|
Post by D'gellin on Aug 5, 2008 21:25:39 GMT -5
"By Faranth, you look a sight, Trissy. Ever think of taking a nap?" Brell thumped into a seat across the table from Q'tris, cup of klah in hand. Q'tris hardly looked up from his own cup, though he did smile briefly. "Occasionally. It's more nerves than physical fatigue though, let me assure you." Anxiety had never been on Q'tris' side after all. And, anxious to make sure the first Hatching with himself as Candidatemaster went well, he'd run himself thin going over checklists and prepping the candidates the best he could. His work was virtually done. Now it was up to the candidates. But with his hands free, that just left the man with more time to fret. "I don't suppose you have a remedy?" Brell contemplated for about two seconds. "Had a good wine lately?" Q'tris chuckled quietly. But he furrowed his brows at the sudden ripples that broke the surface of his klah. "Brell, are you moving?" Brell raised her brows in question but suddenly something clicked and Q'tris felt more than heard the humming reverberating throughout the Weyr. He sucked in a breath. "The Hatching." He said in unison with Minth's own mental response. Standing, he downed the rest of his klah and tore off at a jog. "Well then." Brell blinked at the now empty space in front of her then imitated Q'tris' quick escape. ___________ Bright eyes gleamed back at Trilia as she turned this way and that in front of the mirror, modeling her candidates robe. It wasn't a particularly flattering article but she'd never felt quite so proud wearing anything else in her life. A candidate. Trilia was a candidate. Her mirror image beamed back at her, hardly suppressing a delighted squeal, and her firelizard twirled and chirped above her head in equal excitement. Finally! After waiting so, so, so long! And of course she'd Impress. Minth always said she'd make a good dragonrider. And what else would Trilia possibly do anyway? She wasn't good at cooking or weaving or healing or singing or...well, anything. Being with dragons was the only thing she was ever really good at. So it made sense, right? Right! She nodded at herself in the reflection. But that was when the image suddenly began to blur, or vibrate rather. And a sound came with it. The rumble of thunder? No, no, no. Trilia's smile became exquisite. Humming! The Hatching was starting!! This time Trilia really did squeal out loud. And look! Already ready! She did one last look over - just in case - and then she was racing down the halls to the Sands. "Ah, no, I'm sorry Ronni, but you better stay in the barracks." Trilia called over her shoulder to her little brown flit, who had eagerly followed. A little miffed at the dismissal, he blinked away without a mental touch of goodbye. But she'd deal with that later. Right now she - "OW" OW OW! Trilia backtracked a few steps off the Hatching Sands, jumping from foot to foot. Okay, okay, ow, ow sandals. Had to remember there were traditional sandals on her feet. This made running on sand a very bad - and painful! D: - idea. Taking the time to make sure as little sand as possible snuck into her sandals this time, Trilia warily made her way over to the other females. All the while her eyes were riveted on the eggs, eyes alight with excitement so strong she thought she just might cry. This was it! This was it! This was - OW. Shaffing sandals ruining everything. ;_; OH AN EGG JUST MOVED!! ___________ As the sound of humming registered in Fallen's mind he considered a dozen different options for response to the Hatching that didn't involve him going to it. Just running away in the frantic hustle and bustle that the humming ignited was one tempting option. And he almost followed through with it too. He dropped whatever he'd been doing and took off for the exit...Only to run headlong into the Candidatemaster. Shaffit, this guy was always getting in the way! "Ah, Hatching! Yeah." Fallen supplied quickly before Q'tris could recover from the surprise of being knocked to the ground. But just as he turned to keep running, he found himself smashing into a wall. By Faranth, where did that...? He looked up to see Brell towering over him instead. Oh."No apologies? And the Hatching Ground is the other way, kid." Brell chuckled as she turned and hefted the stunned Candidatemaster to his feet. "We're on our way too. Candidate, right?" The woman grinned toothily and, taking the arms of both Q'tris and Fallen, steered them off to the Hatching Sands. Fallen only had a vague impression that luck was not on his side before he was deposited on the sands with a friendly pat on the back that almost sent him sprawling. That was when he noticed all the other candidates wearing their white robes. He looked down at his crinkled not-a-white-candidates-robe tunic and groaned in defeat. Was there no mercy? Normally this sort of thing wouldn't have bothered him. But Faranth only knew if the Queen would take some sort of strange offense and decide to gut him as punishment. Shaffing robes...
|
|
|
Post by Skye on Aug 5, 2008 22:44:38 GMT -5
Kimber had just returned to the candidate barracks from doing laundry. She was hot and her cheeks were flushed from walking across the bowl from the laundry shed. She sat on the bed and puts her hair up into a bun to keep it off of her neck. She was about to lay back on her cot when the call was sent out.
