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Post by Maram and Chalarath on Aug 14, 2010 16:19:56 GMT -5
Immediately after her Bronze brother broke free a baby green pushed out of the shell of the her egg with much less fanfare.
She seemed delicate and lovely beyond reason. Light green with darker veined wings the webbing was also the lighter green. She curved her neck to look at the candidates as she stumbled away from the rest of the eggs unerringly toward the female candidate group.
She finally feel at the feet of Alix. "I am your Pasuth" she said simply "May I have food" she asked in a sweet voice.
(Pasuth is an extremely caring and thoughtful dragon. She is quite pretty, enjoys being flirtatious, and having the males fawn after her, but wont allow it to go to her head.)
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Post by Maram and Chalarath on Aug 14, 2010 16:21:03 GMT -5
Suddenly there seemed to be a greater humm coming from the Bronzes around the room and the egg very nearly exploded as it’s occupant threw off his protective shell. He was not yet mighty but his spirit didn’t know that.
Bronze dragonet did not cry as it’s clutchmates had done. His gaze raked the candidates until they found one with his legs planted wide and standing in the front of the rest of the group. Landron became his target and though he stumble once or twice he managed to bury his head in the chest of his choice.
“I am your Heroth bring me to food”
Chalarath crooned approval of her Bronze son’s choice.
(Bronze Heroth is strong and determined he has the qualities of a leader and a serious mindset. He is also gentle and caring of his rider.)
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Post by Maram and Chalarath on Aug 14, 2010 16:22:35 GMT -5
The hum increased yet again as the Browns added their voices. Off to the side both the Gold and Silvery eggs were rocking and the entire arena seemed to hold its breath. Chalarath herself had separated these two from the others and this normally meant queens, but no one had seen a Silver egg before.
The Silver cracked first but not to be outdone the Gold egg almost immediately crumbled. A gold queen sat amidst the shards of her egg while a slightly smaller Silver dragon spilled onto the sands and dragon voices bugled in welcome. This gold would one day fly the skies of Pern with the watchers in close pursuit. The other was a mystery to the observers. Chalarath crooned a welcome to her daughters, as they disentangled from one another.
Their aim seemed to be on opposite sides from where they wanted to go, and they ended up entangled again. Two of the girls rushed forward to help them their hearts rent with the pain from the dragonets crise of distress.
Gold Drusillith had recovered her balance and bumped her head into Ceinwen knocking her over. “I am your Drusillith and require food.” She said rather imperiously.
At the same time Panitath looked up into the eyes of Brekka and spilled love into her heart. “Mine? Will you feed your Panitath?” she asked very sweetly and tried to rub her head against the girl.
The two girls seemed dazed by both their impressions and the joy of the assembled crowd.
(Gold Drusillith is a commanding presence at once joyful and serious. She is dominant expecting all to obey. She is bright and brilliant Gold shading to rose gold on her wingtips and underbelly.)
(Silver Panitath most certainly female, she is the princess of the weyr yet she is dainty and sweet natured. She has a Bright Silver body shading to Pewter on the wings. )
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Post by Maram and Chalarath on Aug 14, 2010 16:24:23 GMT -5
The Egg rolled around banging into other eggs as its occupant fought free of it's casing. Pieces popped away as a Deep Crimson snout shoved an beat at the interior.
He screamed his defiance of his enclosure to the delight of the crowd gathered to watch the hatching. When the Crimson dragonet finally broke himself free he turned hissing at those around him. Clutch mates and candidates alike.
That is until his gaze locked on Nerys. "MINE" he yelled in his dragon voice. He struggled awkwardly toward the young candidate radiating love and and possessiveness even as he snapped at anything that got in his way. "Shymorth needs food now." he demanded even as he continued to pour love into his bond.
(Shymorth - Deep Ruby Red with a lighter red stripe down the middle of his back and radiating out in lightning patterns on his wings. He is fiery forceful and very possessive.)
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Post by Maram and Chalarath on Aug 14, 2010 16:25:12 GMT -5
Nearby an Egg rocked and finally cracked down the center. Whirling kaleidoscope eyes peered out of a blue dragonet head as he fell sideways. Struggling over the sands he cried his hunger to the sky.
The small body covered with birthing fluid slipped and fell in the sand entangling a hind claw In his wing. He looked across the sands directly at Lyryn where he had been headed and cried out. “Lyryn mine…. Cerbanyth has need of you, and of food!”
