Ill-timed Arrival

[Flamewolf]

The sound of cracking sounds were more surprising than the storm's crashing and flashing. The sharp noises made Minelli start, at first, but then she was too wrapped up in looking in amazement at the young fledglings to even hear.

The dragonets were unbalanced and a little disoriented, but being present at the sight of the new arrivals was breathtaking. Her gaze watched the dragonets as they shifted uneasily where they stood. Suddenly, she realized why as a boom of thunder entered via the Hatching Sands entranced and reverbrated inside. The storm was drowning out the welcoming humming the dragons were giving, and the dragonets were unable to hear it. They were confused. Minelli's heart went out to them, but she remained where she was.

And suddenly they were on the move. The brown was first, leaving the clutch to go to the boys (big shocker there), and seemed to impress a young boy. Watching with bright eyes, her gaze was taken by the young blue next, also going to the boy's circle and gazing up at another boy. She smiled. This was one of the most amazing things of-

Minelli! Your Elainuth is afraid of the loud flashes. But you will protect her...and feed her?

The new voice, yet strangely familiar, came complete with a gentle pressure on her stomach. She slowly looked down to lock eyes with soft green/blue whirling, faceted eyes. The former harper was shocked; she bewildered at the sudden attatchment to the dragonet that sprang up inside her, but she did slowly reach down to touch the soft hide but hesitated.

Mine, I'm really hungry![/i] The green's eyes where wirling fairly fast. You won't hurt me,[/i] she added with a hint of amusement.

The girl flashed her a smile before gently brushing her fingers along the soft, damp hide; then, with a reassuring croon from the green, she gently searched the eyeridge until she found the spot where they liked to be scratched. Elainuth's damp wings lifted from the ground briefly before she insisted on getting food once more.

"Of course...Elainuth," Minelli told her lifemate, testing out the new name. She liked it, of course. Then, she glanced around uncertainly, until her gaze fell on a table in the back with food on it.

"Follow me," she said to the dragonet, resting a hand on the neck, and led her to the table.

((Wow, that was so much longer than I thought it would be. Lol, I'll put the feeding part in on my next post; I just needed to get this in tonight. Oh, the food IS in here, right?))

EDIT - M'kel, what color did you use for Elainuth?

[Shikai]

((Hmmm…as I have six candidates, I think I’ll only reply with one per post as they witness the hatching. Which one to start with…-numbers characters and rolls dice- Myra! xD ))

Myra gasped as she suddenly realized that, in her rigid attention to the hatching eggs, she had been neglecting to breathe. As her attention was unexpectedly drawn away from the eggs, for the moment at least, the black-haired girl took the opportunity to look around her at the other candidates. She was dismayed to see that many of them were not present, and several of those who were sported similar injuries to her own. Where were they? Surely they were not thinking of missing the hatching on account of the storm! What would become of the dragonets then?

And besides, this was the moment they all had been waiting for. And oh, what a moment it was! It felt like the first dragon hatching in all of history, but Faranth was long since hatched. However, it was the first dragon hatching in as long as any living could remember, and that was certainly momentous!

Myra sincerely hoped that the others would arrive soon, for the dragons’ sakes, and their own.

However, as a crack rang out through the hatching grounds, Myra’s thoughts were stopped immediately and her attention returned again to the hatching eggs. She was determined not to miss a moment of it! Her stomach seemed to flutter in anticipation. Would she impress? She almost dared not hope, but she had as much a chance as any other in the cavern.

Suddenly, the first dragon to be shelled on Pern in hundreds of turns burst into existence. A brown, who first hung in the shadows, like a shadow himself of the dragons everyone dreamed of, but then he emerged, proving himself to be real. And emerge from the shadows he did! Running, racing…straight into another egg! Myra was still in awe of the first to hatch, and now this? Her blue eyes looked as large and round as saucers in her face as she took in the two hatchlings. A brown and a green! Both were so beautiful…

She watched, near breathlessly, as both made their way toward the candidates, at long last. Myra sighed with relief, for their confusion had been obvious. And Myra couldn’t blame them in the slightest.

All she knew of hatchings was what she had heard in her eager listening to the stories of the harpers, and that which she had learned at the weyr. However, it was clear that this was very different than the traditional hatching. Myra longed to run to the confused creatures, to calm them, as she had learned in her beastcraft training. Yet she knew she could not; that it would not be fair. It was the dragon’s duty to find and choose their rider, and it wouldn’t do to have candidates inferring with that important decision. So she had forced herself to stand her ground, and watched as the dragons chose their riders, along with a blue that hatched a ways away from her.

