|
Post by .K.aci on Aug 7, 2008 10:55:28 GMT -5
But, but, but, but... Her dragon... Her Bronze would blink Between, and it would be all her fault... That nasty Headwoman too, all her fault, killing her Bronze! How could she?
These thoughts, and other's along the line of it, rang in Crown's head as she stood next to the huge beast, turning the meat slowly. At least seven different worker's were keeping an eye on her, smacking her if she even glanced towards the door. It was official, she guessed. She was going to be without her Bronze, forever. But she would not cry, no. She would proudly lift her head up and do exactly what the Headwoman said to, remember her station. So down went the head, into a slouch, the strawberry dirty blond hair swinging infront of her face while oversized clothing draped a slim body.
Indeed, she even began couching herself back into the dim, stupid girl that she had pretended to be for so long... When suddenly she was being whipped around, a Candidate demanding quietly that she listen to her.
'You!'
"Wha?"
Ah, lookit that, the stupidity was coming through already.
'You will be my personal drudge today.'
Bitchygirlsaywhat? Crown's head went back, her hand on her hip, seemingly ignored now that she was being yelled at by a Candidate. Crown didn't do personal crap, no way. She was a drudge by her own choice, not a slave for some arrogant chick. And the tone, oh, the tone would bother her for ages. As though to be granted this request would be the most amazing thing ever, she should be so excited... But the girl kept rambling on.
'Since I am to be the next goldrider, I think it only right that you wait on me. You will bring the largest bowl of meat you can find and wait for me to Impress, then you will bring it immediately so I can feed my darling! Quickly now!'
Crown burst out laughing. She couldn't help it, and it was smothered almost instantly, turned into a hacking cough. The next Goldrider? That was funny... But even as she was about to snap that she could lead her 'darling' (Queen's were useless, not even breathing fire) to the table's just like everyone else, Crown suddenly realized she could use this to her advantage.
Giving a bow, she muttered, "Yes mam'mam," and then without looking back, slipped over to grab a bowl of meat. Truly, a really big bowl, so if anybody looked, she was just doing as ordered. Of course, if you knew Crown, it would either end up as a prank or the girl was doing it for herself. But now she ignored the looks, making sure the headwoman was busy berating some poor drudge while she slipped out the door. Then she was off, carrying the meat that was her ticket there to the Sands.
Crown slipped in, gasping for breath, and nearly passed out. Oh my god, it was so hot in there. The outside, while muggy and humid, was nothing compared to inside, which was so dry and hot she felt her skin start to burn. But none of that mattered, as she scanned the eggs and the candidates. By the colors on the ground, three eggs had hatched, and she crossed over to the table where three dragons were eating. A pretty Green, a rich Brown... And the most beautiful Bronze. The meatbowl forgotten in her hand, she only smiled at the pretty two-toned creature, admiring his perfect proportions, his grace and his pride...
Dartagnth looked up suddenly from the meat, and H'aze looked at him, slightly confused.
"Dartagnth?"
//Mine, your clutch-sister.
Putting this dragon term into human, he assumed that Dartagnth was asking about his sister.
"What about her?"
//She is here, H'azemine. She is right there.[/i]
Now more than a little confused, H'aze didn't turn around to see, but instead looked at the picture that Dartagnth was sending him. The girl was thinner, taller, more like a woman, but it had been turns since he had seen his siblings.
"Claudia?"
//Yes, indeed Mine. The girl you call Claudia is looking at me.[/i]
H'aze whipped around to see for himself. The same stubborn chin, the eyes that they had both inherited from their mother, the strawberry blond hair that was straight, but always mused... H'aze licked suddenly dry lips, gazing at the little sister he had left behind so many turns ago. His whisper before seemed to have gone unoticed - it was him whipping around that had gotten her attention, and even then she was loathe to look away from the beautiful creature.
"Claudia?"
The voice, quiet and intense like always, was a little louder this time, pleading. Her head flew up, mouth opening to make some retort, and then it died on her lips as her eyes widened and she found herself looking into eyes that were the mirror image of hers.