(Cerbanyth is an extremely caring and thoughtful dragon. He is warm and friendly but also quick and agile. He is a very impulsive creature but at the same time entertaining.)
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Post by Maram and Chalarath on Aug 14, 2010 16:26:20 GMT -5
Most of the eggs were rocking and they began to hatch more quickly. The next egg splintered and the top flaked away revealing a red dragonet snout. Another Crimson! It amazed the watching group.
Shards of the egg fell away as a small Brilliant Crimson dragonet burst forth. His pitiful cries heard over the humming as he seemed to search the faces of those in front of him.
He stumbled over his wing as he went unerringly to his left and butted his head into the chest of Lorcan.
"Your Tanemoth is very hungry. Is there food?"
(Tanemoth is a bit jumpy and flighty, but he will be strong for thread fighting. He has a great deal of energy and is built to be sleek rather than bulky like a brown. He has a good sense of humor. He may loose steam if you let him go too fast.)
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Post by J'lor and Tonuth on Aug 14, 2010 16:46:39 GMT -5
As the eggs started hatching J'lor sent an assistant to each pair to show them where their pail of meat was in the hall way. They were instructing them on this first crucial meal and then taking them across to the weyrling barracks.
These pairs would be incredibly tired by the time they got there.
He watched and while the new colors surprised him they were still baby dragons and their riders had exactly the same duties.
He smiled and greated each pair as they passed.
He would talk to them all individually later.
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Post by Brekka and Panitath on Aug 14, 2010 19:41:27 GMT -5
The eggs rocked and some split or crumbled allowing their precious cargo to spill on the sands of the hatching grounds. Eager candidate and dragonets looked to one another one little green crooning with dispair and weaving from side to side until she finally found hers. The girl Melora had tears in her eyes when she wonderingly looked up to tell all around her that Shebeth was hungry.
Brekka found herself holding her breath when the two special ones began to rock back and forth. Her eyes seemed to tunnel down to the silver one and it was all she could see. The metallic silver beauty slipped onto the sand from her cracked egg and then entangled with her gold sister.
The eyes of the beautiful girl called her and she ran forward to help separate the two when it happened. The most wonderful silken sweet voice spoke to her mind.
“Mine? Will you feed your Panitath?” she looked up in wonder “she says her name is Panitath.”
A moment later a woman came to lead them off the sands. She quickly looked around for her friend Nerys and saw her ahead of them making for the feeding area. Then she saw that the gold had chosen Ceinwen. She was so happy she could hardly speak.
There must be some food Brekkamine. Yes my love they have it for us just over there.
She reached down and extracted a wing where it had gotten trodden under foot and patted it back into place on the little dragonet’s back. Then as they got nearer the food she had to try and keep the girl from gorging herself. “Chew my darling” she cooed to the little darling.
But she grumbled convinced that Brekka wanted to starve her to death. Finally she had almost reached the bottom of her second pail when she slowed down. She seemed to want to keep her face in the pail just in case but Brekka and the woman assisting her insisted they walk towards the weyrling barracks. By the time they reached their new cubicle and Panitath had fallen onto her couch Brekka was incredibly tired,
She passed out on the bed near the little Silver and the sleep was completely dreamless.
Tag Any
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Post by O'rion and Serenith on Aug 14, 2010 20:33:01 GMT -5
Oskarion didn’t know whether to look at the eggs rocking back and forth or the huge egg that suddenly burst open. The hum of dragonsong had dulled, but only for a moment when, suddenly, the egg burst. It was a perfect crack, right down the middle as if the Bronze had staged it. Oskarion’s eyes widened as he wondered at the good fortune of the hatching. A Bronze, the very first dragon! Congratulations to whoever might have the good fortune to Impress this lucky guy!
The Bronze wasted no time in weaving his way toward the candidate lines. He did not seem to feel the heat Oskarion did as Oskar thought about Impressing such a valiant beast. But the Bronze started down at the end where he was not, and Oskar felt the heat of suspense slowly fade away as the Bronze drew farther from him. Oskar could hear him crooning above the din of commotion. Then another Bronze hatched, and Oskar’s eyes drew back to the eggs. He would not Impress the first Bronze.
Thus, Oskarion did not notice when the first Bronze had found His. He made a straight path for the boy, but Oskarion had already cancelled himself out for that dragon. But he was wholly surprised when the first Bronze butted into his legs. The blue-eyed boy was sent backward on his butt by the force the Bronze dragon used, but the Bronze’s mindvoice in his head made Oskar not cringe in fear from a mauling.
