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Egg-Touching Two


Date:  Late January, 1996
Places:  Benden Weyr's Living Cavern, Galleries, and Hatching Sands
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:  As with the first egg-touching I discovered my prior 
link to this log had gone dead and just had to restore it.  This time
there's not as much eggy excitement; no sounds, but the arrival of
Journeyman Lily at Benden and Master Susaen's later visit (continuing
the chaos that began in the Minecraft scene) more than make up for 
it. ;)  I wish I had all the descs for the clutch, too.  Sometime I 
should scour the files and gather what I can.  I remember them being
very varied and beautiful.

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The Log:

You walk through the large entrance to the Living Cavern.

Maarie waves, "Hiya, Kassi!"

R'val grins and waves towards Kassima, "Hey Kass."

Thera turns about to see her coz, "Hey Kassi!"

P'tran nods to Codey. "Who's in charge of the Bitran tithe train?"

Taylar smiles at Thera and sees Lily and Kassima.

Kassima waves to everyone, with respectful nods for R'val and the
Weyrleader, and joins her friends at their table. "Heyla, all!"

Codey thinks,"Halia and Carow, I think, Sir."

Alyssa's vivid eyes follow Lily with a smile as she watches the miner
approach Taylar.

Something in Sionelle's inner makeup, despite the comfort of the chair,
prods her to get back up and head back out into the rain. She and Brynarth
need a little more practice in Benden weather, and she supposes this
qualifies. With another nod to P'tran, she hands her mug off to a drudge,
and replaces her helmet on her head.

P'tran pauses a moment and then nods. "If you see Halia, please have her
see me. I need the tithe train moved to a slightly different place in the
bowl for its safety."

Sionelle walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Lily stops near Taylar, eyeing the other occupants in the room carefully,
smling at Alyssa and bending to speak softly to Taylar.

Codey nods, 'Yess sir."

Alyssa nods as she hears P'tran.

Codey blinks,' What happened?"

Lily mutters to Taylar, "... to... I... in too... to do so..."

Taylar mutters to Lily, "... He's..."

Maarie finishes her klah and pulls her loop of string out of her pocket,
playing with it idly.

Lily smiles to Taylar and nods. "Thanks, Apprentice. You're really quite
helpful." Taking a deep breath, she squares her shoulders and walks over to
where P'tran is seated. "Excuse me, Mr. Weyrleader, sir?"

R'val stands, frowning, "I'd better go after Ki, she didn't look happy." He
strides out with a scowl on his face.

R'val walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Taylar takes Lily's hand and raises it to his lips. "Welcome to Benden."

Alyssa clamps a hand over her mouth to prevent a giggle from escaping.

P'tran shakes his head. "Nothing happened to the tithe train, at least not
yet. One of the drills today came a little too close to it and cound have
damaged it by accident." He glances over to Lily and raises a hand for a
moment. "In a minute ...."

Lily blushes brightly at the kiss on her hand, almost having missed it as
she had turned.

Codey nods, "alright, sir."

Lily nods to P'tran and slips to a seat at a nearby table.

Thera rolls her eyes and grins, and backs off from the couple, moving
towards the hearth.

Taylar says "Wait, Thera. Don't leave."

Kassima chuckles lightly and turns to Thera. "How was weed duty today?"

Lily steals a glance over to Taylar and half-smiles.

Taylar says "Did you want something, Thera?"

Thera laughs, "You finally gonna tell me what you are doing?"

P'tran says to Codey. "It's not Halia's fault, I approved of the place they
put the train initially. It just needs to be moved a short distance, that's
all."

Thera cassl to Kassi, "Weed duty was worse than usual, given the weather."

Taylar says "Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't hear you ask. I'm making a pouch for a
healer. To carry basic supplies in."

P'tran turns back to Lily. "Yes, Lily, you wanted to speak to me?"

Codey nods, "Alright...No one got hurt?"

Thera nods at Taylar. "Very functional." and she winks at Lily before
moving over to the hearth once more.

Kassima nods, with a mock-grimace. "Didn't make sacking 'stone particularly
pleasant today, but the weather never obliges anyone by being perfect." She
grins ruefully.

Lily clears her throat and nods, handing over a sealed piect of paper.
"Yessir, sir. I-I've been posted here, sir. From the MineCraftHall. I hope
that the previous messages had arrived."

P'tran ahs and nods, managing a small smile. "Yes, I got Master Susaen's
note. You're officially posted to Benden as of now?"

Thera says "You're lucky this time Kassi, i dried off my hair before you
entered."

Salless nods at Codey as he orders something.

Salless wraps a napkin around a piping hot blueberry bubbly pie and passes
it to Codey with a smile.

Kassima sighs. "You don't always have to be shaking that mess of hair at me
when you're getting it wet, you know."

Lily bites her lower lip and nods, "Yessir, I am, sir. I arrived very late
last night and most everyone was asleep."

Thera says "But it's fun. I won't do it anymore tho, now that you're
expecting it."

Alyssa grins at Lily. "But that's splendid news!"

Thera grins and tucks staticy strands behind her ears, "I'll think of
something else."

Rickon grins. "We have a Weyrminer!"

P'tran nods, taking a sip of klah. "No problem at all. Welcome to Benden
Weyr, Lily. Um ... hmm .... I should have a knot for you somewhere here .."
He starts to search the pockets of his jacket.

Kassima grins. "Congratulations on the posting, Lily."

Lily grins at Alyssa, and Thera, "Yes...well, in addition to Taylar and
Miner T'garrick of course."

Taylar says "P'tran? I would be honored to show Lily around, if needed."

Rickon grins at the Weyrleader.

Thera says "That's great! Hey...i've got an idea..."

Benden Weyr> P'tran welcomes Lily to Benden Weyr as the new Weyrminer :)

Alyssa laughs heartily and moves to Lily's side, grasping her arm. "We're
happy to have you."

Benden Weyr> Lily waves to Benden!

Rickon chuckles. "Let's hope nobody 'deflowers' her," he says in a low
voice, but not low enough not to be overheard.

Benden Weyr> Sionelle ooohs, and waves, and is no longer the rookie on the
knot.

Thera mutters to Lily, "... about putting... eggs... bits... like...
impress....wanna help?"

Benden Weyr> Taylar waves to Lily. Yeah!

Benden Weyr> R'val grinz. Hey Lily!

Maarie rolls her eyes at Rickon, hearing his comment.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa HUGS Lily. Welcome. :)

Codey sips his klah and bites into his pie.

Benden Weyr> Kieri waves. :)

Benden Weyr> Thera waves! :)

Benden Weyr> Asfala waves to Lily! Welcome to Benden! (I hope you like
peole with rocks in their heads...)

Benden Weyr> Aphrael huggles Lily!

Lily smiles to all those welcoming her, and shakes her head, "I'm glad to
be here too!"

Benden Weyr> Meli says, "Hihi Lily m'dear!"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa just hopes Lily's vision is better than her mentor's. ;)

Benden Weyr> Maarie says, "All I have is air in mine, 'Fala. Not even
rocks. =)"

P'tran nods to Taylar. "Yes, if you would." He smiles more naturally.
"Though Laerth is telling me Dyinath mey be allowing the candidates to
touch the eggs again this evening if you'd like to attend that first."

Benden Weyr> Kassima waves to Lily! Welcome to the nuthouse. Have some
bluerider stew. :)

Taylar nods. "Yes sir. I will be there if Dyinath allows. But I'll show
Lily around when I can.

Rickon jumps up. "She may?"

Meli walks in from the bowl.

Thera sticks her tounge out at Rickon. "Happy?"

Benden Weyr> Asfala notes that Dyinath will be letting people onto the
sands (candidates only, please). Meli and Aphrael are coming around to get
you.

Aphrael walks in from the bowl.

Lily listens to Thera and nods, "That sounds like fun..." She smiles at
Taylar, "Thanks, Apprentice, I'd like it." Her eyes widen, "Touching the
eggs? Can I watch?"

Codey listens and eas.

Kassima perks up, looking enthused. "She might?"

Meli hurries in, then tries to look nonchalant and nods to the weyrleader.
"Ahem..." she clears her throat.

Benden Weyr> Kerlyn kewls. Oh wait- I already have a dragon.

P'tran looks over to Rickon, expecting his reaction. "Yes, she may ..." He
pauses, eyes distant. " ... she is."

Maarie looks up to Meli questioningly.

Benden Weyr> Lily giggles. My vision is fine.:) Well, sorta.:)

Taylar smiles at Meli.

P'tran hmms? and looks over to Meli.

Benden Weyr> Taylar says, "Just remember, Lily. My name is not Ed. :)"

Kassima looks up at Meli, curious.

Rickon grins. "Way kewl!"

Benden Weyr> Asfala notes you should be meeting in the galleries and not on
the sands. No FLs. And if someone wants to log, pllease do. I can't.

Codey sips his klah. Strange places, this weyr...nice, but strange.

"Scuse me, sir, but Asfala sent us to say Dyinath's ready t'let us out on
th'sands again, if the candidates are free." Meli says.

P'tran is still patting his pockets looking for a knot. "Where is that
sharding ... oh, here." He procures a slightly rumpled Benden crafter's
knot and pins it on Lily.

Benden Weyr> Kassima says, "Oh, shush, Ed, and put on your knot like a good
apprentice miner. :)"

Aphrael runs in breathlessly, pausing to nod to the assembled, "Um.. Asfala
says Dyinath will let the candidates out onto the sands now!" She grins.

Maarie pockets her string with a grin.

Lily stands proudly as the knot is pinned on. "I'm honored, sir. Thanks."

Taylar stands. "Guess we better go.

Alyssa bites her lower lip at the words about Dyinath, and looks around
nervously.

Thera smiles at the messengers.

Kassima grins brightly. "That's terrific, Aph!" She glances to her friends
excitedly, and gets up.

Codey smiles.

Benden Weyr> Lily knows your name is Ed, Taylar, but will let you pretend
it isn't.:)

Maarie nudges Rickon, "C'mon...you'll finally get to see that blue one up
close." She stands up waving farewell to everyone.

Rickon grins. "Let's go!"

P'tran nods to Meli. "I senses as much from Laerth." He turns to the
candidates and stands

Thera keeps her seat. "I just come in from the rain, and i've already had
my turn. Listen to that black egg again for me Kassi, will you?"

Kassima grins to Thera. "'Course! Want me to give it a message?" she teases.

Maarie walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

P'tran says. "Rickon, everyone, relax."

Aphrael sends one of the younger candidates to check in the kitchen for
others.

P'tran says "Don't go rushing out to the hatching grounds in a mad tumble ..."

Taylar says "C'mon, Lily. You can watch from the galleries."

Thera says "Tell it hi for me, and not be careful in there."

Meli walks over to Thera. "Aw, c'mon... you'll dry faster on th'sands."

Lily trots after Taylar, "I look forward to it."

Taylar walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Kassima rolls her eyes. She should've known Thera would take her seriously.
"Will do."

You walk down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Taylar walks into the hatching cavern.

Kassima bows to Vidarth and Wereth before following after.

You walk into the hatching cavern.

Galleries(#382RDJ)
Stretching along the eastern wall of the hatching cavern, these tiers of
seats have enough room for several hundred spectators for Clutchings and
Hatchings. To one side, long shallow steps descend to the entrance. There
is also a railing separating the lowest tier of seats from the Hatching
Sands themselves. Other parts of the galleries are closed off from the
sands by a wall to the north and south. From here you can reenter the bowl,
or head for a quieter area of the galleries. There is also a pathway down
to the sands. Type 'clutch help' for help with clutch commands.
You see the following people here: Kassima Taylar Maarie Kerlyn Asfala 
Obvious exits:
Quiet Seating  Bowl  Sands

Kerlyn's eyebrow arches quizically, during her low-voiced conversation with
Asfala, "Why would she do that?"