"Hauze?"
"H'aze. Dartagnth is Mine. Claudia, is that really you?"
The girl only looked up at her older brother, the meatbowl forgotten as she dropped it into the sands, her arms wrapped around herself.
"H'aze..."
Crown was shocked. Her brother, here. Her brother had just Impressed the beautiful Bronze... Her brother! Suddenly all animosity was forgotten, and the young girl threw herself in her brother's arms, ignoring the tattoos that were new, enveloping herself in his warm scent as he wrapped those long arms around her, pulling her to his much taller frame, unable to believe it. But it was over too soon, as she breathed in his own scent and drew away.
Suddenly, those ages of time seemed to crash back over her, and she jerked her head up, grabbing the bowl that had thankfully landed right-side up.
"You left us."
It was a scathing hiss of anger that the words came out, all love forgotten.
"You left us, and Kanamar and Deverel always knew you'd come back. But no, you were here, living the easy life. I'm not Claudia anymore. It's Crown, and if you excuse me, I'm need as Miss's personal drudge."
And the girl stalked away, her brother open mouth behind her. But when he tried to go after her, a smooth voice murmured in his head,
//Wait. She is hurting, and you following will only hinder.
The Bronze, ever polite as H'aze was, did not mention that he was still hungry, but H'aze felt that, and began to feed him again, although slightly shocked. Even the good fortune of Impressing His was slightly marred by what he realized he had just done.[/size]
|
|
|
Post by Kain on Aug 7, 2008 12:55:58 GMT -5
Laerel awoken from what could be considered 'dead sleep,' by some. He glanced around, disoriented. There was some unholy sound assaulting his poor, sleep-fogged ears. What was that dreadful sound? The skinny brunette bolted out of bed, his eyes wide. It couldn't be- the Hatching! He fumbled out of bed, tangling himself in the thin cloth sheets in the process.
Shards! Shells! The string of profanity continued in his head as he attempted to pull off the bedding and pull on his robe at the same time. He glanced around as he did so, trying to place what seemed off about the barracks. Then he realized it, and he paused a moment in horror. It was empty! That meant that everyone else, even the lazy ones, were at the hatching. He watched his chance at a partnerless dragon melted before his eyes. There was no way, just no way, that any remained.
Disconsolately, he stumbled out of the rooms, just barely remembering to put on his traditional sandals. He shuffled through the halls towards the hatching grounds, expecting to see the joyful weyrlings making their happy ways off to whatever it was that weyrlings did. So, why was he going? Well, maybe he was a masochist. In any case, his thoughts were drifting to wonder at the heat he felt radiating off the sand even a hall away.
His spirits lifted as he drew up to the grounds. Chaos was still reigning, a sign which surely meant the Hatching was still happening! He was so overjoyed that he almost skipped up to the queen. In a very uncharacteristic display of emotion, he bowed, a giant grin staining his face. He subtly made his way to the boys' small cluster, regaining his composure with every step.
|
|
|
Post by Shikai on Aug 7, 2008 18:40:50 GMT -5
With the other dragons hatched and impressed, the Drought Egg seemed to muster up its strength and intensify its rocking, ready now to break free and make its own entrance into the world. Yet just as cracks began to appear along its surface, the Tsunami Egg split in two, sending a blue dragonet spilling out onto the sands.
He quickly picked himself up and stretched out his wings, which were surprisingly large and long for a dragon his size, flapping them a few times to cast off a few clinging globs of residue from the egg. While he was decidedly on the small side for a blue, this fact was easily overlookable when one caught sight of his hide. From head to tail, he was covered evenly in a deep, royal blue, offset only by vibrant sparks of electric blue that were flecked all over him. These were especially apparent on his muzzle, where they were present in higher concentration, and looked reminiscent of freckles. The blue stood quietly for a moment, eyes blinking to adjust to the sudden light. Gaining his bearings, he took a few tentative steps forward, moving toward the male candidates.