Confused though they were, the dragons, fortunately, seemed to be managing. Excitement still coursing through her, Myra stood, riveted to the hatching dragons.

[Felina]

Felina shivered involuntarily, holding her sodden sleeves as far from her body as was possible. The dry-keeper had accomplished its task in that the front and back of her body was dry (for which she was grateful, upon catching sight of some of the other, wetter girls who hadn't thought to wear anything underneath the white robes). However, it didn't keep goosebumps from raising on her arms and her legs from feeling like blocks of ice until it met the soles of her feet, where restless fires burned voraciously. The heavy boots hadn't helped any. Which raised the tempting thought of lying down for a moment on the Sands where it was, at the very least, warm, even if uncomfortably so. It was still better than the sheer frigidity she was currently being forced to endure.

The cold was not, however, the only reason for the shiver that shuddered down her body, setting her shoulders shaking and her knees trembling even under the slight weight of her own body. Fear. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and she shivered again under the eyes that were on her; Candidates always had people watching them, as unfortunate as it may have been. And suddenly M'kel's question made sense to her, for the deceptive simplicity of it had, until then, evaded her. Physical pain, it was true, no longer really bothered her. She had endured enough of it in the past, and though at the time it seemed to sear into her very soul, so much did it hurt that it felt as though it might rip her apart and allow her to be done with the agony that was life, it eventually ended. Memories of physical hurts faded, and were nearly forgotten. The scars might still show, but they did not pain her any longer. But it was the pain which drove beneath skin like a red-hot poker, drove beneath even muscle and bone straight into her heart, her mind, and literally into her soul. Those were what really got to her. Memories of the odd looks, memories of the abandonment she suffered at the hands of her peers, memories of the fear that she was forever marked as a freak, those never diminished. They never dimmed. They blazed as brightly as the day that they had begun. Even more than the height of her physical pain, even more than the smooth scars on her arms and face, even more than a near-crippling fear of the runnerbeasts which were such a part of Pernese life, those memories destroyed her.

She did not have much time for reminiscing, however, because of a loud crack that was nearly drowned out by the resounding peals of thunder. Regardless of any other sounds that competed for the attention of the mind, though, this imperious, singular sound commanded total attention, all eyes drawn to the small brown figure that was now on the Sands, bits of eggshell strewn about it. For a moment, Felina thought she felt something tugging at her heart, and for a moment she gaped uncomprehendingly, but the reality of what she had really felt crashed down on her quickly enough, for what she felt was far from joy. Not Impression, then, but only a deep regret that something so wonderful should come into being on a day so horrible. Indeed, the weather did seem to be confusing the dragonet for a moment, and silently she tried to reassure the dragonet, her hands balled into fists as she mentally cheered him on.

And then there were two more stumbling figures tumbled unceremoniously hot sand, a green and a blue, one bumping clumsily into the still-confused brown. For a few moments, her breath caught in her throat and refused to enter her lungs, for she worried that the three would all go between, so anxious did they appear. She knew, knew, in the bottom of the dark and lonely pit that she was nearly ashamed to call her own heart, that all of the dragons would be needed in the coming Turns, to combat the Thread that would surely come again and protect innocent Holders from the dangers of agenothree. They could not go between!

And so it was a heavy sigh of relief that Felina breathed as first the brown, then the blue and green, Impressed. And, yet, she could not quash that small voice that lurked in the corners of her mind, thinking its dark, tainted thoughts. That she should watch and see the miracle of Impression all about her, for she would never get to experience it herself.

After all, that was the way Felina's luck ran.

[kati]

(lolz sappy story time? xD)

Anah had finally gotten there, and when she did, she almost wished she hadn't, 'specially when a nice chunk of hail hit her square on her shoulder, causing pain, but at least it wasn't on her head. However, the next chunk did hit her head, causing her to utter quite the bad words as her head went over her head. Not that it would help all that well. But oddly, somehow it did, and curious Anah looked up to see that sister she almost forgot existed. She blink, quite in shook, and then started to push her away, despite the fact it hurt her, more than likely bruised shoulder. Rytia however quite slapped her sister across the face (ouch) and continued to cover her until they could get over to wear hail wouldn't kill them both. It took a lot of very awkward running, but Anah didn't debate anymore, not after that slap that left quite a stinking red mark across her cheek, and finally they got to safety, and went in. However, as soon as hail and lightning were no longer a threat, Anah and Rytia glared at each other and then split up, Anah with a very silent thanks, even if it was only in her head.
Rytia, on the other hand, was pummeled by hail, and when Anah was no longer close to her, she covered her head and moaned. She wasn't bleeding profoundly, but there was some blood, and she wasn't unconscious, although she half wished she was. She sat down, only to realize, that helped very little, and her hands stung a bit as well. Well, it didn't seem like she'd be able to see all the eggs like she wanted.

[M'kel]

More candidates had managed to stumble in whole, much to the Weyrleader's relief, and M'kel glanced them all over with an appraising eye. The injuries didn't seem too severe overall, considering the terrible storm they had all been forced to brave. He swept his gaze around the semi-circle of candidates on the sands, pausing slightly in surprise at the effect created by wet candidate's robes over an otherwise unclothed girl's body...then shook himself and turned to watch the newly Impressed pairs proceeding to the bowls of steaming, freshly cut meat near where he stood. The drudges had been sent out in the storm to deliver this meat; they, after all, were more expendable than candidates.

It was a relief to see that the first three dragonets to Hatch had managed to find their life partners, despite the chaos that was obviously confusing them to the point of panic. M'kel only hoped that the rest of the Hatching would proceed without trouble. The Weyr now had a strong new brown, blue, and green to help fight Thread, and the euphoria on their new riders' faces was always a delight to witness.



The simultaneous cracking of two eggs positioned across the Grounds from each other drew all attention undeniably back to the sands. Out of the one nearest the girls, a blue tail protruded from an uneven opening in the glistening shell. The tail was withdrawn back into the shell, and the egg shuddered as the dragonet shifted inside of it. Finally, his nose poked out of the hole instead, and he widened the hole determinedly. Once it had been sufficiently increased in diameter, the blue dragonet clambered out, shaking his moist wings free. Their ultramarine membranes flashed for a moment before being tucked close to his tiny, sky blue form, and the dragonet crouched down upon the shards of his shell.

His eyes were whirling quite frantically, and the shrillness of the howling wind seemed to do nothing to settle him. Instead of clambering up and proceeding to find his rider, the dragonet instead seemed intent on remaining exactly where he was. Settling back rather hesitantly on his haunches, he began to creel mournfully. It seemed a hopeful summons of sorts, although it would go against all Weyr tradition for it to be answered.

A large hole had appeared in the side of the shell of the other egg, which was nearer the centre of the circle of eggs. Out of this backed an auburn brown dragonet. His feet were dusted with sandy brown socks, and his slender form quivered slightly once free of the safety of his shell. There was a thoroughly confused expression on his face as the brown dragonet sniffed the chill air and tilted his head to the side, listening for something he could not quite hear.

Seeming to make a decision, the brown dragonet did not remain frozen in place. He gradually angled his head in the direction of the boys and began treading that way. His steps were uncertain, but he continued forward, hunching in on himself to escape the chill bite of the questing wind.

A sprinkling of shards warned of another imminent arrival. Rivulets appeared, widening out from the central area of pressure on the side of an egg near the brown's empty shell. The sprinkling of shards continued until, finally, the barrier was breached, and a blue snout protruded from the hole. The rest of the dragonet followed quickly, stepping easily from the remains of the shell. His powder blue hide shone in the wavering light of the glows, and steel blue was visible on his eye ridges and tail fork.

Like all of those before him, the blue dragonet seemed thoroughly disturbed by his first seconds out of the safety of his shell. However, a solution presented itself quickly, for the brown's form was slowly slipping out of sight around another egg, and the blue eagerly bounded forward to follow. Even if he wasn't sure where the brown was leading, it was reassuring to follow another.

It wasn't long, though, before the male candidates came into sight for the brown dragonet, and he began to scan their line hastily. Suddenly, he shuddered to a stop altogether, shaking his head. Something was wrong. He quickly began to retreat, backing right into the blue dragonet. Turning around altogether, the brown dragonet brushed past the blue and proceeded quickly in the other direction.

The blue dragonet had stumbled in surprise when backed into, and he stood frozen to the spot for a moment. Finally, he turned briskly and scampered after the brown dragonet, once again choosing to follow rather than risk his own path.

The pair reached the girls' side rather quickly, and the brown dragonet once again scanned those present. All of a sudden, his eyes locked upon Shikai's, and he bounded forward to headbutt her eagerly. All uncertainty disappeared, and his whirling eyes nearly took on a cheerful tint. Shikai! Your Dinaedth has found you! He is very clever like that. Relief mingled with pride coloured his voice. It was not hard, really, once he had found the right direction. The fearful air was misleading. No matter, for he is here at last, and he is hungry after his adventure!. Already, his chatty nature was shining through.

