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Post by B'kay on Jul 16, 2009 16:04:19 GMT -5
Meanwhile, A'mor had just turned to the healer he had seen helping other's and called, "Ummm, Miss Gaylen? I think I need help here." Sitting down in the sand would be nice... Everything was starting to spin! Mine, hold on! I WILL SAVE YOU! Over to the woman His was calling he staggered and clumsily fell (apparently this one wasn't very graceful) and once infront of her growled up polietly, then turned and fell his way back to his. He would bring His back the Healer and fix His! It was an adventure, even if his belly was hurting double time. Gaylen heard the young dragon's worried treble and turned, surprised out of her grinning over the two newly Impressed Queen riders, to see a little blue hatchling trying to make his way toward her. Her eyes rose from him, as he landed at her feet, to His, and they widened in distress. She grabbed her healer's bag and followed the youngster to his newly bonded. "I'm so, so sorry!" she whispered to the young man, as, after a brief glance for permission, she pulled the tears in his robes apart to examine the wounds. The scratches were deep enough to bleed freely, but not broad, and several appeared to have sand embedded in them. She reached for her bandage shears and cut down the front of his robe just enough to expose the wounds. "So sorry about that," she said to him, and I feel terrible for not realizing there was another wounded candi... Weyrling on the Sands! This will be cold and may sting--" She poured water, gathered quickly from the icewater table, into a flask which had redwort concentrate in the bottom, shook it up, and poured it over his chest, staining skin and robes, but washing out the sand nicely. "Sorry--" she caught herself, and smiled up sheepishly for having repeated the word once again. Rinsing away the stains, she examined the wounds more closely. They were clean now, so she was able to apply numbweed for the pain. "I'd have liked to do this first," she said softly, "But didn't want to smear anything sticky on there when there was still sand to wash away. "They look thin enough that I can keep them well closed with tape," she said, "And I don't believe they'll require suturing. You're going to have to be careful how you move, though. No lifting anything heavy for a good tenday," she said as she secured the wounds and taped thick gauze bandages to the young man's chest. "Would you like a drop of fellis for the pain, or do you think the numbweed has sufficed?" She leaned back when done and smiled down at the little blue. "Your new partner here is quite the young hero," she said. "Do you think he'd honor me with his name?"
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Post by **Auria (etc)** on Jul 16, 2009 16:28:45 GMT -5
The drudge watching Ranny was really more interested in watching the cute apprentice smithcrafter sitting behind her. When the little boy had shouted that his auntie Impressed, of course, she did turn around and encourage his cheers ... for just a moment, that is. Oh, but that boy's eyes were so blue!
No, not the little boy, his eyes are green, silly ... the young smith's eyes! Goodness, me.
So, distracted as she was, she didn't notice the curly-head with the cloud of flitters (is three flitters a cloud?) climbing down the last few rows of benches to the hot sands below.
"Auntie-Aury! Auntie-Aury! Can me an' Wizzerd an' 'Fari an' Memmy he'p you feed your new dragon?" His call was soft, for the sands were hot, and his little feet were most tender. Ten or so (not that it mattered, as he can't count yet, anyway) steps into the Grounds, Ranny stopped. Eyes welled with sparkling tears as his feet, one at a time, even though he truly wished he could do both, lifted high off the heat. But as each lifted, the extra weight on the other made it even more hot, and the hide-soul mocassins he was wearing most certainly were no protection.
And his Auntie, his very own Auntie, who had protected him for so long, was so absorbed in her new young Queen that she never even noticed his distress.
Rannell began to weep softly, and looked toward the nearest humans ... the few candidates still on the Sands ... for help.
Wizzerd, sensing her dear one's distress, started to kreel loudly, setting the other two flitters into a harmony of worried chatter.