The appearance of another dragon seemed to dishearten the Drought Egg, and its valiant efforts had reduced to minimal movement. The Stormy Night Egg, however, had only increased its attempts to free itself, and was rocking steadily. Finally, a large crack appeared, through which onlookers could glimpse what appeared to be blue hide. Suspicions were confirmed as the dragonet’s head pushed through the shell, colored dark, midnight blue. As the dragon pulled the rest of his body from the shell, however, it revealed a surprise. The midnight blue color was restricted to his head and several streaks down his neck, while the rest of him was a vibrant azure! It almost looked as though the dragonet had dipped his head in a bucket of dark blue paint, accounting for its different color and the streaks on his neck, as though the paint had dripped down. As he stumbled forward and found his footing, it was apparent that he was of a much larger, more muscular build than his brother. He proceeded forward, also moving toward the male candidates.
Just as he was passing by the near still Drought Egg, however, the tan-colored egg suddenly crumpled, leaving a dragonet thrashing in the mess of goo and shards. He clearly hadn’t intended to hatch yet, but his egg had been so thoroughly covered in cracks from his previous efforts that it was unable to hold itself together. The blue leapt back, crying out in surprise. A brown dragonet stumbled forth from the wreckage, warbling apologetically to his blue clutchmate.
The brown was truly an extraordinary sight. He was colored in a manner extraordinarily like a bay runnerbeast, with red-brown hide accented by a black tail, muzzle, and neck ridges. His feet were black as well, and his underbelly a golden, reddish tan. A strip of white even adorned the center of his face! As he moved forward, joining his blue brother in walking toward the male candidates, it was apparent that he was built for speed rather than strength. His build was long and narrow, and even his wings were longer and sharper than the norm for a brown.
The blue with the dark colored head stopped, respectfully allowing his higher-ranking brother to proceed first. However, this only confused the oddly colored brown, who had planned to follow behind the blue. He wasn’t in a hurry, and the blue had hatched first! Their anxiety was visible, neither seeming certain what to do. Suddenly, the brown made up his mind and turned and walked in the opposite direction, toward the females! The blue looked after him, confused, but knew that his was definitely not that way! He joined his royal blue clutchmate in examining the males.
The second blue gave the first blue a wide berth, not out of fear, but the fact that he simply wasn’t as given to socializing as some. He had a very important task ahead of him now! The first blue, meanwhile, had been moving down the line of candidates, seeking his without much luck. He had more or less ignored the interactions of the other dragons, quietly going about his business. However, unbeknownst to him, the azure blue had stopped for a moment to look more closely at one of the candidates. The first blue, looking at the candidates he passed, wasn’t watching where he was going, and let out a cry of alarm as he collided with his clutchmate!
He recovered quickly, shaking his head as though to clear his momentary disorientation, and snorted in slight agitation at his brother. The second blue merely glared back. He hadn’t done anything wrong! The royal-colored blue hadn’t been watching where he was going! The two parted ways, the first turning to lock eyes with Eddin.
There you are, Eddinmine! I am sorry I took so long to find you, although you were a bit late yourself, were you not? Ah, but it is no matter now! Your Harkth is here!
The brown, meanwhile, had by this time reached the female candidates, and knew immediately where to find the one he sought. He moved to her without hesitation, nuzzling her with his dark muzzle. Kimber! Finally, your Ferth has found you! I’m very relieved, for I’m afraid all of this is very confusing to me…
The boy he had paused to look at forgotten, the other blue moved quickly forward, his eyes still whirling slightly with agitation at his blue clutchbrother. The accident itself was excusable, of course, but Harkth had no right to be angry with him! However, any lingering anger he felt faded instantly as he looked up, his face brightening as he locked eyes with…Kanamar![/color] He called, with a cheerful bugle as he rushed the last few paces toward his new rider, stopping just in time to avoid collision. Your Raouth’s journey to find you was harrowing indeed, but now we are together, and all is well![/color]
|
|
|
Post by Flamewolf on Aug 7, 2008 20:53:44 GMT -5
This was all going so fast. Eggs were hatching, dragonets impressing...Ky was having a hard time keeping up. But not Hel.