Taylar says "Asfala. Kerlyn."

Aphrael comes in from the bowl.

Maarie slips off her cloak and sets it on a nearby bench, "Hello,
Kerlyn..'Fala."

Kassima nods respectfully to Kerlyn and Asfala. "Good evening."

Meli comes in from the bowl.

Alyssa comes in from the bowl.

Lily comes in from the bowl.

P'tran comes in from the bowl.

Meli steps back into the galleries quietly, waiting for the word to go down.

Asfala steps onto the sand. "She's playing again. She normally doesn't do
that when she's on the sands, so she must be feeling good." She goes off to
tend to her apparently snoozing queen.

Aphrael takes a deep breath, shaking off the rain from her clothes. She
nods at the assembled, trying to stay calm.

Taylar says "I would like to introduce Lily, she's just been assigned here
from the Miner Hall."

P'tran climbs up from the stairway off to the side, trying to get ahead of
the line of candidates. "Easy everyone. Don;t rush."

Asfala steps down from the galleries.

Alyssa stands in the back, her superior height allowing her to watch over
people's heads.

Taylar breathes quickly, a bit flushed.

Lily steps into the galleries and takes a seat, waving to the others.
"Umm...hiya."

From the hatching sands, Asfala calls to her queen. "Come on, love, wake
up, or I'll let them all on the sands while you're asleep."

Kassima grins at the slightly nervous-looking Aphrael. "Don't worry, Aph,
it's wonderful. You'll have to try and listen to that black egg, though
maybe it won't be very talkative today."

Rickon comes in from the bowl.

Berin comes in from the bowl.

Benden Weyr> Thera waves. Ya'll have fun! And don't forget Kassi! :)

Codey comes in from the bowl.

Benden Weyr> P'tran waves :)

Benden Weyr> Asfala waves to Thera! :)

Kerlyn looks at the cluster of candidates, popping briefly up onto her
tiptoes as she tries to decide if everyone's here.

Benden Weyr> Taylar waves.

Aphrael grins at her friend, "I cant help it. I've never done this before,
y'know." She watches Asfala on the sands.

Benden Weyr> Aphrael waves!

Benden Weyr> Kassima won't forget to tell the egg heyla for you, Thera. :)
Zhai!

Benden Weyr> Thera snugs Lily on her way out.

Benden Weyr> Lily snugs Thera back.:)

From the hatching sands, Dyinath rumbles peevishly and opens her eyes to
peer at the cluster of candidates.

Berin skids to a halt and quickly chews on a meatroll, tossing the other to
Codey.

Codey looks and smiles.

Codey catches the roll, "Thanks."

Taylar gulps as Dyinath wakes.

P'tran looks over and sees Kerlyn and gives a sigh of relief, gladly
turning over authority of the candidates to her. He does not look quite in
the mood to deal with candidate antics the evening in either case

Alyssa huddles near the wall, watching the golden queen with quiet awe.

Aphrael almost automatically takes a step back, bumping into a candidate
behind her. "Sorry." She mutters, trying to stay still.

Berin smirks. "o rob'em." He says while chewing, even as he keeps an eye on
the rumbling gold, then swallows a bit nervously.

Lily looks down at the eggs with wide eyes, shaking her head. "Golly,
they're pretty." She shrinks back as Dyinath opens her eyes.

Maarie looks concernedly for Ursa, remembering the promise she had made and
frowns.

Kerlyn salutes P'tran smartly, if belatedly, finally realizing the
weyrleader is present. "Evening sir." She greets quietly.

Kassima bites her lip slightly on seeing Dyinath's gaze, but focuses her
attention on the eggs.

From the hatching sands, Asfala reaches the golden dragon and throws her
arms around the giant head, murmuring something. The dragon continues to
glare at the candidates, though her menacing pose begins to soften.

Rickon looks out over the sands, and a nervous expression crosses his face.

P'tran folds his arms and looks impassively out onto the sands.

Taylar looks over at Lily. "Remember to stay up here. It's hard enough to
get Dyinath to let the Candidates onto the sands.

Meli shifts her feet a little, trying to calm herself free of nerves and
excitement.

Alyssa's finger begins tapping a nervous rhythm on her right thigh as she
stares at the sands.

Maarie frowns and says softly to herself, "Where is Ursa? She can't miss
this time too! I told her I'd cover her chores for her..."

Lily takes one look at Dyinath and nods emphatically to Taylar. "You don't
need to worry about that. I'll stay right here."

Aphrael makes a fist with her hand, trying to looks away but continues to
watch the gold dragon.

From the hatching sands, Asfala continues to scritch Dyinath's jaw, and she
opens her eyes and with her free hand gestures a minute 'ok' signal to Kerlyn.

Taylar nods and gulps again. "She's a big, scary dragon."

P'tran stands off to the side to get out of the way, intending to head down
last

Codey walks out to the bowl.

Berin wipes his mouth on his sleeve and shifts his weight from foot to
foot, wondering why this is taking so long...he starts to look worried.

Lily nods again, wrapping a strand of hair around her finger. "She sure is.
You're sure brave to go down there."

Kerlyn clears her throat, then lifts her voiice a little, "For those of you
that haven't done this before, these are the rules. At all times, you will
listen immediately to anything Asfala orders, no weapons are allowed onto
the sands- you can leave your beltknives here. Dyinath might not understand
you've got no ill intent."

Rickon pulls his knife from his belt and dumps it on a bench.

At the sound of the word "beltknife", P'tran eyes Berin for a long moment

Taylar takes his beltknife out of it's sheath and hands it to Lily. "Please
hold this for me."

Aphrael jumps at the voice, and listens intently to Kerlyn. She nods and
places her beltknife on the seat.

Taylar removes his pouch of tools as well.

Berin cracks a slight smile. "Figures..." he mutters, or something like
that. He catches the Weyrleader's glance and arches his eyebrows, lifting
his /one/ knife and showing it to him before tossing it aside.

Lily takes Taylar's knife and lays it in her lap, nodding to him. "I'll
watch that and the tools."

Alyssa slips her cloak off of her shoulders and pulls her boots on more
firmly, having nothing resembling a weapon to discard.

Taylar says "Thanks."

Meli just tugs at her ear, as she rarely carries a knife, unless she's
chopping vegetables.

P'tran simply watches Berin as he tosses the knife aside, not giving any
visible reaction. His gaze drifts away from Berin.

Kerlyn nods her head to the sands, "And no touching, until and unless
Asfala says so. Let's give Dyinath a chance to get used to a group this
big. We'll file out orderly.. double line to a semi-circle around the clutch."

Kassima places her knife beside Aphrael's on the bench.

Aphrael bites her lip and nods. She smiles at her friends and waits to be
told to move.

Maarie sighs as there is still no sign of Ursa and nods to Kerlyn.

Alyssa waits for the signal to move onto the sands, her mouth already dry,
her finger tapping away nervously.

From the hatching sands, Asfala moves back a little, scritching Dyinath on
the shoulder and watching the group of nervous people. The gold dragon's
eyes are whirling blue. Good sign.

P'tran watches the candidates as they prepare and quietly pulls his own
small beltnife from beneathe his jacket, placing it at the very end of the
bench nearest him

Kerlyn waits for a line to form, then steps out of the steps down to the
sands, "Aphrael, Berin, you two can lead. Only candidates on the sands, the
rest may watch from the bleachers?" She glances for confirmation from the
weyrleader on the last.

Taylar tries to relax.

Rickon shifts weight slightly, visibly controlling his nerves.

Lily fingers the beltknife and sets it aside, watching the candidates and
looking down at the eggs.

P'tran nods to Kerlyn. "Non-candidates are welcome to watch frmo here."

Berin blinks. Him, lead? He shakes his head slightly, and looks towards
Aphrael, waiting for her to go first. No /way/ is he going onto the Sands
when there's a gold dragon ready to eat him up in just one bite at a
moment's notice.

Aphrael gulps and nods. She leads the way hesitantly.

Kerlyn nods respectfully to P'tran, then again to the candidates- a sort of
'go on' type of nod.

Maarie waits silently and grins to Rickon.

Aphrael steps down from the galleries.

Lily smiles at P'tran and Kerlyn, turning back to watch the eggs.

Alyssa stays near the back to let others go first, especially the shorter
ones.

Taylar throws back his shoulders and lifts his head.

Meli gives Berin a gentle push in the back, then heads onto the sands herself.

From the hatching sands, Dyinath rumbles very softly as the first few
candidates approach.

P'tran stands off to one side as he watches the others head down to the
sands first, falling in behind Kerlyn when she comes by him.

Rickon waits with Alyssa, being a tall person himself.

Berin heys, half glares at Meli, and then steps onto the sands.

Berin steps down from the galleries.

Taylar follows the others.

Meli steps down from the galleries.

Taylar steps down from the galleries.

Rickon steps down from the galleries.

Kassima takes a deep breath and follows.

You step down from the galleries onto the hatching sands.

Hatching Sands
This is the immense cavern containing the hatching grounds of Benden Weyr.
It stretches for several hundred feet across, and even farther in length.
To the north is the large mound of sands used by the queens for their
clutches. Looking up along the high walls of the cavern, the ledges where
dragons and their riders observe the hatchings are visible. Much of the
eastern wall is dominated by the galleries. Row upon row of tiers are
capable of seating hundreds of people.
The sands contain the following:
DRAGONS: Dyinath
PLAYERS: Aphrael Rickon Kassima Meli Taylar Berin Asfala
Obvious exits:
Path to Barracks  Galleries 

In the galleries, Maarie waits with Rickon and Lyssa, "You go first Rickon.
I've already seen 'em." She then follows.

Rickon steps out, following Taylar and looking nervous.

Maarie comes down from the galleries.

Asfala smiles invitingly, gesturing that the candidates have no need be
afraid. Most of the time.

Alyssa comes down from the galleries.

Aphrael pauses as the heat of the sands hits her, then resumes her slow
walk, picking up her feet and moving closer hesitantly.

Taylar moves forward slowly, watching Asfala and Dyinath closely.

Berin bites his lip and walks slowly, but that only gets him another push
from some other Candidate. So he walks a bit more quickly. Remembering
something about manners, he figures he'll practice now and bows shakily but
deeply to the Queen and weyrwoman.

Maarie gives Alyssa a grin before walking over and taking her place next to
Rickon.

Kerlyn comes down from the galleries.

Meli moves out, into her place in the semi-circle, then turns and give
Dyinath a sort of half-bow, watching the whirling eyes a moment.

Rickon steps forward slightly and bows to the golden queen and her rider.
Hmm...Rickon knows /how/ to bow? He quickly drops back into the circle,
looking faintly embarrassed.

P'tran comes down from the galleries.

Kerlyn bobs her head respectfully to Dyinath, trooping out after the
candidates, hands remaing clasped behind her back. She comes to a stop
behind the semi-circle, somewhere amid the middle.

Aphrael leads the way, ending up on one end of a semicircle of the
candidates, watching Dyinath carefully.

Dyinath's gaze sweeps over the group of candidates. Her eyes fasten on
Berin and she rumbles.

Alyssa holds her hands behind her, clasped, watching the eggs and Dyinath
and Asfala in turn.

Taylar moves into a place in the semi-circle, glancing at the eggs. He
suddenly realizes that they are as tall as he is. He gulps again, but
remembers to bow to the golden queen.

Kassima walks across the sands, grateful for her thick-soled boots, and
stands beside Aphrael. She bows respectfully to Dyinath.

Benden Weyr> Berin says, "WHy? Why /me/? It's /always/ me, I tell you! :)"

P'tran steps down onto the sands and refolds his arms. He skirts the edge
of the sands along the seats to get to a place where he can see the clutch
a little better

Benden Weyr> Taylar says, "It was the Wanted poster in the post office, I
think. :)"

Aphrael bites her lip and curtseys to Dyinath and Asfala, nervously
watching the eggs and the other candidates.

