What's In a Name (Loraketh's Hatching)

[Lark]

Here I am - this is me
I come into this world so wild and free
Here I am - so young and strong
Right here in the place where I belong

Loraketh's chest rose up as she rumbled lightly. The gold had curled herself around her eggs, her swirling eyes fixated on the now hardened shells. They would hatch soon she knew, and she was growing tired of it. She wanted to fly with Inali again. Crooning, the Queen lifted her beautiful head and nudged the Gray Dawn egg forward from her side. It kept trying to hide in the shadows her orange tinted wings created. The gold yawned then and put her head back on her front feet. Just about ready to fall into the blackness of sleep, the Rainbow Love egg twitched.

Casting a cautious glance at the little egg, Loraketh held her breath. One minute, two minutes, three minutes past. Nothing. Then, a slight twitch again. Nearby as well, the Tranquil Blue egg started its own dance. It is time LiliMine! My Lady, come! Zalanth tell Yours and the candidates. They will behave themselves though. These are my children and they will be shown respect!

Getting to a sitting position, Loraketh arced her already half-open wings around her. A low humming came from her throat as Inali came running out of her weyr. The Weyrwoman's face betrayed her anxiety and joy. Both warring for their places. Inali had never been at a hatching that Loraketh had clutched obviously, and the idea of other Weyrs judging the contents of this one scared her. Looking at the fifteen eggs, the girl bit her lip.

Her dark hued dress swung around her as she stood next to the great form of her gold. Similarly, her hair was also dancing around her, and she moved to pull it up and away from her face. It was a windy spring morning. Morning most definitely, the sun was just starting to rise on the horizon. The sands were very warm however, not hot as they normally would be in the summer time. No, they were bearable. They will heat as the sun gets higher though, making the eggs shake more. Inali thought it to herself, not to Loraketh, and even if the WeyrQueen did manage to hear it she didn't answer.

Hugging her gold, the rider sighed. It's finally here Lore. The gold crooned before nuzzling Hers back. Yes, yes, it is finally here. You will stay with my My Lady? The thought was posed as a question, but Inali knew that it was secretly a demand. "Of course I will Loraketh." Still sitting on the sands with her wings half open as usual, the gold straightened to make room on one of her feet. Here, you can sit on my foot. Nodding, Inali climbed up one of the claws and settled in.

Zalanth hummed as he received his queen's message. K'torLoveMine, get the Little Ones!....Oh, wait, that's my job. Shaking out his wings, the blue trumpeted. Come now Little Ones, wear your robes and sandals and head to the sands! Your future is waiting there. As K'tor gave the signal to between, Zalanth took up the humming that was starting to echo all over the Weyr. On the sands, the Rainbow Love egg had started to crack, reveling one bit of wing.

It didn't want to stay and wait for the candidates! Pushing at its shell, the tiny hatchling finally let forth a triumphant cry and spilled out. Loraketh warbled and put her tail around the hatchling. Wait! The gold told the green newborn as she hissed unhappily........

It's a new world - it's a new start
It's alive with the beating of young hearts
It's a new day - in a new land
And it's waiting for me
Here I am

[kitsuneko]

It was still early morning when the call came. Rihard was still lying in bed, Hari curled up on his chest, when he heard Zalanth announce the hatching of the clutch. Suddenly, he was wide awake, and he realized Hari was humming as well, though it was no where near the sound the dragons made as he got closer and closer to the hatching sands.

First things first, though. He grabbed his white candidate's robe off the hook on the wall where it hung and threw it on, along with his sandals, and ran to the hatching sands. There was no way he was going to be late! Hari made as though to follow him. "No, Hari, you've got to stay behind," he told the flitter. "No way Loraketh's going to let you on the sands."

Hari trilled unhappily but flew off in a different direction, and Rihard knew his fire lizard would behave. He made his way to the clutch, and once he arrived, Rihard was afraid he may have been late after all. One of the eggs had already hatched, revealing a lovely little green hatchling. Was he going to be in trouble? He looked around him and realized, no, he wasn't late. Not unless everyone else was too. Apparently the hatchling must have been impatient then, and counting the remaining eggs, Rihard realized it must have come from the Rainbow Love egg. He fell into place with the rest of the candidates and watched, stomach fluttering, as the rest of the eggs hatched. Would he Impress today or be disappointed?