*Pay attention! If they see you overwhelmed, no dragon will come your way.*
It was like a slap in the face. The boy was overheating, and could barely take it. Ky grit his teeth. "Not like you are battling with the heat!" he snarled quietly, so quietly in fact that he didn't even think he had said anything. But he had.
*Do you need me to come out there and-*
"No!" he exclaimed just as the second blue impressed, a little louder than he had intended, so the two boys next to him turned to him. He pretended he hadn't heard anything, and if it hadn't been for the heat the red of embarrassment on his cheeks would have given him away.
Just...let me handle it, Hel, he finally thought silently and gave a strangled sigh. This was going to be...hard.
((Gah, responded with one candidate from now on. Doing both is a little confusing. Hah.))
|
|
|
Post by Kain on Aug 7, 2008 22:02:59 GMT -5
A hissing sound escaped Laerel's lips as he watched his fellow candidates impress. Certainly, he did not begrudge them their dragons, but where was his? The boy's face remained stoic, but inwardly he was growing frantic. What if he didn't impress? It would be forever until the next hatching! Suppose something came up! Or, Faranath forbid, he was too old by then? He wasn't quite sure what the age limits was, and though some of the candidates here looked much older than him, he still fretted.
Laerel bit the inside of his cheek, watching vigilantly for any new dragons to make an appearance. A nervous hand was tugging on the end of his runner-tail. These few signs were the only he gave that he wasn't at, say, a funeral. Those, and the way he jumped a tiny bit everytime an egg cracked. Though, in a crowd of candidates, he was sure that little tick would go compleatly unnoticed. Judging by how some of them looked like they were going to faint every time an egg so much as twitched, at least.
The heat in this place was unbearable! Was it always this hot? He tried to remember back to the time he'd visited the Weyr for a close friend's Hatching, and he couldn't remember it being so hot. Maybe it was different, now that it was his own. Laerel mentally shrugged and discounted the heat. Nothing he couldn't stand, after all.
|
|
|
Post by Skye on Aug 7, 2008 22:09:21 GMT -5
Kimber watched the hatching closely, laughing at each new hatching. She was in awe of the dark headed blue that hatched from the Stormy Night egg. But it was the beautiful Brown that hatched that caught her attention.
Oh he was a lovely one, but she allowed her gaze to slip away from him. She would probably impress a green. She watched the blue that had hatched from the Tsunami Egg impressed, smiling at the look of love and joy on the face of those that had impressed.
She goes still as she feels that lovely brush of Ferth's mind in her own.
Kimber! Finally, your Ferth has found you! I’m very relieved, for I’m afraid all of this is very confusing to me…
Kimber stared down wide eyed at the lovely brown, a smile curving her lips. She kneels and puts her arms around the brown, laughing even as tears rolls down her cheeks. She nuzzles against his neck, inhaling his spicy scent. "Oh Ferth," she said happily.
I'm also hungry Kimber,[/color] he informed his rider gently, nuzzling against her chest. Kimber laughed softly and stood, leading her Brown toward where the food was set up.
~~
Emberlyn watched as her sister impressed, feeling jealous of her twin for once. Normally she didn't get jealous of her twin, but Kimber had impressed before her.
She frowned slightly and tried to shake those thoughts away, not wanting to frighten away any of the dragons that might consider her as a possible bonded.
|
|
|
Post by Kitari on Aug 7, 2008 23:04:33 GMT -5
Hurry, Lefayeth! the Sr. Weyrlingrider urged. They had taken to the skies with zeal, ever since that first flight, and there was always more of Pern to explore every day. With the easily accepted excuse of practicing in the air together and strengthening Lefayeth's wings, Kitari and Lefayeth had been ranging farther and farther from the Weyr. Thus, on the day of the Hatching, they had received the trumpeting broadcast while soaring over the ocean.