Your Serenith needs food.[/b] The Bronze declared into Oskar’s mind. The boy, on his butt, looked at the Bronze. The lucky Bronze. The firstborn of Chalarath’s clutch! The Bronze headbutted him again, his rainbow-hued eyes focusing on him. Of course I Impressed to you. You are mine. Now come, I am hungry. The Bronze walked awkwardly like all dragons did to the food station, hardly waiting for anyone else. Not even his rider.
His rider.
Understanding dawned upon Oskar as he jumped up to help his dragon. Well, more like scrambled up, really, since he was feeling numb from the incredible sensation of Impression. If he could ever describe Impression to anyone in the world, he would say, quite honestly, that it took his breath away. The sensation of all of a sudden having your mind shared with another mind in a way more intimate than anyone could ever have possibly imagined was unbearable and at the same time incredibly bearable. That made no sense… but then, neither did Impression. “Hey, hey, wait up, Serenith!” Oskar called to his dragon, not even thinking about what the people in the Stands were viewing.
When he finally caught up with his quite fast but rather ungainly and awkward-looking Bronze, Serenith had just reached the pail set aside for him. I was hungry.[/color] The Bronze stated a matter-of-factly into his rider’s mind. Still am. I want more food? The Bronze continued, knocking away his now-empty pail. Oskar’s eyes grew wide, unsure of what to do, but another pail had been thrust into the Bronze’s reach by a drudge and Serenith instantly began to eat again. When he was filled, his food-stomach bulging, the Bronze sat back eagerly on his hind legs and scanned the other eating hatchlings. Since he was the first done, first hatched, and first bronze, he had to watch over his flock.
Drusillith looks very pretty, mine. We should go over and talk.[/color] Oskarion heard the Bronze’s voice sooth as he looked over at the Gold, who was eating from her own pail. Oskar blinked and noticed Ceinwen, the Healer, with the Gold. So Ceinwen had Impressed! Another glance told him that Brekka had Impressed a strange silvery dragon, Nerys and Lorcan had Impressed to dragons who looked like larger representations of R’enh’s Zoom, Lyryn Impressed Blue, Alix Impressed Green, and… oh!
“Congratulations, Landron!” Oskarion called, waving his hand so Landron could see him. “What a nice Bronze!”
But I’m better.[/color] Serenith declared in a voice devoid of haughtiness, as if being better was a proven fact. Of course you’re better than him; you’re my Bronze! Oskarion immediately decreed, and the Bronze’s rumbling consent came through both mindlink and vocal cords. You know them well enough, those who Impressed lesser. Now it is time to go see Drusillith.[/color] Serenith continued, his eyes flashing. Oskarion had no choice but to nod.
And follow.
Serenith didn’t see the need to ask his rider, though Oskar could tell that if he had told the Bronze no, they weren’t going to go over and talk, the Bronze would have listened and done so with all of his heart and, probably, without another thought. But, Oskarion thought, he wanted to go over and congratulate Ceinwen. She was, after all, the new Queenrider, and he a new Bronzerider. Upon reaching her, Oskarion smiled a little and said, “Congratulations, Ceinwen.”
Meanwhile, Serenith sat loyally before the new Queen and, instinctually, bowed his head. Drusillith, it is nice to speak to you.[/color] Even Serenith knew his place.
(( Note: Oskarion’s name did not immediately change because I believe in the rule that riders choose their own names… which, I believe, is also canon. =D He’ll change his name pretty quickly. ))
Tag Ceinwen/L'dron
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Post by sorelle on Aug 14, 2010 22:06:04 GMT -5
Sorelle had melted into the crowd as the eggs started hatching. None around her looked her way, all eyes were, naturally, on the event they were witnessing. As she moved through the crowd, she listened to their exclamations with each hatching. All of the hatchlings looked healthy and eager to feed. It was a good sign indeed.
Then...
Sorelle's eyes widened as a crimson dragon emerged. With lips forming a silent "no", Sorelle moved again to get a better view. Less than a minute later, another gasp from the crowd. Another crimson.
"How did that go," Sorelle said.
"Pardon, Lady?"
Sorelle looked up at the man standing beside her, then waved her hand. He returned to watching the hatching.
As the gold hatched, only a small smile formed on the ex-weyrwoman's face. Her brow remained troubled. