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Post by Dragonmage on Jul 17, 2009 15:00:41 GMT -5
N'oren felt Ajath relax as the soothing, if smelly, numbweed salve was applied to Ajath's shoulder. The Weyrling's stomach lurched when C'train said that it would bleed even more when the shell shard was pulled out. Already N'oren hated to see his beloved blue's blood outside of the dragonet's body. At least it didn't seem to have hit anything horribly vital. N'oren noticed with suprise how hungry he felt, or rather Ajath felt. Now that the pain was numbed, he could notice that. It had seemed far less important before. N'oren's head was starting to spin. First there had been just one person, and not even a dragonhealer at that, helping them. Finally, a real dragonhealer was here to help them.
"His shoulder is numbed now, Dragonhealer F'rallen, Beastmaster C'train. Should I take it out so you can start on the stitches as soon as it comes out, or should I get on with feeding Ajath? He's really hungry." As if to underscore this remark, the young blue thought to his but those gathered around him might hear the tail end of his sending as Ajath's mindvoice got louder.
N'oren, my stomach is trying to eat itself and my shoulder doesn't hurt anymore so can you feed me now? Please?
"Ajath, your shoulder isn't fixed yet. We've just made the pain stop so we can deal with your injury without having you panic from pain. I don't want anything bad to happen to you like it did before you Impressed me."
((He's a baby so he's still working on control and I think he would think that his shoulder fixed because it doesn't hurt. Probably the most others would hear would be "Can you feed me now? Please?"))
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Post by Spiffy .th ! on Jul 17, 2009 17:28:24 GMT -5
Mine, I am full now. You should do something about your leg.
L'kev smiled at his dragons show of concern, and relieved that he was calmer now that His was out of immediate danger, reached out to scratch Parith's eyeridge. Of course, though it doesn't bother me much now.
Looking up at last he glanced around. K'l'sran, the healer who had helped him over, no longer seemed to be paying attention to him. What other healers were there? Mariya, she had Impressed that blue dragonet, so she couldn't help him just then. Gaylen? He searched her out, but she appeared to be busy patching up another cand- weyrling's it seemed, chest. Maybe he wasn't the only one to be mauled after all. Perversely that comforted him that he hadn't been singled out, but he still felt sorry for the lad who Impressed blue, and he seemed to be taking his abuse pretty well. That left K'l'sran.
"Umm, excuse me, healer. Err, Gaylen said that once Parith had been fed someone should look at my leg again. She said it may need more... something," he stumbled, nit quite remembering exactly what the healer had said.
Katalyn and Remmekk watched each egg as, one by one, the emerged from their shells, the sandy dragonets colours revealing themselves for the first time. Green, blue, brown, bronze... Gold! Katayn felt her breath catch, as the colour of every girls dream shucked her shell and stood regally on the sands. Then, before she remebered o take a breath, the gold began to hiss at... another gold! Suddenly Kat's breath came in all too quickly, becoming a hiss and finally a raking cough.
By the time she looked up, dazed, each queen had gone their separate ways, unfortunately neither of them hers, Impressing to two girls Katalyn hadn't met but one of which she knew Lari- L'kev had met and liked. That was good. She had never really been that good at hitting off with other girls, as her encounter with Riley had proved. Belatedly Kat recalled Riley Impressing to the first green hatchling, the memory already fading from her hatching saturated mind. She sniffed. Already there were so few eggs left standing on the sands, what if none of them were hers? She would be soooo pi-
Whoomf! Before she could complete the thought the Rolling Dunes egg - and Remmekk - bowled her over onto the scorching sands. With a yowl the like of what a feline would make she leapt up, cradling a scorched elbow and mumbling curses at sand, hatchings and life in general. So much so that she missed the "hatching" of the two blues, only snapping back to reality as she completed a turn and saw Remmekk again hurled towards her by a rampant blue. Elbow forgotten, she stumbled back as he hit her, this time managing to "catch" him instead of falling also.
Remmekk, on the other hand, was severely annoyed by the recent events of the hatching. Matters weren't helped by the fact that he had been tense even since the first bronze emerged from his shell, and the tension had been steadily building in him since then, becoming totally focused on the eggs to the exclusion of everything else. So it was the he was watching the struggling of the Long Dive egg when the Rolling Dunes eggs quite literally "rolled" into him, knocking him flying into Katalyn and, more importantly, the hot sandy floor. Yelling out in surprise, he found to his utter indignation that he now had a mouth full of sand, his mouth having been open when he it the deck, too busy yelling to keep shut. Pushing himself to his feet hurriedly he started to dust himself down of sand quickly while spitting out slivery-sand onto the even sandier floor - and was knocked into Katlyn, again. Thankfully she caught him, though he didn't stay in her clutches for long, stumbling rapidly up again, swearing even worse than Kat had been.
Kat grinned at his predicament, though amiably. "You nugget," she said, pulling him into a bear hug, wether he wanted it or not - which he didn't, really, but he huged her back anyway.
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?
She pulled away from Remmekk, confused. That wasn't Remmekk's voice, was it?
Mine?
Her head whipped around, and down, to look at the turquoise blue dragonet that was leaning against her leg. Slowly it dawned on her what had just happened. "Os... Osiryth?" Slowly she lowered herself to a crouch on the sands, careful to to bump the unsteady hatchling and at the same time not falling onto the hot sand again. Uncertainly she reached out to touch the dragonet's muzzle, then enfolded him in a great hug, though significantly gentler than she had hugged Remmekk.
