Hatching of Weather Clutch

[Reakeda]

Jerston thought he was safely out of the way when the black dragon moved past. Instead... the he stumbled right into him. His mind worked quickly to try to correct the problem, but even if he had time to pull the crutch from where it was already sunken into the soft sand, it would only sink in and not provide him the stability he needed to catch himself. It was no use. He wouldn't be able to catch himself and he would end up in the infirmary with burns from hot sands after this..

Spark had flown from his shoulder with a startled cry the moment the black had stumbled into them.. and immediately back to Jerston, gripping onto the front of his robes. In the next moment though both knew that neither this effort nor the boys acceptance of fate were necessary for Jerston himself land against something solid rather than the soft, shifting sands..

He leaned on the dragon's head for a moment, stunned as the voice entered his mind. "Lo.. Loyanth.." and he understood in that moment. Righting himself quickly so as not to strain the dragon further, J'rston scratched his eyeridges gently. "Thank you, Loyanth. Let's get you fed, then." He couldn't hide the smile that spread across his face, beaming from his eyes..

You are not hurt then? I can wait if you need tended.

J'rston chuckled, "No. Perhaps a bit bruised, but nothing more. You saw to that already. You, however are hungry. Come on." He insisted, leading the dragon off the sands to where his first meal awaited.

My gold sister hatches. Loyanth informed him as they reached the meat he sought.

"We can watch while you eat. Just eat..."

[Ari]

Lili smiled and clapped at the first few Impressions. Not the best start to the clutch, but if you took into mind how many lower ranked colors there were as opposed to metallics it made sense a green or some such would hatch first. She wasn't sure she believed all that good luck nonsense anyway. Having a bronze was nice, but without all the others to fill the rank, he did no good.

She was rather glad when a green toddled away with another girl in any case. Even though she put on a brave face and said she'd take any dragon, she did have preferences. Of course with the way Impression worked she'd have fallen in love with any dragon.

So it was rather happy circumstance when a red ran right in front of her. She turned her face away as a sudden spray of sand came from no where. The red had truly escaped her notice as she had been watching the green pair move off and the amber hatch. She carefully flicked off the sand from her gleaming white robe and nodded, "Yeah, ecstatic." She frowned and looked to see the red standing before her. "Sureth?"

Yes? Aren't you glad I'm here? I had to hurry in case another dragon thought to get you. I knew I was the best for you so they can't have you. Now that I have you, I'm hungry.

Lili's mouth opened before she thought to close it. She had been Weyr bred and raised so she hadn't thought it would be a surprise to Impress, she saw it happen all the time. Then again, she had thought she would watch the hatchling walk up to her, not just appear from nowhere. Oh sure, there was probably a red egg shell somewhere, but she swore no red had hatched just yet. Still a little bemused, but sporting a soft smile, Lili let herself be lead towards the food by her rather energetic bonded.

[Ari]

Dorian opened one eye and grimaced at the yelling going on. Didn't she, whoever she was, know it was too early in the morning for all that? Whatever she said provoked an awful lot of moving around and stuff getting thrown and generally a racket. After tossing and turning for a few more candlemarks Dorian gave up. He threw the covers down by his feet dramatically while he sat up. He was just in time to see a Canddiate run by in a white robe. White?

In a flurry of covers Dorian got up and spun in a complete circle before his eyes landed on his chest. He quickly moved through the items to get to his robes and sandals. He frowned at the sandals, he really didn't want to wear such things. After all the sandals and robes were passed down through the Candidates, another guy's foot had been in there...eww.

Shoving down his disdain for un cleaniness or possible un cleaniness he put on the clothes and made his way towards the Sands. Due to his trying to sleep in a few eggs had already cracked and made their Impressions. Quite a few were left though. In his haste he completely forgot to bow or anything for the Weyrwoman. He just ran to the male's side of the circle and stood with the rest of them, slightly breathless. It wasn't because of the run, but rather because he'd almost missed the Hatching.

Being a Harper, he was used to early rising, but being in a Weyr was so much more noisy and exciting, he was finding it hard to sleep at night. At least it hadn't cost him a dragon, or maybe it had? Did one of those dragons want him, but had settled for the Candidate who had actually made it on time? He shook his head, if it had, he'd just focus on the Hatching. No use missing one of the greatest events to be found on Pern.

[Ayla]

It seemed that Vittoria had barely stopped clapping for one Impression when another took place. There was a green, a bronze, and a brown all out of their shells, plus some of the strange colors that resembled fire-lizards. Every few seconds, she turned to check the queen egg.