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

Iskra Love, the eggs hatch! Maeleth's eyes whirled with happy green and blue as she told her rider, and Iskra tried to hide her scowl. Of course she was expected to watch the hatching of the clutch with everyone else. She put aside the hides she had been working on--old hatching records, checking up on the pedigrees of Trelis's bronzes in preparation for Maeleth's flight. She'd have to finish that later. Everyone knew you didn't dawdle when there was a clutch hatching.

She jumped onto the gold's back as soon as she was ready, and they took off. They were still early, but as soon as Iskra took her seat, she saw that one of the eggs had already cracked open. One eyebrow raised. Impatient little thing, isn't she? she commented to Maeleth.

The gold had landed on one of the ledges to watch the hatching with the rest of the dragons, and she stood out easily among the smaller dragons. She gave the draconic equivalent of a shrug. She wants to find Hers, ridermine, she explained, affection in her voice as she was reminded of her own hatching.

[derek]

Zalanth's voice in his head, usually an annoyance, was easily forgiven today. The eggs were Hatching! Derek started out of the Candidate Barracks before realizing he wasn't wearing his robe. Swearing, he raced back inside.

In his room, he searched for the robe, upending a table in his mad search. Pounce meowed angrily from under the bed. Finally, Derek pulled the wrinkled set of robes from a drawer and slid them on. Luckily, the traditional sandals were next to the door.

"Pounce! Stay and behave! This is the day our lives change forever!" He refused to think of what would happen if he didn't Impress. That, he decided, just wasn't an option. He needed to Impress. He needed a change in his life, so he would no longer be looked down on and hated for his past.

Approaching the sands, the Candidate slowed from his run, and paused. This was it! Stepping lightly onto the Sands, he bowed to the great Golden Queen, Loraketh. It was an honor to Stand for her clutch. She was as famous in her own way as, well... he couldn't think of anyone else right now. He was too excited.

Moving to where one boy already stood, he glared at his competition, but was distracted by a little green that was already on the sands. He guessed she didn't want to wait! But if Hers didn't show up soon, what would happen?

--------

Tahoi yelled with joy as Zalanth's voice told her it was time to Stand. This was her first Hatching! She was finally old enough to Impress, and she wanted to do her family proud. Knowing her Uncle, he would somehow get word to her mother and father, brothers and sisters. They would want to be there whether she Impressed or not.

Jogging to her room, she quickly pulled on her Candidate's robe. It was unusually clean for something she wore, but her face was still muddy, as were her hands. Her knees were scabbed, and her eyes were bright. This was it!

Running to the Sands, she skidded to a stop right outside, her breath caught in her throat. There was already a green hatchling on the sands! Awed, she stepped forward. The bow she gave to the Queen was distracted, as she was too busy trying to look at the eggs and the green at the same time, which gave her a confused, odd look.

Would that be the one? She wondered about the green. Or that one? Or maybe that egg? Tahoi's mind reeled, and she watched the Hatchling and eggs hungrily. She had to Impress, she just had to! Her whole family were dragonriders, and had Impressed at either their first or second Hatching. She would be an embarrasment if she had to stand more than twice.

"Come on... please!" She begged the eggs and hatchling. One of them had to be the dragon for her!

[Zero]

It was still early. It had to be for the sun was barely up. Ryaxth had spent the night lying on his bed staring aimlessly at the ceiling. For some reason he had been unable to sleep, his mind too fixed on the eggs he knew were sitting on the warm sands. He had a clear image of the clutch of 15 in his minds eye and that’s probably why he had found it so hard to sleep.

With a loud yawn, he stretched and jumped up from his bed, intent on wandering to the kitchen for an early breakfast. Before he got even a foot out of the barracks Zalanth’s voice interrupted his thoughts with some very exciting instructions. “They’re hatching? Now?!” Speaking out loud, Ry darted back into the barracks, scrambling around for his white robe and sandals. A few frantic moments later he was dressed and hurrying out towards the Hatching Sands. As he got closer he grew more aware of the loud hum that seemed to be making the whole weyr vibrate. The eggs were hatching!