She smiled widely and jumped from the bed, tugging on her white robe over her clothes, slipping her sandals on. She glanced around for her sister, but didn't see her and was too excited to wait on her.
Kimber hurried to the Hatching Cavern, wanting to get out of the sun, but knowing that the heat in there would be just as bad as outside because of the sands inside. She hesitated a moment once reaching the entrance, taking a deep breath to help reign in her excited attitude.
She steps inside, wincing at the feel of the heat from the sands as she makes her way to where the female candidates stood. She bowed deeply to the Queen and her rider, wanting to show her respect to them before her full attention turned to the eggs. She shifted from foot to foot slightly, both from excitement and from the heat seeping through her sandals.
~~
Emberlyn was out by the lake giving Razzle and Dazzle a bath to help the canines cool off from the heat. She was pretty much soaked as well, using the water to help keep herself cool as well.
She sighed and glanced up toward the sky, shielding her eyes with her hand. She made a face and whistled to the canines, leading them back to the candidate barracks, they would be mostly dry by the time they got there in this heat.
She frowned slightly as she watched people rushing from the barracks in white robes. She watched curiously for a moment, then it hit her...The Hatching!
She groaned and walked into the barracks with half a mind to skip the hatching. She sighed and picked up her white robe, shaking her head. She didn't want to be here, but at the same time she didn't want to cause the death of a hatching.
With a silent gesture to the canines to tell them to stay put, not that they wanted to go back out into the heat anyway and were already curled under her and Kimber's bunks. She pulls her robe on and her sandals, hurrying to the Cavern behind the others.
Emberlyn bowed deeply to Plianth and Penna as she took her place beside her twin, ignoring Kimber's grin.
|
|
|
Post by C'lyn on Aug 5, 2008 23:20:57 GMT -5
C'lyn gathered up a few flasks of cold water along with his pouch of regular supplies before heading out to the Hatching Cavern. It was so hot today and when Greylith informed him of the hatching he wanted to be prepared in case of heat stroke. He hoped that Gaylen wouldn't go out in the heat, but he hadn't seen the dear woman all day.
He made his way to the cavern, Greylith already on the ledge inside, humming loudly. The green always enjoyed hatchings. He moves carefully across the hot sands and takes a post on the bottom of the stands, wanting to be able to get to anyone who needed him quickly.
~~
Seath bugled loudly from his ledge as Plianth contacted him. The hatching mine![/color] he said as he bugled loudly again. L'kas looked up from his cot, having just laid down to try and stay cool. He sighed and got up, pulling his shirt back on. He leaped to Seath's neck ridges, not putting straps on for the short glide.
He was still half asleep so he had Seath detour to the kitchen Cavern where he slipped in for a flask of warm klah, grinning to the drudge that caught him, but didn't say anything.
L'kas jogged across the bowl instead of having Seath taking him. The bronze glided his way to the cavern, crooning a greeting to Plianth as he settled near her before beginning to hum.
L'kas made his way toward the sands, wincing at the heat coming off of them. He smiled as he watched the candidates for a moment before making his way to Penna's side. He wasn't really sure what to do, since Seath hadn't sired a clutch before. He bowed politely to Penna, noticing her mused hair, but not saying anything.
He held up the flask. "Its klah, but I forgot to get any mugs," he said, shrugging slightly.
|
|
|
Post by Shikai on Aug 6, 2008 2:21:01 GMT -5
The Scorching Sands Egg’s rocking intensified, drawing the expectant attention of a great deal of the onlookers in the sands, although no visible cracks had yet appeared on the surface. It was swaying like a pendulum as its occupant threw itself against the inner walls, but the shell refused to give way to the determined dragonet. Yet with how much effort the dragonet was clearly, surely it wouldn’t be long before…
CRACK!