Abandoned by his successful Clutchmate, the blue follower now turned to his own perusal of the proffered minds. He unconsciously began stepping down the line as he considered all of those present. His steps were gradually leading him closer and closer, until he was standing right in front of Journye. It was at this moment that the blue dragonet realized that he had found his chosen, and he joyfully nudged her stomach to draw her attention downwards, as if it wasn't already. Your Lucaith has suffered a harrowing journey, my one, but you will tend to him now...most especially his hunger. As harrowing as his journey may have been, it was quite easy for his thoughts to turn to food now that he was safe. You are different, yes? But that is why I chose you. This was his response to the strange thoughts in her mind.

The other blue dragonet had watched the entire proceeding from his safe position in the pile of shards on the sand. Upon seeing the successful Impression of the other dragonets, the blue reluctantly pulled himself up. His creels died out, for it seemed apparent that he would need to find his lifemate on his own. Begrudgingly, the blue began to step towards the girls, following his Clutchmates. Luckily for him, his whirling eyes soon found Elkie's, and he slipped forward to rub against her leg in an almost feline-like mannerism. Your Elyanuth, he called and called for you, but you did not come. It is all right, though, for he knew that he must be brave and come to you. This last bit was said sheepishly, and he ducked his head in apology. Will you forgive your Elyanuth's foolishness?

[kati]

Anah watched as the little dragonets went to their bonded, her breath catching as each dragonet came out of the egg, because any of them could have been hers, but as soon as they went to someone else, she breathed again, although she wished that the dragonet had come to her.
Rytia, still sitting down, watched as the tiny dragons went to their bonded, and she couldn't help but smile. Her arms and head still stung, but she won't leave until she had her dragon.

[Felina]

Altair rubbed his forearms balefully, wincing every time that his fingers met a spot where purple bruises were already spreading blotchily across what had only a half-hour earlier been nearly unmarked skin. He got the feeling that numbweed was going to be one of his closest friends for a bit.

Friend. As ever, he cursed himself silently for treading into territories which led to thoughts of... no, he would not think her name just now, not when there was so much else of importance to concentrate upon. And, yet, his mind steadily stole into the silently swirling seas that shrouded the inner depths of his consciousness. His dark eyes clouded over, and he was momentarily as blind to the world as the one who had so distracted his thoughts. For a short span of time, he noticed nothing; not the throbbing bruises on his arms, not the cold of the wet robe that clung to him in all the most aggravating places, not the burning sands beneath his sandaled feet, not the brown dragonet that stumbled pitifully in his fear and confusion.

However, when his mind cleared some time laster, he could be certain of where he stood. He would leave Corenne-- odd, how once a decision had been reached it no longer pained him to think her name-- to whatever would come her way. A Rider, if he did indeed become one, was no man to rely on, a man whose mind was tied first and foremost to his dragon's by a bond that could not be broken save by death. After all, she did not love him anyhow, and it did not do to dwell upon that which would never return his feelings

Able, now, to concentrate on what was unfolding before him, he turned to watched the proceedings with a detached sort of interest. He knew right off that the Brown, who had by then managed to knock into another egg, was not for him. A Brownrider could aspire to become Wingsecond, and Altair was nearly certain that he could never attain so high a post as that. His heart went out to the poor thing, though, so lost and confused by the storm that nearly drowned out the sounds of the Hatching song. So like Corenne, delicate and-- No more of that! he thought to himself fiercely, shaking his head as though to dispel the images that fluttered in his mind. It was enough to think the dragonet scared, as that much was evident. The dragonets, he corrected himself quickly, as a Blue and Green, too, were brought into the world. One of those, perhaps?

But it was not to be so, as he soon found. All three of the small, stumbling dragonets Impressed, but none so much as gave him a second glance. No worries, though, for two more dragonets appeared at nearly the same time, and a third soon after; a Brown and two Blues, the first of which set up a creeling caterwaul that set Altair's hair on edge. Yet at the same time, the dark brown eyes that had become hard with the effort of detaching himself from his emotion grew soft, for this was something he understood, knowing nothing but fear and sadness. It had only been his for a few moments, but the memories were burned into him like a brand into a runnerbeast. He was quickly distracted, though, by the Brown and other Blue, both of which were headed for the male candidates. Could it be one of them? But as they turned around to find their other halves among the girls, the creeling Blue doing much the same, he couldn't help but wonder. Had he, in his frightened farewell to the eggs when he had been so sure of being dismissed, caused what should have been his to go between forever? He knew there was still time, that there were still many more eggs to come, but he could help but count those remaining, not including the golden egg, the occupant of which would never consider him for obvious reasons. There were more people on the Grounds than eggs, though through the mud it was difficult to tell Candidate from otherwise. Perhaps he, who had never dreamed of this but only of settling down on his small farm with the woman that he loved, could not be suitable for a dragonet. He, of little ambition. He, whose thoughts he found always returning to that little farm by the sea.


-------------------------------------------------------


Felina's eyes widened in anticipation, dark pools that seemed to want to absorb everything that was around her so as to never lose it, for she was still under the baleful influence of that dark voice in the depths of her mind which told her that happiness was never to be hers. All of her attention was focused on the rocking eggs, trying to ignore the crashing thunder and shattering hail which rocketed through the air in equal measure, the former louder but less often, the latter a constant pounding which seemed like to batter even solid rock into submission, when it would be left crumbling and defeated. Could anything really stand up to such a beating unprotected? For even rock, protection as it may be from Thread (that much she knew for certain), was suspect to damage.

The next three hatchlings she watched desperately, wanting to disprove that part of her which doubted her own suitability. She could not bear to see the Holders subject to the use of agenothree while she stood idly by; she had to Impress, regardless of what she might tell herself otherwise. She longed to be part of that world, the world of Riders and dragons and belonging, where it was in no way unusual to be scarred, and stares were not for your appearance, but for what you were. She longed to find that other half of herself, to have a bond between herself and something, for in her past life she had known no bonds, no love, only loneliness. She longed to love, to be loved, and knew that she would never find that elsewhere.

Still, she watched edgewise as the Brown and Blue headed towards the boys; towards Salem. The Brown; he deserved the Brown, to be Wingsecond, to have... something. If there was any boy out there she thought deserving of him, it was he. He who could keep his sister in some form of order. But, no, it was not to be, for now it was Felina herself that she thought the Brown could possibly see. What other girl dreamed of a fighting dragon as she did? What other girl had no aspirations to be a Goldrider, but only to be one with a flaming dragon, one which would sear Thread out of the sky?

Shikai did, evidently, for the Brown paid her absolutely no mind and headed straight for the other girl. The Blue did, as well. And the other Blue, whose creeling had set her heart on edge. All had ignored her, in favor of girls whose dreams could not have involved fighting dragons. It was injustice! And the pessimistic part of her whispered confidently about being passed over by everyone; why should a dragon notice her? The other half tried to point out that there were many eggs left, but she was slipping, losing ground every long, thunderous minute. What would happen to her if she didn't Impress?

[Felina]

((O.o Just re-read what I'd wrote; this is not a happy post. Though it's happier than what will eventually happen to her. Too bad; I really love this character, and I hate to see her crushed, but it's got to happen. And 'sides, mentally instable characters are fun!))

Corenne stood resolutely by the door, her slender arms wrapped around the frame, her face buried in the cold, wet metal. Whether it was wet from the rain or from the frustrated tears that leaked out of her sightless eyes, she could no longer remember; perhaps it was both. All this way. She'd come so far, only to find herself at a dead end. Shilai whistled plaintively from a bit farther down the corridor, a few strands of long brown hair still wrapped about her claws, faceted eyes still whirling orange in alarm.

^{Fear. Pain! Skyfall pain!} was all that Corenne could get out of the young green, an omnipresent sense of fear and pain, and of things falling from the sky. Though, from the shattered ice still lying on the ground, she could only guess that it had something to do with the hail that Altair had mentioned earlier. It had been so difficult to convince herself to leave her own rooms in the first place, to go see Altair for what could well be the last time. Did she really want their final parting to be of her lying in an attempt to save herself? Either way, the end result was the same; already, she felt as though part of her heart had been gouged out, leaving a hole that could never be fixed by earthly means. The pain would be hers no matter what; the guilt was something she had nearly forced herself to endure for the rest of her life, however long that may be.

But now, it seemed as though that guilt was unavoidable, for there was ahead of her a storm which she could not pass unscathed. She knew from the ice that crunched beneath her feet that a considerable amount of hail had already fallen, and from the constant thuds of ice meeting mud that it continued to fall, irrepressibly, a danger to any who encountered it. Again, she tried to cross the threshold, tried to right the wrongs she had committed, and again she was met with fluttering wings and a mental assault that nearly put her to her knees. The worst of it was that through Shilai, she saw. She saw the people being plowed under by the pelting balls of ice, she saw some of those who had not been so lucky as to be bonded to a fire lizard. And those images, fleeting as they may have been, coursed through her until all she could think of was they, bleak as they may have been. They were sight, if only for an instant, the sight which had for so long been denied her.

Only a few moments, though, passed before Shilai retreated back into the corridor, leaving Corenne with fresh scratches on her face and hands that she had used to protect herself from the onslaught, creeling and enforcing her will with strong thoughts of warmth and comfort and happiness. None of it affected Corenne, who could feel only the cold metal frame and the despair which washed across her with no regard of the happiness that once she sought.

