taylar says "Heh, the shell doesn't define the hatchling. I could be the
best of the lot." He looks defiantly down at the sands."

Fiona smiles at Kiala, "That one looks like it was done by my friend Haldi.
She's a dye journeyranker."

Alyssa makes a face at the naysayers. "They are all pretty in their own way."

Anra grins, "Like dish one!"

Brooke gives the Benden Weyrleader a respectful smile, then grins at
Latiar. "So whatcha been upto?"

Kiala laughs at Fiona.

Jaen chuckles at Alyssa. A steadfast ally of dragonkind, you." she grins.

Kassima waves to Aphrael, not having noticed her before. "Is your head
better?" she asks with a grin.

Jeshua points at M'kla for a moment, then puts her hand down. "Y'see? You
can't lose." she turns to look out at the sands. "Hmm. I've always wondered
whether temper and eggshell color were related. It certainly isn't in the
herds."

Gwennar grins. "It's what's inside that counts, anyway."

Gwennar adds "Just like with people"

P'tran looks over to M'kla, having just heard her comment as he came out of
his remeniscient haze. "I've seen eggs of all colors hatch, and I stil have
yet to be able to tell which color comes from which."

Rickon says "I know that, but it's still an ugly egg."

Thera chuckles. "A dragon is inside then - it must be perfect."

Latiar shrugs at Brooke, "Not much....he points to the knot on his
shoulder, I'm a Healer...Dragonhealer actually."

Kiala blinks at Fiona, "Did you say you came alone?"

From the hatching sands, J'cot looks over at the egg and nods slightly.
"Zaerith's last clutch had some very strange eggs in it..." He slowly moves
around to stand behind Asfala, wrapping his arms around her waist to watch
over her shoulder.

Aphrael turns from the sands and grins at Kassima, "Hiya.. oh yeah. But
Mart had to help me to bed.. I feel a bit embarrased."

Jerissa smiles as she hears Latiar's words. "Congrats, trainee."

M'kla chuckles, "I can. I only bet on how many...not what colors each
individual egg will clutch."

Alyssa grins back to Jaen and says, "But of course. I would never belittle
the offspring of a friend!"

Kassima ponders. "Not ugly," she says. "Just... just... um... unusual."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath regards the egg for a long time, then
starts sweep sand to buttress it, until it is proudly displayed for
everyone to see.

Jaen shakes her head but comes to stand next to Alyssa.

Brooke smirks and rolls her eyes at Rickon, mutting something under her
breath, but grins at atiar. "Wow! That must be hard..but intresting."

M'kla says "Believe it or not...but there is a pattern...to how many are
likely in each clutch...I've studied the hides a bit."

Fiona nods at Kiala, "Yeah. I caught a ride with the watchdragon. Everyone
else at the hall was too busy." She shrugs,"I don't have any commissions at
the moment."

From the hatching sands, Asfala smiles at J'cot. "Yes, I remember those.
Dyinath seems to like that one."

From the hatching sands, Valenth looks over at his rider and snorts again,
then croons to his mate, obviously every bit as proud as she is.

T'vor smiles at Latiar, "Congrats. Honorable trade, that."

Kassima grins back at Aphrael. "You're lucky someone helped you," she
points out. "Care to meet my newest acquisition?" She points to the
sleeping green fire-lizard on her arm, smiling.

Brooke grins at T'vor.

From the hatching sands, J'cot chuckles and nods. "They both do. It is very
colorful at least."

Alyssa frees up an arm to hold Anra in only one arm, loosely encircling
Jaen with the other. "How are you feeling? You and Jarrue look fine."

T'vor waves to Brooke.

Jerissa grins and nudges T'vor gently. "Good job you said that, sitting
next to me."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath raises her head to regard her mate, as if
to ask if he likes the egg she just laid.

Latiar smiles at Jerissa and T'vor, "Thank you both." he grins at Brooke,
"Still oly an Apprentice...but..."

Jeshua raises her eyebrows. "There's a pattern? I'm from Tillek, and our
herds aren't all that big. What pattern did you find?"

Jaen pokes the blanket back a bit. "I'm alright. Need some sleep. She's
/wonderful/."

T'vor smiles, "I'd not want to anger you, my dear."

Kiala whispers something to Fiona.

Aphrael grins at Kassima, and leans forward to peer at the green, "Lovely!"
She pronounces. "So much for never impressing anything but blues." She
giggles softly, glancing at the sands one in a while.

Fiona giggles at Kiala's comment and looks around with interest.

Brooke grins at T'vor. "Hi! I didn't see you earlier!" she considers
snugging, but drops the urge when she sees the crowd.

Jerissa winks at T'vor. "Not afraid, are you?" she says smiling.

P'tran ohs? and raises an eyebrow slightly at M'kla, turning partway from
the sands. "A pattern? I never noticed anything like that. Other than the
fact that you tend to get larger clutches in passes and when you've had
heavy casualties"

M'kla shakes her head, "Dragons have more offspring than herdbeasts..it's a
ratio. Half of them are always green. Almost always."

From the hatching sands, Asfala places her hand on J'cot's arm. "Oh, by the
way, you remember?" She touches her other hand briefly to her stomach, and
looks up at the bronzerider with questioning, serious eyes.

Brooke pokes Latiar in the ribs. "So what? You gotta start somewhere.." she
makes a face as she realizes that her mother said that once. She turns her
attentions back out to the eggs for a momen, eyeing the egg that a few
thought to be not as attractive as the others.

