The Hidden Gem (Plot Hatching)

[Lark]

Panille's Iliath was among the first to hear it. A faint humming, coming from far away. She knew what it was...she knew what was needed. Mine! Her eggs... Pan sat up straight in bed. It was dark out, definitely middle of the night and only the handlers were up. Iliath...we have to get them there...we have to. She knew S'vrin would hurt her for this. He hated the dragoness who had clutched for killing his sister. It didn't mean that it was her fault though...sure she was odd. There were odder dragons at Ista, though that was in personality not hide.

I'll wake some of the candidates. Picking out the ones on the edges of the barracks, Iliath spoke to the minds of Syanka, Eliitra, Barnaby, Velkan, and Vekoiyev. Come, come now all of you. Quiet though, don't wake anyone up....please if you value your lives stay quiet. The green hissed softly in her cave. Dragging clothing on her body, Panille hurried through her waking motions. The humming was getting worse now, echoed in her own dragon's throat. Soon the others would wake. "They think she's dead Iliath! They're going to find out. Faranth, the riders from Trelis...this is a mess. It's a sharding mess!"

Find the candidates and get them to her first Mine. We will deal with everything else as it comes by. The green bowed down to get her rider onto her neck. "Okay. Go." The dragoness swept down to the meeting place she had indicated to the candidates. "I have little time to explain right now...you need to get on these boats though okay. Follow Iliath and me." Pan gestured to some row boats on the coast as she got Iliath into the air. She noted that Syanka was grumbling, but did actually get into one and started helping the others.

Leading the way, the greenrider sighed as she looked back at Ista. "I am so dead after this." Her dragoness didn't say anything, her throat was too occupied by the hatching humm.

--

Why in the world was that sharding green waking him up now?!? Syanka muttered a few choice curses and headed out, seeing a select few follow as well. When they finally met Panille, he looked around confused. Firelizards galore were flying out over the ocean and her green was..humming. "There isn't a clutch on the sands..." His murmered words didn't reach the candidatemaster he knew, but they weren't exactly meant for her. He did as he was told though, curiosity rising in his gut.

The boats were unfamiliar to him, but he took one oar and started rowing. It hurt his arms, testing him as his eyes tried to follow the green form above them. "At least she's bright green and not almost black!" He shouted toward the candidate nearest him. Amazingly they were all able to fit into two boats. Two in one, three in another. Where were they going though....then he saw it. During the day he noticed it often, but at night it was practically invisible. A smaller island beside Ista was their destination.

As Iliath landed, Syanka pulled his boat onto the shore with the candidates' help. "Alright..now what?" The boy looked at Panille, curious now. He could hear the humming, and that was no flit either. The candidatemaster didn't stop to explain however. Instead, she ran into the cave near them, and when Syanka followed he stopped in his tracks. "What in the sharding.....how...what is she!?!" His eyes looked at the silver and black form that was in the shadows. Dragon eggs, six he counted were there as well.

Looking at Panille, the candidate gawked. "She's an obsidian...the first one. I brought them...I'm sorry, but I couldn't let her eggs just die. We don't have much time though." The candidatemaster's dragon entered then, guarding the entrance with open jaws. No one will enter here until they hatch and impress! I guarantee you that...my Queen. Dipping her green head to what actually was a Sub-Queen, Iliath crooned at Hers.

[Zirin]

Vek mumbled slightly in his sleep, confused as to why the CandidateMaster’s dragon had suddenly popped into his dream. He rolled over in his confusion and landed on the ground with a thump, only then hearing the comment about staying quiet. He clamped a hand over his mouth and looked around to see if anyone else had woken up. A few of the candidates along the edge of the barracks were moving, but based on their quiet movements they must have also heard the call. He pulled on his regular robes (this time an awful clash of yellow and blue), tossed on his sandals, and was out the door before he wondered if he should have grabbed his candidate robes. No, he shouldn’t need them… there was no clutch on the sands right now… right? No, he couldn’t recall seeing any eggs clutched since the last clutch he had stood at. Well, hopefully he wouldn’t get into trouble for not having them.

He reached the meeting place quickly, having run the moment he was out of earshot of the barracks, and stopped in his tracks as he noticed the boats. This was just so strange… was he still dreaming? He pinched his cheek, giving a quiet yelp as it hurt. Nope, not a dream. He shrugged, obviously it was time for an adventure! He jumped into the same boat as Syanka, hoping he knew how to row a boat.. Since Vek had never done it before. He tried to copy the other candidates movements and was pleased to see the boat moving, if a little rockier than he had hoped.

“Yeah no kidding Syanka!” He replied. His eyes were having a hard enough time focusing on the green dragon as they rowed. He couldn’t imagine how they would have managed it at all if she were darker. They pulled up on the beach, Vek practically falling out of the boat in his hurry to pull it ashore. It wasn’t until the stopped pulling the boat that the sound of humming truly sunk in. Oh no.. he HAD needed his robes. Oooh stupid stupid Vek! He berated himself as he followed Panille into the cave.