Yet it wasn’t from the large yellow egg that the sound had come, which became apparent to the confused onlookers when no part of a dragon could be seen through the shell, nor even a fracture. Heads turned, searching for the source, and low, appreciative murmurs joined the dragons’ humming as many pairs of eyes caught sight of the newly hatched dragon.
Quite without warning, the Thunder Egg had erupted, splinting into countless tiny shards of swirled blue and yellow. The shattered remains were thrown as far as several yards away, so great had been the force of the young dragonet. As for the dragon in question? A bronze, to the delight of the more superstitious weyrfolk, and the male candidates, of course. A herald of good fortune, and the hatchling seemed to know it, too.
He stood proudly where the Thunder Egg had once been, having quickly sorted himself out and found his footing on the hot sands after crashing out of his shell. His hide was truly a sight – rich, radiant bronze, in a ligher, creamier shade than average, but nonetheless brilliant and lustrous. So dazzling was his hide that it was easy for one to overlook the fact that he was slightly undersized. The young bronze carried himself in such a way that it was hardly noticeable, for his every movement was full of an easy grace surprising for a dragon so soon out of the shell.
The bronze had been blessed with near-flawless proportions, that was apparent, and perhaps this was what aided him in moving as easily as he did. He stood still for a moment, only his head turning on it’s neck, which was, like the rest of him, muscular enough to be powerful, but supple and lithe enough to give him the grace and ease of motion he enjoyed. This gave the weyr a chance to look at him more carefully, and those close enough would notice that despite the smooth appearance of his hide, it was actually two shades – a darker undertone topped by a myriad of subtle flecks and speckles of lighter bronze, which seemed to blend together into a uniform color at a glance.
Suddenly, he stirred, throwing back his head to let out a bugle. He had arrived! Now, he had to find his rider! He trotted away from the remains of his egg, heading for the male candidates to seek his companion.
Those who were able to tear their eyes from the bronze would notice that some of the other eggs of the clutch were redoubling their efforts, in particular the Gust Egg. To the surprise of many who had observed its static appearance not long before, the Lava Spray Egg had begun to shudder and shake in a great frenzy of motion. That bronze was out there hogging all the glory! Well, the dragon inside the Lava Spray Egg wouldn’t hear of that! Cracks and fissures began to cross the bright red shell, and a crack split the air as a deep, chocolate brown forelimb broke through. The rest of the dragon, however, seemed to be having difficulty following it, leaving the limb waving almost comically in the air as the brown struggled to free himself.
|
|
|
Post by **Auria (etc)** on Aug 6, 2008 9:33:20 GMT -5
Just as Plianth gave a slightly annoyed snort as she saw a candidate arrive without the traditional attire, Penna broke into a grin -- for L'kas had arrived with klah!
She patted her side, calling him over next to her, and leaned toward him. "Who cares about mugs?" she said, "Thank you SO much!" She accepted the flask and lifted it to her lips--
Only to sputter out the first sip all over the front of her tunic!
"A bronze!" she half-whispered, half-squealed, and jabbed L'kas in the ribs with her elbow. Never had one of Plianth's clutches hatched a bronze first before! Oh, how she loved Araelen Weyr -- it was like a dream come true! As the noble little bronze stepped away from the shards of the Thunder Egg, Penna tried, and succeeded this time, at another sip of klah. Her eyes were glowing with excitement, and she was almost tempted to echo Plianth's welcoming bugle as the great gold dragon greeted her son.
Then a second egg, the brilliant red Lava Spray egg, began to open itself to the world, and the brown limb that thrust out caused Penna's smile to broaden.
Bronze and brown, two strong fighting dragons.
Penna sent love and pride to her queen, who trumpeted encouragement to the dragonet trying to push his way from the shell.
|
|
|
Post by B'kay on Aug 6, 2008 10:18:43 GMT -5
While Caltrain's little Rapture was being a well-behaved flitter, perched high above the sands in the ceiling niches of the Hatching Grounds, Ravyna had her hands full with little Nuisance. The flitter kept trying to get away from her, as it saw the eggs preparing to hatch. Rider and her green dragon were hard pressed to keep the Annoyance Bronze from "trying to help", for each time a crack appeared, he would dart toward the eggs, returning to Igrainth only at a stern command from her. Though he respected the dragon, he didn't listen to his human at all.