Anra siezes the opportunity to slip down and begin wandering amidst the
growing crowd.

T'vor shakes his head, "Of course not, love. However, your dragon, /that's/
a different story."

Alyssa peers down at the newborn in Jaen's arm's, her smile a touch wistful
but very sweet. "She is very, very lovely. Like her mother."

Ansset grins at Brooke. "And what am I? Chopped wherry??"

Kassima laughs. "Yes, Rhiannon broke the trend, it would seem!"

M'kla says "the rest tend to be a mixture of the male colors...I haven't
quite gotten the exact ratio down just yet."

Jeshua ohs and grins. "I misunderstood, I thought you meant a pattern
between temperament and birth conditions."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath begins to prepare another space on the
sands. She digs at it, looks at it for a long while, then pushes sand into
a mound with her muzzle. Nope. With a swipe of her foot she flattens it out
and starts digging again.

Jerissa smiles and nods. "True and you know too sharding well I'd never
refuse to treat Penath."

Jaen harumphs deep in her throat and blushes at Alyssa. "She's just lucky."

Peeking out of Gwenn's pocket, Allspice tchk tchks at the people, and then
ducks back down.

P'tran ahs and nods. "I confused what you meant. I thought you meant the
overall number of eggs rather than the individual dragon colors. Yes, I'd
imagine there would be some kind of logic to it."

M'kla grins at P'tran, "Else, we'd be overrun with bronzes.A"

P'tran grins. "Still doesn't help me guess these things right," he says
with a chuckle

Kassima watches the queen, curious to know what color this one will
be--pink with sea-green polka-dots, perhaps?

T'vor nods, "The lummox does have quite a temper to him."

Jaen snorts at M'kla's words. "A tragedy, that would be."

Latiar smiles at Brooke, "Yes, you do have to start somewhere..." he peers
out at the eggs, his eyes resting briefly on each one.

Alyssa hugs Jaen to her, warmly, then nods to Asfala. "Our friend there
will not be very far behind, you know, if my guess is right."

Brooke ohs as she hears a familiar voice, and turns to grin and wave at
Ansset. She turns back to Latiar, and sighs almost wistfully. "Imagine..A
few lucky people will be choosen to Stand before this clutch.." the wistful
look in her eyes quickly fades to one of humor as she calls out,"Hey Rissa!
Remember our Candidacy?"

M'kla grins at P'tran, "There are more blues than browns, and more browns
than bronzes...so it's fairly easy to lay odds and guess."

Kiala leans forward as she watches the queen. "Is she preparing to lay
another?"

Jerissa wrinkles her nose and chuckles softly. "He's a bronze, dear."

Jaen nods slowly at Alyssa, "I'd just begun to realize that, yes..."

Aphrael smiles at Kassima, "A lovely name that." She turns back to watch
the snads, then blinks as she catches movement. She glances at Gwenn, her
eyes wide as she whispers to her.

T'vor nods, "And /very/ aware of it."

Jerissa hrms at Brooke. "How could I forget it. I came out with a big green
lump." She nods to T'vor and grins.

Kassima grins and thanks Aphrael before turning her attention back to the
clutch.

Gwennar mutters to Aphrael, "... cuddled... in... some..."

Alyssa chuckles as she turns back to the sands again. "I'd guessed
sevendays ago that she was expecting. She refused to believe me."

Wonder quietly lands and settles her wings to her back.

P'tran smirks. "All bronzes? Nonsense. They wouldn't have any greens or
golds to chase if that kept up," he adds with a grin (noting that Jehrina
is not around at the moment :) )

T'vor pokes Jerissa, "Your skin looks okay to me." He chuckles, "Oh, you
mean Amrieth."

Brooke sticks her tounge out at Rissa. "Yeah, sure..I thought Tilani was
gonna /kill/ me that one time, when I dumped my chores all day." she grins.
"My lifemate wasn't there..but I'm alright."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath gives up on trying to prepare the sands
just right, due to natural urge.

Jeshua leans down, an idea occurring to her, and taps the Weyrleader on the
shoulder. "Sir?"

Aphrael shakes her head and grins, She mutters to Gwennar. 

M'kla chuckles at P'tran, "Exactly...why else would there be nearly one
green for every male? The numbers work out."

Jerissa epps at T'vor. "Hey, hey be nice. Yeah, I meant Amy."

Jaen walks out to the bowl.

From the hatching sands, J'cot looks at Asfala thoughtfully as he rubs a
hand across her belly lightly. "Remember what?" His expression changes
slightly, looking very curious. "Asfala... Are you going to clutch too?"

Kiala walks out to the bowl.

P'tran grins at M'kla and hmms? as he is tapped. He turns and smiles to
Jeshua. "Yes, Jeshua?"

Anra picks her way through the masses of people, looking at each one
curiously.

Taylar wonders if J'cot is the last to know.

T'vor chuckles and pulls 'Rissa to him.

Kassima smiles and says quietly, "On the other hand, there'd be no
goldriders with barbed whips to scare the life out of the weyrlings!"

From the hatching sands, Asfala's mouth drops open with surprise. "Wha?
Didn't Valenth tell you? I had Dyinath bespeak him!"

Aphrael looks up from where she whspers with Gwenn, and spots a familiar
green figure. He waves at the green 'lizard.

Yombe chuckles and takes a few more notes.

Rickon says "Kassima...if there were no golds, there would _be_ no more
dragons."

From the hatching sands, J'cot frowns slightly. "You did? When?"