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Post by Kitari on Jul 16, 2009 16:31:37 GMT -5
The end of the Hatching was drawing near, and there were few eggs left to cast shadows on the sands. The Rising Thermals Egg had finally begun to rock with consistency, and the Swiftly Swimming Egg was jerking every once in a while. The newly-revealed Deep Abyss Egg was still wiggling in rather muted motions, due to its partial burial, but the sand was beginning to slide away from it, unburying the little egg slowly. The poor Long Dive Egg had been thrashing for some time now, and viewers were no doubt beginning to wonder if the shell was exceptionally thick on that one, for cracks had yet to appear though the dragonet within was obviously fighting with some fervour. The Rolling Dunes Egg was now bucking back and forth, using the momentum to heave itself forward and suddenly…
It was rolling! The Rolling Dunes Egg had fallen completely on its side, unHatched, and was now barrelling towards the line of candidates! Any who stood in its way were immediately bowled over, including Remmekk, and the Egg didn't stop until it smashed right into an Egg from the other Clutch. The Long Dive Egg! An explosion of shards flew out from the collision site, and when the air cleared, two blue dragonets were visible upon the sand. One clambered to his feet immediately, the Rolling Dunes Blue, and promptly stumbled to the side, falling over again. He looked extremely dizzy, and understandably so. When the other blue, the Long Dive Blue, also rose hesitantly to his feet, the audience no doubt did a double take.
Although from separate Clutches (and truly, both Eggs must have Hatched, because there was no orb left in that area!), both dragonets were surprisingly turquoise in colour, and both had a stripe running down their spines! While the Rolling Dunes Blue was a dark turquoise colour with angular features, the Long Dive Blue was a far lighter turquoise with blunt and small features. The Long Dive Blue was also distinguishable, on closer inspection, by light cobalt stripes that traced his hide much like a tabby feline.
Both dragonets looked rather dazed by their unexpected encounter, and they were both staring at each other in perplexion. Finally, the Long Dive Blue edged forward a bit, and suddenly pounced on the Rolling Dunes Blue! The latter squawked in surprise, but before he had time to bristle in defense, the Long Dive Blue was off and running! He raced up to the Swiftly Swimming Egg and promptly gave it a heave with his shoulder, knocking it onto its side. Apparently he quite appreciated the joke that had been played on him in his Egg and wanted to do the same to others! As he looked around, he noticed the greater number of Eggs in the Windy Desert Clutch and promptly took off. Even more Eggs to play with! But as he bounded through the line of candidates, knocking poor Remmekk yet again, the blue suddenly jerked to a halt and spun his head round in surprise.
That just didn’t seem right…
Where was…?
Oh, but it must be a game!
The Long Dive Blue thus set about creeping through the remaining eggs of the Windy Desert Clutch, tail twitching with amusement all the way.
If the Rolling Dunes Blue had been off-put by the dizzying journey across the sands, subsequent collision, and ultimately being tackled, he was now utterly confused. What a strange dragonet that other one was! Shaking his head in a surprisingly human way, the blue slowly stood and plodded across the sands much more cautiously and with the occasional stumble to the side. This wasn't a game! He needed to find his partner, his one-and-only, and it would be the most important decision of his life! This dragonet definitely wasn't going to rush the choice, as he prodded and poked the remaining white-robed figures. Niera just wouldn't do, neither would Tierelm…aha!
Katalyn-mine! There you are! Or are there two of you? Your Osiryth doesn't feel so good. Does the world usually spin like this? The groggy blue leaned thankfully against his new rider, looking up at her with adoring eyes.
Meanwhile, the Long Dive Blue had snuffled his way through the Windy Desert Clutch and was now considering the crowd with narrowed eyes. He began creeping towards the audience, ignoring a drudge who tried to shoo him back towards the candidates, and suddenly climbed onto the first rung of the stands. His head bobbed and swayed, as his mind searched, and he began to creel softly, when suddenly, aha! His wings burst open in triumph, taking out the viewers who had failed to move away from him quickly enough, and the blue promptly threw himself between the first and second step of the stands. Except that his giant wings, now flared open, got caught! His head was through but the rest of him was wedged firmly in place.
Ack…ungh…T'rasel-mine! Why were you hiding from your Iolath? Silly mine. It was fun looking for you, though! Except I began to worry you weren't here... And now your Iolath is stuck. This is no good. Why are you still sitting there? Come help your Iolath get out of here! He hungers, besides. And then he wants to go explore! Mine? Miiiine? Already the blue was demonstrating his chatty nature, rambling on and on…he just didn't seem able to stop!