“By the first egg!” He exclaimed before clapping a hand over his mouth once again as he took in the site of the large obsidian. His eyes danced excitedly over her. What was she? Where had she come from? Was that her full size? How old was she? Ooooooh so many questions! Vek wasn’t to find the answer to all of them. Then he saw the eggs, six eggs that caused even more questions to run through his young mind. Oh how was he going to get the answers he wanted?!

[Zero]

Velkan didn’t quite understand the message when the Candidatemasters dragon broke into his mind. After all it was the dead of night. But there was a sort of subdued urgency to the greens voice as she relayed her messaged to his sleep fogged mind, willing him to wake. Stifling a yawn, the young Lord hauled himself from the warmth of his bed, grabbing his boots and shirt as he made his way from the barracks to the required place.

Dressing as he went wasn’t the best idea in the dark and once he actually stumbled and scraped the flesh of his left arm against a particular jagged stretch of wall. Hissing his pain and annoyance, Velkan ignored the swelling blood for the time being and quickly hurried along behind the few others that had been summoned as well. As he reached the meeting place and his eyes settled on the boats, he had to suppress the groan at the very sight. Was their mentor crazy?! Rowing around in a little boat in the middle of the night was sure a good way to get someone killed, or lost at sea.

He remained silent though, keeping his thoughts to himself for the time being and quickly hopped in the nearest boat along with another candidate, grabbed an oar and added his strength to the rowing process. Eventually they reached their destination, which was apparently a miniature island and Velkan hopped to shore, nearly tripping over his feet in the process as he helped haul the boat to shore.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he followed the rest of the bunch into the foreboding cave in front of them. “What is that?!” Stopping dead in his tracks, he eyed the dark dragon looming over her clutch and visible swallowed. Snapping his mouth shut, Velkan shot a sideways glance to Panille, as if waiting for a special set of instructions as her green moved to block the entrance of the cave. Oh great, we’re going to be fed to her! Standing near the back he eyed the strange colored dragoness and her clutch and looked at the rest of the group, wondering what their take on the current situation was. Surely it couldn’t end well…

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[Lark]

Panille bit her lip and lowered green eyes to the dark floor. "I suppose we should explain before these things start to hatch." The candidatemaster faced the candidates, holding her arms against herself. "A few turns ago, Uzareth, who is no longer with us, clutched this dragoness. It was a new color, something we had never seen before. Many didn't trust it from the get go...S'vrin was one of them. When it accidentally killed his younger sister...my best friend, he went crazy. He wanted her killed, but our Weyrleader said no. Instead we told everyone she died and her rider commited suicide. We didn't want people to think we were weak or plagued because of her....so we hid them away. It was so wrong, I knew it even then. Little by little, it was forgotten...then she flew and S'vrin's bronze caught her. Now she has eggs..and they need candidates."

As she finished her green hummed more. It brought her attention to the small ring of eggs. Six, only six. The first wiggled, juggling its weight from one side to another. "Come on..." Panille murmured as she watched the pink shell crack. A purple nose of all things reached out. A purple..."What!?!" She raised a hand to cut Syanka off. The hatchling proceeded to push out more, revealing a gray with more purple and even some white. It wasn't odd coming from an Obsidian mother, after all there were already other new colors at Trelis. If she could just get them impressed...she had already sent Azeal to find the Weyrleader of the other Island Weyr.

The young boy after all was their Weyrwoman's cousin. Shaking her head, Panille watched as another egg, this one mixtures of green started to hatch. She named it Emerald Nebula in her head for some reason. It just seemed proper for it. The others rocked too, egged on by their hatching siblings. The first to start was to come before the others though. The little purple, only the size of a green, stumbled out, crooning at all the candidates. What a pretty world, with pretty colors, and pretty people! She liked them! Her hide gleamed with a shimmer only found because of egg goop. She was pretty too!

Her brother soon followed, the Emerald Nebula egg bursting open with a sudden movement. A garnet stepped forth, shaking his head and stumbling on his feet. Red swirling eyes looked at everyone around him. They were all just perfect weren't they?!? Hissing, he took a step, faltering as he stumbled and landed in the sand. How dare they laugh! His eyes snapped to the purple form of his sister. She was laughing, giggling! It was evident in how her wings moved and her eyes swirled with light colors. She was disgusting! So...perfect. So,...loved. She'd pay, she'd definitely have to pay.

Lunging for the small purple dragonet, the Garnet tore at her wings as she cried out. Iliath hissed, echoing anything the Obsidian mother said. It was too late though, sniffling, the little dragonet betweened away. Snorting, the garnet smirked and sat down on the sands. That was finished! Now, were any of these...things...good enough for him? Come out, come out where ever you are Mine....where are you? The garnet crooned almost sweetly to the candidates as he stalked between the boys and girls. There were not enough to choose from...he wanted to hurt one! Though, that would just be a waste.

He circled around Eliitra, crooning before he turned red eyes on her. Nothing is perfect! The garnet screamed at her mind as she hit her with his head and knocked her backward. He wanted them to all see him! He wanted them to see he was perfect...he was! He honestly was! Don't worry pretty thing. I wouldn't scar you. You're not Mine...you however are Vl'kanMine! The Garnet ran from Eliitra to the male candidate and jumped onto him. His aim was to knock him down as well, perhaps scarring part of his body in the meanwhile.

You'll do Vl'kan for your Thormyth! We will make them see me, we will make them bow down to our will! What wonderful, beautiful, devious things I see in your mind Mine. Listen to me, and we'll be perfect...only we can be perfect in this world. Anything else that tries, will die or be maimed. Only the best survive. Only the fastest, the smartest, the best! We are Gods Mine! Thormyth rose up on the sands, turning his head to the roof and letting out a hiss and roar. In response, the eggs nearby rocked harder. Seeing the first hatchling, Iliath warbled and went out of the cave, temporarily leaving the entrance. When she came back, she had a few mouthfuls of fish near the cave entrance for them to eat.

Emerald Nebula egg- Garnet Thormyth impresses to Vl'kan

Personality: Strives for acknowledgement, Hateful, Spiteful, Aggressive, Calculating, Flirtatious, Secretly self-conscious and insecure.
Size: 37 feet
Hex Codes:
Body/Nose- 2c0000
Underside/Tailtip- b31313
Highlights/Tail- f10505

A note on Thormyth: Thormyth loves to see people get hurt, but it all comes from an insecurity he has in himself. He will never let anyone but His know, but it is there nevertheless. He's worried he isn't good enough, not taken seriously, etc. So, he decided upon hatching that he would make others pay attention and acknowledge him. He doesn't even care how much damage he has to do in the meantime.

[Zirin]

Vekoiyev nodded, eyes wide with curiosity as he and his fellow candidates were filled in on the situation. Well… he himself found nothing wrong with the strange coloured dragoness. Nature had oddities, why wouldn’t dragons? Well, maybe because there was nothing in the records about something like this before. But still! This was something new and exciting! Ooooh how he wanted to examine every inch of hide on the dam. He stayed where he was though, recalling the proper procedures to follow at a hatching. Just because her colour was different didn’t mean the procedures would be any different then normal.

He hopped from one foot to the other in eagerness to see what happened. Would the babies be normal? Would they be like their mother? Oh it was all to exciting for little Vek. Then it all started happening. Eggs were rocking fiercely, the humming had gotten louder, and the first shell shattered. Out spilled a little dragon and was it… purple? Vek’s eyes opened wider; it was adorable! Just like with the mother, he wanted to examine her closer. Then another egg hatched and all hell broke loose. This second hatchling was red, blood red, and even Vek’s unbiased opinion towards everything couldn’t stop him from shuddering a bit in.. fear? Was he afraid of this hatchling? He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

“No!” He cried out as red claws dug into purple wings, ripping and tearing the fragile skin as the dragonet cried out. Then she was gone, just like that. Vek bit his lip to keep from crying out any more… he didn’t want the red to come at him. It came close, too close for comfort. But it moved on. Vek felt guilty. Where had his curiosity gone? Normally he would have been all over the hatchling coming near him.. But this one… He winced as the girl near him, Eliitra, drew the beast’s attention, and Vek sighed in relief as she was only pushed, not injured.

The garnet moved on, going up to Velkan. In a way, Vek was glad the garnet had chosen Velkan, it meant he himself wasn’t matched to it. At the same time though, the pair frightened him, he wasn’t quite sure why, but he didn’t want to be anywhere near him. The thought made him feel even guiltier.

[Zero]

This had to be a joke right? Like something out of a bad novel and Velkan couldn’t wrap his head around it. “So you just locked her up all these years?” He scoffed and shook his head. “And to think I thought my father was bad but I believe this here has him beat.” Folding his arms across his chest he glanced at the others, trying to gauge their reactions to this strange bit of news. Before he had a chance to pester their beautiful teacher with any of his concerns however, the eggs began to quiver and shake.

He held his breath as he witnessed the young purple hatchling bounce out across the sands. Wait…Purple?! His mouth hung partially open in shock at seeing such a color. Yep something was definitely not right here. Where were those bloody Trelis dragons!? They were supposed to have removed him from this asylum days ago! Growling at his current situation entirely, Velkan finally took notice of his bleeding arm and proceeded to stem the bleeding. Of course this took his attention away from the eggs and their large, dark mother, which naturally wasn’t the best thing the man could have done.

A sudden shriek caused his head to snap up and pinpoint the source of the disturbance. It seemed while he hadn’t been paying attention another egg had hatched and this one was big, red and didn’t seem to pleased with any of them. He watched with wide eyes as the red hatchling launched himself at his sister, basically tearing her to shreds before the wild hatchling turned his attention to the group. The group that he just so happened to be standing in.

The hatchlings voice broke into their minds with a very twisted sing-song tone to his voice as he inspected them. Yep not a good place to be at all. Subconsciously Velkan took half a step back as the violent creature stalked among the candidates. It must have been a bad move because the next thing he knew the red beast was darting across the sands and launched himself at the young Lord. Stumbling back across the sands as the full weight of the hatchling hit him in the chest, Velkan landed flat on his back and stared wide-eyed at the crimson dragonet looming over him.

You'll do Vl'kan for your Thormyth! We will make them see me, we will make them bow down to our will! What wonderful, beautiful, devious things I see in your mind Mine. Listen to me, and we'll be perfect...only we can be perfect in this world. Anything else that tries, will die or be maimed. Only the best survive. Only the fastest, the smartest, the best! We are Gods Mine!

The Garnets voice tore into Vl’kans mind as well as his claws, which had ripped the flesh from his ribs to his stomach. The man gasped as both the sensation of Impression and pain hit him at once, while his own warm sticky blood began to stain the ground beneath him. Struggling for breath, the new Rider pushed himself to his knees as Thormyth hissed and roared his authority over all. Well this was unexpected.

“Of course you are right, Thormyth. Only the best and that is what we are now and what we will become...Gods.” Struggling to get the words out, not even thinking that he could speak to HIS dragon through their link, the now named Vl’kan gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet and held tightly onto his side as he struggled to lead the young Garnet to the pile of fish Iliath had dropped at the mouth of the cave, mere feet away. The young dragon, bloodied by his sisters ichor, hadn’t mentioned the burning hunger but Vl’kan felt it himself and knew he needed to feed the hatchling before he grew upset and anyone else got hurt.

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[Lark]

The hatching had gone somewhat disturbingly according at least to Syanka. He was glad that particular one hadn't impressed to himself, but jealous too. Now another egg was rocking. It was blue with lots of white shiny spots on it like stars. The sight made him remember long ago, his mother holding him gently and pointing at the sky. Wish upon a star she had said. It hadn't been meant to happen, but that's what Syanka started considering this egg as, the Wish upon a star egg. It shook fervently, as if knowing its time had come.

Cracking gently, the shell stopped, and Syanka wondered for a moment of the hatchling had second guessed its timing. However, a white flash of skin showed as the hatchling unwrapped itself from the back side of it's egg. Apparently it had broken free from that way instead. The hatchling looked around the egg, shocking the observers no doubt. "It's....rainbow." Colorful didn't begin to explain this hatchling. It's wings...and it's tail...and...wow. The hatchling padded carefully around his egg, for it was seemingly a male for such a colorful creature.

Suddenly it stopped and looked at the candidates, eyes swirling from green to yellow to red and back again. It wanted something...but what? What could it want? What could it need? The hat going stepped over the place where his purple sister had betweened to her death, sniffing at the ichor staining the hot ground. At least his clutchmother had found a warm place to nest her children. At least she will be happier in the cold. It could have been worse I suppose. She could have been maimed and stuck waiting for Hers till the end of the hatching before leaving. Life is so very fragile.

His voice echoed in everyone's mind, a myserious caress coming from everywhere and no where. Nudging Eliitra to her feet, the hatchling moved on to the boys. Life is short, but at least that means there is less time for pain...though we end in pain. He paused in front of a boy and turned rainbow eyes on him. My V'koi, your Panyth wants to ask you something. What's fun? I want to have fun! I don't want to end my life without this thing you think of so often, and what of love? Teach your Panyth that too. Now though, I'd like something to eat. Wouldn't you, V'koiMine?

Wish Upon a Star egg- Opal Panyth impresses to V'koi

Personality: Mysterious, Speaks in riddles, Always optimistic...in a pessimistic way, Changes his mind a lot, hates to flirt, likes to be in the shadows, the silent jester
Size: 28.9 feet
A note on Panyth: he's the happy person in the back of the room that will occasionaly make a funny comment at just the right time. The rest of the time, you never hear from him. He also is always looking on the bright-side, but from a pessimistic view point. Ex: He will look at something and say, at least it's only this. In reality, he ends up pointing out flaws when he means to praise.

[diogenessbeast]

((I'm going to assume Art was just amongst those called. If that's not cool, poke me in the eye plz~))

Artemis was among those sleeping soundly as a baby in the Istan Barracks that night. She had no reason to do otherwise- she couldn't begin to imagine the events of this night. As full of dragon hatchlings as her dreams may have been, the thought never occurred to her that she might end up standing much sooner then she had anticipated.

The green's voice woke her, and she opened her eyes to the dark of the barracks. It took her a moment to realize that the voice had not been part of a dream, and that she needed to move. Time was of the essence. There had been a note of urgency in the green's voice, as she summoned them, and it was clear that not all of the candidates would be in attendance.