Asfala looks up at her dragon, then at Berin with an inquiring glance. She
smiles at him in approval.

Berin's eyes go wide and he unconsciously takes a few steps back, bumping
into a Lemosian lad. The two go down in a sprawling heap, both muttering
curses.

P'tran notices Dyinath's displeasure(?) with Berin and one corner of his
mouth curls up slightly, but he says nothing and his gaze moves elsewhere

Benden Weyr> Jeshua eeks! People!

Benden Weyr> Berin eeks! Where?! ;)

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Oh, SURPRISE :}"

Benden Weyr> Jeshua raspberries Berin. Hard. What's going on?

Asfala covers her mouth daintily as she smiles. She opens her arms. "Don't
be afraid. Walk among the eggs, touch them if you want. Just don't make it
look like you're going to break one."

Benden Weyr> Berin says, "Dyinath is going to eat me. And the WL absolutely
hates me. He /wants/ that gold to eat me."

Maarie grins to Rickon, "You have to come see the blue egg you like so
much! It is /so/ beautiful up close."

Kassima smiles to Aphrael. "Want to see the amazing talking egg?" she asks
quietly.

Benden Weyr> P'tran says, "Who me? :)"

Aphrael gapes and manages to shut her mouth, slowly edging forward, her
eyes on the queen. She nods dazedly to Kassi. "Sure." She says softly.

Meli smiles at Asfala, and steps forward with Kassi, tempted to tug Aph
over to the oil slick egg.

Benden Weyr> P'tran hates no one, he just pretends he does sometimes :)

Taylar takes a deep breath and walks toward the smallest egg.

Kerlyn adds, fairly quietly, although her voice does carry some "And try to
be respectful about it- they're not just large firelizards."

Benden Weyr> Jeshua gurphs and looks around for someplace to insinuate
herself.

Kassima grins and tilts her head in the direction of the egg, walking over
to it with Meli.

Rickon steps forward, and goes over to that blue egg. He reaches out, very
cautiously, and touches it. Just with one fingertip, as if afraid he might
break it or something.

Berin scrambles to his feet, muttering something about golds, and very very
very hot sand. He also glares at the boy from Lemos, who sticks his tongue
out at Berin, being a younger lad, and then runs to the opposite side of
the semicircle. Berin rolls his eyes and dusts his bum off, then looks
towards the weyrwoman as if asking, 'why does your dragon look like she
wants to skewer me and then have a nice snack?'

Meli stops near the black egg, admiring the rainbow patterns across it,
before she puts her hand out, resting her palm against the shell gently.

Maarie grins slightly as she follows Rickon then moves on to her favorite.

P'tran watches the candidates carefully, not so much to see that they
behave (that's Kerlyn's job) but perhaps for his own reasons, such as why
the dragons chose some of them in the first place?

Alyssa moves closer to the green crystal egg, not yet touching, hands still
behind her back, as she looks at it closely.

Asfala catches Berin's glare and suppresses a giggle. "Dyinath just
commented to me that you are properly respectful."

Aphrael pauses as another egg catches her eye. She stops and looks up, they
havent noticed. She looks back down at the egg.. a black and white one, one
of the first few clutched. She crouched down but doesnt touch it just yet.

P'tran watches the other candidate from Lemos run by him and can't help but
comment. "No running!" he snaps

Rickon then touches it slightly more firmly, curving his hand along its
shell. "They're so beautiful," he whispers.

Maarie stops infront of the jungle/floral/bluish/whatever egg and runs her
fingertips over the shell lightly, trying to trace the swirls of colors.

Taylar moves toward a faintly blue, monochromatic egg. This one sits off by
itself. Striations fo grey and blue twist around the shell.

Berin blinks, totally confused. "/Respectful/?" He actually smirks and
glances in the Weyrleader's direction, before he shakes his head, grins at
Asfala, and then moves towards the eggs.

The attention of the big dragon is caught by a loud sound. She lifts her
head and looks, then her muzzle approaches the source of the sound...

Kassima crouches beside the black egg, rocking slightly on the soles of her
boots, and smiles at Meli. She runs a fingertip across it lightly, then
sighs and gives it Thera's message. She murmurs Thera's words to the egg,
feeling ever so slightly ridiculous.

Alyssa blinks, then turns to look at Dyinath, not realizing she had strayed
quite so close to the golden queen. With a smile that conveys her
respectful affection for the queen, she bows and murmurs a soft greeting to
Dyinath.

Rickon moves on to another egg, running his fingers around the shell,
seemingly awed.

Aphrael licks her lips, brushing back her hair made dry by the heat. She
stops and looks up at Dyinath.

Taylar reaches out and places his hand flat on the surface of the shell.

Meli smiles at Kassi. "Did it say anything back?"

Not a sound. Nope.

Kassima shakes her head slightly. "Nope, it didn't." She grins.

Kerlyn's mouth closes around a slower admonition against running, and
instead she walks along, trying to convince a small, shyish candidate, that
she's allowed to move closer.

Benden Weyr> Rickon says, "Who was that @pemit for?"

You say "Do you hear anything, though?"

Dyinath pokes her nose at the Weyrleader, rumbling...

Benden Weyr> Berin knows the WL shouted...

Benden Weyr> Asfala says, "If you saw a pemit, it must have been directed
at you... :)"

A small, warm smile crawls onto Taylar's face as he begins to caress the
warm, flat surface.

Meli sets her ear against the egg again, listening, her hands still flat
against the shell.

Benden Weyr> Berin laffs at the technicality.

Benden Weyr> Kerlyn says, "if you saw an @emit, it was intended for teh
room at large. :)"

P'tran raises an eyebrow and looks over towards Dyinath, then his eyes
shift over the sands, as if looking for it also.

Benden Weyr> Rickon says, "Or @emit...I can't be sure which it was."

Asfala colors a deep crimson. She admonishes the gold dragon. "Dyinath!"

Aphrael blinks and watches Dyinath for a long moment, then turns back
towards the egg. She reaches out hesitantly, finger tracing the dividing
line between colors.

Rickon blinks and pulls his hand away. "I think the hatchling moved!" he
says, a low but excited voice. The hand creeps back to the surface of the
egg again.

Maarie reluctantly leaves the egg she had been touching and passes by
Rickon again with a nod, "They /are/ beautiful! And so fragile looking."
She touches a nearby egg lightly.

Kerlyn stops, lifting her eyes and turning her head to face Dyinath, before
scanning the sands for an offending candidate.

Meli sighs softly. "Guess it's quiet t'night, Kassi."

Alyssa, having greeted the queen, looks back at the richly green egg before
her, still not daring to touch.

Taylar jerks his hand away when Dyinath rumbles. Reassuring himself that it
was not for him, he returns his attention to the egg.

Berin keeps a wary eye on the gold as he edges still closer to the eggs.
Respectful indeed.

Kassima smiles slightly. "Maybe it's asleep. Want to see if that mock-gold
egg has anything to say today?"

P'tran takes another few steps around the outer rim of the hatching sands
and eventually walks over to where Kerlyn is standing

Dyinath's large head follows the Weyrleader as he circles around, her
expression one of surprise and irritation.

In the galleries, Ronald flies in from the bowl.

Benden Weyr> Asfala has to log off for a moment. Hold on.

Meli smiles. "Ok, but I really want t'touch that stormy sea one again too"

Taylar kneels down and places an ear to the shell. "You can here something.
Something faint and living.

Maarie looks up to Rickon, "The hatchling moved?" She grins and turns back
to admire the egg she stands infront of.

Aphrael catches sight of the other candidates, and follow their example,
leaning down over the egg to listen to any noises.

P'tran mutters to Kerlyn, "... some... sensed movement... eggs..."

Rickon crouches down, touching the egg again, totally enraptured. "It moved
again... Are they supposed to do that?"

One corner of Kerlyn's mouth curls up in a small sort of half-smile and she
nods, replying in an equally low voice.

Kerlyn mutters to P'tran, "They... did,... case."

Maarie walks over to Rickon and nods. She crouches near the egg and puts a
hand to it.

Meli rises, and moves carefully to the mock gold egg, running her fingers
along the ridges again.

Berin stuffs his hands into his pockets and strolls in the general
direction of the cluster of eggs where the dark, dark black one is. He
comes to a stop in front of that one and peers closely at it. Art critic.

Aphrael shifts in place, ear bent close to the egg as her hand runs over
the surface, smooth where one color is, and rough on the black side.

P'tran nods and grins slightly, then looks back to the candidates with a
somewhat less harsh gaze.

Kassima stands up, and with a light parting pat to the oily black egg, she
joins Meli, tracing the silver lines with her fingers. She cocks one ear
towards the egg, listening for sounds.

Asfala colors even deeper. She murmurs at Dyinath. "Stop that silly. Of
course he can be here. He's the Weyrleader. He won't hurt your eggs."

Alyssa moistens her lips slowly and with great care reaches out and places
one hand on the surface of the egg. Eyes suffused with awe and delight, she
caresses the soft surface with increasing pleasure, a smile growing on her
lips.

Berin takes one hand out of his pocket to rub at his chin, frowning
thoughtfully as he traces the patterns on the deep black egg with his eyes,
and then he ventures to put his palm to the surface of the egg, immediately
snatching it back as if he's been burned. "Hm," is all he says.

Taylar stands and sighs. He moves away from the lonely egg with reluctance.
He lets his hand run lingeringly along the surface as he leaves.

Meli sets her palms flat on the shell between some ridges, head cocked to
the side as she seems to try to sense whatever is inside, her eyes slightly
unfocused.

P'tran overhears Asfala and lifts an eyebrow slightly, but there still is a
faint grin on his face

Benden Weyr> Leonay greets the crowd. :)

Maarie places an ear to the egg Rickon and her are at, seeing if she can
hear anything. She closes her eyes trying to shut out everything else.

Dyinath rumbles wistfully as she retracts her head from following P'tran
around. She cocks her head, gazing at all the candidates at once. Faranth
only knows what she's thinking.

Benden Weyr> R'val says, "Get to the sands, thar, Leo ;)"

Benden Weyr> Maarie grins, "Come to see the eggies!"

Benden Weyr> Kieri waves. :) Howdy, Leo!

Alyssa runs her hand down toward the wide base of the egg, then back up
again, and, without thinking, she places her cheek on the egg's surface, a
rapturous smile growing.

Aphrael closes her eyes, smiling slightly and she murmurs to the egg,
trying to brush her hair back with one hand, while the other remains
lightly on the egg.

Benden Weyr> Asfala says, "Come on and touch eggs..."

Rickon reluctantly pulls his hand away, and moves on to the psychedelic
coloured egg, almost having to shade his eyes from it. He crouches down to
touch it, resting his palm gently against it.

Benden Weyr> Leonay says, "It started early?"

Kassima smiles, running a hand over the egg's shell again. "This one must
be tired, too," she comments to Meli.

Benden Weyr> Kieri says, "Nope. :)"

Meli refocuses, and grins sheepishly. "I think I'll go see the stormy one
again" with a nod to Kassi as she moves off.

Maarie sighs and moves onto another egg, the gray, dullish one. She places
her hand gently on the shell and looks at the shells coloring.

Taylar stops to look at the polka-dotted egg that looks like it will roll
away. He appears hesitant to touch it, perhaps fearing he will unbalance it.

Berin steps back away from the deepest black egg, and makes his way over to
the Death face one. Shards, is this a strange fellow. Is he actually
/smiling/ when he looks at the freakish death-masked egg?

Benden Weyr> Leonay thought it started in 20 minutes. :P

Kassima nods to Meli and rises. She looks down at the goldish egg for a
moment before going over to the slate egg.

Alyssa caresses the egg with her cheek and listens to the inner workings of
the egg, wondering if one really -can- hear movement. She cannot.

Benden Weyr> Taylar says, "8 not 9, Leo."

Leonay comes down from the galleries.

Benden Weyr> Leonay sees that now. :P

P'tran says quietly to Kerlyn, "Dyinath doesn't play favorites. She doesn't
even like me being here."

Taylar moves closer to the lopsided egg. Carefully, he reaches out and
traces the colors with a fingertip.

Kerlyn excuses herself respectfully from P'tran, and makes her way over to
Leonay, after replying, "I'm fairly sure she's barely tolerating me as well
Sir."

Dyinath stretches her head across the sands, scaring off a young candidate
who happened to be crouching by an egg just under where her head stopped.
The gold gazes interestedly at Taylar, whose back is to her as he squats by
an egg.

Meli weaves her way through a knot of candidates to the stormy seas egg.
She runs a gentle hand down the egg from its top to just near the sand, and
whispers "Hello" to it softly, so no one else can hear.

Asfala catches P'tran's comment (at least part of it) and looks anywhere
but at him.

Maarie whispers to the egg, "I bet your not as dull as you look," with a
grin on her face.

Kassima runs her hands over the white chalk-marks on the slate egg, almost
as though she was trying to erase them--though of course they don't come
off. She traces patterns on the shell with a finger, listening, as always,
for sounds from the hatchling within.

In the galleries, Elyandra comes in from the bowl.

Rickon presses his ear against the egg to try and listen for any movement
within.

Taylar kneels and places his palm on the surface of the egg. He appears to
be whispering to it.

Maarie notices Ely and waves up at her.

Aphrael stands reluctantly and looks at the egg curiously, glancing up at
the stands nervously. She sees the other candidates moving around.

In the galleries, Elyandra looks down on the sands and notices someone
waving at her. She waves back, squinting until she decides it's Maarie.

Berin lays both hands on the surface of the Mask of Death egg, his eyes
half closed. "Veerry interesting," he mumbles, and then gently raps his
knuckles on the hard shell. "Hm." He steps away and walks in a circle
around the egg, viewing it from every perspective possible.

In the galleries, Lily takes a long time looking at the eggs,
half-consciously pulling a bit of hide out of her pocket and making quick
sketches, eyes darting from eggs to sketches. She nods absently to Elyandra.

Maarie with a grin leaves the dull grey egg with a lingering touch to stand
in front of the red splotchy egg contemplatively.

P'tran hrms as he sees one candidate and then the other 'talk' to the eggs.
"Now that's a new one," he mutters to himself with a thoughtful expression

Meli sets her ear against the egg, just where the blue green swirls shift
into speckled brown and black, eyes closed, hands flat on the shell.

Alyssa's long arm reaches around the egg to embrace it, relishing the touch
of the egg's warmth, almost tearful at the simple pleasure of being so
close to an egg near hatching time. "No matter what," she whispers to the
egg, "I'll take care of you after you hatch, even if someone else is your
lifemate."

Kerlyn comes to a stop beside Leonay, filling him in quietly and quickly,
"You're permitted to touch them, if you're respectful about it and don't do
anything too suddenly- get comfortable with being out here on the sands.
When Asfala says something, that's it, you do it, no questions. Questions?"

Leonay nods as Kerlyn speaks, then shakes his head. "No, ma'am."

Dyinath continues to stare at Taylar's back quietly. The tip of her muzzle
is about one meter behind him.

Kassima places one ear against the egg that reminds her of Peregrine's
slate, almost expecting to hear the screech of chalk.

Rickon stands up, and notices the gold's nose just behind Taylar. He
stifles a chuckle.

P'tran glances over to Kerlyn and adds with a smirk, "Perhaps sometime we
should have them come out in bare feet to get them used to that particular
aspect."

Aphrael skirts around the black and white egg, and walks over to the oily
one, crouching down as before, hand timidly running over the surface.

Taylar shifts back to his feet, the hot sands make prolonged kneeling
uncomfortable. He turns to move away from the egg and almost walks into
Dyinath's snout. He stops so suddenly, his feet slip out from under him and
he sits down abruptly.

In the galleries, Elyandra finds a seat and sits in the front row, leaning
with her elbows on the railing and her chin resting on the back of her
hand. She watches the Candidates with a small smile playing on her lips.

Maarie reaches out a tentative hand to the red blotchy egg and pulls it
back again almost immediately. The egg seems to strike an uncomfortable
chord in her. She returns to the flowery jungle and waterfall egg she first
visited.

Kerlyn replies quietly and prefectly straightfaced, "Well Sir, I can have
them take off their boots, if you'd prefer."

Alyssa reluctantly leaves the green crystal egg and looks around at the
other eggs.

Rickon does chuckle this time, from where he's standing next to the
psychedelic egg.

Dyinath jerks back, but only about a meter. She emits a strange,
questioning noise as she stares at Taylar.

Taylar stares up at Dyinath from a very close perspective, not knowing what
to expect.

P'tran hmms and gets that thoughtful look, as if he is seriously
considering it

Berin strides away from the death egg, glancing over his shoulder at it one
last time before he shrugs and makes his way towards a very angry-looking
black and white egg. Shards, this guy has /weird/ tastes.

Kassima places one hand over her mouth to stifle quiet laughter as she
watches Taylar, and pats the egg fondly. She looks over the clutch and
walks over to the pale pink egg.

Leonay's eye is caught by an egg set apart from the others, its colour a
nearly solid bluish-grey. He walks slowly towards it after glancing at
Kerlyn, coming to within a man's height of the egg before stopping and
simply admiring.

Aphrael blinks and falls back, ending in a heap in the sands near the egg.
"It moved! It think it moved!" she exclaims, quickly scuttering back next
to the egg.

Meli starts to murmur quietly to the egg, listening to her voice echo
slightly at her as she listens to the shell.

Asfala grins in amusement, and moves over to Dyinath's right to snag the
stool. She drags it over near the queen and sits on it tiredly.

Kerlyn adds, also prefectly straightfaced, "Of course, I've heard it's poor
leadership to expect others to do what you're not willing to do yourself."

Maarie looks over Aph's way as she hears her yell.

Taylar gulps. "Dyinath? Is everything alright? Should I move away?"

Kassima grins across the sands to Aphrael, seeing her by the amazing
talking egg.

Dyinath cocks her head at Taylar and just stares.

In the galleries, Lily continues to sketch on the hide, with rapid
movements of the stylus. She pauses to stare as Dyinath is suddenly
nose-to-face with Taylar.

P'tran looks over to Aphrael and frowns slightly at her outburst, then
blinks at Kerltn and grins slightly. You note that he makes no further
issue of the barefoot idea

Maarie seeing that Aph is okay, crouches next to the egg she is at and
peers at how the colors create the floral pattern, in awe.

P'tran adds with a grin. "ONce was enough for me."

Taylar stands slowly and bows to the queen. "Thank you for allowing us on
the Sands tonight. The eggs are quite beautiful."

Alyssa walks over to the egg on its on own, moving her hands across the
black and white swirls thoughtfully. "Why are you over here alone?" she
says quietly, letting her fingers trace the designs. "I'll bet you're a
thoughtful dragon."

Aphrael all but kneels in the sand next to the egg, ignorant of the heat as
she places both hands on the egg, ear held close.

Rickon is really trying to stop chuckling. He /really/ is.

Kassima fingers the red marks on the pink egg, examining them. "Looks
almost like blood," she can be heard to murmur.

Aphrael gasp and grins, "It did it again!" She says, softly this time and
with wonder, hands tracing the surface.

Dyinath seems mollified. She blinks once and pulls her head back to look
around.

In the galleries, Elyandra turns to Lily when she hears the writing tool
scratching across the hide. She smiles, "Welcome back. Finding some
interesting things out there to draw, eh?" She gestures towards the sands.

Leonay kneels slowly before the grey-blue egg, and slowly reaches out a
hand to touch the egg, sending a curious--- and slightly nervous--- look
Dyinath's way before turning back to the egg. His fingertips trace the
slight ridges along the surface of the egg, his brow furrowing as he notes
the warmth coming fro beneath the shell.

Kerlyn nods very slightly, and unless the small twitch at one corner of her
mouth can be considered a smile, she answers perfectly gravely, "Of course,
Sir."

Berin ignores all the other candidates, and examines the malevolent egg
with a frown, before he turns his head. "blood?"

Meli finishes talking to the stormy egg, giving it one last gently touch,
and rises, looking around for an egg she hasn't touched yet.

Rickon moves on to the green crystal egg so recently vacanted by Alyssa,
still chuckling.

Kassima looks up when she hears an echo of her words. "Well, it does," she
says with a shrug.

Taylar looks vastly relieved. He walks away from Dyinath, but keeps an eye
on her at all times.

Alyssa kneels next to the black and white egg that is sitting to one side
alone, brushing her cheek across the surface and cooing softly to the
dragonet inside.

Asfala smiles at Taylar. She calls over to him, "Dyinath is only trying to
make you think she doesn't understand you. She is in a particularly good
mood today, actually."

In the galleries, Lily sets her stylus down and nods, smiling. "It's good
to be back. I've been posted here now. And yes," she adds, stealing a
glance down at the eggs, "there are some very lovely things to sketch..."

Meli quirks a grin as she spots the egg that looks like a child's toy, and
moves over to it to give it a gentle touch.

Berin peers at the pink egg Kassima is looks at. "So it is," he mutters,
then traces his fingers along a white streak in the malevolent
chalk-and-black egg.

Maarie stays crouched by the egg, her fingers tracing the abundance of
flora on the egg, "Beautiful, tranquil..." She grins, "I'd bet you to be a
blue but looks can always be deceiving."

Taylar smiles up at Asfala. "Thanks. I wasn't sure there for a moment. She
can be a bit scary that close up when you aren't expecting it."

P'tran takes a step forward and peers at the egg that several candidates
suddenly find fascinating

Rickon runs his fingers along the green egg. "Are you as beautiful as your
egg?" he asks it, pressing his cheek against the smooth shell.

Asfala nods with a cute smile and says very softly, "She knows that."

In the galleries, Elyandra grins and points to various people, "Well, I've
a great deal of friends in this Candidate class.... and my weyrmate is down
there. It's wonderful to see the same looks on his face that I had over
three turns ago." She turns to face Lily, "And it's wonderful that you're
going to be posted here." She smiles genuinely.

Taylar laughs. "I bet she does. She likes to intimidate us, doesn't she?"

Kassima hmmms and vacates her spot beside the pink egg, walking over to a
very colorful, almost glowing egg. She admires the glossiness of the shell
and blinks as a bit of glare reflects into her eyes.

Leonay finally smiles to himself and rises, looking about, a distracted
look on his face. Seeing a group of four eggs in close formation not far
away, he walks slowly towards them, looking them over for a long moment
before settling down before the egg resembling a patchwork piece. He simply
watches the egg in silence, one palm caressing the shell slowly.

P'tran hmms and comments. "Dyinath probably thinks *all* the eggs are
beautiful. Leilanth was the same way."

Aphrael blinks as a group of candidates join her after her yell. She
blushes and moves away quietly, still watching the egg for a moment, then
turns to find another. A happy smile is on her face.

Meli whispers softly to the egg "Is everyone ignoring you?" as she
continues to caress it, walking around it and finally squatting down to
look at a patch of pure white, peering closely at the slight irregularities.

Alyssa seems unwilling to leave this dichotomy egg in its solitary place
away from its clutchmates, allowing herself the pleasure of touching and
getting familiar with the egg. "Brown, are you? Or perhaps a green.
Whatever you are, you'll be perfect."

Berin tears his gaze away from the black and white eggs that he is so drawn
to, and smirks upon seeing the furry egg. He can't resist walking over to
it and rubbing the side. "Hrmph," He draws his hand back and then peers
more closely at the egg, it actually feels like sandpaper.

Benden Weyr> Kerlyn apologizes and has to idle.. If you're done before she
gets back, someone can emit her herding everyone out. Sorry!

Benden Weyr> Taylar pouts.

Benden Weyr> Jehrina would venture out onto the sands, but.. she's sort of
well.. you know. :)

Benden Weyr> Leonay says, "Sort of what, 'Rina? Hmm? :)"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa grins at Jehrina. Oh, I sent Dyinath home today, Rina.

Benden Weyr> Taylar says, "Jehrina! Hiya! Recuperating, I hope."

Maarie moves about to the other side of the egg to look at what appears to
be a waterfall, "I hope you'll at least remember me when you hatch...."

Benden Weyr> Jehrina says, "Oh, nice move. :)"

Benden Weyr> P'tran grins

In the galleries, Lily looks down to the Candidates, "Yes, I think I know a
few of them too. Your weyrmate is one of them? Golly. They sure seem to be
enjoying themselves." She grins, "I'm glad to be here too."

Benden Weyr> Asfala waves to Jehrina!

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Didn't Portock say you would leave the infirmary
after a sevenday too? :)"

Asfala looks up fondly at her dragon. "She thinks its her duty to let
everyone know she's in charge here. And she is."

Kassima surveys the brightly colored egg and says, "I think you're a blue.
No, a green. No wait, maybe you're a bronze...." She seems to be rather
uncertain on a guess, for once.

Benden Weyr> Jehrina can leave the infirmary right now, actually, but she's
in no shape to brave the sands. :)

Benden Weyr> Alyssa grins. No, ma'am, didn't think so. :)

Taylar's attention is suddenly caught by a small seeming pure black egg.
"Huh? Oh, yes. I'm sure she does." Isn't that egg I was looking at a bit
unstable? Shouldn't it be shored up or something?"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa suggests your weyrmate kiss the booboo to make it
better, Jehrina. :)

Benden Weyr> Leonay hugs a Rina all the same. :)

Berin tilts his head to look at the askew egg with a puzzled frown. He
takes a few steps towards it and then blinks, having the strangest
sensation that he's losing his balance. He shrugs it off and crouches by
the tilted grey-blue egg. "Strange."

Meli sets her cheek against the bright patched surface, even running it
along the side a moment to feel it against her skin, then presses her ear
to it a moment.

Benden Weyr> Jehrina . o O ( That's a lot of kissing. ) ;)

Benden Weyr> Leonay says, "And that's bad because... ;)"

Benden Weyr> R'val wonders if anyone else is getting 1 minute lag?

In the galleries, Elyandra turns back to look at the eggs, her eyes
scanning the sands until they fall on Leonay, "I'll tell you what, I do
wish this hatching was over...." She smiles tiredly, "It'll be good to have
young dragons around again."

Benden Weyr> Alyssa grins. That's the idea!

Kassima runs her hands over the almost glowing shell of the egg, and
crouches down to listen for sounds inside.

Benden Weyr> Asfala says, "No, it's just special for you, R'val."

Benden Weyr> Taylar says, "R'val, the lag magnet."

Maarie puts both hands on the egg that seems to be consuming all the time
she spends on the sands and leans her cheek against it, listening.

Benden Weyr> Kassima nopes. Hasn't for awhile, anyway. Maybe the lag beast
just likes you, R'val. :)

Benden Weyr> R'val stops asking stupid questions, sorry Asfala....

Aphrael moves over to a egg mostly coverev in splotches of red, looking to
be like the desert. She brushes at her forhead, before leaning down, hand
outstretched, to stroke the egg.

In the galleries, Lily continues her sketching, adding views from different
angles. She nods, "So you like the baby dragons? Are they cute?"

Asfala leans against Dyinath's leg as she rests on her stool.

Leonay grins suddenly as he regards the egg beside him, glancing around at
the other three around im before turning back to the patchwork egg. He
leans in close to the egg, both hands tracing the edges of the 'patches' on
the shell.

Alyssa moves toward the almost-polkadotted, brightly colored egg, a vast
change from the black and white egg she just left. "You look ready to fall
over," she chuckles. "I'll bet when you hatch, you'll fall out. Be
careful!" She caresses the egg with a finger, then an entire hand. "What a
lovely series of colors you have...so vibrant!"

Meli begins to talk to the child's toy egg softly, less self conscious
about it now, her fingers idly tracing the edge of a blue patch, then a
black one.

Taylar moves over to the all black egg. Placing both hands on the shell, he
traces the grey and black swirls lovingly.

Rickon drifts over to the 'death's head' egg, resting his hand on it lightly.

P'tran's expression gets a little softer as he sees the candidates in
general behaving themselves and moving slowly and quietly

In the galleries, Elyandra smirks a bit, "Cute? Hrm." She grins, "They look
cute from afar, but they are clumsy, energetic beings that are all claws
and teeth. Have you ever been to a hatching?" She turns back to face Lily.

Berin stands, and looks around for any more eggs that he finds attracts his
attention. Whoa, wait. He walks over to the egg that seems to be written
on, and traces the pattern of the letters on the graffiti egg with one
finger. He looks over his shoulder and hmphs when he finds Taylar looking
at and even touching /his/ egg, his very favorite of the clutch.

Maarie quietly talks to the hatchling inside the egg in hopes the hatchling
will hear /something/ of what she says.

Aphrael places her ear against the egg, feeling its coolness after the hot
sands as a relief. Her eyes closed as her fingers trace the different
patterns.

Dyinath moves her head up towards Leonay, then snorts at him.

P'tran calls over softly to Asfala. "Please let us know immediately when
Dyinath starts getting skittish."

Taylar rests his head on the side of the egg and chuckles softly. "Even the
small ones are as big as me."

Kassima leaves the bright egg alone for now and moves to the egg with all
the marks like smudged writing. She runs a hand over the shell lightly and
gazes thoughtfully at the marks, as though determined to decipher them.

Alyssa squats down beside the illumination egg, touching the patterns with
the same quiet smile of intense pleasure she displays when she is able to
be close to a dragon.

Asfala shakes her head at Dyinath's behavior, and turns to answer P'tran
promptly, "I will! She's fine now."

Meli straightens and steps back, gazing around the cavern a moment, then
spots Kassi by the written-on egg, and heads over, lifting her boots
carefully across the sand.

Leonay blinks and glances up at Dyinath, eyes widening slightly. He manages
a weak smile, nodding politely, quite forgetting to compliment Dyinath's
clutch as he notes precisely how big she really is...

Rickon traces the shape of the 'death's head' on the egg with one finger.

In the galleries, Lily looks down at the eggs, at her sketch, then at
Elyandra, "All claws and teeth?" She pales. "I guess I'll watch from a safe
distance. No," she murmurs, I've never been to a Hatching."

Maarie reluctantly stands up and walks over to Kerlyn, "Kerlyn?"

Meli gives Kassi a nod as she approaches. "What's it say, Kassi?" she asks
as she starts tracing the lines herself.

Taylar mutters softly to the little, black egg. He is telling it something
about how when he gets out, there will be someone here to take good care of
him.

Kassima looks up and half-grins to Meli before going back to her scrutiny
of the lettering. "I'm not exactly sure," she says absently. "It looks like
it should make sense, but I can't understand."

Dyinath seems perfectly happy with Leonay's demonstration of fear and
respect. She sits back and watches.

Alyssa stands again, enjoying the warmth of the sands and the peace of the
moment with the clutch. Her eyes stray to Dyinath, lingering on her golden
form as she tries to see what the queen is thinking.

Berin spies an egg the color of a winter storm, reminding him of the
journey he made from Lemos to Bitra on runnerback, shivering as he
remembers being caught in what seemed to him a neverending blizzard. He
goes to inspect the egg, tracing the silvery blue patterns lightly with his
fingertips hesitantly, as if he'll disturb the perfect 'snow' on the egg's
surface.

Kerlyn looks over to Maarie, "YEs, Maarie?"

Asfala pats Dyinath's leg and nods in response to something unspoken. She
says in general announcement, "Dyinath is doing well. I think we can stay
out here for a little while longer."

Aphrael stands slowly, eyes scanning the sands and the figures crouched
before eggs. She makes her way back to the first egg, a black and white
one. She simply stares at it for a while.

Maarie says "I just wanted to let you know I was leaving the sands to go
look for Ursa before Dyinath has us leave. I told her I'd cover her chores
since she hasn't had a chance to touch them yet."

Kassima quirks a grin at Meli. "What do you think the letters say?"

In the galleries, Elyandra nods and smiles, "Don't worry, you'll be safe up
here. They tend to walk 0over anyone who gets in the way when they have a
person in their sites." She leans back against the back of the bench, "But
then for the next eighteen months following the Hatching, they are walking,
talking ever-curious stomachs that need constant feeding, bathing, oiling,
mucking, and training." She crosses her legs and turns back to the sands,
"They are alot of work."

Meli smiles. "Eh, I think this one here says 'I'm a feisty fellow' an' this
part here says 'I'll bellow in your ear'"

Kassima starts laughing. "'I'll bellow in your ear'?" she asks.

Leonay's smile widens a bit, though it is obvious that delight is not its
origin, as he nods his head to the rather large gold dragon whose attention
he has caught. He turns after a long oment, and moves a short distance away
from Dyinath, kneeling before an egg whose colouration resembles nothing so
much as a cloudy day.

Kerlyn node. "All right. When you return, just remember what I told you
before. If you find her and bring her here, fill her in on the rules as well."

Rickon starts chuckling again.

Maarie nods and heads off the sands.

Maarie walks over towards the galleries.

Berin frowns slightly as he touches the wintery egg. No egg that looks this
cold has a right to be so warm to the touch.

Meli smothers a grin. "Yah, and here..." her finger traces out a series of
deep green lines "it says 'Feed me'"

In the galleries, Lily perches on the edge of the bench, her sketch for the
moment forgotten. "They walk .over. a person? That sounds awful painful.
And then you've gotta take care of all that other stuff? It sounds like
Riders have to take care of awful big babies for 18 months."

Taylar stands and gives the little egg a final pat. He pauses and looks
around the cavern. He walks over to an egg that appears to have clouds
dancing across the surface.

Rickon says "Well, this one says 'I'm going to be a terrible practical
joker and try and scare everyone to death'"

Alyssa is sudenly drawn to the momochromatic blue egg, which resembles the
winter storms that will soon fall on Benden. The colors that are swirling
in the egg's surface beckon to her with intense appeal, as does the smaller
size.

In the galleries, Maarie puts her cloak on, with a quick grin to Ely, and
clasps it at the shoulder. She flips up the hood and looks prepared to
brave the rain outside.

P'tran nods in response to Asfala's comment about Dyinath and adds, "I'm
surprised. Leilanth didn't let them out here half as long."

In the galleries, Maarie walks out to the bowl.

In the galleries, Elyandra nods and grins, "You've got that right. But the
thing is that they learn very quickly. Much more quickly than humans. They
reach full growth at eighteen months."

Berin blinks out of his reverie when Alyssa joins him at the winter storm
egg. He nods to her, and steps back a few paces, still looking at the egg
for a long moment.

Asfala edits her words carefully. "Dyinath is in a better mood, I think."
She grins at her own shy joke.

Alyssa hardly sees Berin as she crouches near the egg, attention riveted.

In the galleries, Elyandra's eyes fade just a bit and she looks over at
Lily, "I think Master Susaen is looking for you, according to Zibrith.
She's in the Living Cavern."

Kassima chuckles. She finds some royal-blue lettering and says, "I think
this line reads, 'Get me out of here,'" she quips, "And this one, I'm not
sure about. 'Born to flame,' it looks like." She grins to Meli.

P'tran grins wryly at Asfala. He is looking in a bit of a better mood.

In the galleries, Lily blinks, "They become grownups that fast? Gosh. And
they do look awful smart." She brightens, "Master Susaen is looking for me?
I'd better go see what happens. Before she gets lost."

Meli chuckles, then leans in to listen, standing on her toes a moment.