And suddenly she was through, followed by only the screeching of what was now a terrified fire lizard, short a few more strands of dark, curly hair that had inevitably gotten caught in Shilai's claws. The Green had let down her vigilance for a moment, only for a moment, but that was all Corenne needed to dart through, with the Green powerless to stop her. Immediately, she was battered by the falling rain as it dragged her heavy cloak downwards. She had worn it for warmth; it was now only extra weight, but she couldn't simply shed it or she would never find it again. She could not even be sure, now, that she could find the Hatching Grounds, for the mud sucked at her feet and threatened to pull her back. She bit back a sharp cry of pain as she was struck in the back by a chunk of falling hail, not knowing how much farther she had to go, having lost track, not knowing if it would be safer to turn back instead. Perhaps all that anyone would ever find was a battered and bloody lump of meat that once had been shaped like a girl.

All thoughts of strategy had left her head. No more did she remember that standing up straight would present a smaller target to the falling menace, but rather she crouched down with her arms over her head. No more did she remember that if she just kept moving, she'd hit some sort of shelter eventually, for the weyr had finite boundaries, enclosed by rock. No more did she think of hope, for she was certain that she was lost for good. She whimpered freely, now, in pain and in terror, one arm failing to do its duty as a shield and instead feeling out in front of her, desperate for anything solid, shelter, anything. Her fingers brushed against metal, and she didn't dare hope just yet.

But yes, faintly, over the shuddering breaths that passed raggedly through her throat, over the pounding hail and crashing thunder, there was the Hatching song which welcomed the dragonets into the world. And she knew that, finally, she had found it. She could set things right. She didn't go far past the entrance, taking one of the first seats that she found; it wasn't one of the closest, but it was a seat, and it didn't matter if she had a good view of the Hatching or not, only that she was there. Shivering and gritty with dirt, bruised and bleeding, dark hair hanging heavily with water on either side of her face, she did the first thing that came to mind. There would be a chance to find Altair later, to reconcile with both him and Shilai for the grief she had caused the fire lizard. For, at that moment, she added her shaky voice to that of the dragons.

[Journye]

Journye had watched the arrival of the other candidates, glad to see that all the injuries so far were minor enough that they could be tended to later, and did indeed plan on doing that since she was a Healer after all. He attention sharply turned to the eggs when the first crack resounded through out the cavern and the sight of the newly hatched brown took her breath away. She let her breath out slowly then took a deep one, her eyes riveted to the eggs now as two more hatched, a blue and a green. Oh they were lovely creatures! She smiled as she watched them impress, happy for those that had been lucky to find their life mates so quickly.

Her attention returned to the eggs as another blue hatched, frowning as the little one sat there creeling. She wanted to go to him, her Healer heart making her want to comfort and make better, but no she stayed where she was, she did not wish to break the rules when perhaps she was close to her own impression. She watched the brown and then another blue hatch.

She tilted her head slightly as she watched the powdery blue follow his brown brother, a soft smile curving her lips at the endearing sight. She was a touch surprised when the brown came to the females and impressed Shikai. She had always thought that browns impressed males, but she had never seen a hatching before. She gave a barely there shrug and watched the progress of the blue, smiling as he seemed to walk the line like a commander would do with his troops. HE looked down when he stopped in front of her and couldn't stop the gasps from escaping her slightly parted lips as she felt the gentle brush of his words against her mind. Your Lucaith has suffered a harrowing journey, my one, but you will tend to him now...most especially his hunger. You are different, yes? But that is why I chose you.[/color] She couldn't help but fall to her knees before him and wrap her arms carefully around his neck, resting her head against the side of his neck. She breathed in deeply his spicy scent, her tears falling silently against his beautiful blue hide.

She leaned back and looked at him, admiring the beautiful blue of his hide, its soft powdery color with the steel blue of his eyeridges and tail tip. She tilted his head and noticed the veins of steel blue along the under side of his wings her held slightly open to allow them to dry, the effect looking like shattered glass, very lovely Mine why do you cry? Did I do something wrong?[/color] Lucaith asked, nudging against her chest. Journye smiled and shook her head "No my own you did not. I am happy! Come let us get you some food," she said gently as she stood. She looked about proudly "His name is Lucaith!" she called, wanting all there to know her lovely blue's name and not caring if it wasn't the right thing to do at the time. She lead Lucaith to where the drudges had set up the food and chuckled as the little blue crooned in delight. She fed him small pieces at a time, not wanting the poor thing to choke on his very first meal. She fed him till his tummy bulged and he stood drowsily near her.