Radagast comes in from the quieter seating towards the back.

Brooke watches Rissa and T'vor with a glint in her eyes. Her tounge flicks
over her lips for a moment as she contemplates a thought, then giggles
quietly, and pokes Latiar again.

Jerissa nods to Brooke. "It happens." She smiles and wraps an arm around
T'vor in return.

P'tran eyes Kassima for a moment and smirks. "I still wonder how that idea
got around," he mutters half humorously as he looks to Jeshua

Kassima nods. "Of course, I know that. I'm just being facetious." She grins.

Latiar grins at Brooke, "What're you thinking about, Brooke?"

T'vor chuckles at the scene on the sands, "I'd bet Valenth thought telling
J'cot he was bathing was more important than /that/ little detail."

Alyssa's eyebrows knit together in a fine frown. "Did J'cot just ask Asfala
if she's going to *clutch*?"

M'kla laughs at Alyssa.

Taylar says "Yes, Alyssa. He did."

Radagast steps down into the quiet seats.

M'kla says "Riders tend to think like dragons after a bit."

Rickon starts laughing.

T'vor makes a warbling noise to M'kla, "Do not." He smiles.

Anra trundles back over to Latiar and points to Brooke, "Who dish?"

From the hatching sands, Asfala just stares at J'cot, "Two days ago, not
long after J'rus left."

Jeshua glances at M'kla ."Sorry for interrupting, ma'am, I have to ask
before I forget.." she turns back to P'tran and asks, "I wonder if there
might be a way all of Skyfire can take a vacation at once?"

M'kla crooons back sweetly, "Do too."

Alyssa shakes herself and smiles. "That, M'kla, is a grandious
understatement."

Latiar chuckles as he over-hears a bit of another conversation.

Rickon can't stop laughing, now he's started.

Brooke nearly giggles as Latiar asks, and whispermutters something to him.

T'vor chuckles, "Point taken."

M'kla makes a twittery firelizard sound, and grins.

Brooke mutters to Latiar, "... at Rissa... it... I always knew... wanted..."

Martigan comes in from the bowl.

T'vor laughs quietly.

Latiar smiles at Anra, "Anra, this is Brooke, She's a good frend of mine."

P'tran hears about the other 'clutch' but is currently distracted by
something else and it does not quite register completely at the moment. He
listens to Jeshua and blinks, furrowing his brow slightly. "Taking a
vacation?" he says dubiously. "I don't think I know what you mean .."

From the hatching sands, J'cot shakes his head and looks over at the
Bronze. "No, he didn't. He was too busy sulking, I think." He looks back at
Asfala and smiles a bit. "But you are going to have a baby?"

Martigan races into the galleries, wondering if he missed it all.

Alyssa laughs at the weyrsecond. "Oh, M'kla..." she chuckles before nodding
with approval at J'cot's revised terminology.

Jerissa raises an eyebrow as she hears her name, shrugging slightly.

Brooke grins at Anra. "Yep. Latiar didn't lie. I'm really Brooke. From Igen
Weyr." she extends a hand. "Nice ta meet ya!"

Latiar chuckles at Brooke, Yes, it's sweet."

Aphrael spots Mart hurrying through the crowd, and waves him over to where
she and Gwenn are seated.

Jeshua tries to clarify. "R&R, sir. Usually certain riders in a wing have a
day off, but not the whole wing at once. Is it possible?"

From the hatching sands, Asfala smiles hesitantly, looking directly at
J'cot. "Yes, I am."

T'vor blinks as he hears Jeshua's request. He remains silent. He's not
'second here. Nope. He watches the sands.

Anra grins an begins climbing unceremoniously into Brook's lap, "'i Book."

Kassima waves to Martigan as she sees him come in, keeping her eyes on the
clutch.

From the hatching sands, J'cot smiles and kisses the Goldrider softly.
"That's wonderful. You and your dragon both."

Martigan stumbles around as he tries to watch the clutching and reach
Aphrael at the same time. "Excuse me. Excuse me. Sorry about that." he
keeps repeating over and over.

Brooke grins at Anra.

Fiona leans back to avoid being stepped on by Martigan. She smiles up at
him as he passes.

Taylar moves out of Martigan'a way with a smile.

Yombe smiles at the boy tripping over the other people.

Latiar helps Anra into Brooke's lap, hoping to avoid sticky hand marks on
Brooke's tunic.

Aphrael shifts over slightly on the seat to make room for Mart, her eyes
once more on the sands.

T'vor mutters to Jerissa, "... know,... weyr... a..."

Jerissa mutters to T'vor, "There... offer... statement?"

Gwennar nods at Mart, eyes twinkling as she detects his excitement.

P'tran ums and looks thoughtful. "Well, having an entire wing have a day
off is a little risky. What if some emergency came up? Any particular
reason behind this request?" He asks this simply in a matter of fact point
of information tone rather than being reproachful


From the hatching sands, Greens and blues play across the surface of this
egg, cascading in ripples down one side and blossoming in spurts on
another, creating the illusion of an lush hidden valley of tropical flora.
The colors blend so smoothly that it seems that it seems they must be soft
and damp to the touch, and tiny sparkles of light hint at sprays of
plentiful water. The dragonet inside this egg is likely to warm and
comfortable among such verdant splendor.


T'vor smiles broadly to Jerissa, He mutters to Jerissa, "It's a...
possibility. Depends on if... not,..." 

Darakin looking around not seeing anyone he truely knows, sighing.