"Oh, Osiryth! You're hungry!" she mumbled into the dragonets shoulder, forgetting the dragonet could hear her thinking the words perfectly well. Yes, Katalyn-mine. At least I know there's only one of you now. But I am very hungry, mine. "Right, yes, food." She flustered for a second. "Uh, I'm sorry Remmekk, but I have to go feed Osiryth."
"Yeah, right, OK. You go, I'll... I'll be fine." He tried to smile at her in reassurance, but it only looked more like a grimace. She looked at him for a moment longer, judged him OK - ish - and started to lead the wobbly Osiryth to the corner where the food was, letting him lean on her leg so as not to fall over and keeping a hand on his long headknob.
Remmekk, composure 99% recovered, turned back to look at the last few remeining eggs. Come on, mine. I know you're there, somewhere. Just keep trying, break that shell, come on, please! he mentally wished out his thoughts to the eggs, hoping beyond hope that there was a dragon (he didn't even care if it was a green any more) in one of those eggs that would break out and find him, His, or even Hers. From his perch in the upper reaches Riki crooned encouragement and assurances to his human, which gave him some heart, renewing his hope.
(ooc: lol, took me abut three hours to write that... Plus watching Shaun of the Dead x] Epic)
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Post by B'kay on Jul 17, 2009 18:41:22 GMT -5
C'train sought out F'rallen's gaze, wondering what the dragonhealer was thinking about the young blue's wound. "Let me know what you need, F'rallen," the brownrider offered, "And I'll do whatever I can to help.
====
Gaylen's heart followed the progress of C'lyn and Rannell, who was leaning over his foster-father's shoulder, waving at the girl who had saved him from the hot sands, until they joined her in the alcove.
"Thank the First Egg you came along", she said, reaching up to touch C'lyn's cheek lightly, "And that Xiana was right there, too. I'm going to put a good word in for her with B'kay," she said, as she gently pulled off the toddler's thin shoes.
Indeed, his little feet were quite pink, but nothing that wouldn't heal up quickly. She smeared them with a soothing burn gel that contained a touch of numbweed, and wrapped them in soft white gauze before replacing the mocassins.
"You, my young fellow," she said, with stern gaze that glinted with mischief, "Must learn things the hard way, mustn't you? I don't think you'll be running onto Hatching sands again any time soon!"
The firelizards, four now, as Rhapsody had joined them, swooped around them, and Memory finally lit on Gaylen's shoulder. She seemed quite smug, for of course flitters were usually restricted to the rafters and sidelines during a Hatching, and here she was right in the feeding area!
====
B'kay was beaming. He had tried his best to maintain his usually calm visage, but with each new hatching, each new Impression, his pride in Syth and Lefayeth ... and in Gwyneveth as well, for of course Alana had also been one of his students, and her dragon was his -- just what would you call the sister of your dragon's mate, anyway? Queen-Sister-In-Law?
So, even with the so-far minor accidents, which the healers seemed to be staying on top of fairly well, it had indeed been a good Hatching. This was why B'kay was smiling like a tot at a toybooth when he felt Syth catch his breath. A surge of jealousy, intently felt, and then squashed down under tight control, flowed from the dark bronze who stood beside Lefayeth on the Sands.
B'kay, confused, turned to follow his dragon's gaze ... and saw the gold hide -- in Gwyneveth's clutch.
A Queen Egg sired by a brown? His dark brows arched in surprise. Well! Though his dragon was still attempting to stifle a few petty emotions, B'kay determined firmly that the first thing he would do after the Hatching was over, was congratulate P'neil. He was the Weyrleader, after all, and.....
Suddenly his head and his chest felt like they were swelling, like they would burst with pride, and Syth's mind yanked his attention to the other, to HIS, side of the Sands!
Another gold! B'kay gasped and rubbed his eyes. Two Queen dragons in a Hatching was unheard of ... but twice? First the twin sisters, and now each twin had brought forth a new young Queen!
She is beautiful! Look at her amazing color, look at her elegance! She is almost as beautiful as her mother! Syth said broadly, touching both his rider's, and his mate's thoughts. The bronze reached out to nuzzle Lefayeth gently.
And B'kay reached out to take Kitari's hand.
"What a day, eh, love?" he said, ever so softly, for her ears alone.
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Post by Shikai on Jul 19, 2009 18:12:32 GMT -5
The Swiftly Swimming Brown looked about in annoyance as he finished trilling, suddenly aware that he, as the only unimpressed dragonet left on the sands, had all the attention. He would have, however, been perfectly capable of gathering their attention without his creeling.
The brown was richly auburn in color, with reddish splatters on the insides of his legs and underbelly. He was well-built, with a broad, strong build that could easily make him one of the strongest browns in the weyr, even though he was fairly average-sized. As the need for a rider began to pull at him, he set his sights fully on that goal and plodded determinately toward the candidates. Moving right to his rider, he hardly seemed to notice Niera, and if she was not quick enough to realize he was not going to go around her and get out of the way, he might have bowled her right over as he approached Tierelm.
Oh dear, your Odysseth hopes he did not injure the girl back there. He had to reach you, T’relm-mine! Now, let us go to the wonderful smelling tables over there; I am very hungry.[/color]
As the brown found his rider, the Dry Mountain, Rising Thermals, and Barren Earth Eggs began to shake with a newfound intensity, as though suddenly conscious that they, aside from the Deep Abyss Egg, were the only ones remaining, and none wanted to have last pick of the food and candidates of the outer world.
With a burst of energy, the Rising Thermals Egg cracked with surprising volume, and anyone watching could see the deep fault running all the way around the shell in a vertical ring. Brown claws snaked out and pried the two halves apart, slipping out through the web of goo to tumble out onto the sand. His eyes blinked open, whirling in slight disorientation as he shook his head and raised it, nose turning as he looked about him. He rolled onto his stomach, slowly pulling himself up into a sitting position, although that, to the disappointment of what candidates were left, seemed to be all the brown was interested in doing for now.
At least, however, it gave them a moment to fawn over the new hatchling. He was small for a brown, but had a very healthy look to him due to the definite padding of baby fat. The Rising Thermals Brown certainly looked more cuddly than intimidating. Despite the soft, rounded look to him, it was clear he was built more for speed than power, aided by his smaller size. His hide, at first glance, was burgundy tinted, although a closer observation would reveal that he was actually marked with rusty red, dusty orange, and classic brown in a calico pattern. For the time, however, the brown was quite content to sit where he was, eying the candidates from a distance.
The Dry Mountain Egg’s long patience had paid off at last, as chip after chip began to rain down from the shell while it continued to rock. Finally, considerably weakened, it gave way at last, and a bronze snout poked its way out of the wreckage. The nostrils quivered as they sniffed, and suddenly, the rest of the bronze came somersaulting out of the broken shell. The Dry Mountain Bronze rolled proudly right to his feet, looking around proudly as though quite pleased with his entrance. Like the brown, he was small for his color, although he was of a slimmer, leggier build that looked a bit awkward but was fitting for a creature of his age. Large eyes only added to the youthful appearance of the rich, classically shaded little bronze.
As long legs carried him trotting forward, he no doubt drew murmurs from the crowd as shimmering, subtle markings in both lighter and darker shades of bronze materialized along his form. Dots, lines, and swirls interlocked in no particular pattern, colors transitioning seamlessly between lighter and darker shades of his hide. They vanished again as he stepped into a shadow, but as he paused, raising his head to peer once more about him, one could tell that he had an oddly bluish tint running in a saturated patch from his eyeridges to halfway down the back of his neck. Obviously more active than his brother, he must have aroused hope as he headed toward the candidates, but they were to be disappointed once more as he suddenly changed direction, surprisingly agile on his young legs, and bounded toward the Barren Earth Egg.
It was shaking as furiously as it had before the other two eggs had cracked, but seemed to be having trouble freeing itself. The bronze stared at it for a moment, cocking his head in curiosity before reaching his nose down and giving it a nudge. The egg stopped shaking, as though wondering what the disturbance was, and the bronze took advantage of the opportunity to plant his forefeet against the shell and push it forward. A muffled squawk came from within the egg as it started to roll down the slight incline of sand, picking up speed as the dragonet inside thrashed about. The bronze watched its descent as though admiring his handiwork as it rolled over the jagged remains of egg after egg. With a crack, the Barren Earth Egg split to admit a blue forefoot, which reached around in the air as though seeking something to grab onto. At last, the egg rolled over one shard too many, and that, combined with the blue’s fervent efforts, saw the egg break apart at last.
The Barren Earth Blue was coated in a shade as brightly azure as his foot had been, although the smaller-sized blue seemed a trifle disoriented. He shook his head, trying to clear his vision as it swam before him, and swayed on his legs for a moment before he at last righted himself. The blue certainly had lovely hide, for though solid colored, it sparkled with a sheen that could easily rival that of a metallic. He stretched his wings above him, giving them a few heavy flaps to discard the burdensome egg material, and many weyrfolk must have taken greater interest in him as they got a good view of the rather large appendages.
They were marked with interlocking bars of a myriad shades of blue, some tinted almost green, purple, or red as they caught the light. They were fashioned in a strange resemblance to the feathers of a bird, but each was its own color.
Spotting his bronze brother standing where his egg had been, the blue suddenly took off toward him in a charge. This no doubt sparked some worry as it brought back memories of the other confrontations in the hatching, and the bronze braced himself for the approaching blue as he noticed his approach too late…
The two collided, the blue tackling the bronze and sending them both rolling across the sands. But neither were creeling in alarm, although they certainly made raucous enough noises as they got to their feet and chased each other about the hatching sands…but they weren’t fighting, merely playing!
The Rising Thermals Brown showed little interest in joining in the game, watching his brothers with mild interest. But at last he was rested from the efforts of his hatching, and his hunger was becoming quite the annoyance. He made no fuss about who to choose for his rider as he walked right to the candidates; rather, he seemed to have long since made his decision.
Niera-mine! Your Matiath would like nothing more than to talk to you and sit together for a while, now that he is rested, but this hunger is getting rather unbearable. I hope you don’t mind if we delay it until after I have had something to eat?[/color] He greeted cheerfully, nuzzling his brown head affectionately against the girl’s stomach.
The bronze and the blue were still romping about the sands together, but as Matiath found his rider, both seemed to gain a greater consciousness of their own need for food and human companionship. After a glance at each other, they raced toward the candidates, each moving his fastest as they bounded over the remains of so many eggs. The blue stumbled over a patch of shards, and as the bronze stopped to ensure he was alright, he skidded directly into another, more pointed shard, which lodged itself in the hide just above his front foot. He let out a squawk of dismay, shaking the foot as he tried to dislodge the shard, but the blue was already getting to his feet and continuing the race.
Not to be outdone, the bronze ignored the troublesome fragment, which hadn’t gone deep enough to do much more than prick him anyway. His longer legs carried him just ahead of the blue as he leapt toward the candidates…and, having misjudged the distance between himself and his chosen rider, collided right with Remmekk.
Tutankhath wins![/color] He announced cheerfully, although his already rainbow eyes whirled a bit faster as he sniffed at R’mekk. Are you alright, mine? I did not mean to jump that far, but I am still getting used to moving, you see! So much better than being cooped up in a shell.[/color]
The blue had reached his own chosen just after the bronze, trotting to a stop, although he cast a look at his clutchbrother, shaking his head as he turned to look up at Phelicia.
Tutankhath is most silly, don’t you think? Your Kheprith could have easily won, but he would not want to collide with his rider! Besides, I had farther to go,[/color] The dragon said cheerfully, too exalted by finally finding his rider to be much put out about the loss. But it was worth the extra distance to have you as a rider, Phelicia-mine![/color]
In the midst of three impressions and two very active dragonets, the Deep Abyss Egg, not even noticed until so late in the hatching, must have been temporarily forgotten by several of the onlookers. But doubtless what candidates remained were aware of it now, the lone unhatched egg of both clutches. It’s chances, however, looked none too promising.
It had not moved throughout the antics of all the recent impressions and hatchings, remaining as still as it must have been through much of the hatching to escape notice as it had. Five minutes passed without so much of a twitch from the deep blue shell. Ten, and still no further sign of life. The weyrfolk began to mutter, wondering if Lefayeth’s final egg would hatch at all. Some must have considered leaving; perhaps some even did.
But those who had would miss the tiny green claw poke its way up and out, finally puncturing the shell that had been silently weakened from the inside.
It traced its way down cracks so tiny that they hadn’t even been visible in the dark shell unless one was very close, running through the shell like a knife through butter. And finally, a dark green dragoness wiggled her way out onto the sands.
She stretched her form, average-sized despite the small egg, seeming quite glad not to be so cramped. Long legs gave her a look like a filly as she began to walk forward, stumbling over her own newfound legs a few times before she began to gain her balance. Colored with the dark green of a forest with a lighter, sun-touched underbelly and backs of her legs, most striking was the way the color on her back seemed to dapple and shift as she walked. Despite her clumsiness, she had a noble way about her, and despite being the last dragonet on the sands, made no hurry as she walked to the candidates, knowing right where her intended rider was.
Good evening, Xiana-mine! Your Nausith is sorry about the wait, but certain things just cannot be rushed. And the shell of my egg was so very uncomfortably thick…but I had to get out so I could be here for you, mine.[/color]
font colors: darkred brown darkgoldenrod blue darkgreen
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Post by Spiffy .th ! on Jul 20, 2009 9:54:28 GMT -5
Remmekk stood rigidly on the sands, alone, staring at the remaining eggs and the one unImpressed brown.
Come on.
His finger twitched.
The brown Impressed
His fingers began to absently fiddle with the hem of his robe.
An egg cracked. A brown. It sat and didn't move.
His fingers twitched again.
Please...
Dark shell split... Bronze!
His whole arm spasmed, then went still, fist clenched.
The bronze approached... but turned away.
Deflated, Remmekk apparently relaxed, though in fact he had just untensed; mentally he was still tight as a spring, just disappointed. The bronze, nor the brown, nor any of the other hatchlings in the whole two clutches had wanted him. Unlike to cry, he instead gritted his teeth. He would not walk away, admit defeat, he would stay until every last eggs had Impressed and only then would he know he was truly rejected by dragon kind.
Then a blue, his egg broken by a push by the bronze. It charged...
He groaned audibly. Let the bronze not be hurt, even if it were meant for another and not him...
The blue pounced... the bronze growled, and then...
They began playing!
His sigh of immense relief easily became a chuckle at the pairs antics. Whoever the two did Impress to would surely have fun with Theirs...
The thought came with a stab of fear as the bronze squawked in pain...
Only then did it occur to Remmekk that, even though the bronze had not chosen him, neither had he yet chosen any of the other candidates scattered about him, and he had passed them all by. Maybe a stands Impression? But now, the bronze and blue were now heading in the direction of the candidates, in his direction... maybe the blue would be his...
Tutankhath wins!
He didn't even have time to blink in surprise before the next thing he knew was that he was lying flat on the sand with a dragonet sprawled on his stomach, looking down at him curiously. A bronze dragonet..
Are you alright, mine? I did not mean to jump that far, but I am still getting used to moving, you see! So much better than being cooped up in a shell.
R'mekk simply stared at Tutankhath for a moment, before he began to simply laugh. And he laughed like he had never laughed before, for it was a laugh of absolute joy, the like of which he had never felt in his life before.
And you certainly move brilliantly! Better than any other bronze in the Weyr! he managed to convey to the dragonet mentally for physically he was still struggling out of his doubled up mirth. Gasping somewhat, he finally picked up the slender bronze, though he was still heavy, and deposited him gently onto the sands beside him, breathing heavily. Sorry, R'mekk-mine! Have I hurt you? No, only winded me a little, I'll be alright. He pulled himself to his feet, smiling rather idiotically which was totally out of character for Remmekk, but R'mekk didn't care, for he was happy! You should let me see you foot though, is it hurt badly?
Tutankhath looked down at his offending foot with an expression that looked for all the world as if he was asking it "are you hurt?" R'mekk chuckled. No Mine! It is perfectly fine! Just a scratch. the little bronze then executed a bouncy circle in the sand, which only ended him in tripping over his own slightly-too-long legs and sat in the sand again. Drat. His stomach chose that time to rumble ferociously, eliciting another curious gaze by the dragonet. R'mekk-Mine, can we find some food now, for I am absolutely famished. R'mekk's own stomach rumbled, Of course! This way.
Upon reaching the feed bowls, R'mekk took so long searching for a suitably fleshy bowl out from those left that Tutankhath took matters into his own claws and simply upended the closest bowl onto the floor, seeming to inhale the chunks of herdbeast flesh. Finishing that he looked up at his rider who was watching him, a little stunned. That bowl there will do, Mine. I'm still hungry. Shaking his head in wonder, R'mekk picked up the bowl his fingers had been hovering over and bent to feed his dragonet.
Meanwhile Riki, sensing a hunger from his bonded, had betweened to the kitchens and then promptly back to His, a meatroll clutched in his forepaws. R'mekk however, being so engrossed in feeding Tutankhath, failed to notice his brown flitter until he squawked in his ear, at which he promptly dropped his proffered piece of met on the ground. Tutankhath, not bothered by such things, wolfed up the dropped piece of meat and immediately proceeded to snatch the meatroll out of Riki's grasp and downed that too. Riki, now as stunned as his, disappeared, only to reappear hovering next to Tutankhath's head. The two regarded each other for a moment, after which Riki settled on Tutankhath's nose, chirping, Tutankhath rumbling in greeting. I like this little cousin, Mine. Can we keep him? R'mekk chuckled, again. Sure, his name's Riki.
Oh yes, they would make a great team.
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Post by Kain on Jul 20, 2009 17:02:33 GMT -5
Rendriel had been busy looking over his hatching robe one last time when the loud hum first permeated his awareness. He gave a large start when he first noticed it. It was so loud, how had he missed it before this? Then again, it had only started a few moments ago. But what on Pern could make sound like that? Of course, the dragons! The sound was similar to that that the dragons would make before a hatching- Of course! The Hatching! Thus when he realized what it was, he felt that he had an advantage over the other candidates in getting to the Hatching Grounds. He pulled the rough garment on, and slipped his feet into his boots, losing a few moments fumbling with the laces for a minute or so.
As soon as the laces were in some semblance of a knot, the fifteen year old shot off. He couldn't quite remember the layout of the hallways yet, but weren't the grounds just around this corner? No. Well, perhaps the next... No? Considering the fact that he was still running at full speed, sprinting into random hallways was probably not the best idea. This idea hit him around the same time that the wall did.
He'd turned a corner straight into a stone wall that someone thought was a good idea to put nowhere. As his vision blacked out, a fleeting curse flashed through his brain for the designer of this particular hallway.
And suddenly there was light again. Rendriel's eyes shot open, though he regretted that action almost as soon as he did. Even the dim light hurt. There was a drudge nearby, holding an empty water bucket. Seemingly she had been the one who'd found and woken him. Though he felt somewhat- fuzzy, he remembered that he'd been on his way... somewhere. Something with dragons, very important... the Hatching, that was right. He thanked the shy little drudge who mumbled something but Ren wasn't listening anymore. He recalled which hallway he was supposed to follow that he'd forgotten in his excitement earlier.
He took off again at a trot, hoping that he hadn't been out for too long. Wouldn't want to keep the eggs waiting. Vaguely he noticed that there was a trickle of dried blood on his face from where he'd hit his head. There was probably a splendid bruise too. At long last, he burst onto the sands.
But something was wrong. People were leaving their seats. Candidates- weyrlings, now- were leaving the sands. Older dragons were exiting. Was the... had he...? A paralyzing sense of dread poured over his being. He felt cold all over and he wasn't sure if it was the injury on his head or the fact that he had somehow missed his big break. And all because of a benighted wall? Scorch it all, what on Pern was he supposed to do now? He stood, frozen to the spot, a look of horror emblazoned across his face.
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Post by Shikai on Jul 21, 2009 3:28:12 GMT -5
Here we go Hold on tight and don’t let go I won’t ever let you fall So many eggs, so many dragons…the flow of the hatching, the search, and the impression repeating and repeating like living art, art in motion rather than frozen forever on a canvass or tapestry. But it was nothing unusual for him, then, to feel somehow detached from the spectacle, the artist who could never delve into his handiwork no matter how beautiful he formed it. It was natural that no dragon should wander his way, drawing him into the dream the candidates around him were beginning to share. He strove to produce art, to chase and capture beauty. His life had never been art-like in the least, but he contented himself in looking for the beauty in lives of others, in nature, wherever it could be found. And nothing could be more beautiful than the hatching. Green eyes took in everything he could of both sides of the hatching as he turned in gradual circles, shuffling around in his small patch of sand to watch the shower of shards, the murmurs as dragonhide showed through the cracks like light between leaves in a canopy, and everyone watched, spellbound, as impression was made. With such a spectacle occurring on seemingly all sides, Eravrael rather felt as though he was standing at the center of the world, still as it spun around him. If the world didn’t revolve around the lone weyr’s hatching sands, after all, around what could it possibly spin? Each hatching had its own flavor, its own emotions to color the dusk atmosphere as some dragonets were less fortunate than others. Era had always been susceptible to such nuances, a trait which was perhaps the only thing that could save him and qualify him as an actual candidate. He had not, after all, been searched like the others, but that was a small matter to him. What difference did it make if he had been picked out by a dragon or bargained his way there with the only thing of value he possessed – his appearance? He had nearly forgotten that he was a candidate like the rest anyhow; he was a mere spectator with the best possible spot. It was all worth it to be there now. He could feel the fear and pain before the telltale colors whirled in the eyes of the less fortunate dragonets, and his heart ached for them. But it was the sympathy he would extend to any creature, not special worry for a dragon that could choose him. Because they wouldn’t, and they didn’t. It wasn’t pessimism, not really, it was just fact. Eravrael was not disappointed; how could he be when he was able to experience a hatching firsthand? It was like nothing else in the world. He watched in awe as a green emerged from the Stone Sentinel Egg, blooming forth like a flower before she was able to free herself entirely. But unlike most greens Eravrael had seen, her coloring hardly seemed to be an earthy shade of green. No, it was something more, something timeless and more enduring than leaves or grass. An emerald, that’s what she reminded him of, with dark accents to her hide that gave the illusion of depth, of a prism beneath the surface. She was lovely, and his green eyes lingered on her for as long as he could before the blue’s creel took him from his trance. He looked the blue’s way in sympathy, but the dragonet found his own rider to comfort him. That was good; Eravrael hoped the boy would be able to help him. Era certainly wouldn’t, and he knew it. He never had been much good at anything of use to anyone. The screams of the blue cast a pall over the sands which certainly didn’t leave Eravrael unaffected, and neither were its effects ignored by the green. Eravrael looked back in time to see her coming closer, and he waited to see which candidate she would choose for her rider. Without warning, she darted forward and buried her head in a candidate’s stomach, turning to him in search of comfort, reassurance that she would be alright, because Sekheth was afraid… It took Eravrael a long moment to realize that the stomach she had run into had been his own, scarcely having registered the bump she gave him with how caught up in his thoughts he had become. Green eyes looked down, large and vacant, for longer, to see the dragonet who was quickly becoming connected to him. Yes, he could feel each fiber of her mind and being entwining with his own, wrapping together in inseparable bonds as his very identity began to change without him doing anything at all. Pale, nimble artists fingers tentatively reached down to touch the emerald green hide, tracing over the headknobs and down the neck as though touching the most precious, delicate thing in existence. For him, she was. He found his mental voice at last, looking down at her with sadness and apology in both his expression and his tone. He hurts because he was injured by a piece of his shell, but do not fear for him. The healers will see to it. You are out of the shell and do not have his pain to fear, but…dear, dear Sekheth, I’m afraid I cannot even protect myself. You are much too perfect to have chosen me. You deserve better. The green looked up at him in confusion. There is no one else. You are worthy; at least, you can be. You have more potential than you credit yourself for, E’vrael-mine, even if you refuse to recognize it.[/color] I’m afraid you are mistaken, Sekheth. But don’t worry, I will do what I can for you. I do not fear for myself; I will gladly do anything in my limited power to try to keep you safe. I just fear it will not be enough. I…feel now as though I have been very selfish. E’vrael said, looking away from the beautiful green creature, as his eyes began to grow moist from the many conflicting, overwhelming emotions. Nonsense, mine,[/color] Said the green, her tone a mix of confusion at the words and emotions she received from hers, and reassurance as her own fear, resulting from the blue’s influence, began to fade and be forgotten. It is not nonsense. I…never really expected to impress, you see. I did want a dragon, because…well, I heard stories, and now I know without a doubt, this kind of love does not exist outside a dragon’s bond. That’s why I came here. But Pern needs its riders to be strong, capable people who can truly protect and care for their dragons…I fear I may not be able to offer you that, and it certainly isn’t fair to you. If I had just stayed back at Weaver Hall, I would not have been here today, and you would have found another rider far more worthy of you, He said, although his tone was regretful and reflective rather than self-loathing. The green, however, bristled at this commentary. I would not! If Era-mine had not been here, I would have been forced between. I will have no other. Would you have preferred that?[/color] She snapped, eyes whirling with emotion and anger that took E’vrael completely aback, and he was left staring at the large green dragoness for several moments. The transformation in her was quite striking; she had adopted a strong, defiant pose, tail thrashing behind her as she met his green eyes without fear. I…of course not. I’m sorry… He could only mutter mentally back, tears overwhelming his eyes as he sank to his knees, wrapping his arms around the green neck and pulling her against him as though he could pull her physical being as much inside him as he could feel she already was. He tried to stifle his sobs, stemming from no one emotion in particular but rather, it seemed, each one he had ever felt. Sekheth let him cling to her, as steady and unfaltering as a sea rock despite tumultuous, crashing waves. Now I see,[/color] She said, voice calm and understanding. It is not just Ajath’s pain that overwhelmed me. It was yours as well. It is not physical, but perhaps it is worse. But you do not have to worry, Era. Your Sekheth will be strong for you until you learn to be strong for her. You can protect me, and I will protect you as well. I will never die and leave you alone, nor will I allow anyone else to harm you. No more will you let others harm and take advantage of you.[/color] I think…I won’t need to, E’vrael replied softly, his breathing slowly returning to its normal rate as the calming scent of his dragon’s hide filled his lungs and was carried throughout his body in combination with the soothing thoughts she sent him. As he finally wiped his eyes and stood up, a hand still resting on her emerald green head for support that was far more than just physical, she turned to look up at him. Now, if you’re finished being quite ridiculous, I am simply ravenous,[/color] She snapped, although there was a teasing, playful note to her seemingly harsh demeanor. E’vrael smiled, for he could sense the love and compassion running beneath her words, through the link that connected him and the beautiful green dragon, and no one else. E’vrael walked across the sands in a daze, oblivious to all other impressions as a peaceful smile took over his face. His life had turned around so completely in a single instant, spinning right on its heels and dashing in the right direction at last. With one short occurrence, everything negative he had ever been through seemed washed away by a bright light within him now, the light that was Sekheth and from which he would never be parted. Through nothing more than the will of one, solitary creature, he knew that everything would change, his life would never again be what it was before Sekheth. She had brought him hope. And that was a beauty even art could never capture. I love the night And flying o’er these city lights But I love you most of all.
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Post by D'gellin on Jul 21, 2009 11:50:21 GMT -5
Q'tris was still frozen where he was in the stands, completely dumbfounded as his daughter - his Trilia! - finally collected herself and proudly limped across the Sands with her dragon. The open-mouthed disbelief gradually shifted to a laughing smile, Brell clapping him affectionately on the back and congratulating themselves on rearing such a find young lady, cheering and whooping for the little weyrling. A goldrider! I did tell you she was right for dragons.[/i] Minth reminded him with just the right touch of smugness. For Q'tris had begun to fear that Trilia would be left Standing again...After all, she did have a fabulous track record for failed attempts...and yet Minth had always insisted...He could only marvel, pride swelling so strong in his chest he nearly felt he would burst. The smile on her face! That alone was worth it.
The greenrider waited just long enough for the last of the candidates to Impress, thanking Faranth that there were none left behind, before he made his way down to the new weyrlings. He just couldn't shake the smile from his face, something that may have surprised some of his former candidates, considering how given he was to stern frowns. When he found in daughter in the mill of young dragons and blithely grinning new riders, he scarcely gave her time to react. "Trilia!" She had only just looked up with a winning smile before he wrapped her up in a hug, perhaps a little more reminiscent of Brell's rough bearhugs.
"You're squishing me!" Trilia laughed, her voice congested from crying at Impression.
Q'tris grinned, giving her room to breathe. Oh if Brell had seen that... "Congradulations, dear heart." He murmured, planting a kiss on her forehead, eyes alight. He couldn't be more proud! Minth, who had become so accustomed to sending messages to Trilia, sent her love as well, mentally welcoming Helennith with equal affection. Helennith! Shards, what a pretty little thing, even if she did seem a little intimidated by Q'tris' exuberance. Trilia was already turning to the gold, running a hand lovingly over her head, the detatched look of someone speaking to their dragon glossing her eyes. "I do not suppose I could learn the name of your beautiful young companion?"
Trilia flushed, fiercely proud but also embarrassed for not introducing them sooner. "This is my Helennith. Helennith, my Daddy." Perhaps thanks to Trilia's coaxing, the tiny queen summoned the courage to stand firmly next to Trilia rather than behind her, and inclined her head in greeting.
Q'tris returned the gesture, feeling an ache in his mouth from smiling so sharding much. "It is a pleasure, Helennith." He wanted to speak more, but was stalled as he looked up.
A boy had just trotted onto the Sands, expression bereft of hope, perhaps still in disbelief. It was Rendriel, the missing candidate, so late he'd been forgotten. Q'tris chewed on the inside of his mouth, shaking his head. With a heavy sigh, he stood. "I'm proud of you, love." He smiled, tucking some hair behind Trilia's ear. "But I am certain Helennith will not be quite as pleased with me if you fail to finish feeding her soon." The playful grin he'd flashed faded as he turned to address the new problem that had wandered late onto the Sands. Shards...
"Rendriel." He called as he headed over, pitying the boy at the same moment that he resented the drudges. When the candidate hadn't filed up with the others, he'd sent word out to look for the missing lad, not being able to search himself while the other candidates were Standing. What poor luck to only just be found when it no longer mattered! "I believed you had chosen not to Stand, boy. I should ask what stalled you." Likely, it had something to do with the bloody lump on his forehead...then remembering the hurt his own daughter had felt when she'd been left behind at the last Hatching he softened his tone. "I am afraid the Hatching has already ended. I will let you decide if you would still like to attend the Feast or return the barracks, though I will ask you to visit a Healer first." He tapped his own forehead in the mirror place of Rendriel's blossoming bruise.
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Post by Tealah on Jul 21, 2009 16:37:18 GMT -5
Niera was watching the hatching eggs so intently that she'd forgotten there was still a brown left to Impress. So when the aforementioned brown decided to go through her on his way to His, the young girl was indeed bowled over. She was unhurt, if a little startled, so she was quick to bound back to her feet and dust herself off as best as she could. Niera grinned at the brown and the boy he'd Impressed, to show them that she was fine and didn't mind getting run over in the least.