She moved to dress quickly, suddenly quite pleased that the outfit she'd laid out for the next day had been all tones of black, and didn't even bother to put on her belt before padding softly out the door. As much as she loved the accessory, there was just no time...

Artemis was not the only candidate called. She joined the other and made their way to the coast, where her eyes widened further. Boats were waiting with them. Two small ones, and it was certainly a crowded fit, clambering into them.. but that was not as much of a surprise as everything else. She was coming out of her sleep-haze now, reality reasserting itself as it was made obvious that this was Not A Dream.

As she made her way into the small cave that was, apparently, a makeshift hatching sands, the reason for the urgency and the humming became clear. A dark dragon, certainly unlike one she had ever seen before, was sitting against a small clutch of six eggs, and those eggs were close to hatching.

She heard Panille's words, and filed them away, her mind moving quickly. Had she been anyone else, this may've been too much to handle-- but now her mind simply went into reaction mode. She nodded, bowed to the queen, and strode onto the sands, joining this impromptu little gaggle. Tonight was a strange night, but shard it, she would handle strange...

Even when strange happened to throw in a purple dragonet to the mix. She'd heard of the obsidian, and heard of the dragon and her rider's supposed demise. She had heard of Trelis's strange colors. This was, however, seeing the strangeness in the flesh- and she hadn't remembered anything purple in those shocked stories that came out of Trelis. "What is that?" She said under her breath, but part of her was already reacting to the wonder. There was the initial misgiving, of course-- these colors were strange, new, different. But, was that a bad thing? she hadn't decided; Trelis was far away, it's issues it's own, and she hadn't bothered to form too much of an opinion. The story of the obsidian-- this obsidian, apparently-- had always made her slightly sad, but it was the past. This was the present, and she hadn't had much time to form an opinion on these strange little babies.

But there was a part of her, deep and strong, that was of the opinion that a dragon was a dragon was a dragon, and this little dragon-- the size of a green, but bright purple-- was certainly a sweet one. Her eyes swirled with bright colors, and she looked.. happy.

Another egg was hatching, and the dragonet that crawled from it was not so happy looking. Artemis didn't see it hatch, focusing instead on the purple creature... it was only when the garnet was directly behind the purple, jumping for the creature's wings, that she saw him. Artemis couldn't stifle the cry of dismay, as the garnet's teeth and claws found their mark amongst the purple's wings, drawing ichor immediately, and she was shocked to see such cruelty on something so young. It wasn't his color that made her start, with the garnet-- that was something she noticed as an afterthought. No, the thing that took her aback was the viciousness with which he attacked.

The look on her face was shock, as she watched him stalk away and drive his claws into a candidate-- apparently his candidate. So vicious.. to attack one's own rider? Intentionally? she knew that dragonets hurt one another on the sands, and sometimes even the humans, but usually it was an accident. This dragonet knew who his rider was, and attacked him. She couldn't begin to fathom the reasoning behind it.

Ordinarily she might think that the impression of a dragonet was cause for congratulations.. but at the moment, she was not so sure. She continued to watch him, somewhat shocked, and moved a little bit closer to the gaggle of candidates.

Another egg was hatching, strait on the tails of the other ones, and this, too, was a strange color. Another bright dragonet stepped from the shell, and this one's hide couldn't seem to make up it's mind. White, red, green, yellow, blue, purple, teal.. this dragonet was a rainbow in itself.

It was a her, too. Artemis knew that a second later, because the dragonet started talking to all of them. The voice rang with perfect clarity in her mind, though the words did not- he seemed mournful of his sister, and aware of the cruel viciousness of the attack.

"Life is fragile." Artemis responded to herself, her voice barely a whisper. That much was made very clear. It was also amazing; here was a dragonet of a color she had never seen, and he was the third one. The first two had been just as strange as him, if perhaps not as colorful.

To the rider of this new fascinating dragon, she gave a small nod, and then looked back at the eggs, her face furrowed into a frown. She was thinking of.. what she could do, really. This was strange, it still seemed slightly like a dream, despite the fact that she knew she was awake. In an ordinary hatching, you stood and waited and watched with bated breath, hoping the dragonets came to you. This was similar... but different enough that she felt like she should be doing something, watching out for something.

Did she even want one of these? She was surprised at the internal answer, which came quickly: despite the odd colors, the answer was yes. Perhaps not one so cruel as the garnet, but not every one of these dragonets seemed cruel-- only one of the three. The other two had seemed perfectly fine, and why should she turn her backs on them for their color?

[Zirin]

Vek released the breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding as Velk - Vl’kan - went off to where Iliath had dropped fish for the hatchlings. Phew… no one had been injured… well Vl’kan had, but he seemed to be doing alright despite that. At the sound of another crack Vekoiyev was torn between what to do… keep an eye on that crazy red dragon, or look back at the eggs. He gulped and looked at the eggs, hoping the garnet would be too distracted with eating to do anyone else any harm.

He raised an eyebrow as the currently rocking egg simply stopped moving. Had it changed its mind? Was it unable to hatch? Should he go check? The last thought caused him to move a single step towards the egg before he noticed a patch of white from behind the blue egg. Then the creature unfurled itself, displaying wings of.. Well.. Many colours? How would one describe the colour of the creature? It was, in a way, like the whites he had seen on occasion, but they didn’t have all that colour to them. He, for Vek thought the creature walked with a rather masculine movement, reminded the young boy of a rainbow. A rainbow dragon, how silly!

He watched with excitement as the dragonet moved to sniff the place that the purple had once stood and Vek felt his heart calm. This one didn’t seem to have that vicious streak that the garnet had portrayed. At least she will be happier in the cold. It could have been worse I suppose. She could have been maimed and stuck waiting for Hers till the end of the hatching before leaving. Life is so very fragile.. Vek tilted his head to the side as the dragonet’s voice reached him. Was what he said meant in... A good way? Or a bad way? He really couldn’t tell, but the mystery behind it made him all more curious about the rainbow dragon. The dragon became stranger still as it went to help up Eliitra and Vek felt himself sag a little in disappointment. Did that mean he had found His already? Wait.. No the dragonet moved on, speaking once again about life and pain. Well that was definitely a negative thought wasn’t it? Or maybe… He scratched his head. This baby confused him! He wanted to know more! The hatchling then stopped in front of him and V’koi felt elation, curiosity, and hunger hit him all at once.

My V'koi, your Panyth wants to ask you something. What's fun? I want to have fun! I don't want to end my life without this thing you think of so often, and what of love? Teach your Panyth that too. Now though, I'd like something to eat. Wouldn't you, V'koiMine? Suddenly bombarded with questions, Vek wasn’t quite sure what to do. So, he nodded dumbly for a moment before the full realization hit. His name, Panyth’s name… all those question… they were all for him. Panyth was for him! He grinned and threw his arms around the little creature.

“Oh Panyth! There are so many fun things! Like exploring, and eating new foods, and and and…” He trailed off a moment. He didn’t really know what love was, he was just a young boy. Well, he knew he loved knowledge, but was that what Panyth had meant? “We’ll learn everything together now won’t we Panyth?” He asked, still a little dumbfounded. Then the hunger, and Panyth’s words hit him full force. “Oh.. Oh yes! Yeah we’ll go get some food! This way over here.” He led the Opal, for somehow V’koi knew that was the name of his partner’s colouring, towards the fish. As they neared the fish, however, V’koi’s elation change to dread. What would happen if he brought Panyth too close to the garnet?

What good comes of fearing that which you do not understand, V’koiMine?[/I][/color] He paused, contemplating the words. He had never before been afraid of anything. He had always been curious, not wary. Panyth was right, what harm could come of going to feed his dragon? He hoped, of course, that he wasn’t jinxing himself. Grabbing one of the fish, he held it out for Panyth, making sure there was at least a bit of distance between the two dragonets.

[Zara]

Eliitra was on her feet in a moments notice as she heard the green's call. What was it that was so important? The humming. That could only mean a hatching. But where? There were not eggs on the sands... But she quickly changed anyways, pulling on her typical clothing and doing as told, not so much as making a sound.

Though, shortly, she heard the flap of wings that could only mean Swift wished to follow her, as he always did. She frowned. "Shhh... No Swift. Stay," she whispered sternly to him. She raised her opposite wrist to him, watching him step onto it and looked at him severely before sending him off to perch as he had been before. She sighed and started walking. She wouldn't be late. But she would be careful. Being careful. Well... that was something that was rather important.

When she arrived, she was rather surprised to see the boats. She looked at them dubiously. She wasn't so sure she liked where this was going, but... well... There was a hatching as evidenced by the humming. It wasn't on the sands, so it had to be elsewhere. Only problem with that was... It might not be wise to go. But wise or not, she went. For the sake of whatever Hatchlings there were. This was a very small group of Candidates who had been called.

It was difficult following the green at times, but she was bright green beacon in the sky rather than a dark one, though green still was not the best color for standing out when all was dark. The air felt heavy and thick with anticipation and a sense of incredulous emotions. The island ahead of them was an ever growing shadow. Eliitra heard Syanka, though she was at least a seat separated from him. "Indeed. But either way, we'd have to make due with what was our lot."

She was very glad to be out of the boat, though the rest did not last for long. Rowing a boat was hard work. She wasn't unaccustomed to the like ,but it still caused her some pain in her shoulders and arms, though she did not let it show. Neither by stretching or by grimacing as she moved. She flashed a smile of encouragement to those around her and followed the Candidate Master.