As he reached the sands he immediately slowed to a walk, blinking in the bright morning light as he stepped out on to the warm sands. As he stepped up to the others that had already gathered, Ry ran a quick hand through his hair in an attempt to make himself look presentable in the presence of the Queen, her Rider, and the Hatchlings. Straightening his robes, he looked at the little green who had already hatched. Puzzled he looked at the other Candidates. Where was her Bonded, and what would happen if the little green did not find Her’s in time?


------

SvalMine, the younglings are hatching. Come sit with me and watch the Hatching. Roused from his slumber, S’val quickly pulled himself from his bed and wandered out onto the ledge his bond-mate was already occupying. Patting the scarred maw of his bronze, S’val took a seat on the very edge and peered down at the Hatching Sands.

It was easy to pick out the bright golden hide of the Wer Queen on the sands with her clutch as well as the Jr. Queen and her Rider perched along the edge of the sands. Curious the pair looked upon the little green who seemed too impatient to wait for Hers and waddled around the sands before any of the candidates had even arrived yet. Odd. “Let us hope that Hatchlings eagerness to find Her’s won’t end tragically…”

Nuzzling his Rider, Solarith lifted his head and added his own voice to the rest of the Weyrs dragons. Side by side the pair watched the proceedings of the Hatching, each reflecting back on the day of their own Impression.

[shinska]

The Hatching! It was a little early, but Aela was excited none-the-less. Well then again she wasn't a baby Hatchling that wanted out of the eggs so it probably was just right for the eggs. Aela headed to the Sands and when she got there she saw Rihard. The girl smiled to the older boy and took her place on the Sands. She was excited and couldn't wait to see how her FIRST Hatching went. The girl was very excited indeed. She sent a mental command to Crest to wait in the Stands or the exit of the Sands. Aela felt the Blue Firelizard comply without question.

Now what would Hatch first and who would get it? Aela smiled sa she watched a few of the eggs twitching and wanting to crack open to reveal the beautiful babies inside. Then she bit her lip. Aela wanted to be prepared in case there were any injuries so she slowly made her way over to the Weyrwoman and asked, "Weyrwoman. I was an Apprentince Healer before I was Searched. If there are any injuries at this Hatching would I be able to help a little?"

[Lark]

Inali and Loraketh observed each candidate carefully as they made their way in. At first there were only a few, then more came, still not as many as the Weyrwoman would have hoped for though. Of course, she had to remind herself again that there weren't many to start with. Besides, the eggs wouldn't wait around for everyone to arrive. In fact, the first green had hatched out of the Rainbow Love egg.

Seeing that there were now suitable candidates for her daughter, Loraketh unwrapped her tail from around the green. The green hissed again, thought not because of her mother. No, she just simply hated this goo! Turning on her lightly colored hide, the green lashed her tail and snapped at the egg shells still clinging to her hide. Why!?! Why did they have to still be there!?! The hatchling pulled them off only to find mroe of the sticky goo underneath. Ewwwww! She hated this!

Snorting, the green finally gave up. Fine! She would just be disgusting then. Flicking her wings, the green had no idea just how pretty she actually was. A pale green ran the length of her body and down her legs and up her wings. However, a light neon color marked the upper half of her body. Picking up one goo and sand covered foot, the green stuck out her tongue in a disgusted manner. Her pretty foot.... Turning a yellow, red eye to the candidates she tossed her head. Maybe one of them could help her out, after all she had come out of the goo trap to see them in the first place hadn't she?

In the mean time, the Tranquil Blue egg and Jumping Yello egg were racing each other to try and hatch. First it was the blue one, then the yellow, then the blue. Finally with a giant crack the smaller egg burst open. YES! She was free! It was another green, tiny really for a green. Unlike her sister, she was also a darker jade green with an ash color on her underside. Moving around, the dragonet sped over to her sibling's half way open egg.

The only problem with running fast though when you're a newborn is that you don't know how to stop. Skidding into the Tranquil Blue egg, The Jumping Yellow green caused the last break in the shell. The brown that came out snorted and shook out his wings while looking down at his tiny sibling. At least he didn't have to break out of his own shell thanks to her. Looking at the other green, the male snorted. Did he have to go over to the candidates too?

It was just that it was so much work to move! Warbling, the brown plopped his hind quarters on the ground. He didn't care if he was covered in goop, in fact he didn't care about anything. The tiny green that let him out on the other hand was having fun playing with the gooy stuff that was on her hide. It was fun! Sticking her nose in it, the Jumping Yellow green would pull the goop out and let it snap back into place. If she were a human she would have been laughing this entire time. Instead, she crooned quite happily.

Back to the Rainbow Love green though, the hatchling had finally gotten over to the candidates and had inspected them while her two siblings were goofing off. No, not this one. Or that one. Shifting past the boys, the green sought out the girls instead. Hmmmm......the green pushed her nose into Aela's robes as she talked to ClutchMother's Own. Nope. Though she did leave a trail of goo on the candidates perfectly clean robes. Wasn't that just wonderful!?! Snorting the dragon finally saw Hers and wound herself around the girl, eyes spinning with rainbow colors. She didn't mind getting this one dirty simply because Hers already did seem to need a bath.

Oh! Just look what your Chiparath has done now TahoiMine! I've gone and made more messes, why can't I just keep everything clean? I thought being first would keep things nice and orderly, but nooooo! Either way, say that I'm sorry for me please Mine..oh...and GET THIS MUCK OF MY BEAUTIFUL HIDE! That is all, well...I would very much like to be fed too. Hide first though!

Chiparath:


25 feet at full growth
Egg- Rainbow Love Egg
Name Meaning- Chipara=Rainbow, *origin* Inca
Impressed to- Tahoi
Personality- Neat-freak, Obsessive, Witty, Confident, Impatient
Color-
Body BDFCC9
Markings 00FF00
Markings 00CD00

Over with the Jumping Yellow green and the Tranquil Blue brown, the little girl was starting to get on her brother's nerves. Hissing, the brown did the last thing he wanted to do. He moved over to the candidates...even though he'd rather just stay where he was and watch the clouds. Stupid green sister, making him move! Grumbling to himself, the brown looked at the girls and immediately went to the boys. Girls were too much of a bother, just like that younger sister of his. Now that the brown was closer, the candidates could see his hide better.

A woodsy brown covered the top half of his hide, making an even hue from nose to tail. The same brown reached high up to his wings and down on his legs as well giving him a uniform look. Or, it would if it were the only color on his hide. A light peachy brown shined on his lower half, staying in a perfect arc down his chest, stomach and tail. All in all he was a handsome brown, if a bit odd for his entire body was covered in little speckles and splashes of reddish brown. One might even say it seemed like a harper had dipped his brush in some paint and randomly flicked it onto the brown's hide.

Either way, the brown walked straight past Nick and Derek to Rihard. Looking the boy up and down, the brown flopped down on the ground in front of His. Seriously R'hardMine? Did you have to make your Kaith go all the way over here? What's the point in coming over anyway? I suppose it's worth the effort to eat, so make my effort worth it now!...Oh, who even cares really, that's just more walking I'd have to do.

Kaith:


37 feet at full growth
Egg- Tranquil Blue Egg
Name Meaning- Kai=Willow Tree, *origin* Navajo
Impressed to- R'hard
Personality- Lazy, Apathetic, Disassociated, Gets bored easily
Color-
Body 5E2605
Underside FFA54F
Markings 8B2500

Inali watched as the hatchlings impressed and clapped for them. Looking at Aela, the Weyrwoman nodded her head. "K'tor and Zalanth will be helping also. Stay here for now though. After all, you might be impressing one of them."

[shinska]

When her friend Impressed the girl's eyes widened. She nodded to the Weyrwoman and then made her way to R'hard. "R'hard congratulations!" Aela knew that somewhere Hari was doing someting, but she didn't know. Then she giggled, "R'hard do you have a thing for Browns or something?" She winked at her friend and said, "First there's Brown Hari and now there's Brown Kaith." Aela couldn't help, but tease her one and only friend. He was the first one she had met and talked to and the only one so far. The girl was glad that he had Impressed.