Brooke oohs as she looks at this egg. She grins at Anra. "Didja see that one?"

You say "Ohhhhhhhhhh! Just look at that sixth egg! It's gorgeous!"

Rickon says "6!"

Alyssa glances over her shoulder at Rickon and the others who had mocked
the last egg. "What about this one?" she asks with a soft smile, eyes
twinkling. "Acceptable?"

Martigan finishes his apologies as he reaches Aphrael's side. He squeezes
in next to her, his scrawny body just fitting. His eyes grow wide as he
sees an egg lain (laid, lying?????).

You say "That one has to be a blue. No, a brown. No, a bronze... no, I take
that back, it is a blue."

Latiar stares down at this egg. His face lights with a broad smile.

Jerissa smiles wryly. She mutters to T'vor, "... I... for..." 

Taylar says "I'll bet this one is a brown. The earth in the forest."

T'vor mutters to Jerissa, "... and affection... big bronze... to... up on
time."

Jeshua nods. "Yessir." she looks at M'kla, including her in this. "I
thought it would good for wing morale if we were allowed to have R&R all
together. Bind us into a better fighting wing. And sir, we'd be a call away."

You say "Could be, but I still think it's blue...."

Aphrael grins as she watches the latest egg appear. Hearing colors called
out around her, she adds her own opinion, "Green." Softly, as she watches
it through the crowd in front of her.

Kassima turns to Aphrael. "Green? Well, it could be." She thinks about that.

P'tran considers this for a moment and glances over to M'kla. "M'kla? You
have any thoughts in this? I'm almost tempted to say yes with Falls being
so damned regular these days."

T'vor mutters to Jerissa, "... and a... ending supply of..."

Yombe responds to Taylar's comment, "Yet, green is of the forest, blue is
of the forest sky, brown of the floor, and gold and bronze glint from the
rocks on that forest floor."

Kassima shakes her head. It's got to be a blue--or maybe a brown.

Martigan smiles at Aphrael, "Do _you_ think it holds a green, or is it all
of your green firelizards telling you that?" He grins up at his own green
hiding on a perch.

Jerissa shakes her head, still smiling. She mutters to T'vor, "I... Its
worth thinking... the..." 

Brooke suddenly snaps up. "Oh Faranth! I nearly forgot.." she gently helps
Anra off her lap, and hops up, waving quickly to Latiar. "B'bye, Latiar!
See you around.." she runs out saying,"Oh shards and shells, he's gonna
kill me.."

T'vor smiles, He mutters to Jerissa. 

Brooke walks out to the bowl.

Taylar looks over at Yombe. "Are you a harper? You sound like one. But I
would think that the gold and bronze were of the sky."

Aphrael shrugs at Kassima, "I think green.." She chuckles at Mart, and
conceeds, "Maybe my greens.."

Rickon grins. "This is gonna be a good clutch."

Kassima perks up and looks to her fire-lizards. Maybe the Terrible Trio are
telling her it's a blue... but then, wouldn't Rhiannon say it was green?
Hmmmm....

Fiona walks out to the bowl.

Latiar blinks as Brooke dashes out, "Hmmm..." he shrugs and smiles at the
eggs again.

Yombe answers Taylar, "No. You are right about the sky, yet bronze and gold
are very much of the earth, as well. I'm a miner's daughter."

Ansset sighs, "I should be going too."

Ansset walks out to the bowl.

Taylar nods. "A miner's daughter, but what are you going to do with your
life?"

Kassima grins, too. "A good clutch--between thirty and forty is a good
clutch. For the queen, for the Weyr--" she grins again, then adds, "and for
my purse!"

Latiar shrugs...okay.

Taylar looks up at Yombe. Wow, she's about the same height as Alyssa.

Latiar finnally decides to offer his opinion, "36." he states.

P'tran sess M'kla distracted by the clutching and talking with friends and
turns back to Jeshua. "You had any particular kind of R&R in mind for
Skyfire? And I assume you'll want to run it by your Wingleader T'nnar as
well."

From the hatching sands, J'cot kisses Asfala again, then rests his chin
against her shoulder and pulls her back against him to watch.

Martigan gazes at the eggs, trying to memorize their details. Then he
remembers what Channa told him. He reaches into his belt pouch and pulls
out good-sized piece of hide and a couple of pencils.

From the hatching sands, Asfala smiles at J'cot. "I think it's going to be
a fine clutch."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath rumbles uncomfortably and settles to the
sands again, her eyes whirling as she concentrates.

Yombe shrugs, "That is a very good question. I'ld be a miner yet, but as
you see, I am not there. Perhaps checking out harper hall -is- an idea."

Alyssa, without Anra to hold, wraps her arms around herself, not sure what
she is enjoying watching more.


From the hatching sands, There is nothing particularly striking about this
egg, unless you count the bright primary colors that dominate its shell.
Red, yellow, black, blue, pink, and pure white decorate its shell, not in
bands, but in patches. It looks more like a child's toy, painted to capture
the attention of any toddler, than a dragon's egg.


Kassima rummages through her purse, and happily notes that she'll be well
in the clear even if she loses. Of course, if that weren't so, she wouldn't
have bet....

Rickon says "7."

From the hatching sands, J'cot nods slightly. "I'm sure it will. How's
Dyinath been until now?"

You say "Oh, a rainbow egg! That's a green!"

T'vor smles, He mutters to Jerissa, "... and one other..." 