Finally, reluctantly, Ravyna had had enough. She'd completely missed the hatching of the first bronze because of the flitter. She passed a request to Igrainth.
Leave. Go to our weyr. Wait there for us. Now! the dragon commanded, and with a pained squawk of hurt feelings, Nuisance vanished.
Ravyna sighed, feeling the little one's emotions, and sent him comfort ... though wrapped in a firm command to "stay".
As dearly as she loved the little guy, there were days....
But her reverie was interrupted by motion on the sands, as a brown leg thrust from the Lava Spray egg!
Igrainth crooned encouragement to the little brown in side.
|
|
|
Post by **Auria (etc)** on Aug 6, 2008 11:08:56 GMT -5
The little brown in the Lava Spray Egg began to thrash more violently, and as the cracks widened around his chocolate limb, a nose could be seen trying to force its way through as well. Suddenly a window opened, and much of the muzzle of the dragon within poked through. The effort tipped the egg forward, and it then rolled, clipping the Gust Egg, which was also beginning to rock more vigorously.
Gust Egg and Lava Spray Egg rolled together toward the outskirts of the clutch, bumping against one another, and as they came to rest, a tail was protruding from the Lava Spray, and distinct cracks were forming in the Gust.
But the lovely pale gleaming bronze which had hatched from the Thunder Egg could care less for the antics of his siblings, for he had a mission to fulfill! Raising head and wings high, he balanced himself elegantly (while cleverly drying his wing membranes with the heat of the sands) and moved toward the male candidates. He was decided, he was sure, and he knew just what he must do.
Wings still outstretched, he stopped several feet before the line of male candidates and bowed low. He looked like a dancer as he bowed, his elegance shocking in a dragonet so young. Most hatchlings would have landed nose-first in the sand if they'd tried that move, but not this little bronze.
Having paid his respect, he raised his head again, and looked calmly into the eyes ... of Hauze.
I am Dartagnth, he said, his voice resonating grace and honour. And I am forever yours.
|
|
|
Post by Monkeyfuzz on Aug 6, 2008 14:33:58 GMT -5
[GAH!! I am having such a hard time getting on. Sorry for making Jermashi late (Aylana is TECHINCALLY a bystander, lol)]
Shard it! For probably the most important day of his life, he was late. Late! What would the weyr think of a male candidate late to a gold hatching? He shouldn't even go now, he probably would be kicked out once he was seen, but he couldn't just give up. Would not showing up to a clutch at all be more insulting than being late?
Why was he late?
Well...let's just say that, when the flustered, tall young man entered the hatching sands, robes and all, looking annoyed, ashamed, and frustrated, a rather cool, smirking Aylana followed. Yes, the two had gotten into an argument but five dragonlengths from the Hatching Sands when Jermashi stumbled upon the stable hand on her way in.
The heated debate had lasted for ten minutes.
If the boy wasn't so hot-headed in his ways he probably wouldn't have been three-five minutes late to the hatching. But since he did, he now slunk in to stand with the other male candidates just as he noticed the bronze impress. He'd missed the first bonding-and a bronze, no less! Was he the first to hatch? Now really annoyed, or rather furious really, he turned to glare at the stable hand, whom was seated in the stands five or six rows up. She smiled at him and waved, to piss him off.
It worked.
|
|
|
Post by **Auria (etc)** on Aug 6, 2008 16:08:29 GMT -5
The bright Gust and Lava Spray Eggs were still in contact, as the latter seemed to be expanding from the inside out. For the chocolate brown limb, then muzzle, then tail, were soon followed by a rear limb and second forelimb, which pushed the shell outward.
The struggles of the hatchling finally, with massive effort, pushed the bright red shell apart in eight large sections, and the brown dragonet burst forward, a piece of shell still fixed firmly around the base of his tail. He appeared for a moment too big to have fit into the egg, for he was a large brown ... but on closer look, it was more that he was strongly muscled and well proportioned, a dragon who would grow into one of strength and power. Deep, dark chocolate all over, he opened his wings, just slightly short for his length, to reveal a surprise, for the membranes of his wingsails were of a rich caramel color shaded with medium brown.