~~

Caylsta stared in wonder at all the dragnets, completely forgetting the looks that people were giving her because of the way her robe was clinging to her, but with the heat of the sands the robe was starting to dry out a bit. She watched the impressions going on around her. So far two browns, three blues and a green had hatched. She felt slightly disappointed when neither of the browns impressed her brother or the nice girl Felina. She loved her life style here at the weyr, the short amount of time she had been here, but she would gladly give it up for one of these precious little dragons. She carefully tucked away any thoughts that might disturb a young dragon's mind and watched the eggs closely.

~~

Salem felt a bit awkward being here, being the oldest candidate in the semicircle. He also knew that his answer at the they analysis had not gone over well with the Weyrleaders, but he had answered honestly and thats what mattered to him. He could only stare in wonder as the first egg hatched. The brown was lovely as were the blue and green that followed. They quickly impressed and three more hatched, another brown and two blues. He shook his head slightly with wonder. He didn't mind what color he impressed, he would just feel so honored to have one of those beautiful little creatures be his own.

~~

Hunter felt pain both from the fearful run through the storm and the pain in his shoulder. He held his left arm close to him, thankful it was his weaker arm since he was right handed. He took a deep breath to keep his vision clear and watched in wonder at the hatchlings, fascinated by their color ranges. From dark brown to light, dark blue to powdery. The green breath taking.

He was glad to see the healer girl impress a blue, nodding as he thought that color suited her very well.

[Shikai]

Thanks to the numbweed, Shikai was able to all but forget about her once-aching arm as she took in the hatching. This was a hatching, a real dragon hatching! She had never before experienced such indescribable excitement. She wanted so badly to impress, and it was not until then that Shikai had realized how much. To ride a dragon, her very own dragon, linked forever! To soar the skies, riding the wind wherever they pleased! And, of course, to sear thread out of the skies, defending Pern against the malice armed with nothing but their joint wit, skill, and her life-partner’s fiery breath. It would be an unimaginable gain, but it was reserved for the select few who had those particular qualities sought after by a certain dragon.

Shikai gasped in silent awe as every dragon emerged, noting how each was visibly unique, and even perceivably unique in terms of personality. Though she adored her Sirius, and was fond of fire lizards in general, witnessing the hatching of actual dragons was much more…impressive. Pun not intended. She admired the first three to hatch, finding it difficult to choose which to watch, for each was as marvelous as the others. Mentally she encouraged them, even more strongly so as she realized their confusion, but to her relief, and that of all those present, the dragonets broke through it and found their human partners.

Shikai could not help but feel a slight twinge of envy at the sight of each ecstatic face, with a dragon of their very own. However, she swiftly beat back the feeling, chiding herself, for she didn’t want to let such emotions ruin the experience of the hatching. There were many more eggs, and it would be foolish indeed to spoil her chances with so many unhatched dragons on account of being bitter over the first to hatch.

She diverted her attention from the impressed dragons now, although mentally congratulating each new rider, for she sensed that it would be rude to let her gaze linger over a dragon whose path was clearly chosen. There was nothing as could be done anymore, and she was happy for them. If a dragon had chosen them, then surely they must deserve it, she thought, although this thought was clouded by remembrances of the recent candidate inquisition. Shaking this unpleasant thought from her head, she returned her attention to the remaining eggs. Was it possible that one of them hid a dragon who would choose her, and become her own? She almost dared not to hope, knowing that it would only disappoint her if not true. However, she thought she ought to be allowed some confidence in herself, to attract a dragon’s attentions.

Her musings were halted in their tracks almost immediately as another egg ceased to be whole, leaving in its place a lovely brown. While he was a bit smaller than average, he was nonetheless beautiful. With deep, red-brown hide, a slender, yet still muscled form, and even a narrower, more pointed snout, she had the impression that he would be faster than most browns, albeit a bit less strong. He moved toward the boys, of course, being a brown, so Shikai turned her attention to examine the other dragons who had just hatched: two blues.

They, too, were beautiful creatures. Shikai liked the unusually light, powder blue displayed by the second blue, as well as the deep sky and ultramarine of the first. His calls were unsettling, and she fervently hoped that he, as with the others, would find the person he sought.

Shikai’s eyes flicked back to the rich red-brown colored dragon as the powder blue scurried after him, causing the excited smile on Shikai’s face to widen slightly in amusement. Blues and greens did tend to be more subservient, with bronzes and golds being leaders and browns somewhere in the middle. This blue was no exception, apparently. The brown and his follower were very near the male candidates now, and the Shikai watched curiously to see who they would choose. Yet the brown’s examination of the male candidates halted nearly as soon as it had began, and he hastily backed away, right into the blue!