Suddenly, out on the sands, the Swiftly Swimming Egg, now lying on its side after being toppled, snapped in two. The top half came off neatly along a single, straight crack, and the brown dragonet within sat up to consider his surroundings. He looked rather miffed at having been knocked over while in his Egg, and his wings opened to reveal his auburn form. The Swiftly Swimming Brown threw his head back and began to bugle in a shrill little voice, letting the world know his discontent!
Font Colours: darkturquoise turquoise
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Post by meah on Jul 16, 2009 16:44:37 GMT -5
Xiana watched as her eldest brother, too, wandered off to feed his dragon, without even a backward glance at her. So much for being protective. Of course, he was supposed to be happy, and this dragon obviously made him very happy. At least the little one wasn't hurting him the way some of the dragons were other candidates.
She was distracted by the sound of a firelizard in a panic, becoming multiple flitters in distress. What was going on with them? They weren't supposed to be on the sand?
And then she saw the little boy who had run rampant around the girls' candidates quarters with his flitter. He was on the sands! That poor child must be so uncomfortable. Her feet were burning through thick leather boots, and he certainly wasn't wearing anything that good. It was her job to take care of children, and this child needed some care, certainly.
Running up to him, the girl scooped the little boy up into her arms. "What do you think you're doing down here? These sands are too hot for you to be running around on!"
He just looked so excited, though. He'd had somewhere to go. A man on a mission, but with no way to get there.
Deep Ocean Clutch Swiftly Swimming Egg – Brown -- : no one yet Branching Reef Egg – Blue Achilleth : Aren'mor (midnightblue) Deceptive Calm Egg – Blue Ajath : Nym'oren (mediumblue) Long Dive Egg – Blue Iolath : Ter'rasel (turquoise) Gentle Ripples Egg – Green Penloeth : Xia'rl (lightgreen) Rushing Current Egg – Gold Helennith : Trilia (orange) Stormy Sea Egg – Blue Jasth : Tarin (dodgerblue) Foaming Shores Egg – Green Cassanth : Jaylee Tidal Pool Egg – Brown Parith : Larikev (sienna) Wave Dancing Egg – Bronze Herculith : K'yrian (goldenrod) Rising Tide Egg – Green Megrath : Riley (green) Breaking Surf Egg – Blue Telmacith : Mariya (aqua) Dark Abyss Egg – rocking the sand away
Windy Desert Clutch Barren Earth Egg – not moving Desert Flower Egg – Gold Nefertith : Auria (yellow) Desert Sunset Egg – Green Cleoth : Nicola (limegreen) Rising Thermals Egg – rocking consistently Rolling Dunes Egg – Blue Osiryth : Katalyn (darkturquoise) Serene Oasis Egg – Brown Ptolth : Celeste (burlywood) Shady Evening Egg – Green Hatsheth : Sila'tar (darkolivegreen) Stone Sentinel Egg – Green Sekheth : Eravrael (mediumseagreen) Endless Sands Egg – Brown Akhenatath : Xi'an (darkred) Cracked Soil Egg – Green Aramunith : Re'tivor (aquamarine) Seething Sands Egg – Bronze Ramesth : Willfred (darkgoldenrod) Sleeping Serpent Egg – Blue Duamuth : Kela'rin (mediumslateblue) Shining Mirage Egg – Green Isith : Kinga (lightgreen) Dry Mountain Egg – shaking consistently Prickly Guardian Egg – Brown Khufuth : Fi'del (700000)
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Post by C'lyn on Jul 16, 2009 20:04:12 GMT -5
C'lyn looked up at the sound of distressed flit and noticed Rannell on the sands. He nearly tripped over his own feet in his hurry to get to the young boy.
He sighed in relief when he saw Xiana scoop him up. He smiled as he carefully made his way over to the two, his own green flit appearing with a calming croon. C'lyn glanced toward the stands with an arched brow, noting the woman who had been watching the boy and making a mental note to have some words with her later.
He turned his attention back to Xiana and smiled, holding his arms out for Rannell. "Thank you so much for getting to him," he said, truly relieved. "I can take him from here, you best get back to your spot so you don't distress a little one meant for you," he said gently.