The aggressive black Impressed to a tall boy who Vittoria thought flirted overmuch. She turned to the amber dragonet, who seemed to be heading for the boy with the crutch. Vittoria had never really gotten to know him, for reasons unknown to her. Briefly, she thought back to the Candidate lessons. Weren't dragons not supposed to Impress the disabled? Vittoria ignored it; without a Candidatemaster, their lessons had been sketchy at best. Whoever taught that lesson probably had the wrong information.

Nonetheless, Vittoria clapped for Jerston and His. Her eye was caught by two new hatchlings stumbling toward Theirs. The blue and green chose well, in Vittoria's opinion.

The pitch of the hum increased until it pounded against Vittoria's ears like a crazy harper with a drum. She wondered what this meant; was something going badly, or something going very well? She turned tot he gold egg instinctively and just caught it rocking the last time before splitting open.

Vittoria gasped and inched closer. She noticed the other girls backing away a little at the sight of the gold's red eyes. The others weren't good enough if they shied away at the threat of being run over. Vittoria had to admit, she was absolutely terrified, but she would admit no fear. She couldn't, if she planned to Impress as she hoped.

[ferathon]

T'lane chuckled as he had seen the black hatchling run into the other boy and then he jumped a little when the black dragon tried to catch himself with his wing and only messed himself up more. He then gasped when the black dragon landed in front of him only to gasp more when he heard a voice in his head. ~T'lanemine, I'm hungry! Wont you feed your Momith?~ His eyes shot wide. Then he realized this had been the dragon out of the Sandstorm egg he had felt an instant connection to. He just nodded unable to say or think much to his dragon as he lead Momith off to eat his share of meat. He saw the other candidates and didn't even care. He was the most happy, shocked person in the world for all he knew right then as his dragon ate, hungrily.

[Elfie]

It seemed to be a whirlwind of Impressions. The watched, trying to see everything at once as the black then amber Impressed, followed by the Hatching of the green and blue. Sin had stopped breathing again when the black had tumbled into the boys a little farther off, but had cheered as the amber caught the kid on the crutches and kept him from falling. It would have bode ill for that Candidate.

The Impressions seemed to be working out, as they ought to, each new weyrling grinning and smiling as they made their way to the food tables with their new lifemate. Sinarin clapped for every one, though it probably was overlooked by more enthusiastic Candidates than the more solemn boy. Rinarin, however, clapped loudly if more slowly, for his arms were still draped around his brothers shoulders, prodding a reminder when Sin held his breath a little to long again.

As pale sapphire eyes scanned the sand during a very brief lull, Sin spotted a scared figure rooted in place as the gold queen suddenly broke her shell. And what a sight! Both Rin and Sin sucked in their breath at the metallic female's beauty, though Sinarin's gaze shifted back to the girl. "Rin, you think she'll be alright? She's just standin' there...in the middle." Words were soft and tone concerned, only heard by his twin because he was directly behind him.

"I think so, but if it makes you feel better I'll run over and shove her outta the way if the queen starts rampagin'. I don't mind." Rinarin replied with an easy grin, more calm demeanor a deceiving counterpart to his anticipation of the event. A bronze had just hatched! What lad didn't want to Impress a bronze? Well, maybe his brother, but Sin didn't count. "A bronze and gold. Things are heatin' up." Rin remarked, and his brother could only nod until he was poked beneath the ribs by Rin's nimble fingers. "Yep." The word emitting on a puff of air as he exhaled, to take in new oxygen. It was sad how much he needed a reminder like that from Rinarin.

[Beth]

The bronze, though he did not seem to be in a hurry, impressed before the golden queen. He loped easily toward Akera, bumping the lad with his great head, somewhat off balance. ~Hello mine. Say hello to your fabulous Benreth.~

Meanwhile, the gold seemed to become agitated. She had gotten closer to the girl's now, swinging her head to and fro as she searched for... something. When she didn't find it, she became frustrated. With an angry roar that would have sounded much more impressive from an adult dragon, the queen lashed out randomly at the closest girl, who happened to be Aoide. She tried to claw the girl, but such a movement pulled her off her shaky balance and sent her tumbling into the sand. She looked up, creeling and locked eyes with Vittoria. ~Mine, mine, the ground hurt your Ellyenth.~ She whined, trying to climb back to her feet and close the distance between the two of them.