In the galleries, Lily winks.

In the galleries, Elyandra snickers and then covers her mouth.

Berin murmurs with a smile, "I can just see my little sis asking 'Why
doesn't this egg melt?'" he chuckles and finally looks away from the winter
egg and back towards his favorite, the pitch black one.

In the galleries, with her hand to hide her smile.

Leonay relaxes his smile a bit, letting it become natural and genuine as he
runs his hands across the eggshell, fingers tingling slightly with the
texture of the egg. Silently, he traces imaginary lines between the flecks
of blue and pink on the shell.

Kassima looks at Meli curiously. "Hear anything?"

Alyssa starts as she hears Berin's voice from closer to her than she
thought he would be, then she turns back to the blue egg.

Meli listens a moment longer, setting her ear a little further down, then
leans back and shakes her head. "Neh, all quiet."

In the galleries, Lily stands rolling up her hides and stuffing them in a
pocket. She looks at the tools and beltknife. "Umm, could you watch these
for Ed? He asked me to make sure they were all right while he was down
watching the eggs."

In the galleries, Susaen comes in from the bowl.

Taylar smoothes his hands over the surface of the egg. It's so big and
sturdy. He puts his arms out and lays forward onto the egg. The heat of the
sand and the egg is comforting.

In the galleries, Susaen is in a panic and calls out, "LILY!"

Kassima half-grins. "Most of the eggs seem to be sleeping. Or maybe we're
just boring them."

In the galleries, Lily is standing, preparing to leave the hatching
grounds. She smiles brightly and waves. "I'm right here, Master."

Meli mutters to Kassima, "... swamplike..."

Meli whispers "Let's go see that swamplike one..."

Taylar jumps at the sound of Master Susaen's voice.

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.

In the galleries, Elyandra blinks at Lily, "Ed?" She turns and smiles at
the MasterMiner, "Hello, Master Susaen. Benden's duty...." Her voice trails
off as she winces at Master Susaen's loudness.

Alyssa slowly presses her cheek and ear to the egg, closing her eyes in
rapt silence as she concentrates on this winter storm egg. Then, as Susaen
bellows, she starts so violently that she falls back onto her backside.

Dyinath rears her head back at the loud yell and rumbles loudly, craning
her neck to peer into the darkness of the galleries.

P'tran comments, "It's not likely you're going to hear much from the eggs,"
he says with a slight grin, then switches his gaze towards the galleries
when he hears a familiar voice shout.

Kassima hmmms and nods to Meli, getting up with a reluctant farewell pat
for the egg.

Aphrael bends down, palms placed on the egg, with a little more confidence.
She shakes her head, amazed at the different textures under each of her
hands as she leans closer to examine it.

Meli eeps at the yell, then looks up at the gold, watching a moment before
she sees all appears to be well, and heads over to the swampy vine-covered
egg.

Taylar looks over at Dyinath, hoping this disturbance doesn't cut short
their egg-touching session.

P'tran peers to see who it is and sighs, shaking his head. "I'll take care
of it, Asfala." He heads off the sands at a brisk walk just short of a jog.

Berin whirls around, hearing the loud shout, and then shakes his head. His
gaze going back to the winter egg, he strides towards it. Pausing to crouch
by Alyssa, stranded on her bum. "Having fun?"

P'tran walks over towards the galleries.

Asfala struggles to her feet at the sudden yell and quickly pats Dyinath's
neck, as she can't really reach her head for a scritch. "It's ok, love.
It's nothing."

In the galleries, Lily nods to Elyandra and points to Taylar. "Minecraft
apprentice Ed." She cringes at the bellow and tries to shush the Master.

In the galleries, Elyandra ahs and nods, "Surely, I'll hold them for
Taylar." She nods to P'tran, "Evening, Weyrleader."

In the galleries, Susaen wrings her hands with worry, "Oh, there you are..."

Kassima follows Meli and immediately crouches beside the egg again, running
her hand over a patch of flaming gold. "An interesting egg, aye?" she
remarks to Meli.

Alyssa looks up at the galleries, her heart still pounding, then she looks
rather bashfully at Berin. "Actually, no. It's quite hot."

Taylar sighs and shakes his head. The Master Miner is definately here.

In the galleries, P'tran heads over quickly to Susaen. "Master Susaen,
Benden's duty," he says hastily. "I'll have to ask you to keep your voice
down, Dyinath is letting the candidates come close to the eggs and she's a
little skittish"

Meli steps up to the egg, nose nearly touching it, as she tries to make out
some of the hidden patches of color under the striations.

Benden Weyr> Jeshua hmms. For IC reasons, did it rain when we did the Rped
Fall?

Benden Weyr> Asfala asks for a vote. "If you're enjoying yourselves, I can
calm Dyinath down, or if you want to go do something else, I can have
Dyinath get really mad and shoo you all off. What do you guys want?"

Benden Weyr> Kerlyn returns.

Berin hms. "I'd imagine so." He offers Alyssa a hand up.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Nope. :)"

Benden Weyr> P'tran says, "Nope, it was clear weather. rain drowns thread."

In the galleries, Susaen puts her hand to her chest, just before she faints
dead away.

In the galleries, Lily frowns at mention of the name Taylar, but nods to
Elyandra. "Thanks." She smils brightly at Susaen, "Of course I am Master,
I'm just fine. How're you?"

Benden Weyr> Berin errs, as long as I can RP I don't really give. :)

Benden Weyr> Maarie wonders why Asfala is asking silly questions.

Benden Weyr> Taylar says, ".oO Mad actually sounds like fun."

Benden Weyr> Leonay chuckles.

Benden Weyr> Jeshua knows. Okay, thanks.

Alyssa holds up her hands to Berin, wincing slightly at the heat through
her wool leggings.

Benden Weyr> Meli grins. "Up to you, Asfala... "

Dyinath turns her head so she can continue to stare into the galleries whle
keeping an eye on these silly wherries underfoot.

Benden Weyr> Kassima .o0(Taylar has a deathwish? I never would've thought....)

In the galleries, Elyandra jumps to her feet and then falls to her knees
next to the craftmaster, 'Master Susaen?!" She patpats her cheek.

Rickon moves over to the woollen egg, and runs a hand along it, then looks
disappointed. "It feels just the same as all the others."

Benden Weyr> Asfala stops asking silly questions. :)

Benden Weyr> Jeshua says, "Smiths are all like that. Comes from fighting
with hot iron."

In the galleries, Lily rushes over to Susaen, kneeling at her side.
"Master? Master?" She looks worriedly over to Elyandra, "She did this
before....tossing cold water on her face wakes her up."

In the galleries, P'tran rolls his eyes and bends down to assist her.
"Master Susaen?"

Benden Weyr> Taylar says, "I move very fast. :)"

Kassima grins to Meli. "Any guesses for this one?" she asks as she bends
her ear to the egg.

Benden Weyr> Kassima bets Dyinath would move faster. :)

Berin grabs Alyssa's hands and hauls her to her feet, waiting until she's
totally steadied.

Meli kneels down on the sand, wincing slightly and points out a dark brown
patch to Kassi. "Look... you c'n barely make this out... oh, maybe a brown?"

Asfala leans forward to stare off in the same direction as her dragon.
There seems to be some kind of commotion going on up there...

Benden Weyr> Berin says, "She can't eat us all at once, remember. :)"

In the galleries, Elyandra nods, "I'll go get some." She stands and rushes
out.

Taylar leans back onto the egg. He closes his eyes and just lays there
quietly.

In the galleries, Elyandra walks out to the bowl.

In the galleries, Susaen is awake right quickly. It's the heat you see.
Miners are used to cold darkness, not hot sands. She gasps and says,
"Lily's been killed or something." Her eyes blink once before they finally
focus on the outline of Lily's familiar face. She sighs and says, "Oh,
there she is." If those idiot smiths would invent glasses, this would never
have happened.

Alyssa stands and brushes sand from her clothes, wincing at the little
needles of pain in her hands.

Leonay stares fixedly at the egg before him, absorbed in the flow of colour
on the shell, from grey to white to cream, even to pink and blue, and back
again. His fingers trace lazy patterns on the shell, eyes slightly
unfocused as they follow.

In the galleries, P'tran nods to Lily. "I'll have someone fetch some water
right away ..." He blinks when he hears Susaen's voice and shakes his head
again slightly. "Master Susaen? Are you all right?"

In the galleries, Elyandra comes in from the bowl.

In the galleries, Lily shakes her head, looking at her arms and legs, "I
think I'm still alive, Master. And really, I'm quite fine." She grins,
"It's good to see you, Master."

Berin steps back from Alyssa and points to...well, her bum. "You've some
sand...there." He pauses and adds, with a wink, "want me to get it?" Berin,
a /flirt/? Who woulda guessed?

Asfala calls out to the galleries, "P'tran? Is everything all right up there?"

In the galleries, P'tran turns his head and nods silently back.

Alyssa tries to look over her shoulder and says, "I can't see," rather to
herself, brushing her clothes more.

Meli smiles at Kassi, and then spots Taylar draped over an egg. "Hmmm..."
she says, then sort of hugs the swampy egg herself.

Taylar reluctantly pushes away from the egg. He looks up into the galleries
wondering what Master Susaen has tripped over or spilled this time.

In the galleries, Susaen is pitiful, really. She's blind, and has succombed
to the gossip about riders. Heck, she perpetuates it, too. She says, trying
to muster up a little dignity, "I'm fine, now that I know Lily is allright."

In the galleries, Elyandra jogs up the steps and sets the pitcher of cold
water on one of the nearby benches. She dips her hand in and splashes the
cold water over Master Susaen's face.

Berin smirks. "That a /yes/?"

In the galleries, P'tran looks over to Elyandra as she arrives. "Um,
Elyandra, Master Susaen is ..." *splash* " ... All right."

In the galleries, Maarie comes in from the bowl.

In the galleries, Elyandra blinks and wipes her hands on her shirt, "Oh,
Master! I'm sorry! I thought you were still unconcious...." Her eyes get wide.

Kassima grins as Meli hugs the egg. "I think maybe it's green, or possibly
brown," she says, not wanting to let any chance to guess go by. She strokes
the patches of color on the shell, smiling.

In the galleries, Susaen blinks as water speckles her face and gets in her
eyes. The fuzzy outlines of Lily, P'tran, and Elyandra, take on a more
water cast.

In the galleries, Kaylarn comes in from the bowl.

Benden Weyr> Asfala says, "Cool. I didn't even notice that Taylar is a
miner. It's nice to see miners active! :)"

Taylar smiles over at Kassima and Meli. "These eggs are so big, it makes me
feel really small."

Benden Weyr> P'tran LOL at the scene in the galleries

Alyssa blinks at Berin. "What? I'm sorry, yes to what?" She looks past him
at Dyinath while she continues brushing at her clothes.

Benden Weyr> Berin laffs.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa grins at Fala. Ask Taylar if he's a miner.

Benden Weyr> Kassima grins. Taylar isn't a miner, except in Master Susaen's
mind. :)

In the galleries, Maarie looks briefly down at the sands then at the scene
before her.

In the galleries, Lily is confused, as usual. She knows what Susaen thinks,
and then has to stifle a laugh at the water splash. "Umm...Master? Why
don't we go get something to drink?"

Benden Weyr> Taylar says, "I'm only an honorary miner. Master Susaen thinks
I'm her apprentice, Ed."

Benden Weyr> Lily says, "But Taylar is a miner. His name is Ed.:)"

Meli chuckles, reddening slightly, probably from the heat, yeah, that's it,
and steps back.

Dyinath loses interest in the display in the galleries, her eyes whirling
slower. She swings around to stare at Alyssa, who is looking back at her.

In the galleries, Kaylarn wanders in behind Maarie.

Berin doesn't bother answering Alyssa, he just helps her dust off her
clothes, and well, since she couldn't see her bottom, he brushes off there
too. He straightens back up, with a straight face, and turns to see what
Alyssa's looking at...the Queen. Oh.