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Post by **Auria (etc)** on Jul 16, 2009 21:53:12 GMT -5
Terrasel was still craning his neck to see where the two golds went, chastising himself for not picking a more central hiding place, when commotion among the eggs snapped his attention around.
He could just barely see the egg as it rolled and rolled on the sands, bowling over candidates. When Rolling Dunes hit Long Dive, however, the shower of shards and resulting patchwork of turquoise hide confused him. He wove his head back and forth, trying to make out exactly what he was looking at ... until the Long Dive Blue rose and began to move playfully around the Hatching Grounds.
He couldn't take his eyes off the little fellow, and gripped his sides tightly to prevent himself from laughing as the dragonet appeared to be stalking unhatched eggs and tipping them over. Oh, but that poor young fellow who got knocked over twice ... Terrasel grinned, shaking his head, and hoping that the boy wasn't really hurt ... at least not too badly. It was obvious that the little dragon wasn't doing it maliciously, after all.
His attention was drawn, however, to the other blue for a moment, as the darker turquoise dragon staggered across to the candidates and leaned against one of the girls. Once again wishing he'd had brought something to write with, for it seemed that several girls had Impressed what the old stories always spoke of as "men's dragons". There were so many eggs, so many candidates, so many hatchlings, that he didn't think he'd ever remember the details once he left the Weyr. He was deciding resolutely to return to his quarters and write down everything he could remember the moment the Hatching was over (and before he got roped into helping at the Feast), when he glanced back to relocate the lighter of the two blues.
And found him heading ...
... directly
... for
... but it couldn't be! He'd been hiding successfully here for ages, what had he done to give himself away? But, it certainly looked like this young dragon might have spotted him, for he was ignoring the candidates and the eggs now, and heading right for the benches.
Right for--?
Ack…ungh…T'rasel-mine! Why were you hiding from your Iolath? Silly mine. It was fun looking for you, though! Except I began to worry you weren't here... And now your Iolath is stuck. This is no good. Why are you still sitting there? Come help your Iolath get out of here! He hungers, besides. And then he wants to go explore! Mine? Miiiine?
"Iolath!" T'rasel shouted, suddenly caring not whether he was discovered, and ignoring the startled shouts of the onlookers nearest him. He dragged himself out from under the bleachers, and wrapped his arms around the middle of the young blue. "Here, it's okay, Iolath,” he said, without really realizing just what he was saying, “I'll help you, and then you can go find your rider!"
A woman several rows up laughed aloud. He scowled at her.
"Shards, ugh, he's urgh, stuck! How is that funny?!" he scolded as he tugged, thinking the lady was laughing at the dragonet's predicament.
But T'rasel, I have FOUND my-- OOOF!
For the benches had let go, and the dragon was released, and T'rasel was now on his back on the hot sands with a startled blue hatchling sitting on his stomach.
... rider , Iolath finished and, like a friendly feline, butted T'rasel's chin gently with his head.
The steaming sands were of no concern to the boy, for his dragon was in his arms. Crushing the wind out of him, but in his arms. T'rasel would have laughed if he could have taken a deep enough breath, for the joy, the playfulness, the mischief that the youngster had displayed upon the sands washed over and through him.
His grand plans to head back out across Pern, charging holder children for the Tales of Araelen Weyr, suddenly meant nothing. He ... and Iolath ... were destined to have a great time together ... right here.
Nudging the blue gently aside, T'rasel sat up and rose to his feet. Come on, Io ... let's go get you something to eat. He stroked the lovely turquoise head, the head of the most wonderful dragon on Pern.
Oh, that is a good idea! I think I worked up a hunger! I would very much like something to eat. I like meat that is red and bloody, or maybe the bits with the fat on them like that dragon just ate. I hope there is a bowl that has a lot of nice big chunks, for I am sure I could eat the big chunks, I am so hungry. Do you like meat, mine? I would share some with you after I am full enough.... .... ....
====
Ranny wrapped his arms tight around Xiana's neck as the young lady rescued him from the hot sands. "Sank you," he said, and kissed her cheek gratefully.
Wizzerd settled on the girl's shoulder and rubbed her face against her, and Memory and Safari swooped around her head trilling sweetly.