With a smile she turned her eyes back to the thirteen remaining eggs. Thirteen more chances for her to try and Impress. Aela turned her gaze to Kaith and said, "He's amazing. His markings are so vivid and he's just overall wow." She smiled and went on, "Congrats on him R'hard. Hopefully I'll Impress too and we can be Weyrlings together. And even if I don't we'll still be friends right?" Aela hoped so. R'hard was a nice boy and Aela didn't want to lose her only friend that she had made.

[kitsuneko]

Rihard noted the lack of candidates and hoped none of the dragonets betweened for lack of suitable people for them. He bit his lip as he watched the green that had been the first to hatch. Wasn't there some superstition about greens hatching first? Or was it only when a bronze hatched first? Greens hatching first had to be a lot more common, since there were so many of them, surely they couldn't be unlucky. Still...

Two more eggs had started to rock, and Rihard was unsurprised to see that one of them was the Jumping Yellow. It had seemed like an impatient dragonet during the touching. He was also unsurprised when it hatched into a green--with an egg that small, he had doubted it would anything else. He was a little surprised though when the Tranquil Blue egg revealed a brown hatchling. He'd half-expected a blue from that one, based on the color. But oh well--there were dragons eager to Impress their riders, and much more important things to think about than the colors of eggshells.

Since the brown seemed reluctant to move and the newly-hatched green was busy playing with the egg goo on her hide, it was the first-hatched green that approached the candidates first. She chose one of the female candidates, one he didn't know all that well yet, but he clapped politely nonetheless at the successful Impression. He turned his attention to the other two dragons.

The brown seemed to be getting annoyed with his hyperactive green sister and moved away from her, which also brought him closer to the candidates. Rihard watched the brown hopefully, even if he was a little grumpy, a dragon was a dragon. Up close, he was not as solid brown as he had first appeared. What Rihard had initially mistaken for sand stuck to his side was actually a pale belly and reddish-brown speckles covered his entire body. He was actually quite a handsome beast, if still a little awkward, having just hatched after all.

He expected the brown to bond quickly to one of the other candidates, but he went right past one, then another, and stopped in front of Rihard. The boy stared back at the dragonet in shock as the brown flopped down to the ground again. Seriously R'hardMine? Did you have to make your Kaith go all the way over here? What's the point in coming over anyway? I suppose it's worth the effort to eat, so make my effort worth it now!...Oh, who even cares really, that's just more walking I'd have to do.

Despite Kaith's grumpiness, R'hard couldn't stop the grin from creeping onto his face. He had Impressed! And so early in the hatching, too. Kaith's grumpiness and laziness simply ceased to matter to the new rider, for as far as R'hard was concerned, the brown was absolutely perfect! "How would I know you'd chosen me then, Kaith? But anyway, I know you want food, so let's go and get you some. You'll have to walk, but it won't be far. Besides," he added with a grin, "Walking's one of those things you're going to have to get used to."

But I'm tired! Kaith complained. Nonetheless, his hunger was greater, so he climbed to his feet once more and allowed R'hard to guide him to the tables set aside for the weyrlings. The new weyrlings passed Aela, one of the candidates R'hard did know. "R'hard, congratulations!" she said.

"Thanks; his name's Kaith." R'hard said proudly. Aela then mentioned his fire lizard and the way he seemed to attract browns, and he laughed. "I didn't mean to; I'd have expected a blue--not that I'd trade Kaith for anything, now," he said to reassure the brown, though Kaith did not seem bothered, only a little hungry and impatient. He did preen a bit though when Aela complimented his coloring, though.

"Of course we'll still be friends," R'hard reassured her. "But no need to give up yet. There's still thirteen more chances for you to Impress. Good luck! Anyway, I'd better get some food into him," R'hard said, noticing the way the dragon was starting to lash his tail back and forth impatiently. "Hopefully you'll come join us if--or when--you Impress." He left her with a smile.

At the table, R'hard grabbed a bucket of meat for Kaith, as well as a rag to wipe away the sand and goo on his hide. Kaith, however, was only interested in the meat, and R'hard had to remind him to take it slowly, worried that the hatchling would choke. But R'hardMine, I'm hungry! he complained.

"Too bad. Chew," R'hard repeated, and the dragon grumpily obeyed. While he ate, the rider began to clean off his hide while sneaking glances at the rest of the clutch to see the rest of the eggs hatch, hoping one of them would choose Aela.

