Here we go! [Nagith's Hatching!!]

Today was the big day, apparently. Well, she wasn’t having any of it. The call for candidates had come and gone, and though she’d abandoned her chores fully intending to stand, the opportunity provided by the confusion of everyone trying to get to the same place at once was just something she couldn’t pass up. Everyone was just so distracted that it wasn’t really that hard. She headed to the candidate barracks and started to put on her robes, but slowly, so that when her roommates finished first and left, she was able to quietly slip under her bed. And there, she waited. Once she was sure everyone was gone, she came out and quickly began changing back out of her robes. She was pretty sure that everyone would be at the hatching right now, so it was unlikely anyone would catch her. Served them right, taking people like that. Oh, she couldn’t wait to get home!

She was right! The area was almost empty when she finally came out of the barracks, and she had to work hard to repress a cheer. Yes! She practically skipped out into the weyrbowl. Now she just had to… had to…

“Oh shards!” She couldn’t help but let the expletive escape as a shadow fell over her. Apparently her clever plan had been anticipated after all.

---

Given the arrival of Praxidera, the sudden arrival of a small girl on the sands… probably wasn’t all that special, or even surprising. …Then again, Praxidera didn’t have to be dragged onto the sands by a man several times her size. Nor had she been sulking. Because Elyna was sulking in a most… exaggerated manner. Facing away from the sands with her arms crossed over her chest and refusing to look at anything but her feet, she stumbled backwards awkwardly as she was dragged by the back of a robe she hadn’t wanted to wear. She was marched to the girls line and then suddenly left on her own, falling backwards onto the sands. She didn’t bother to get up, instead flipping over onto her stomach.

“Aurrrgh.” That’s it. She was going to die. She was going to lie here until a hatchling fell on her or she got trampled or she starved to death because she was not getting up EVER and the weyr would lose a candidate and it would serve those stupid wherrybrained dragonriders right! They could all just… augh! She kicked her feet a bit as she lay there on the hot sands. And rapidly growing hotter...

“AIIIEEE!” OW. OW. HOT. HOT. HOT. She sprang to her feet with surprising quickness for someone who had just decided to lie down and die.

.: Lady Rhiasyn and Kuroi-Midori Taviorth :.

Rhia grinned at Itessi as the woman spoke. It still hadn't sunk in yet, that zhe was a dragonrider and all the changes that it would make in zher life. Zher mind was completely taken up with Taviorth, with no room left for thinking about what his presence in zher life would do.

Of course lovely Kazith Taviorth tried to go for a smooth purring tone of voice, but being so young, it didn't quite work out. He settled himself beside the queen, spreading on mottled black and green wing over her back. Even as hatchlings, there wwas quite a size difference between the two of them, as would be expected with Kazith being pure Aoi while Tavi was mostly Kuroi. Still, the young male rose to the occasion, pressing himself against her and stretching his stubby hatchling wing out as far as it would go. It was a far cry from the graceful coil of creatures they might one day be, but it was still rather adorable.

"Of course I can" Rhia said with a firm nod when Essi questioned if zhe could handle feeding both hatchlings. Zhe might not have had candidate training but feeding a baby wasn't that hard, especially when said baby was starting out on solids.

"Show off your bandages you mean" Zhe teased as zhe fed the two dragons "Battle scars don't count until they've actually scarred." Zhe shifted zher shoulder, feeling zher own battle scars brush against the fabric of zher shirt. They were still new enough to be quite sensitive, legacy of the fight which had gotten zher sent here in the first place.

I am glad you were here Taviorth spoke softly, leaning his head in to nuzzle zher hand an arm before delicately taking the food zhe offered him.

And of course, no sooner had Elyna got up than a little pink dragon was there. Had she been in a better mood, she might have thought it was cute, but now…

“Go away.” Go choose someone else. She was a harper. She didn’t want a dragon.

“Aiiiieee!” She fell back onto the sands, tears welling up in her eyes. That… that awful sharding little thing had just clawed at her! Her expression quickly turned to one of anger. She… she hoped that dragon impressed to a wherrybrained jerk! She hadn’t even done anything! AUGH! She hated that dragon! Stupid pink jerk! Pink wasn't even pretty! She hated pink! Stupid ugly pink jerk dragon!