Jeshua nods solemnly. "Yes sir. I'll talk to T'nnar as soon as he finishes
his recordkeeping this evening. I was hoping that we could go to Ista, and
find a nice beach to swim and sun on for an afternoon. Have a fire on the
beach and fish for dinner, maybe bring a few beasts along." her eyes light
up with enthusiasm.

Taylar says "You have a nice voice and a good turn of phrase." He looks her
over critically. "Those long legs will carry you far. Harper seems to fit."

Kestrall steps down into the quiet seats.

Alyssa studies the newly laid egg with a hint of uncertainly and, as she
catches a shred of Taylar's comment, casts the young man an odd look.

Aphrael clutches her hands together to keep them from wandering. She peers
at the latest egg, and chuckles at Kassi, "No.. this one's.. a brown or
bronze. Bronze I think."

Martigan grins broadly at the newest egg. He's got pencils in those colors.
He digs in his belt pouch again, exchanging some of the pencils.

Jerissa laughs. She mutters to T'vor. 

T'vor shrugs, "Penath came from a black egg. Hard to tell."

T'vor mutters to Jerissa, "... much... convenient...."

Kassima raises an eyebrow. "Bronze?" she says, disbelieving. "Well,
maybe--but it's no brown! Green or bronze, but not brown or blue. I still
think green, though."

P'tran grins and nods. "Certainly does sound like some good R&R. Hmm. I
don't want to say 'yes' right off the top of my head without hearing from
T'nnar first. I don't *think* there would be anything wrong with the idea,
so long as its timed long enough between Falls."

Yombe smile flashes across her face. "That is something good to hear. I
always did like the stories, both the harper ones and the family ones."

Jerissa nods, smiling. She mutters to T'vor, "... it... any night." 

T'vor chuckles.

Aphrael shrugs and giggles at Kassi, "Then again.. I'm not exactly an
expert. I've only been to one Hatching." She doesnt change her opinion,
though.

T'vor mutters to Jerissa, "... in."

From the hatching sands, Asfala smiles, regarding her dragon with love.
"She's been very well. In fact, she's been helping me through more than
I've been helping her."

Taylar smiles up at Yombe. "If nothing else, give it a try.

Jeshua grins! "Oh thanks, sir. I'll talk to T'nnar right away. Sorry to
interrupt."

P'tran adds, "Usually I'm nervous of anything that takes an entire Wing
'off duty' like that, but Thread has been falling well in pattern recently
..."

From the hatching sands, J'cot chuckles. "She's not been complaining about
being full of eggs?"

Jerissa shakes her head. She mutters to T'vor, "... Not... night." 

Kassima grins. "And I've been to none," she says, eyes twinkling. "But I
have some slight success guessing fire-lizard colors, and I just get these
hunches sometimes."

T'vor chuckles, He mutters to Jerissa, "... in..." 

Jeremy appears from :between:, flitting after a passing vtol until he
remembers his original mission and glides to a landing nearby.

Jeremy comes out of Kailyth's Couch.

P'tran nods to Jeshua and states firmly, "Remember, I said I want to speak
to T'nnar about it first, so I haven't officially said 'yes' yet. just so
we're clear on that ..."

From the hatching sands, Asfala leans against J'cot, looking a bit tired
after all this excitement. "Oh of course! Don't all the queens sit and
complain through the whole process?"

Martigan shrugs as he listens to the arguing about the possible dragonet
color. It's an egg. When it cracks, then you'll know. He lightly sketches
the outlines of the patches on the egg.

Yombe takes a few more notes.

Jerissa winks. She mutters to T'vor, "... a little harder... that..." 

Gwennar murmurs to Aph "I'd best try to find Emne and give her this new
recipe. I'll see you later..." as she rises.

Taylar says "Yombe, where are you from? The Miner Hall?"

From the hatching sands, J'cot grins and winks. "Almost as much as first
time mothers do." He jumps back a bit, carefully avoiding any retribution.

Latiar peers over, trying to catch a glimpse of Martigans sketching.

Jeshua nods, with serious widened eyes. "Of course, sir, I understand
perfectly."

T'vor flashes a warm smile to 'Rissa, He mutters to Jerissa, "... a...
enjoyable..." 

From the hatching sands, Dyinath begins to prepare a place for the next egg
right next to the previous one. She calmly pat pat pats the sand.

Aphrael nods at Gwenn and moves back to give her room to get past, calling
a farewell.

Gwennar walks out to the bowl.

Martigan leans back and raises his feet so that Gwennar can pass. He
doesn't interrupt his scribbling though.

Jerissa quirks an eyebrow and smiles. She mutters to T'vor, "... could...
interesting." 

From the hatching sands, Asfala grins shyly at J'cot. "Oh, I don't know. I
haven't found anything to complain about yet."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath rumbles a question at Valenth.

P'tran nods to Jeshua and grins slightly. "Thank you for letting me know
what was on your mind. I'll try to get to T'nnar as soon as possible on it
after you speak with him."

Yombe gets up and waves in the general direction of the others.

T'vor smiles and watches the Hatching.

Taylar says "Leaving?"

From the hatching sands, J'cot moves up behind Asfala again and hugs her
again, nodding. "That may change in a few months..."

From the hatching sands, Valenth croons softly in agreement with his mate.

P'tran turns back to the clutching, finally. "Now, what was this about
another, ah, clutch?"

Jeshua smiles, pleased. "Thanks, sir. Hey, she's patting down another place
for an egg. How many is that?"

From the hatching sands, Dyinath gets a satisfactory answer, and moves
herself slowly around the spot she's been preparing for the next egg.