The eggs began to hatch in earnest now. The Cold Front egg revealed a lithe little black with white flecks along his muzzel, while Snowflake egg hatched a navy colored blue. The two of them walked toward the boys, the blue impressing to a boy on the edge while the black wound his way through the candidates. At last he stopped by Sinarin. ~I am Norlith, and I am hungry, dear-mine.~

The next egg was female, a pinkish red dragonet from Tornado egg. She impressed without much ado, and was quickly followed by Autumn Winds Brown. The humming in the hall swelled once again as -another queen?!- hatched unexpectedly. This one was silver, and quite the little beauty. Her hide gleamed a brightly as she daintily walked toward the female candidates. Her gait became more hurried when she spotted Aoide. She creeled, worried, and tried to sniff the girl all over. ~Do not worry, Aoide-mine. Your Illeth loves you. I am here, and will always want you!~

Two more eggs hatched in unison, Thunderstrike Blue and Hail Fire Green. They impressed, and were applauded, as Spring Showers Egg cracked to reveal a darkly colored amber. He biffed it a couple of times as he walked toward the remaining male candidates, finally collapsing next to Dorian. ~Wow it's hot. Would you get some food for you Welith, please?~

[Ayla]

Vittoria grew oblivious to the other hatchings and Impressons as the gold grew angrier and angrier. She tried to claw Aoide, but missed. She was frozen in place now, not because of pride or willpower, but out of fear. Maybe if she didn't move, the angry dragonet wouldn't maul her too badly.

The gold tumbled into the sand and Vittoria watched with amazement and terror. If she was hurt, wouldn't she just get angrier? Vittoria shied away slightly, realizing that she was the only one standing this close.

Mine, mine, the ground hurt your Ellyenth, a voice called. Vittoria's mouth dropped open. This gold, this wonderful, beautiful, amazing gold, was hers and hers alone. She nearly sank to her knees and cried, but noticed that there was still space between Ellyenth and herself. She half-ran, half-skipped toward Ellyenth, then dropped down and hugged Hers.

"Ellyenth..." Vittoria whispered, unable to clear her mind enough to think clearly.

Mine?

Vittoria was again amazed at the new presence in her mind. "You're mine!" she exclaimed.

Indeed I am. Can we get food now, please? There is meat on that table, Ellyenth pointed out.

Vittoria's stomach rumbled. She had eaten only an hour or two ago... why was she suddenly ravenous again? Nevertheless, she led Hers to the table and offered a bucket. Ellyenth stuck her head in and gulped down a few pieces of meat before she stopped, muzzle bloodied, to breath.

[Elfie]

The bronze seemed to chose so quickly, and then the agitated gold made her seeking way toward the girls. As he'd promised, Rinarin shifted to the side, heading toward Aoide as several other dragonets hatched but before he could get closer a silver hatchling was creeling at her side. She would be watched over then, if that silver dragon was anything like his Vera. He clapped and grinned as he looked over the female pairings, before he turned and emerald eyes alighted on his brother and widened in shock.

Sinarin had felt the supporting weight of his brother leave from where Rin had been leaning against his back, going to attempt to help the girl before the gold before he was suddenly very distracted. A black had hatched--and a voice was ringing through his mind as he looked down into eyes of rainbow hues. Joy and amazement soared within him as he leaned forward to wrap his arms about Norlith's neck. "Of course you're hungry. We'll get you fed." S'rin promised, a wide grin splitting visage from ear to ear as he absently brushed back a stray lock behind his ear. He'd Impressed! And to such a handsome black at that! He couldn't wait to tell-- Pale sapphire eyes lifted as a sense of shock tempered the hunger emanating from Norlith as he saw Rinarin watching them.

His twin had a crooked grin quirking lips, and S'rin could tell he was both very happy and envious. He could also feel the belly deep knot of worry suddenly engulfing them. S'rinMine? What is wrong? Can we eat and watch? I'm sorry, but I'm so hungry. Norlith thought, eyes whirling with shades of hunger switching from His, Rinarin, and the tables laden with food.

"Of course." S'rin replied, standing up with one hand absently still placed squarely atop the pitch black head. The pair moved toward Rin, and S'rin gave him a quick hug. "You'll Impress. You have too." He murmured, words filled with conviction as his twin nodded, turning green eyes back to the eggs as the new black weyrling pair moved toward the tables. There were only four eggs left. What would happen if he didn't Impress? He'd have to be away from Sin--no S'rin--for far longer than he ever had before. It hurt to think about.

The slender lad settled himself astride a bench, one bucked in his lap as he fed his rather impatient lifemate hunks of meat. S'rin tried not to think about what he was touching, even though he knew he'd be over it by the time Norlith was full. He cooked, raw meat was part of the package, so to speak. Expression was set halfway between joy and dread, the new weyrling clearly faced with conflicting emotions that he tried to battle down and forget. Everything would work out, it had to.

[Beth]

There were only four eggs left now, and Ranea was getting worried. Would she impress? Were any of the remaining eggs even a color she could impress? What if they were all browns or bronzes, and passed her up for a boy? She began to fidget, trying to keep calm. It didn't work. When Freezing Rains Egg hatched and the rose red dragonet walked toward the few remaining girls, it was all Ranea could do to not throw herself at the baby dragon. When she walked past Ranea and impressed to another girl, the hope seemed to go out of her. She hung her head, resigned to wait another six months or so. There would be other hatchings, she tried to tell herself. This wasn't the end of Pern. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn't notice when the purple hatchling from the Gentle Breezes egg walked over to her. The little dragonet sniffed at the oblivious girl before sticking her head under her face. ~Mine? What is so interesting about the ground? Your Aorath is much more fun to look at than sand.~ Ranea blinked at Aorath, startled. When she realized what had happened, she practically collapsed on her new dragon. The two of them walked toward food as the last two eggs hatched.

Weyrwoman Amair was worried. Of all the hatchlings, only one had been a bronze. She had thought the clutch was healthy, but a large and healthy clutch should have had more bronzes. She supposed that the last two eggs could be bronzes, but it was unusual for them to hatch so late. But then again, what wasn't unusual about this clutch?
For now that Winter Snow and Falling Waters split open, she could see that they both were bronzes. One was a lighter, liquid shade while the other had patches of alternating dark and light bronze. The patched one tried to saunter as he walked up to Rioe, his head held high. ~Your Kienth is starving! Can we go eat mine?~
The other bronze seemed lost. He looked around at the diminished number of candidates, creeling. He pumped his wings experimentally, and Amair clutched at the edge of her seat. The dragonet looked as though he were preparing to go between. That would be a shame, for he looked like the perfect little king. He tried to rise up on his hind legs, then tumbled forward in the sand. When he raised his head, his eyes locked on Rinarin. His depressed creel transformed to one of joy as he wiggled and tried to climb back to his feet. ~Oh mine! I was so upset, I couldn't find you. Your Gyrunth almost made a terrible mistake.~

(Congradulations to all who impressed! Feel free to continue to post here, if you'd like. We'll start a Hatching Feast thread, and then there are weyrling lessons. Oh, and a plot twist comming soon.)

[Elfie]

Four eggs left...no three. A red dragonet just cracked her shell and wandered toward the female Candidates. Hope fell only to rise again as another shell broke, revealing a purple who also Impressed to a girl. Two left, and Rinarin had to bite his lip, unable to even glance toward his lifebonded brother for the support he suddenly wished he had. S'rin was such a comforting presence in his arms.

The last two eggs were hatching...and two bronzes had tumbled out! The boy felt his heart sink, there was no way he would Impress bronze. Not after his brother had the luck to Impress black when they'd both thought he'd get the green S'rin had secretly desired. There went the patchy colored bronze, Impressing to a boy so close to him. As emerald eyes turned toward the remaining king, his breath caught. Surely he wouldn't go between? The bronze couldn't... Rinarin stepped forward, wondering if there was a way to stop the hatchling from disappearing forever. That would be such a loss.... Rainbows, he was suddenly seeing rainbows and then that distress that has suddenly overtaken him was transformed into radiant joy shadowed with hunger.

Oh mine! I was so upset, I couldn't find you. Your Gyrunth almost made a terrible mistake. The thought echoed in his mind, before R'rin darted forward and fell to his knees beside the floundering and awkward bronze. The boy helped him get to his paws, steadying the creature as he untangled his wings. "You almost did! But it won't happen again, love, never again. I'm here to make sure of that." Words were filled with awe at this metallic creature before him, elation surging high. He'd Impressed! And a bronze to boot!

A great grin creased lips as R'rin turned and led Gyrunth toward the tables laden with meat, and his brother with his Norlith who sported as wide a grin as R'rin. The twins hugged briefly, before R'rin set to stuffing the cavern that was Gyrunth's stomach.