She frowned at Syanka and Vkoiyev and the rudeness shown. "Well, obviously she is a lovely dragon and the mother of this clutch." She stepped forward slightly and bowed to her. "Thank you, lovely queen, for this chance to stand before your eggs," she said before straightening and moving back with to stand with the group, her attention quickly turning to the eggs. Six. A small, but lovely clutch that was as worthy of Candidates as any other. She looked at Panille. She was right.

Eliitra thought about the story for a moment. Whether it was right or wrong, what was done was done and moving forward from this point would be the best course of action over all. It was the only real course of action anyone could take. But what would be the course of that action specifically? Where was the future going. It all seemed to become much darker then. There would be more moments for thought however as she watched the shaking eggs.

A purple nose. So different... She watched the creature. She was beautiful and obviously sweet natured, loving the world and those in it. Or so it would seem.

But moments of happiness are often fragile and too easily taken away. And that was the fate of a little purple dragoness who had but entered the world. The bright green egg... It hatched next and out of it came a dragon of deep red hide who would soon fall in the sand. He was an angry thing and hsi sister would soon take the brunt of his anger as he jumped upon her, tearing at her hide, her wings... Eliitra watched, a sort of anger and horror crossing her face at once. There was nothing she could do and, yet, this life was as precious as any other... And soon... it was gone. She bit her lip and released it shortly after. She had her eyes on the Garnet and he was coming this way.

He was crooning. She did her best not to stiffen, but she could feel it. Her muscles stiffening, going rigid beneath her skin. She felt the slimmest trace of fear, but fear... You had to face it head on. She frowned at the dragonet. If he wasn't going to pick her... she wanted him to move on. As he screamed into her mind, she flinched ever so slightly. It was decidedly unpleasant to have someone scream right into your thoughts.

Then he hit her. Even if she had expected it, she would have hit the ground and that she did. She was lying on her back for a moment, but soon propped herself up on her elbow, watching the Garnet as he walked over to another Candidate... And chose him. And... hurt him. Knocking him to the ground, driving his claws into his flesh. A viscous dragon, it would seem in so many ways. Perhaps, though, it was fear as fear made a thing vicious as well. Thank goodness, however, he was off the sands. At least he wouldn't be mauling anyone or knocking them over for the moment... Or so she hoped.

She sat there like that for a long moment, just staring at the dragonet who had knocked her to the ground before another egg caught her eye as it began to hatch, releasing the dragonet inside into the air of the world. He was a sight. A true sight. Rainbow and white. Beautiful. Decidedly male. She watched him, unmoving.

At least she will be happier in the cold. It could have been worse I suppose. She could have been maimed and stuck waiting for Hers till the end of the hatching before leaving. Life is so very fragile.

He was talking to all of them. Philisophical and haunting... No where and everywhere. She nodded. "Yes... Life is so very fragile indeed," she said, her voice perhaps not the loudest, her chest hurting after being knocked by the Garnet. Shards that hurt! She hopd that no other dragonets decided to take a swing at her! Of course she knew maulings happened and they were a reality in any hatching, though that had not been one and was, in fact, extremely minor, she still hoped not to have one happen here. Or to be knocked into by another dragonet.

Speaking of... The rainbow colored hatchling was coming over to her. She took a deep breath and resisted the urge to flinch. He was helping her up. She smiled gratefully, standing there, one hand across her chest. "Thank you..." she said softly to him and watched him go.

She help the grin on her face as she realized it was Vek who the dragonet had chosen. The young boy was paired to a wonderful dragonet, that was most certain and he would be a good match, she was certain, for such a one as that. If her dragon was not here... it was not here, but she would hope that he or she was... It was always worth hoping, after all. V'koi and his Panyth...

She slowly turned her eyes back to the eggs and watched. It was the waiting that was always hard and the watching something that was always an important part.

She looked at the obsidian mother again and back to the eggs. So much beauty that was so feared.... And hated. Hatred and fear. They were often tangled up together.

[Zero]

Thormyth seemed to croon to His as he greedily accepted the offered fish, gulping them down with hardly a grind of his jaws, though, on more than one occasion, the Garnet came dangerously close to biting the hand that was feeding him. His hatching had gone off wonderfully as far as he was concerned. Apart from his prancing little sister who not only stole his limelight but dared to laugh at his stumble, all eyes had been on him. They had seen how much better he was then his now gone Amethyst sister. Even the large green had taken notice of him, as was made apparent by the pile of fish laying at his ichor stained claws. He was to be king here. Even His was now doting over him despite the crimson liquid seeping across his once white tunic. Yes, this one would do indeed. He had chosen well.

The crimson hued hatchlings pleased demeanor did not last long however as the unmistakable crack of another egg hatching began to steal everyone’s attention away from him. Hissing his head snapped to where his brother was parading around the sands, no doubt speaking to those gathered in that backwards type mindset of his. His hiss quickly turned to a growl as he flexed his claws against the sandy floor. This would not do! His Opal brother was not so great. He couldn’t even decide what color his hide should be!