"The ground, too hot! Mustn't touch hot," the little boy pouted, his feet still stinging. "I wan'ned to see my Auntie's new dragon--"
Sad green eyes looked toward where he'd last seen Auria with golden Nefertith, but the pair were no longer there. The shadows of the feeding area had swallowed them.
And then, the child's eyes lit up, and a smile sparkled through the tears.
"Papa!" he called out and reached for C'lyn. "The ground burnded my feet and I can't find Gammy and AuntieAury and the new lellow dragon! She lellow like Memmy but bigger!"
He clung to his Foster-father's neck tightly as C'lyn held him, and turned to smile sweetly at Xiana, the girl who had saved him from the sands.
===
Auria looked up suddenly from where she was absorbed in the feeding of her new darling, her very own Nefertith. Nefertith chewed gracefully, her eyes whirling blue with contented concentration, but she stopped in mid-chew when Hers looked away.
Auri-Mine?
I thought I heard ... felt ... Safari ... upset.... the Weyrling Goldrider said, and, placing her hand on her dragon's head, she stood and peered around the corner.
C'lyn was out on the sands ... with Ranny! Her heart leapt painfully -- what had happened, where was the girl who was supposed to care for him?
You are distressed, Mine! Nefertith's eyes took on a tinge of yellow, then orange, and she belched loudly.
Oh, oh, dear, Aury bent toward her and caressed her gently, tracing the beautiful golden-kohl lines that extended from the corners of her eyes. The dragon's mental tone gentled, her eyes swirled more slowly. My nephew, she explained, I love him very much, and it appears he may have gotten himself into some trouble. But his foster father has him, he's safe now.
Relief at this certainty, that Ranny was safe with his foster family, and guilt that she, herself, had not been there to prevent whatever mishap had occurred, warred in Auria's heart.
Nefertith raised her head, stretching her long neck to see for herself. The small one in the man's arms? With little cousins around him? That is your -- hatchling?
Aury chuckled. No, my love. He's the -- hatchling -- of my sister. I've been taking care of him for some time now.
Nefertith struggled to understand, How shall you care for both of us?
Don't worry, dear one. She looked again at her darling nephew, safe in the arms of C'lyn. You are my only charge now, and you have my heart. Ranny is in very ... very ... good hands.
Nefertith, still unsure of all of this human confusion, pressed her face against Aury's midsection. I will be his friend if you like. But I am still quite hungry.
Aury chose another select chunk of juicy red meat and handed it to her dragon. Chew well, darling, and have no worries.
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Post by meah on Jul 16, 2009 22:12:31 GMT -5
Xiana couldn't help but smile when Ranny kissed her cheek. He was just so cute. One day, she hoped she would have children that wonderful, who would rush out to her when they thought she needed them, and when they needed her. It was absolutely a wonderful feeling to be appreciated, even for the short time between when she'd scooped the child up and now, as a man came to scoop the child out of her arms.
Smiling at the little boy, she gently tweaked his nose. The warning, she gave him, however, was quite rational. "Sweetie, as much as you want to see your Aunty's gold dragon, you've got to be careful. Why don't you ask your Papa if he'll take you to see her?" She smiled at the man, fully aware of what a handful the child was.
He was right, and she should get back to the hatching, but, then, she couldn't stand by and watch until she knew Ranny was ok. He was too rambunctious to just be left alone, without someone he knew well. That was obvious to her.
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Post by B'kay on Jul 16, 2009 22:16:24 GMT -5
Gaylen, absorbed as she was in A'mor's wound-dressing, took a moment to realize that the distressed emotions that were building in her came from her own firelizard. Worry, protection, frustration, the need to drive back to safety....
An image of Ranny on the hot sands, his feet burning, flashed through her mind. She gasped, "I'll be right back!" and ran from the feeding alcove back toward the Hatching Grounds.
He is fine, Greylith's has him, Alabanth said calmly before she even reached a point where she could see the situation.
Sure enough, there stool C'lyn, holding a smiling Rannell, though she could still see the glint of tears on his cheeks, in his arms.
She turned, worried still about the boy with the deep scratches on his chest, looking again for the other who had had his leg so wounded earlier. Had C'lyn tended him already? But her heart drew her back to the sands.