Caught up in her anger over what had just happened, she didn’t think about going to the healers.

Jenesys gasped in pain as the Healer wrapped gauze around his middle. The bleeding had thankfully stopped but the wounds needed to stay clean and heal.

"And if I catch you doing anything strenuous I will tie you to one of the beds in the Infirmary, do you hear me?" the Healer snapped. Jenesys only nodded quietly as he lay back, his mind and body were exhausted and he knew it had to be from the blood loss. Once he was sure he was all right Orion had left the Triage to return to the Sands. Jenesys's mind was still on the Hatching...would the dragon even know he was where he was or simply believe him not there and thus Between. Or...or maybe they'd assume he wasn't worthy of them since he wasn't there and choose another...he wasn't sure if dragons did that but with his luck...they would. That is until soft trill tickled his ears and a voice filled his mind.

Jenesys frowned...he'd never heard that voice before...and then it continued and his heart stopped. Swallowing thickly he turned his eyes to the entrance of the Triage and met the swirling rainbow gaze of the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen before.

Just so you know, I love you just the way you are mine, and I won't ask you to change or be what you are not.

Those simple words started his heart again and he couldn't help the tears that came to his eyes. Slowly, he sat up on the bed and even the Healer didn't stop him from going to his young new Bonded. "Me?"

Of course, you. You are the only one for me after all as I am the only one for you. Now lay back down before you hurt yourself even more, Purloith ordered gently, slipping further inside the tent to gently nuzzle against Jenesys's uninjured side to lay back on the bed. She was hungry of course, like all new hatchlings but her Bonded was injured and needed her, she could wait a little longer for a meal.




Returning to the sands his eyes raked over the dragons that were still milling about. One in particular seemed to be in a downright awful mood as she chewed on a Candidate like a canine would a bone. He sighed as he turned his attention to the remaining eggs, patiently waiting to see if one was destined to be his.

---

    
Delvina was looking about the crowd, watching all the commotion with interest. She wasn't horrified by blood - she was an apprentice healer after all. Instead she held an awed smile as she watched the Sakura crash through the gathered foolish girls. That was a dragon. A real dragon - fearless, unstoppable- Undeterred in their task. Not even screaming bloodied girls could stop that beautiful pink nightmare now. Oh - what would it be like to be free as a dragon? Able to wing into the air, jump between to anywhere?

Shaking her head, she pushed the thought aside. She wasn't going to become a dragon rider. The rider's hadn't searched her anyway. Whoever they had come for, she had taken their place. She would stay here at the Weyr until she could force her father to renegotiate an arrangement with the Weyr - and thus their hold would prosper. She would be proven just right by it all. And if she paid close attention to Weyrwoman Haruka, surely she'd learn better ways to deal with such unruly men in any negotiation.

Delvina jumped and shrieked - surprising herself with her terribly girlish cry! She was a Holder's daughter and not some pathetic wherry headed merchant's girl. THERE YOU ARE! the surging voice crashed into her mind as the charging dragon skidded into her body! Staggering back, Delvina found herself clutching the unstoppable pink nightmare with great surprise! It took you long enough to get here. Confusion flooded across Delvina's face as she settled her gaze across the beautiful pink dragonet. Holding up one figure to the dragonet's snout, Delvina spoke like she might to a naughty child. "That is a boy's greeting. But you are a Lady - why you are the most beautiful lady of this clutch." Delvina couldn't help but admire the soft pink dragonet. Though her thoughts took guilty pleasure in the bloodied maw of the creature. Fearless, spoilt, dangerous and unstoppable - just like a good husband ought to be. Unless you knew how to manage them just so. "When Ladies greet one another, you must introduce yourself like thus." And with great exaggeration Delvina stepped back, giving a flourish and wave with her wrist. "Good afternoon. I am Delvina, Holder's daughter of Bluestone Hold. Oh- Now of Sabishi Weyr. I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance." Stepping back, Delvina curtsied the dragonet with a warm smile. She really couldn't keep her eyes off the dragonet. She was so beautiful, Delvina couldn't imagine anything but pride and love for the creature. Though another guilty thought left Delvina aware of a growing depth of hunger drawn from the sight of fresh blood at the dragonet's maw.