Yombe says "Yes, thank you for your words of encouragement."

T'vor chuckles, "I think, P'tran, that Asfala is with child."

Alyssa says to Jeshua, "Seven."

Taylar says "Anytime. Come visit if you can."

You say "This'll be the eighth one."

Yombe nods.

From the hatching sands, Asfala watches her queen ready herself as she
replies to J'cot. "I've been wanting a baby for a long time now."

Yombe walks out to the bowl.


From the hatching sands, A large, dramatically colored egg sits slightly
aside of a cluster of smaller fellows. Dark swirls of blue-green frothed
with white descend from the round top of this egg, breaking against the
speckled brown/black that curls up from the egg's bottom, like a stormy sea
striking a sand beach. Here and there on the pearly shell, flashes of deep,
luminous green are reminiscent of the rainy tropical forests of Ista
Island. You find yourself hard pressed to guess what migh emerge from this
egg:  a willful green dragon, perhaps, or maybe a sturdy brown...or a proud
bronze. You just can't decide.


P'tran looks over to T'vor and pauses a moment, the expression on his face
unreadable for that moment, then he simply nods. "Well, it wouldn't be the
first time that happened as a result of a mating flight," he says with a
wry grin

Rickon says "8!"

Jeshua turns her head and smiles warmly at Alyssa. "Thanks, Lys."

Kassima decides it's none of the above--that's a blue dragon in there,
she's sure of it.

From the hatching sands, J'cot smiles happily and nods. "Then I'm even
happier for you, dear." He hugs her close and kisses her cheek. "I'm sure
it will be a wonderful child."

T'vor chuckles, "It has yet to happen to me. Just lucky I guess." A little
cloud of doubt passes his eyes, but it's quickly replaced by his normal
spirited gaze.

Jeremy flies down into the quiet seats.

P'tran smirks at T'vor and then laughs

T'vor laughs, "Not literally, of course. "

Latiar cranse his neck a bit more, getting another glimpse of Martigans
sketches.. o O (Wonder if he's as good as Channa...hmmm)

Martigan begins filling in the blue patches of the 'child's toy' egg. He
sighs as the newest egg is much to ornate for him to duplicate with any
justice. He'll have to trust it to his memory.

You say "What do you think, Aphrael? Green? Brown?"

Jerissa sniggers and nods. "Thank Faranth, T'vor."

Aphrael sighs softly as another egg appears. She tries to see it though the
crowd but is having trouble. She glances down at Mart and his drawings,
"I'm going for a walk.. I cant see anything through the crowd. I'll be back
before it finishes. I hope." She adds.

T'vor nods, "It would make my life rather difficult. Prolly could make a
few marks off of it though."

Kassima sees Aphrael preparing to leave and waves farewell.

From the hatching sands, Asfala smiles very happily, as both Dyinath lays
another egg and J'cot wishes her well. A concerned look crosses her face
and she tiptoes to whisper a question in J'cot's ear.

T'vor smirks, and mutters something about Perns only pregnant bronzerider.

Alyssa lets out a deep sigh and sits back. "How long does a queen take to
clutch fully?" she asks aloud, waiting for various responses.

Aphrael stands quickly, ducking her way through the crowd. On her way, she
stops near Kassi, "Blue." She grins with certainty as she continues to
excuse her way to the exit.

P'tran chuckles at T'vor. "I won't even try to respond to that one," he
says with a grin

Jeshua giggles, her mind thinking of strange connotations of THAT. 'What,
babies?"

P'tran adds, "It would likely only get me into trouble."

Jerissa laughs and nods. "I'll take a wager or two on that."

P'tran grins

Aphrael walks out to the bowl.

Martigan absently nodnods as Aphrael leaves. He bites his lower lip as he
deepens the blue color.

Kassima grins. "Wow, we agree! It must be right, then!"

Latiar scratches his head, "while."

P'tran hmms? at Alyssa. "How long for a queen to clutch? Could be up to a
few days, actually, sometimes only a single day. Depends on the queen."

Taylar yawns. "A couple of days? Guess I won't watch the whole thing."

P'tran adds, "Some will clutch in 'batches'. Clutch a few, pause, clutch a
few more later, and so on"

From the hatching sands, J'cot frowns slightly for a moment. He mutters to
Asfala.  He shrugs a bit and shakes his head. "No, I don't mind, not that
I'd have any choice."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath suddenly croons and deposits another egg,
as if in response to P'tran's conjectures.

Alyssa nods her thanks to P'tran. "I'd read that, sir...just wondering
about what people had noticed here." She smiles and adds, "Sometimes real
life is different from the texts, or so it seems."


From the hatching sands, This smallish egg appears to be a uniform black.
Then a shaft of light pierces the hatching cavern, and suddenly, the
diminutive orb comes alive with shifting patterns of subtly different
greys, from the palest white to deepest ebony. A shower of bright
highlights twinkle across its surface, like the flicker of candle flames in
a dark corridor. Then, as you watch, the light dims, the shadows lengthen,
and the egg deepens to black once again.


Rickon says "9?"

You say "Ohhhhhhhhhh! That's a bronze one, and the ninth!"

Rickon counts them again. "Nine."

P'tran grins and adds after a moment's thought, "Benden queens tend to go
in two batches about a day apart, if that helps any."

Kassima doesn't look so sure, though. Bronze, maybe, but it may be green,
or even another blue....

M'kla says "Isadith's got a lot of Benden in her...and she went round the
clock."