Look how they fawn over him, Vl’kanMine! Why is that so? He’s no greater then I. Look! His flesh could not even decide which color it should take.

Vl’kan, who had been so preoccupied with handing a constant flow of fish to his Garnet, did not witness the next egg hatch and it was only by the sudden pull of his dragons mind did he look up. What he saw caused him to hesitate for a brief moment; the rainbow streaked hatchling would naturally have that sort of effect. It was quite a sight. Was he dreaming? Was the loss of blood finally getting to him? Blinking, the young Lord rubbed at his eyes, successfully streaking his face with blood, before turning his attention to the newly bonded pair once more. Definitely not a dream. That was proven as the pair began to walk towards himself and his fiery companion.

“Don’t you see Thormyth? Though their eyes may not be on you their attention still wavers in your direction. You’ve imprinted yourself in their thoughts. The memory of you and this day will not surely be forgotten.” Vl’kan rested his hand atop his companions head as he spoke, hoping his words would calm the hatchling and prevent another attack. It must have worked because the Garnet soon settled and dropped to a seated position, clearly pleased at His’ words. He supposed it would do…for now at least. The young hatchling eyed Panyth and His one final time as he stretched his still wet wings before returning his attention to the fish being handed to him. He was still so very hungry though and dirty, dripping wet from the time spent in his egg. The sand that had stuck to his hide was beginning to irritate him as well. This would not do for much longer.

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[Lark]

Panille smiled as the Opal hatchling impressed. Half way done, they were half way done now. Iliath went out again to keep up the supply of fish, the green's tail the last thing her rider saw before she went away. The candidatemaster just hoped that S'vrin and the others wouldn't come for another good bit. Three more eggs, that's all they needed to deal with! Just three more.

The girl bit her lip, watching as one egg started to rock more enthusiastically. Its shell was a dark purple, covered in the same star-like markings that the last one to hatch had. It was pretty, and as the thing inside tapped at the surface, small cracks appeared. The shell didn't get much damage though, and instead the dragonet inside ended up turning itself over on its side. The movement at least helped it along though, lacing the dark surface with a spiderweb of cracks.

Just a little more...just a little more. Panille silently urged the hatchling on with its movements. Finally, a few minutes later, a hole appeared and another purple nose pressed against the opening. Sniffing lightly, she poked the rest of her head out, followed by a sleek neck. While the purple before her had been slightly chubby, this one showed to be completely thin and lithe. In fact, her ribs slightly showed as she pulled herself out of her egg.

The hatchling looked back at the thing that had imprisoned her, walking around it on unsteady feet. The shape of her egg could still be felt in her limbs, and she didn't like it. She wanted that free feeling of being athletic and beautiful. She wanted to be nimble and quick like she knew she should be. The hatchling stretched out her wings, rolling her eyes at the goop there. That was sooooo gross! Flicking them, she might have sent some goop in Thormyth's direction, and she giggled at that.

He wouldn't hurt her though, why would he ever hurt her? She was adorable and lovable! Not to mention he was hot, very, very hot! Surely he would think the same of her? Prancing around the two remaining eggs, the purple dragonet stopped suddenly as one began to move. Hissing at it, she looked around slyly and shoved the egg to the side, sending it tumbling to the ground and cracking loudly. The dragonet inside shook her head, hissing at the sister next to her. The first purple just flicked her tail dismissively and threw her head into the air, walking off with a somewhat haughty stride.

Snorting, the second purple looked at the candidates and then at her mother. She was going no where near that air-headed, ash-sniffing, insane female! Plopping onto the sand, she watched her sister with narrowed, red eyes. The first purple hatchling didn't care though, her mind had already gone onto other things and she nudged the candidates left one by one. Nope, no, ewwww not that one! Sighing, she threw her head to the side dramatically and dropped her wings.

Oh come on! Where is she...where is Mine? Sniffing around the girls again, the purple hatchling bumped into Eliitra. There you are EliitraMine! Why weren't you in an easier place for me to find? Oh, nevermind, idk why you do the things you do, I don't really have to. There are more important things, don't you think my bff? Hmmm....ooooooh let's go over there and check my hot brother out! He's the red one btw, not that....weird one. There's something else I'm forgetting....oh right, duh! Feeding your Amethyst Nevith would be nice too. After all, aren't you supposed to take care of my every possible need?

Dark Star egg- Amy Nevinth impresses to Eliitra

Personality: Forgetful, Short-term memory loss, Curious, Playful, Brave, Air-head/Clueless, Vain
Size: 19.10 feet
Color Codes:
Body: 622777
Underside: ac68e6, 774c9c, 251136
Wings: 9c90a5, with variations of lighter and darker of that color

A note on Nevinth: She's the stereo-typical cheerleader in high school. Sorry if I cause any unhappiness with that statement, but she is. She is vain, in an air-headed, clueless way. She's sweet really, but she doesn't understand anything. Also, I know there's technically no way she's supposed to know chat-speak, but she does...>.>