Kassima grins to Taylar. "It's not just you," she says, looking out at all
the eggs. "Makes me feel small, too, and kind of... I don't know...
insignificant, I guess." She chuckles ruefully.

In the galleries, P'tran ahems. "Master Susaen, as I was saying," he says,
trying again to establish some sense of order. "My duty to you. Please keep
your voice down, as the candidates are on the sands touching the eggs and
Dyinath is rather skittish"

Aphrael feels the inner warmth of the egg through her palms, scarecely
paying attention to the disterbance.

Benden Weyr> Asfala says, "Why does Susaen think you're Ed? :)"

In the galleries, Susaen struggles to her feet and looks out at the sands,
saying, "Ed! Ed is on the sands." She allows Lily to propell her away from
the disturbing sight of people on the sands with eggs and a big gold
dragon. It's as if Susaen hasn't even realized she's been splashed in the
face with water.

In the galleries, Susaen is quieter than when she first arrived, P'tran.

Alyssa smiles nervously back at Dyinath, biting her lip, as she nods to the
big gold dragon. "Your clutch is splendid," she stammers to Dyinath,
forgetting the sandy condition of her clothes and the tiny burns on her hands.

Benden Weyr> Taylar chuckles. "When we were clearing the mines, her bad
vision saw me as Ed and knotted me. It's been a fun RP.

Asfala slowly floats back down to her stool, since Dyinath seems to be calm
again.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa says, "Hysterical RP, really. :)"

Dyinath blinks at Alyssa.

In the galleries, P'tran ums. "I don't recall anyone named Ed among the
candidates, Master Susaen," he says gently

Benden Weyr> Asfala laughs! Cool. She needs specs. :)

Leonay finally rises and looks around again, an odd smile plastered to his
face as he looks the eggs over. Finally, another catches his eye, and he
walks over to it, reaching out even before he kneels down, making sure that
the brownish colour really is shell, and not fur.

Berin steps away from Alyssa, that Queen's stare almost seems focussed on
him. But no, he's being properly respectful, remember? So he half bows
again towards the great gold.

In the galleries, Lily puts her arm protectively around Susaen and leads
her away, "Let's go get you a nice glass of wine, Master." She nods to
P'tran, and smiles brightly at Kaylarn, her cheeks pinking. "Will you be
coming too?"

In the galleries, Kaylarn blinksblinks, wondering if maybe he should have
stayed at home.

Benden Weyr> Alyssa nods. F'nar wears them. :)

Benden Weyr> P'tran says, "She has specs, that's what's so funny about it :)"

Benden Weyr> Alyssa rofl. I never noticed that!

In the galleries, Susaen says to Kaylarn as she passes by, "This his all
your fault. Just look at Ed." Sometimes, she has selective hearing.

Taylar sees the black and white egg. He goes over to it and walks around it
admiring the adversarial pattern.

Benden Weyr> Asfala chuckles! :)

In the galleries, Susaen walks out to the bowl.

Alyssa blushes deeply and looks down at her feet, then back up at Dyinath,
feeling very odd and uncomfortable for once around a dragon.

Rickon continues to admire the woollen egg.

In the galleries, Maarie giggles at Kay then sits down on a front row bench
to watch her friends below.

In the galleries, Elyandra just kind of blinks at the Master's departing
back, then up at Kaylarn, "She calls Taylar Ed?"

Dyinath suddenly snorts a gust at Alyssa dn abrupty retracts her head, to
come back to a resting position.

Benden Weyr> Jeshua giggles.

In the galleries, Lily walks out to the bowl.

In the galleries, P'tran watches her go and even takes a step after her,
then stops. "no, I refuse to go chasing her down this time," he says with a
frown. "Let her wander about for awhile. I'm losing patience with her."

Meli sighs softly, and she looks over at Kassi. "I wonder when..." she
starts to say, then stops and shrugs, breaking into a small smile. "Where
to next..."

In the galleries, P'tran shrugs at Elyandra. "Who knows why she does a lot
of things?"

In the galleries, Kaylarn frowns, turning to trek after Susaen, hoping to
find out just what's his fault this time. He calls back to Elyandra, "Yeah,
Ed's a Miner." He stops as well as he hears P'tran. "Losing patience?"

Benden Weyr> Asfala sighs. I'm going to have to log off and log on again.
See ya in a few minutes.

Benden Weyr> Kassima whees--lag plus about five +watches plus normal activity.

Taylar touches this egg first on one side and then the other. Checking for
differences in texture or temperature.

In the galleries, Jereth comes in from the bowl.

Benden Weyr> Berin says, "Touching Eggs: Reeeaaal normal. ;)"

In the galleries, P'tran shakes his head at Kaylarn and sighs. "NEvermind.
Forget it. Feeling a little stressed, I suppose. Um, you better go and make
sure she doesn't walk into something or someone ..." He heads back down to
the sands

In the galleries, Maarie rests her chin on the galleries edge and watches,
amused, as the candidates weave in and out of the eggs.

P'tran comes down from the galleries.

Kassima chuckles to Meli. "So did you hear anything this time? From that
stormy seas egg, maybe?"

In the galleries, Jereth stops, startled to see so many people here.

Taylar looks over at P'tran. "Master Susaen's here, isn't she?"

In the galleries, Kaylarn rolls his eyes at P'tran, "So nice to talk to you
too." he comments, then, indeed, does walk off to find Susaen.

In the galleries, Kaylarn walks out to the bowl.

Berin goes back to admiring the wintry egg, offering a little wave to the
exasperated Weyrleader when he passes by.

Alyssa stares at Dyinath until certain the queen is not displeased with
her, then she slowly backs away from the golden dragon.

Benden Weyr> Kassima grins. Okay, so plus abnormal activity. :)

Meli shakes her head. "Neh, haven't heard or felt anything t'day. Guess I
was just lucky t'other time." She cranes her neck, and spots another sort
of gold egg. "Hey, let's see that one."

Rickon runs a hand across the woollen egg's 'jacket' again.

You say "The one with the zig-zags? Sure, I meant to look at that one
earlier."

P'tran nod to Taylar. "Yes, she is," he comments flatly

Benden Weyr> Asfala hopes this Jereth dude has the audacity step on the
sands. Then Dyinath can get really pissed.... ;) (NO, don't bait him.)

Benden Weyr> Berin drats

Aphrael backs away from the egg and turns, almost bumping into Meli and
Kassi. "Hey! Oh, sorry. What are you doing?"

Leonay traces the edge between the white end of the egg and the brown
colour about its middle, head tilted to one side and mouth slightly ajar.
He blinks a few times, eyes widening at the warth radiating through the shell.

Benden Weyr> Leonay pouts. ;)

Taylar nods at the Weyrleader. "I thought that was her voice." He turns
back to the eggs.

Meli grins. "Yeh, that one" and steps over, not moving too quickly, but
anxious to get there before they have to go. "Hi Aph! We're going to the
zig zag egg"

Benden Weyr> Kassima mmms and would never bait anyone to become Dragon
Chow. It's just too evil. :)

Benden Weyr> Lily wonders if poor naive Miners could suggest it.:)

Kassima grins to Aphrael. "I heard you say you heard sounds in the eggs.
Congrats--it's really something, isn't it?"

Benden Weyr> Jeshua is still getting ragged because the guy's name is so
close to my dragon's.

In the galleries, Maarie says softly to Ely, "We look so small next to
them..."

Aphrael ohs softly, following them quietly to the indicated egg.

Benden Weyr> Berin chants, Jereth in bits 'n bits 'n bits...

Dyinath lays her head down in a bare patch of sand, to watch Meli, Aphrael,
and Kassima. Her eyes are flat blue as she watches the three.

In the galleries, Elyandra smiles, "Just wait until they're hatched. Then
you'll really feel small."

Benden Weyr> Leonay laughs! and tries to muffle the sound. :}

Benden Weyr> Maarie grins to Aph, "Perhaps you would bait him?"

Benden Weyr> Jeshua loves the word kibbles. Don't you? Most catchy name
I've ever heard for a dog food.

Meli stops a few feet short of the zig zag egg and tilts her head, watching
the shapes on the surface seem to appear and disappear as she moves her
head from side to side.

Benden Weyr> Aphrael says, "Me?! Hehe, maybe not when I'm on the sands too,
Maarie."

Benden Weyr> Berin oh yeahs. And one of the teachers at school's named
Kibbler...*laff*.

Taylar moves to the egg that looks like a new spring day. The warm colors
seem to call to him, especially on a cold, wet, dreary day.

In the galleries, Maarie chuckles, "I can't imagine. I mean I see the big
dragons now and am getting used to it sort of but to imagine a dragonet is
hard."

Alyssa finally moves closer to the pseudo-gold egg, wondering what lies
within. "I'll bet a green," she says quietly.

Kassima sees Dyinath's eyes upon them and gives her a very respectful bow.
"My greatest thanks for allowing us to be here, lady queen," she says,
before joining her friends by the egg.

Meli turns her head to say something to her friends, and suddenly finds
herself reflected back in a pair of rather large blue eyes. "Uh..."

Rickon says "I think there's a blue in this one."

Asfala smiles at Maarie. "Just imagine Dyinath, but her head about this
wide." She holds her hands apart about 2/3 of a meter.

Benden Weyr> Maarie grins evilly and would push Jereth on the sands but
that would be extremely mean of her. She'd probably get sent back home.

Berin figures it's time to move on away from the deathly still winter egg,
and peers at the overly vibrant spring egg. He shakes his head, wondering
idly if there /is/ a theme to this clutch. He glances at the Queen, and
moves over towards the split-in-half black & white egg, covered with stardust.

Taylar kneels next to the new spring egg. He lets his hand walk along the
pastel path of colors reflected there.

In the galleries, Maarie grins down to Asfala, "She was that small?"

Aphrael pauses, and half turns to see Dyinath watching them. She nudges
Meli as she crouches down near the egg, nervously waiting to see if she'll
object.

In the galleries, Maarie shakes her head and continues to watch the
spectecal below.

Benden Weyr> Asfala says, "Yes, Berin, OOCly, there is a theme, but ICly,
nope. :)"

Rickon moves over to the winter egg, running a hand across it.

Benden Weyr> Berin was wondering ICly...well, OOCly too, but that was a
truly IC pose. :) ANyhow. He'll stop rambling. :>

Dyinath keeps her head still, laying on the sand, but rearranges her body
into a different position. Odd how she can do that without knocking her
lifemate over....

[Editor's Note:  For fun I'm leaving in the LC +watch with its
continuation of the Susaen RP. :) ]

Benden LC> Susaen walks in from the bowl.

Alyssa glances up and finally sees Jereth's wave, and with a smile she
returns the wave.

Meli starts at Aph's nudge, and gives Dyinath another half bow before she
steps closer and crouches by her friends.

Benden LC> Kaylarn walks in from the bowl.

In the galleries, Jereth grins and waves back to his friends.

Benden LC> Susaen moves rather quickly into the living cavern after having
dropped her 'fanning rock' near Master Kaylarn's big toe. Aren't the miner
master's mature?

Benden LC> Lily walks in from the bowl.

Taylar waves at Jereth, seeing him leaning on the gallery rail.

Benden LC> Kaylarn walks in holding the selfsame rock and presents it to
Susaen, "You dropped this."

Asfala nods, glancing over at the head of the gold dragon with reminiscence
in her eyes. "Yes, she was. She knocked me over, and her head seemed much
larger at the time, really. I couldn't believe she was looking at me." Her
voice is small and wondrous.

Rickon looks up, waves at Jereth, the concentrates on the egg again.

Kassima looks at a pattern in a kind of crimson-amethyst color on the
eggshell, and points it out to Aphrael and Meli. "What does this look like
to you?"

Benden LC> Lily keeps a wary eye on the masters, wondering if they'll keep
throwing rocks at each other. "Please don't throw it at me, Master."

Taylar swipes the back of his hand across his brow. The heat has him sweating.

P'tran looks over to Dyinath a bit warily himself, a little astonished at
how long this Benden queen is allowing the candidates to remain. "Sometimes
I wish Leilanth had half as much patience," he comments to Asfala with a smirk

Benden LC> Susaen takes the rock from Kaylarn and drops it into the big
pocket on the front of her tunic. This makes the tunic sag, attractively.
She says, "Then who is responsible for Lily being posted here.'

Benden LC> Kaylarn points. "You. Your fault. You're at the hall, you knew,
not mine. Nope."

Meli impulsively leans over to kiss the egg, right on its red 'lips'.

Aphrael blinks and hald curtseys to Dyinath, finally drawing her attention
down to the egg.

Kassima laughs to Meli!

Asfala comments back to P'tran, "Many people have said that Dyinath takes
after her sire rather than her dam."

P'tran raises an eyebrow at Meli.

Alyssa traces the golden patterns on the falsely gold egg, smiling at its
pretty designs. "Yes, another green...like Zibrith, maybe?"

Benden LC> Lily sits down on one of the benches, and looks cautiously
between the two Masters. "Maybe it's Master Amberan's fault?"

Meli grins, and turns her head to rest an ear against the egg, tracing the
red splotch with a finger.

Kassima finds a pattern that looks like Slithereth and chuckles slightly.

Dyinath blinks at the three girls, then lifts her head out of the sand,
curling back to look at her rider.

In the galleries, Jereth shakes his head. "It's like a bunch of children on
their Turn-days," he grins.

Benden LC> Susaen speaks to Kaylarn as if Lily isn't here. She says, "And
now she's at the mercy of all those sex-starved riders. Her and Ed, both."
Susaen has a tear in the corner of one useless eye.

Aphrael grins at Meli and leans down near the egg, hand gently tracing the
patterns.

In the galleries, Maarie finally notices Jereth and nods.

Taylar hums tunelessly as he lays with a cheek against the egg, listening
to the sound reverberate through the egg.

In the galleries, Jereth smiles to Maarie. "Am I right or am I wrong?" he
asks her.

Benden Weyr> Jeshua giggles hysterically. Sex starved riders? How DID we
pick these people?

In the galleries, Maarie says "It's more than a Turnday. A Turnday you can
count on having every year...""

Kassima finds another pattern that looks like a big blue eye, and puts her
eye to it, feeling a little silly.

Benden LC> Lily looks cautiously around the cavern, staying close to the
other Masters. "But the riders have been...nice so far, Master. And Ed
promised to keep an eye on me. I'm sure Miner T'garrick will too."

P'tran nods to Asfala before turning back to Meli

Benden LC> Kaylarn hrumpfs. ".I. still think we should repost her out to
Half Circle. She'd be safe there. Not in here where you dumped her with all
these riders."

In the galleries, Jereth nods. "True," he says, agreeing with Maarie before
returning his attention to the sands below.

"Hey, Aph, Thera said you c'n hear through the eggs... you get on one side,
an' I'll say 'hello' to the dragon from the other, and you c'n see if you
hear me..." Meli says.

Leonay rises again and looks about bemusedly, eyes finally settling on an
egg off by itself. He wanders over slowly, eyes running over the pastel
colours, resting on purple first, then pink. Hunching down beside it, he
absently dusts sand fron his knees with one hand while tracing the red
slashes decorating the egg with the other.

Berin leans against the dichotomy egg afte a moment's hesitation, just
watching his fellow Candidates meander around the clutch.

P'tran has to ask. "Meli, can I ask you something?"

Benden LC> Salless nods at Lily as she orders something.

Benden LC> Salless unlocks the wine cabinet to pour Lily a single goblet of
Benden Red.

Meli blinks as she hears her name. "Uh, yessir?"

Asfala places a hand on the tip of Dyinath's jaw. She seems to be
conferring with her.

In the galleries, Maarie grins slightly, "It's more like, well...more
like...just thinking that maybe one of them will be your lifemate. There's
nothing else as exciting other than finding out there is."

P'tran ums, "I was just wondering. What made you do that?" His tone sound
curious, not reproachful.

In the galleries, Jereth nods. "I was teasing. I'm really enjoying this,
because they're enjoying it so much."

Benden LC> Lily pales, "Please Master, don't post me to Half Circle. I
don't think the Riders would really try to...well, deflower me. Not if I'm
here all the time." She takes the wine with a nod of thanks to Salless and
gulps half of it down.

Rickon chuckles.

Aphrael laughs at Meli, but complies, kneeling down on one side of the egg,
ear pressed against it.

Benden LC> Susaen bristles, "Me? I think the Benden riders are amoung the
best I've ever seen. But I'd never post her here. She'll probably give
birth to ten children, all from different riders." And then an even worse
thought assails her large, but quite daffy, brain, "Or mayb they'll all be
that blue rider..you know N'thin."

Benden Weyr> P'tran peeeers at the convo in the LC :)

Benden Weyr> Jeshua pounces a K'nan.

Meli grins, blushing a tad, although honestly, it's the heat, and replies
"Uh, well, y'see this red pattern? If you look close, it kinda looks like a
pair of lips...." she trails off, watching the weyrleader.

Taylar goes back over to the egg that looks like it's about to fall over.

Benden LC> Susaen says, "Oh, but Lily, Half Circle Hold is so Cute",
boring, "And comfortable, "provincial, "and quite," no fun.

Alyssa leans closer to the mock-golden egg, her expression happy as she
pictures the tiny dragonet curled inside. "You are going to be special, no
mater what?

Benden Weyr> K'nan giggles at the LC-Convo, and snuggles Aph and Jeshua and
everyone else who greeted him. :)

Berin peers at each egg of the clutch in turn, eyes narrowed, and murmuring
what seems to be mathematical calculations to himself...you could just
/see/ his little Bitran brain formulating outrageous wagers on various bets
on which egg'll hatch what, on who'll Impress, anything that might make him
a few marks.

Benden LC> Lily shakes her head, "I don't want to give birth to ten
children. I want to be a Miner. And his name is N'fan." She wrinkles her
nose, "I-I'm sure it is, Master. But surely even riders deserve to have a
good jeweller around."

In the galleries, Maarie returns to watching the eggs, waiting in case Ursa
finally shows up and needs her to cover her chores.

Asfala struggles to her feet. The dragon turns her head to gaze at the
candidates as her lifemate speaks. "Dyinath says she's getting tired. Now,
she knows I know her well enough that she's not, but I think we should
humor her."

Taylar looks at it critically. It's so bright, yet seems somewhat
vunerable, probably because of it's precarious position.

Kassima pulls her eye away from the egg's "eye," listening to Meli's
explanation with a half-grin.

Benden LC> Kaylarn ah hah!s and points at Susaen again. "There, you see?
You admit that you .like. the Benden riders. Hmmm?", he seems to be able to
manage this selective listening thing too. Must be aminer thing.

Benden LC> Lily mutters to Kaylarn, "... acts... P'tran."

P'tran leans over and peers at the pattern that Meli indicates. "Hmm, I see
... "

Meli watches P'tran a moment longer, then leans over and whispers 'hello,
dragon' to the egg as Aph listens on the other side.

Benden LC> Kaylarn nods to Lily, a knowing smile on his face. He says
simply in reply, "That song."

Aphrael sighs softly, unable to test out their theory after all. She nods
and stands, "Thank you Asfala, and Dyinath." She says in their direction.

Alyssa lifts her face from the egg to nod to Asfala. Caressing the egg one
last time, she moves towad the exit, pausing to smile shyly at rider and
queen. "Thank you...the clutch is glorious."

Dyinath rumbles at Aphrael, blinking once.

Taylar nods to Asfala and begins to walk back toward the gallery. He pauses
and turns to face the golden dragon. "Thank you, Dyinath for the
opportunity to better see your beautiful eggs." He moves on away from the
eggs and the really big dragon.

Berin glances over towards the weyrwoman and nods, abruptly steppping away
from the black-white-stardusted egg.

Benden LC> Lily returns Kaylarn's nod and looks at Susaen. "Is it true,
Master? What that song said?"

Leonay glances up after a long moment, but it's clear from Leonay's
expression that it takes him several seconds to parse Asfala's statement.
He finally nods and rises stiffly, brushing sand from his clothing.

P'tran hears asfala and looks up, nodding. He takes a few steps back.

Meli straightens as Asfala's comment filters through her brain, and smiles.
"Yah, please say thank you for all of us, and thanks t'you too" she says to
Asfala.

In the galleries, Maarie sighs, "Ursa's gonna be upset she missed the
touching again. I couldn't find her anywhere."

Kassima nods and stands up. "Thanks muchly, Dyinath, Asfala," she says.

Kerlyn nods once as soon as Asfala's done, her eyes back to inventory
taking of the candidates. "When you file out, if you could all wait outside
in the bowl for a moment?"

Aphrael grins at Meli, "Didnt hear it really." She says aside, then blinks
and manages to amile.

Rickon reluctantly steps back from the woollen egg. He bows to the queen
again, awkwardly. "Thank you, Dyinath," he says, knowing the gold
understands him.

Asfala stands next to her dragon very proudly, one hand inconspicuously
resting against her swollen belly. She has two reasons to be proud.

Alyssa walks over towards the galleries.

Taylar walks over towards the galleries.

You walk up the stairway into the galleries.

Rickon walks over from the hatching sands.

Taylar walks out to the bowl.

Rickon walks out to the bowl.

Benden LC> Susaen says, "Of course I like the riders, you hide bound
master, they keep the thread from burrowing into our mines. And that'd be
worse than tunnelsnakes. She says, "What song?" But she knows .exactly.
what Lily's is talking aobut and turns a crimson red. She is successfully
distracted from finger-pointing at Kaylarn.

Alyssa looks back over at the sands and sighs happily, not wanting the
moment to end.

Maarie grins to her friends as they arrive on the sands.

From the hatching sands, Aphrael half curtseys politely before following
the other candidates.

Meli walks over from the hatching sands.

Elyandra watches all the Candidates file in and smiles, "Have fun?"

From the hatching sands, Asfala talks very quietly to her dragon,
scritching her head and patting her.

From the hatching sands, Berin sneaks another glance at his favorite black
egg, and bows to the Queen as he retreats from the Sands.

From the hatching sands, Kerlyn bobs her head politely to Dyinath, "Thank
you." she says gravely, before following the candidates out.

Kerlyn walks over from the hatching sands.

Berin walks over from the hatching sands.

From the hatching sands, Leonay nods to Kerlyn, and nods thankfully to
Asfala and Dyinath, seemingly unable to speak. He follows the string of
Candidates.

Leonay walks over from the hatching sands.

Jereth walks out to the bowl.

Kassima grins and nods enthusiastically to Elyandra. "Aye, ma'am."

Kerlyn walks out to the bowl.

From the hatching sands, P'tran falls in behind Kerlyn as they head off the
sands

Leonay walks out to the bowl.

Meli smiles. "Ayeh, Ely... uh, ma'am" with a glance at P'tran.

P'tran walks over from the hatching sands.

Alyssa impulsively embraces Elyandra. "It was so...special."

P'tran comments, "The candidates appeared to have behaved themselves rather
well, Kerlyn."

Aphrael walks over from the hatching sands.

Benden LC> Lily takes another sip of wine before responding to Susaen, her
own cheeks more than a little red. "You know," she says softly, "that song
that talks about Master Tiercel and the Bluerider. And you and the
Weyrleader."

Benden Weyr> Kassima ughs. Parents are so unreasonable, pulling their kids
off the computer just 'cause it's 10. Bleah. See y'all tomorrow! :)

There's no place like home....

[Editor's Note:  And by necessity, the log ends there. :) ]