Shikai’s smile dropped into an expression of puzzlement and concern. What could be wrong? Until that moment, the brown had been doing very well, and going about hatching and impressing as normally as could be hoped for, given the circumstances. Worried, she willed him to return to the boys, and find his partner. If he could not find His there, than where would he go? Was there a boy outside, perhaps? Or in the stands? Shikai could see no one, but she hoped that there was. She couldn’t bear the thought of the brown disappearing between forever, so soon after birth. She had heard the rumor that that was what would happen if a dragon could not find a suitable partner, and was shocked. How could that be possible? With more candidates than dragons, how could one not choose? Surely life, with all it had to offer, would be better even without the perfect rider than no life at all!

Yet the brown, while he was moving away from the boys, simply moved quickly and intently in the opposite direction. Shikai’s worries about his going between started to fade, as he seemed to know what he was doing. He didn’t seem lost. But where was he going? Watching him, it dawned on Shikai that he, and his blue follower, were moving toward the girls! While female blueriders were certainly not unheard of, Shikai could not recall hearing about a girl impressing a brown. Could they?

The notion of a girl matched with a brown appealed at once to Shikai, and she hoped that it was a girl the brown was looking for. Yet then the brown was nearly to her area of female candidates, and Shikai ceased to think in favor of watching and waiting, her breath caught in her throat, to see what would happen.

My, but he was lovely! At such close proximity, she could see the sandy socks on his feet, accompanied by a mark on his tail of the same color. His hide was so richly red-brown…He was scanning the girls now, and Shikai could only watch as he made his decision…

And suddenly her staring was met by his own eyes, and Shikai could not believe what she was seeing as he looked what seemed to be right at her! As though verifying that she was in fact his target, he bounded directly toward her, and Shikai gasped in shock and surprise as he rammed playfully right into her. Yet this was nothing compared to what she felt next.

The most wonderful voice entered her mind, transforming it with its presence, to leave her changed forever. Shikai! Your Dinaedth has found you! He is very clever like that. It was not hard, really, once he had found the right direction. The fearful air was misleading. No matter, for he is here at last, and he is hungry after his adventure![/color]

…Dinaedth? Shikai answered slowly, still caught in the euphoria of hatching, testing her ability to use the extraordinary mental link that forever connected her to her beautiful, perfect dragon. And such a wonderful name! Yes, that’s me. Is there something wrong, mine?[/color] He inquired, his cheerful tone edged slightly with concern. No, of course not! Shikai replied, kneeling without a thought to the hot sands to draw her precious dragon near, to feel his beautiful hide, everything about him that now belonged to her, just as she belonged to him. He was so soft…You’re perfect! I’m just surprised…that’s all! Why would you be surprised?[/color] Dinaedth replied, mildly surprised himself. He twisted his narrow head around to rub against Shikai’s chest. Of course I was coming for you! It just took me longer to find you. As I said, that terrible air confused me. …Am I not what you expected?[/color]

Unable to stop the tears streaming from her eyes and the smile that threatened to split her in face in two, Shikai laughed as she gingerly spread his delicate wings to dry, and reluctantly took to her feet again. “No, Dinaedth…” She replied to the cheerful dragon, “You’re more than I ever could have imagined!” Not wanting to loose physical contact, the constant reminder, that Dinaedth was real, and hers, Shikai let the hand from her uninjured arm remain firmly on his sturdy shoulder as the two made their way toward the food tables.

-----

It was not until reaching the food tables that Shikai realized that Journye, a fellow healer she had worked with multiple times now, had impressed the follower blue. Her smile widened as she flashed a grin at the other girl, congratulating her in her own impression. Seeing the others feeding their dragons finally caused the fact that she, Shikai, was now a weyrling herself began to sink in. She had impressed! The thought was overwhelming, so Shikai pushed it back again. Right now, she needed very much to attend to the hunger bothering her precious Dinaedth so. Fetching some, she fed him slowly with her good hand, despite his protests.

Shikai, I’m so hungry! Can you not feed me faster?[/color] The hatchling complained.

“No, or you’ll choke in your haste! Slow down, I promise you that you’ll eat your fill.”

As his stomach began to fill and his mind was no longer consumed by his gnawing hunger, Dinaedth gingerly brushed Shikai’s left forearm with his snout. You are injured![/color] He exclaimed, distressed.

“Yes,” Shikai admitted, “but it does not hurt at the moment. Numbweed helps quite a bit.” She replied, stroking his eye ridge before giving him another piece of meat. His worry abated, Dinaedth accepted her offering, although he eyed the arm thoughtfully. Numbweed. Hopefully, Shikai thought, she and her dragon wouldn’t need much of the stuff in the future.