Although Kitari had been absorbed in admiring the rippling surface of the sea below, she immediately gave the command to go between with an image of the Weyr grasped firmly in mind. As they swept into the Hatching Ground, Lefayeth already beginning to hum, Kitari was pleased to note that they had missed few Impressions so far. This would be, after all, the first Hatching she could play spectator to. Her first Hatching had been the last, in which she had Impressed her darling gold. It would offer quite a different perspective to watch instead of participate.
As Lefayeth backwinged neatly to a landing beside a dark bronze on a wider section of ledge, Kitari smiled broadly at the sight of a girl overcome by emotions, who was just leading her brown life partner off the Sands. It was such a vivid reminder of the overwhelming joy she had experienced at her own Impression. "Isn't it wonderful?" she murmured, sliding down Lefayeth's side to sit on the ledge and stroke her lovely's hide. The gold responded by humming with increased fervour.
-----------------------
Brinne tried very diligently to pointedly ignore every green that approached the girls (and even a brown!), but even she was not so cold-hearted that her gaze could be easily diverted. The diminutive green was lovely indeed with her vivid shades, but prestige and power would only come with one colour. Still, she was overflowing with affection for the little dragonets; they were all so cute! Even the clumsier Hatchlings had such an innocent quality to them. It was becoming difficult indeed to maintain her focus.
To add to this diversion, the girl was beginning to feel very lightheaded. The heat, her panicked race through the Weyr, and the sickening lurch of emotions from excitement to fear and back again were combining to create a sort of haze before her eyes. Anxiously, Brinne scrubbed at her face. She didn't want to miss a moment of this Hatching! When she opend her eyes again, the Grounds seemed to be shifting in an eery way, and she righted herself from a slanting angle quickly. This suddenly wasn't looking so good for Brinne. Why was it hard to breathe?
|
|
|
Post by Monkeyfuzz on Aug 8, 2008 0:01:52 GMT -5
Jermashi was still berating himself over how late he was when suddenly...it didn't matter anymore. A new feeling overcame him and it wistfully snapped him out of his thoughts. He lowered his gaze to the brown dragonet tangled at his feet, and his breath caught. It took him a few moments before he was able to get it back again. As mentioned before, nothing mattered; the ex-candidate found himself down on his knees and helping the rather bulky brown, first wing, then tail gently untangled with care.
"Porth..." was the first thing he uttered as Weyrling. A very suiting thing to say, wouldn't you agree? The brown raised his softly whirling eyes to him.
Good. You were able to get my name. And my wing and tail! Thank you. It was awkward, but he was able to stand after a moment of figuring out his size.
Je'shi (has he mentioned he loves his shortened name?) smiled adoringly at the brown. And then...I'd rather not get in the way of my siblings, and plus, Je'shi, the food is over that way. Well, at least he got to the point. The weyrling smiled feebly at his stupidity of forgetting about the dragonet's hunger, which was now gnawing at his own stomach.
"Of course." I'm sorry. His first tentative attempt at the silent link between dragon and rider. Porth threw him an amused look, obviously having heard the silent apology. They walked together to the feeding table.
[EE!! Porth so fits Je'shi's personality. He's amazing.]
|
|
Mango
Flight
Tropical Fruit
Posts: 6
|
Post by Mango on Aug 8, 2008 2:21:49 GMT -5
Eddin had resolved to pay close attention, as though that could somehow make up for missing the first few Impressions. However, Drought Egg tricked him; he was watching that one instead of Tsunami Egg, and thus, in a move of pure irony, missed the hatching of his own dragon.
He looked around just a few seconds later, and watched the blue get to his feet. He was a handsome creature, though, wasn't he? A little on the small side, perhaps... It was hard for Eddin to tell, seeing as he'd spent most of his life around herdbeasts and runners, not dragons. Speaking of Runners...
Eddin stared openly at the brown. It had Hatched after the second blue; there were now three dragons on the sands. The brown was an almost perfect imitation of a Runner... a handsome Runner at that! Eddin hadn't know that was possible. The brown turned away, going toward the female Candidates instead. He dropped out of Eddin's mind at that moment; the large lad went back to watching the blues. The first to Hatch was more definitely the more handsome of the pair, in Eddin's opinion. The change between the bright color of the second's body and the deep color of the head was... comical. In a less tense situation, Eddin would have laughed at him. He did draw the attention more than the first.