'Banth, can you ask Greylith to tell C'lyn where I am? He looks okay ... but I just ... need to see for myself. And I have the burn gel here, too, if... oh, dear.
Alabanth pressed his comfort into her. Rannell IS fine, Gaylen-mine. But I will be sure to relay the message for C'lyn.
Gaylen, overwhelmed with love, fell into her dragon's thoughts and allowed tiny tears to trickle from her eyes. Yes, she was deeply relieved that Ranny would be okay. The tears, however, were for something different. Alabanth had used both C'lyn's ... and Ranny's ... names.
Yes, they truly were a family.
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Post by C'lyn on Jul 17, 2009 14:00:14 GMT -5
C'lyn still couldn't help the lump in his throat that he got every time Rannell called him papa. He smiled and gently brushed the tears from the boy's cheeks with his fingertips.
"I will take you to see Auntie Auria and her Nefertith soon. We need to go see your Grammy Gaylen first, she has some soothing gel for your burned feet," he told the child gently, smiling thankfully down to Xiana.
"Thank you for being so quick to get to him," he said, reaching out to pat her shoulder before turning to head toward the feeding alcove.
Alabanth's wants to see the young one, she is worried and has gel for his feet. Gaylen is worried.[/color] Greylith informed her rider and C'lyn was surprised to hear the green use Gaylen's name, but pleased.
He looked down at Rannell and tickled his tummy lightly. "You must be careful Ranny," he said softly as he stepped into the feeding alcove, looking for Gaylen and Auria. Rhapsody chirped lightly as she landed on C'lyn's shoulder, crooning down to the boy.
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Post by Tealah on Jul 17, 2009 14:07:18 GMT -5
P'neil had been watching the hatching with a faint smile on his face. It seemed that the hatching was living up to the excitement of the goldflights. The candidates didn't know where to look, with hatchlings coming at them from both clutches. There were injuries, which wasn't unusual anyway and doubly likely with the chaos here. There hadn't been any life-threatening injuries, though, so P'neil wasn't too worried.
Then one of the eggs from Artoneth's clutch had cracked to reveal a golden hide. P'neil couldn't help a surprised hiss. Browns catching golds was rare enough, but browns siring golds was unheard of! Artoneth would be insufferable for sure. If P'neil was lucky it might even make up for being laid up with that Threadscore. And sure enough, he could feel fierce pride being pumped down their mental link from his brown, who'd been watching the hatching through his eyes.
But wait. Over in the other clutch... another gold! The Weyrleader went immediately alert, prepared to intervene if their confrontation escalated beyond threatening glares. Dimly he was aware of Artoneth's alarmed bugle; the brown was far enough away that if he hadn't been linked to the dragon he'd never had heard it. But that little green bumping into Artoneth's golden daughter defused the situation neatly, all three moving on to find Theirs. P'neil sighed in audible relief, and way back in his temporary weyr Artoneth subsided with a grumble. Hopefully the rest of the hatching would continue peacefully.
****
Niera had watched wide-eyed the confrontation between the golds, unsure if stepping between them would do any good but considering it anyway. But before she could do anything the green had bumped into one of the golds and the tension of the moment was broken. The golds went off to Impress to two more girls Niera didn't know - the one with the broken leg looked like she was the same age as Niera, though - and the green Impressed to... Retivor!
She grinned proudly, giving him whatever the pernese equivelant of a thumbs-up would be, which he probably didn't see, as caught up with the green as he was. It was great that he'd Impressed! But Niera's smile dimmed a little when she looked back to the rest of the eggs, several more of which had hatched and Impressed while she'd been busy mentally congratulating Ret - er, R'tivor. There weren't many eggs left to hatch, and she was starting to get worried. After all, a couple of dragonets had already Impressed to people who hadn't been candidates, if any more did she might not Impress. She'd never considered being a goldrider, but Niera still couldn't help an envious glance towards the two girls who'd Impressed to them. Would she be left on the sands after all?
Well, it wouldn't matter if she was. Niera raised her chin stubbornly. If she didn't Impress she'd just stand again at the next clutch. Besides, there were still a few eggs left to hatch. Stop whining and be patient she told herself firmly, grinning once more. The hatching wasn't over, so she wouldn't count herself out just yet.
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