The brown stood as tall as he was able, and noticed the chunk of shell still adhered to his tail. He tried to turn around, to grab it, annoyed that it was marring his good looks, and in the process stumbled and fell on the Gust Egg!
The clouded magenta shell of the Gust Egg split evenly along its cracks, revealing a petite green dragon. The brown fell across her, upending himself, and the piece of shell came flying off his tail to collide with the Spring Rain Egg. The impact opened a chunk of the Spring Rain's shell, and the egg rolled to hide the opening. The shuddering of the Spring Rain Egg increased with determination.
The little green from the Gust Egg screeched as she attempted to disentangle herself from her brown brother, and the brown frantically scrambled to right himself. Soon the two, the large brown and the tiny green, were glaring at each other amidst a mass of magenta and red shell fragments.
The green was first to gather herself, standing and shaking off shards of shell and sand. She was a lovely thing, elegant and graceful, the mottled shading of her hide sparkling in the light that shone in from the high cavern entrances. The alternating patches of lime and pine on her hide seemed to take on a fluid ripple as she moved.
The little brown lifted himself tall, towering over his clutchmate. He flared his wings at the green, and puffed out his chest impressively, but she just sniffed and turned away. She had more important things to do, after all!
She headed straight toward the female candidates, but the brown was not to be deterred so easily. He attempted to trot after her, fouling himself in the loose sands, and went sprawling.
The brown tail thumped the back of the little green as he fell, and sent her scuttling forward. Graceful in proportion, she managed to keep her feet, but stumbled right into the arms of ... Rhea.
Oh, Rhea-mine, I am so glad you were here to catch me! That silly one has bumped your Minath several times already, but YOU will see that she is safe. And fed ... I am just a little hungry, Mine.
The low rise of Plianth's initial nest had for the most part been flattened once the eggs had hardened, but the brown managed to land on the one remaining slope, and went sliding half a dragon's length, complaining loudly all the while.
He came to rest at the feet of a boy who had just entered, several minutes late, and struggled to right himself. However, he had a wing beneath him, and his long tail had ended up between his hind limbs, and he could not quite decide which to untangle first.
JermashiMine, he said, looking up with adoring eyes at the boy, Your Porth would be most happy if you would help him!
Back in the heart of the clutch, the Spring Rain Egg continued to shake and rattle.
|
|
|
Post by Mariya on Aug 6, 2008 16:46:12 GMT -5
Mariya wasn't aware of the insistant humming coming from the hatching grounds today. She had been out foraging for more numbweed and assorted other herbs to replenish the supplies in the Healing area. With a new clutch, they will be going through the supplies quickly as the young candidates and hatchlings got used to each other. Claw scratches would be some of the worst injuries, at least what she hoped.
She wasn't unhappy to have this duty. In fact she relished the chance to be out on her own for the time it took her to gather the herbs and plants. She tugged on the riding beast's halter. He was being stubborn and Mariya had already chased away several snakes that he had fussed about. Perhaps there was another one. She looked around but didn't see anything.
She was getting wary of the sun with her pale skin and red hair. Even though she was used to it, somehow it was more difficult her not to get a sunburn. Perhaps it was time for her to head back.
Checking her bags and ties, she headed the now no longer stubborn riding beast back to the Weyr, still unawares of the excitement in the air. Hatchings were exciting, for the first one, in her opinion. She had always been passed over when Dragons came by on Search both in the past and now. But she didn't care. She had her hands full with dealing with their injuries, why should she want to be bonded to one. None of the animals around her had ever been special to her. They were just there to be useful, like this beast.
Coming back up the path which would lead her by the Hatching grounds, she was suddenly aware of the noise and bustle ahead of her. A Dragon bugled and she recognized Plianth, so she guessed the reason why and groaned. She would have to go by them in order to put the herbs up for storage and preparation. She made her way to the edge of the seating area and peered around at the group of eggs that Plianth had been brooding over for the entire time she had been here. A few had already hatched. A Bronze and a Brown one. That was good for the Weyr, she knew from her teaching ballads. Sighing, Mariya turned away to try and make her way around the back of the seats, avoiding as many people as possible.
|
|