Latiar belinks as the eggs makes it's abrupt change,. A smile dances
silently across his lips. He turns his head to peer at the other people,
getting their opinion.

M'kla says "Unusual, that."

From the hatching sands, Asfala is taken a bit aback by J'cot's answer, but
then absorbs it and smiles hesitantly. She snakes an arm around his waist
and squeezes.

T'vor grins, "That looks a lot like Pens egg."

Kassima changes her mind. That egg is a green egg.

Alyssa says to P'tran, "It does, sir...but again...I have noticed dragons
are contrary creatures." She flashes a quick, affectionate look to indicate
that she appreciates that aspect of their nature. "So I suppose it's
anyone's guess about what will happen with the clutch."

P'tran hmms? and looks over to M'kla. "Really, I didn't know that. Yes,
that would be unusual for a purely Benden queen, but she's not entirely
Benden ..."

P'tran grins at Alyssa. "Another reason I stopped betting on them."

Martigan compares his sketch to the 'child's toy' egg just as the queen
deposits another egg. He says, "Bronze.", but you can tell from his face
that he was surprised by his outburst. And now more than a little unsure of
his decision.

Jeshua takes a deeep breath and stares at the newest egg. "Jays...they do
make up for each other, don't they?" she asks the crowd at large.

From the hatching sands, J'cot smiles and returns the hug. He mutters to
Asfala, "... daughter,... was... by... man,... mind,... since... thinks...
her..." 

Rickon grins. "But...there's no _fun_ in betting on a sure thing."

T'vor chuckles at Rickon.

P'tran notices he has M'kla's attention and leans over to her, speaking
softly. "Did you hear Jeshua's request before? About having Skyfire as a
whole take a day of R&R together?"

You say "Bronze, I'd think, but it might be green... bronze or green. I
don't think it's blue or brown."

Kassima grins. "Sure there is! There's the fun of collecting your winnings!"

From the hatching sands, Dyinath stops to dote on the last two eggs,
digging a depression for each of them and rolling them in, making sure
they're nice and warm.

Jeshua leans over to talk to the person on her right, and doesn't hear
P'tran. :)

From the hatching sands, Asfala nods, looking down at the sands beneath her
feet. She comments to J'cot, She mutters to J'cot, "... child... look to
as... father. I... her..." 

Latiar smiles, "And there is even more fun insaving your mon, instead of
squandering it away at Hatchings."

T'vor's eyes glaze, and he sighs, he turns to Jerissa, "It appears my
audience is requested at Igen. Enjoy the rest of the Clutching." He stands,
and nods to P'tran, "Igens duty."

You say "I don't like to gamble much, as a rule, but clutches are special
cases... I definitely think I'll be collecting three marks from Thera when
all this is over."

From the hatching sands, Valenth paces slowly around the grouping of eggs,
inspecting each one of them closely. He looks over at his mate and croons
happily.

From the hatching sands, J'cot nods quietly and hugs Asfala close. "I
understand..."

Rickon shrugs. "What would I have to spend it on. I have enough clothes,
and I don't have a girl to buy things for."

T'vor walks out to the bowl.

Jerissa smiles and waves.

From the hatching sands, Dyinath picks herself up and moves slowly,
awkwardly, towards her mate. She nuzzles him, then spies a patch that she
decides needs an egg and moves away to make it just right.

Kassima grins. "You could always buy sweet treats for your faire," she
suggests to Rickon.

Rickon says "They prefer raw herdbeast."

From the hatching sands, Asfala snuggles into J'cot's hug as she watches
Dyinath. She mutters to J'cot, "And,... want... a..." 

Rickon says "Which I can always scrounge from the kitchens anyway."

You say "Ugh. Kayvist will only eat wherry, Kyril prefers meatrolls, and
Sapph only goes for seafood. Rhiannon isn't picky. Still... herdbeast?"

Rickon says "That's their favourite. Don't ask why, they'd never get it in
the wild. All three of them, as well."

From the hatching sands, J'cot nods slightly. He mutters to Asfala, "I
don't... have... visit often, but... would like... as..." 

From the hatching sands, Dyinath makes a last poke at the pile of sand
before concentrating on producing the next egg. She circles around.


From the hatching sands, Tinged with brownish green and crisscrossed snaky
tendrils of a vine-like texture, three sorts of highlights distinguish this
eerily ominous looking egg. Some patches are white as snow, while others
are marked with a flame-like gold. Rarer, and harder to spot are the dark
brown, unusually sized splotches scattered here and there amongst the
ropelike striations.


At the mention of food, Wonder begins squawking at her boypetdrudge Martigan.

You say "Now that's either a bronze, or one heck of a blue...."

Rickon says "10!"

Taylar says "That one looks like what I imagine Threadfall to look like."

Rickon says "Brown."

Latiar smiles at the next egg, "All of them of been beautiful...wow."

Jeshua glances at the sands. "Preparation....ah. Oooo...' she lets her
breath trail out. "Did Jareth's egg look like that?" she seemingly asks
herself, and laughs. "I Know you wouldn't remember." she says to no one in
particular.

From the hatching sands, Asfala keeps her eyes fixed on the queen as she
replies to J'cot, "I hope you will."

P'tran hmms as he looks over the latest egg of the clutch, still keeping
one ear on M'kla.

You say "Brown? Well, maybe--but a big brown, if so!"

From the hatching sands, J'cot smiles and nods, turning his attention over
to the dragons again. "I hope so too."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath didn't quite put that egg down in the
right place. Gently, with her nose, she rolls it forward two meters into
the depression made just for it.