A loud crack distracted her from the newly-Impressed brown, and Niera looked back at the eggs just in time to see another brown tumble out. "Awww!" Niera couldn't help the little squeal of delight that escaped her. He looked just like one of the baby felines she'd seen! And she had to suppress her urge to run up and hug the cuddly-looking dragonet; she was pretty sure that wasn't really allowed.
Another egg revealed a beautifully colored, slim bronze. Niera followed him with a wide-eyed gaze, though she knew she didn't have a chance of Impressing him, as the bronze knocked over one of the remaining two eggs, which cracked open to show a shimmery-blue hatchling. A hatchling that immediately charged back at his bronze brother. Niera squeaked, and took a few steps toward them - not that she knew what she would do when she got to them - before she realized they were only playing. "Woo," she huffed in relief.
She was watching the two chasing each other around the sands when she heard a warm, cheerful voice speaking to her. Niera-mine! Your Matiath would like nothing more than to talk to you and sit together for a while, now that he is rested, but this hunger is getting rather unbearable. I hope you don’t mind if we delay it until after I have had something to eat? At the "sound" of her name, Niera had turned around to see the small, cuddly brown who'd hatched earlier. When he nuzzled against her stomach, Niera's puzzled look changed to a delighted smile.
Niera dropped down to her knees to wrap her arms around the brown's - Matiath's neck. "Oh, you did find me!" she cried. "I was worried."
Matiath cuddled against her lovingly. Of course I found you, Niera. I knew where you were, I just had to rest first. His eyes blinked contentedly, and he showed no signs of wanting to move, until his stomach rumbled.
"Oh!" Niera jumped up as though stung. "I'm sorry, Matty, I forgot already. Do you mind if I call you Matty? I won't if you don't want me to. Come on, let's get you fed."
Matiath followed her willingly enough to the tables; he would have loved to cuddle longer but the hunger pinching at his belly was very uncomfortable. I don't mind if you call me that. His eyes gleamed with pleasure when His trailed her hand along his head.
Niera beamed at her Matiath, head still feeling like it'd been dipped in rainbows of happiness. She rubbed at one of his headknobs before grabbing up a bowl of meat. Her Matiath, wasn't that wonderful?
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Post by .K.aci on Jul 22, 2009 11:13:43 GMT -5
The Brown enjoyed watching the babies, but kept an eye on His - silly Hatchling's might not realize that THIS one was claimed. Even so, the big Brown knew that His wouldn't leave him.
'K'l'sran's right, dear. This noble young fellow is here for you! I know you love being a healer, but he's your first priority now.' Gaylen was speaking now, and the Healer lad looked up with a touch of a smile on his lips and a nod. "Thank you, Gaylen," came his quiet response. And the girl was gone, then, and K'l'sran was looking down at his newest patient. The Hatchling Brown looked a little better, stress wise, and K'l'sran hoped that he could keep it that way. Onto him the kid leaned, and they made their way across the sands. 'Once that young one is fed full, the leg does need to be looked at more carefully. It may need a stitch or two, and I don't want to take any chances....' The call was soft behind them, and the Brownrider nodded to her before he kept walking - he understood.
K'l'sran was comfortable with the silence he was now creating - he hoped this young lad was as well, because he certainly wasn't going to speak to him unless it was about Healing. Hot sand crunched under his boots, and the footing was precarious, but they managed to make their way over to the designated feeding area.
Down he lowered the kid, and then proceeded to let him feed the Brown - That is Parith, MineOwn. Thank you, Sinth. I appreciate it. His mind wasn't really focused now - he was going over what was needed to do be done on the leg, and his quick eyes were flashing over the Hatching as fast as the young dragons were emerging. Time went by, Healer's came and went - he saw no reason to leave his post, although he forgot about the young man sitting on the sands behind him for a few moments. He had everything he needed to fix the boy, and he saw no reason to stare at him and make him uncomfortable any time before he would have to.
'Umm, excuse me, healer. Err, Gaylen said that once Parith had been fed someone should look at my leg again. She said it may need more... something.' Words behind him, and Sinth's mental prodding made him look around, slightly lost, until brown eyes lit on the young man on the sands. "Oh, of course, Weyrling. By the way, K'l'sran's my name. She just said I should look at it more closely - hush now, this will hurt." Down next to the leg he sat, mindless of the hot sand on his bum. Sinth, tell Parith that if he claws me I will skin me. The Brown up above rumbled slightly, shifting. His was so funny with his odd humor. Young Parith, you must please not scratch at Mine during the check up, for it will only cause us all distress. Meanwhile, K'l'sran was poking and prodding at the wound with cool fingers. "It's a nice scratch, and unfortunetly for you it will need sitches. Just hold on, alright?" Quick as a feather he was in his bag and back out with numbweed, fellis juice, a needle, and a strong piece of thread. It took but a moment to mix the numbweed with a little fellis and slather it on the wound, and then take the needle to it. Only the middle part of the deepest cut did need it - four deep strokes in and out and he was done. Tying off the thread and cutting, he was done in moments - though he knew the pain would make it worse, even with the numbweed.
"Alright Weyrling. That'll need to stay in for at least a sevenday, don't do heavy things on it like running or anything else, and come back if you think it's torn at all. Any other questions?"
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