[derek]

Tahoi watched with growing awe as two more eggs hatched. Clenching her fists at her side, eyes wide, she eagerly kept her eye on the brown. She wondered who he would Impress to. Maybe her? Browns sometimes Impressed to girls. Maybe she would get a brown! But those greens were pretty, too!

The first green pranced over, nudging through the males. She moved past them, though, to the girls. Tahoi's breath caught in her throat as she smeared goo across one of the clean robes, and then suddenly the dragon was winding herself around her! Her, Tahoi!

Oh! Just look what your Chiparath has done now TahoiMine! I've gone and made more messes, why can't I just keep everything clean? I thought being first would keep things nice and orderly, but nooooo! Either way, say that I'm sorry for me please Mine..oh...and GET THIS MUCK OF MY BEAUTIFUL HIDE! That is all, well...I would very much like to be fed too. Hide first though!

[/color]

Tahoi's mouth gaped. She had Impressed! She had done it! Jumping up and down, she hugged the green around the neck. "Her name is Chiparath!" She called out, her eyes trained on her Uncle. Her family would be so proud! Jumping up and down again, she grinned. "Come on! We'll get off the sands and clean you up and get you some food!"

Leading the dragon off the sands, she looked back and waved to her Uncle one last time.

---

Derek was disgusted. How had that stupid idiot Rihard Impressed to a brown? That sharding guy only deserved a green- or less. He, Derek, deserved that Brown! Or better! He deserved a Bronze! And if it was possible to Impress higher, he deserved that, too! Rihard didn't deserve that dragon!

Thouroughly upset, the male turned to the remaining hatchlings. Greens? Too lowly! Where were the bronzes? The kings?! Seriously, what was up with this Hatching?! One of the greens Impressed and he heaved a sigh of relief. At least that one wasn't coming to him. He'd probably disown it if it did. Brown. Bronze. Something better than both. That's what he needed.

Besides, he wasn't gay. He had kissed a guy... once... but riding a green would mean he'd be sleeping with men, and he wasn't sure he could handle that. He liked his women just fine, and being taken advantage of during flightlust did not sound appealing to him. He liked to be in charge! If his dragon caught a green and the rider was male, that was one thing. He would be in charge. But being dominated? Unacceptable.

"Come on!" He growled, watching Rihard-- R'hard --and the brown. "The sharding brown only Impressed you because it felt sorry for you!" He snarled angrily, eyes flashing in ire.[/center]

[Akira]

Stallorth bugled when he heard that the eggs were hatching, making T'rian jump out of his chair, and fall butt first on the ground. What are you bugling about you over grown firelizard!?!?!? He mumbled unhappily as he righted himself, and the upset chair. The babies are hatching! T'rian almost jumped and yelled his joy, but instead ran to his bronze dragon, and the two of them winged their way down to the Hatching Sands just in time to see a green hatch. T'rian ran over to Inali, making sure to stay well out of the way of the green.

She's gorgeous! T'rian smiled, and bowed not only to Inali and Loraketh, but to the little green as well as he spoke. He made sure to stay a safe distance from the mother dragon, he didn't want to get on her bad side, especially when she was protecting her hatchlings. Stallorth crooned to the green hatchling, and her mother, his mate, Loraketh. She is beautiful LorakethMine. His voice was a soft purr in the minds of all those around him, including his own green child. His eyes were a swirling mass of green and blue as he gazed about his children. Soon enough a brown hatched, and the two hatchlings had impressed to Theirs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Akira almost jumped out of her skin when she heard Zalanth's voice telling the candidates that the eggs were hatching. HOLY SHARDS WHERE'S MY ROBES BLUE?!?!?! Blue chirped at His, and flew over to where she had laid out her robes only earlier that day. She had just finished folding the last of her clothes when Zalanth called her to the sands. I'm sorry to say it Blue, but you know you have to stay here. The blue firelizard chirped and nodded his small head. He would rather stay here than go and deal with all those hatchlings and grumpy adults. From what Blue has learned the adult dragons seemed to be extremely touchy when eggs started to hatch.