Martigan squints his eyes as Wonder's piercing cries reach him. He tries to
concentrate on his sketch, ignoring his boss.

Jerissa's eyes unfocus and she stands. "Seems I'm needed." She smiles and
nods. "Igen's duty to Benden."

Alyssa smiles and, supressing a yawn, waves to Jerissa. "Good to see you
again."

M'kla breaks out of her reverie, copying down the clutch order. "Vacation?"
The word sounds on coming from her.

Jerissa walks out to the bowl.

From the hatching sands, Dyinath rumbles to Valenth again for reassurance.

P'tran nods to M'kla. "Jeshua thought about having Skyfire wing head over
to the beaches at Ista for a day. I thought perhaps if it were between
Falls it would be ok. Thread falls quite in-pattern nowadays. She'd have to
clear it with T'nnar, of course"

Cerilla comes in from the bowl.

From the hatching sands, Valenth moves closer and nuzzles Dyinath's neck
lightly.

M'kla nods quietly to P'tran, looking mystified.

Taylar waves at Cerilla.

Kerlyn smiles and waves a hand when she notices Cerilla enter.

P'tran glances over and nods to Cerilla with a grin. "Evening, Cerilla.
Glad you could make it"

Alyssa smiles brightly at Cerilla, waving to the brownrider.

Latiar looks down at the eggs, examining them all again.

Cerilla sneaks in quietly, leaning up onto a seat to peruse the sands. She
grins at P'tran and the others, waving. "Me too. Varquith and I were doing
some practice exercises, he's about up to form now."

Taylar stands and yawns mightily. "Guess I hunted too many tunnelsnakes
today." He waves to the crowd in general as he leaves the Galleries.

Kassima looks over the eggs, as though to confirm her personal guesses as
to the color of the dragon inside.

Taylar walks out to the bowl.

From the hatching sands, Dyinath catches sight of a teenaged boy getting to
close to the sands and rumbles menacingly. She defers and settles down as
she rider takes a step forward to calm her.

Alyssa looks immediately to Cerilla and says, "How is Varquith doing?"

From the hatching sands, Asfala squeezes J'cot again. "She actually much
better behaved then Leilanth is on the sands."

From the hatching sands, Valenth glares over at the boy, rumbling a warning
to him.

Latiar blinks as the Queen begins to rumble...he glances around, wondering
who could have upset her.

P'tran grins at Cerilla and pauses to comment to M'kla, "Yes, it *is* an
unusual request, but I don't want to dismiss it just because it breaks with
convention. I am, of course, concerned about a whole wing being 'off duty'
like that. We'll see."

From the hatching sands, J'cot chuckles quietly. "I know quite well how
brooding Golds act by now. I'm afraid it will be very difficult to tear
Valenth away from her now."

Kassima peers down at the Sands, trying to spot the perpetrator. Why would
anyone be crazy enough to disturb a clutching queen? Do they have a deathwish?

Cerilla :takes a seat, casting a quick glances at the sands before
answering Alyssa. "He's doing great... thrilled to be flying again."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath is distracted by the urge to lay another
egg, and nuzzles Valenth's foot as he's on the precise spot where this egg
should go.

Alyssa lets out a sigh. "Wish I'd known he was awing again. I wanted to
watch to see how his wing was doing. Mind if I peek in on him tomorrow to
see what Selenay's work looks like now?"

From the hatching sands, Valenth pulls his foot back, rising onto his
haunches as he warbles inquiringly at Dyinath.

Martigan finishes the 'childs toy' egg to his satisfaction. Meanwhile, to
his astonishment, more eggs have been laid. "How'd I miss that", he
mumbles. He quickly starts sketching in the newest eggs.

P'tran stands and takes one last look towards the sands. "I have a few
duties to attend to, unfortunately."

From the hatching sands, Dyinath bugles imperiously at the silly bronze and
subsequently ignores him, pushing the sand back into place before readying
herself for another egg.

Kassima yawns and resolves to watch this last egg, at least, before retiring.

Cerilla nods at Alyssa, "I'd love it if you took a look at him. Half to
reassure myself that it's healing all right." She smirks, "Besides, he'd
like the attention."

Dagronn comes in from the bowl.

Fiona comes in from the bowl.

Laywne comes in from the bowl.


From the hatching sands, Soft swirls and tendrils of a fog-like grey, in
the lightest of mists, sooths and surrounds this egg, lending an aura of
mystique to the otherwise cynically dark charcoal tones. The mist parts to
surround two other shapes, darker yet in color, but then it's gone again,
hypnotic swirling striations in this egg deceiving the eyes, and leaving a
vague bewonderment about the accuracy of your first impression.


P'tran smiles. "GOod evening, all. Hopefully I'll be able to return later
to see the rest of the clutch."

Jeshua smiles at her Weyrleader. 'Good eve, sir."

Alyssa smiles to P'tran. "Night, sir. Pleasant dreams."

From the hatching sands, Valenth snorts at his mate as he moves a few paces
away. He turns around to face her, watching her closely. (Not the silly
rider.)

P'tran walks out to the bowl.

Kassima admires the newest egg. "Brown," she says firmly, "or blue."

From the hatching sands, J'cot kisses Asfala's cheek and leans closer to
her ear. He mutters to Asfala, "... want... most of... time. Is..." 

Kassima stands and waves a sleepy farewell, resolving to come look at the
rest of the clutch soon.