The two Blue's spent a tense moment ((or so it seemed to Eddin)) glaring at one another, before they parted ways, and the darker blue looked straight into Eddin's eyes.
There you are, Eddinmine! I am sorry I took so long to find you, although you were a bit late yourself, were you not? Ah, but it is no matter now! Your Harkth is here!
Eddin stared for a moment. And a longer moment. His mind was working through what had just happened. Harkth waited patiently. He was not the type to snap at His, no matter how long it was taking to get fed. His would come around.
Harkth's did. Oddly enough, the first thought was not the wonder of Impression. E'din didn't have the words to describe how it felt to look into the rainbow eyes of the most marvelous Blue in all of Pern. No, the first thought that crossed his mind was sheer wonder. Harkth knew when he'd gotten there. Had he been able to feel him through the shell? Had he been waiting for him? E'din's questing fingers traced the close-set electric blue "freckles" absently for a moment before stepping back. It wasn't proper for him to continue to stand with the Candidates. He didn't want to get in anyone's way, and Harkth's hunger was apparent even if the Blue had not yet raised the subject.
The pair hurried toward the meat stations, and Harkth took his food eagerly. Though the bond was so new, it still felt natural. The silence that stretched between them was warm and comfortable, speaking of two minds between whom there were no sharp edges to prevent complete understanding.
|
|
|
Post by **Auria (etc)** on Aug 8, 2008 8:04:32 GMT -5
Penna's hair, as the scorching heat continued to rise, frizzed more and more, till, with the bright red of her face as her body reacted to the heat, she began to look rather like a comedy harper who entertains children at gathers with magic tricks and face paints. She was swaying on her feet, and grew thankful for L'kas's hand on her shoulder ... though wondered for a moment whether he was holding her up ... or himself.
She looked upward. As the humid heat from outside met the dry from the Hatching Sands, a heatfog was forming high above near the cavern roof. She stared at it for a moment, and for a ludicrous second wonder if it would start to rain inside the caverns, for it looked all the world like a cloud was gathering.
Movement on the sands, however, drew her back down, and she couldn't help the broad grin that spread across her flushed face as three beautiful dragonets impressed in short succession. Two blues and a brown, and she marveled at the colors, for she'd never seen markings and patterns like these in all her many years as Weyrfolk. My, how amazing was her Plianth! (The fact that L'kas's Seath contributed half their genes, of course, never crossed her mind....)
The Spring Rain Egg, which had suffered from the tossed shell earlier, had rolled into the dark, starry Meteor Shower Egg. Suddenly that one began to rock, to roll, as if trying to get away from its clutchmate ... and it did in fact move away, bumping lightly against the lovely Clouds at Dusk Egg. Both of these began to tremble and quiver, a tiny crack forming in the Meteor Shower Egg. The Spring Rain Egg, however, left alone where it landed, with the opening to the shell buried mysteriously beneath it, expanded slightly as if taking a deep sigh, and lay still....
The movement of the eggs, the sounds of cracks forming, all spoke of hatchings imminent. Penna, just before it dawned on her that she was about to swoon, realized she was holding her breath and inhaled sharply, the hot air almost scorching her lungs.
"Ooooh, woozy...." she muttered and leaned against L'kas for support.
Just then a drop of moisture hit her in the face, and the sands in front of her let out a spurt of steam.
Steam?
Another drop.
She looked upward .... The fog had thickened, indeed, into a cloud ... and it was
"Raining?" Her mouth fell open as another drop fell, and the sands again steamed.
Just a few drops, here and there, as the cloud forming against the roof failed to hold all its moisture. She reached out her hand, puzzled, to catch one, but it did not offer the cool respite she hoped it would. The water was warm, the steam it produced, thick and sticky.
She scowled, worried. Would the Hatching Caverns turn into a sauna?
Oh dear. This can't be good.
|
|