Akira smiled as her firelizard curled up on her pillow and started to fall asleep. She fought with her robes, and sandals, and was soon heading out the door, down the hall, and out to the hatching sands. She almost tripped over one of her own sandals as she skidded to a stop on the hot sands. I had better be careful. I want to be able to stay, and try to impress after all. Akira mentally scolded herself, and straightened herself. She quickly fixed her robes, and her sandals, not wanting to look like a fool whenever she might have her turn. What was she thinking? She sighed and finally lifted her head, and looked around the hatching sands. She gasped when she saw that there was already a green, and brown hatchling on the sands. She couldn't believe that she had missed the hatching of two of the eggs already!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nick smiled broadly when he heard the news about the Hatchlings. He quickly pulled his robes and sandals on and was heading out the door when he heard Rex chirp. I'm sorry buddy, but you gotta stay here for now. I'd hate to see what one of them might do to you. Nick smiled when his bronze firelizard chirped, and turned to watch out the window. He was going to make sure His stayed safe, even if he had to watch from the window sill. Nick rolled his eyes and shook his head at the firelizard before bolting out the door to the hatching sands. He smiled at the amount of candidates already there, and wondered who would get the feisty little green.

Soon enough though a brown hatched, and Nick's eyes widened with wonder. Would he be mine? Nick watched as the hatchling found Rihard, and impressed to the other boy. Congrats Rihard! He smiled, and clapped at the other boy as he spoke. He might not have impressed yet, but there was still a chance that he could. Which meant that he wasn't moving from his spot on the hot sands for anything until all the eggs had hatched, and either he impressed or was left standing. He didn't care what really happened to him as long as it seemed as though the boy might have a chance at finding a lifemate.

[shinska]

Aela's eyes flashed, "You leave him alone! That Brown Impressed him because he's better than you are." The girl snarled at the boy, "Who are you to say what a Dragon feels or doesn't feel? R'hard is a better man than you will ever be." The girl turned her back and resumed her watch on the Hatching. R'hard WAS better than the bitter boy. She didn't know him, but she would stick up for her friends no matter what. R'hard deserved the Brown. With a smirk she turned back to the boy, "And you deserve a Green."

Then she walked away to the far side so the fight would not continue. Aela defended her friend and his newfound companion. Kaith chose R'hard for a reason and it was NOT because he was sorry for him. She felt Crest's anger as well as her own and she thought to the Blue. No Crest. Do NOT come onto the Sands. I can take care of myself little one. You just continue watching the Hatching. More eggs were shaking and Aela couldn't wait to see what popped out next. She didn't care what she got as long as she loved it to death. If she got a Green then she would be happy. Same goes if she Impressed a Gold, but with two Golds in the Weyr at the moment it was a little too soon to be thinking that.

After all Aela was a healer and helped others. R'hard was the first person she met and her first friend at the Weyr. She didn't want anything to happen to him and she would do all in her power to make sure that they stuck together. The boy that insulted R'hard was one to watch out for. Now that Aela had gotten in the way she was sure to be a target. Aela continued ignoring the boy and watched the Hatching. She hoped that Gold Loraketh would kick the boy off the Sands for his rude behavior, but then again it was his word against hers.

[Zero]

It was almost a comical sight to watch the first little green to hatch wander around the sands trying to find hers. The green quickly bypassed the boys and took her time looking over the girls till she found Hers. Shifting from one foot to the other Ryaxth followed the lead of the onlooker and added his own slightly distracted clapping to the noise.

Next came the brown, an unusual coloration, and all the boy candidates heads turned simultaneously to watch the little hatchling as he eventually wandered over. It seemed clear who the little brown wanted, he was just a little slow getting to his is all. Ry watched anxiously as the hatchling impressed and gave a slight nod of his head to the boy as he walked past towards the tables with the meat.

From somewhere to his left he heard one of the candidates shout out angrily at the results of the last Impression. Turing his head, his bi-colored gaze landed and narrowed at the lad he had heard was called Derek. ”Hey man, take it easy. There’s 13 other eggs. If you’re bond-mate is in there, he’ll find you.” Though he spoke calmly, Ry was a tad on edge, almost as if he anticipated a brawl among the Candidates.

Glancing back at the eggs, his attention returned to the rest of the eggs and the intensity at which they were shaking. Would they hatch soon? Ryaxth was prepared to stand on those hot sands as long as it took to find out.