The dragonet's thoughts came back into Delvina, heavy, loud - but a carefully paced this time. I am Hannyath. Hannyath of- The dragonet's whirling eyes looked about in confusion for a moment before settling on the clutch. Of Nagith. I am your wings Delvina. I was so worried my sisters had stolen you away! You're my dearest Delvina and I'll bite anyone who threatens us. Taking a half step back, Hannyath tried to bow her body - but ended up losing her balance on one leg and staggered into a side step.

Delvina's expression broke into surprise. Hannyath - her Hannyath? She was a dragon. Her dragon. Hannyath pushed her snout into Delvina's stomach- pressing upon that hunger with such intensity that her stunned thoughts gathered together. Was that ok? Could we practice greetings later? I am so very hungry. If we stay here I might have to eat someone waiting for my brother's and sister's.

Delvina's faced turned to concern "Oh my! If your my dragon then I simply can't have you eating people." She turned, her fingers playing across Hannyath's neck. She started to lead her dragonet away, talking in a serious tone "I'm sure there is plenty of food here in the Weyr. Come on, we'll go down to the kitchens and get someone to prepare us a nice meal. I'd like some nice rare juicy wherry steaks. I think you'll find wherry is much nice than candidates. The meat can have such a delicate flavor to it." Delvina lead her dragonet carefully away - floating on a cloud of rushing confusing emotions all curbed by deepening hunger. But it was pure pride that beamed from her face. She had her Hannyath - the most beautiful and pure dragon she'd ever seen. A beautiful pink marred with just enough red to ensure no one mistakes her nature. Just so.

.: Zurianna :.

Zuri had been staying quiet, simply going her best to stay out of the way of the more clumsy and/or violent of the roaming hatchlings. Her eyes were still focused upon the remaining queen eggs, recalling what she had felt from the Midori egg when she had touched it. The other egg which had now been pulled aside as a queen had seemed receptive at first but then pushed her mind away. The Midori egg had allowed her to linger, had given her a sense of approval. Now Zurianna had trouble taking her eyes off it, hoping that the baby might remember her and desire her for a partner.

The Sakura's hissing got a grimace in response from the dark skinned woman. Such fussing from such a small creature, the worst example of the sakura sterotype personality that she had seen in a long while. She would freely admit to be being glad when the dragon chose someone else. The Sakura was pretty but she was so violent.

The second largest egg, the one which rested with the green tinted Midori egg, broke open, revealing a pretty Shiroi, her stark white hide shining with pale splotches of lavender and pink and blue. Zurianna watched her with interest, wondering who would prove worthy of the queen. Itessi had already been found by Kazith and Zurianna was taking mental bets now about which of her fellow female candidates would be chosen as the newest Shiroi rider.

-------------------
.: Ailexyan :.

With his wounds cleaned, the worst of them stitched up and the whole mess covered in numbweed and then bandaged, Lex had been left mostly on his own, the healers leaving him in order to deal with the others who had been injured. He had convinced them to allow him to turn around in the cot so that he could set his chin on his arms and watch what was going on with the eggs and the hatchlings and the other candidates. As long as he was slow and careful with his movements and didn't try to sit up or role over without assistance, he was allowed to fold his arms under his head to support him as he watched.

He saw the Ichigo heading for the triage and for a moment he had hoped that the dragon was heading for him, but the red toned hatchling hadn't even looked in his direction, heading straight for Kelyra, who the Weyrhealer had just dragged in off the sands. He was glad for her, even as he felt that flare of disappointment. The Murasaki-Kin didn't interest him as a possibly for her to be looking for him, but he was curious about who she was looking for among the injured and smiled as he saw her pick Jensys. The other boy had seemed so lonely and a dragon would be good for him.

Counting the eggs which remained, Ailexyan felt his hopes sink a little. There was only a handful of eggs left, and though there were a few dragons walking among the candidates, none of them seemed to be looking towards the triage at all. Was one of them going to find him here? Or was he going to be left alone once again?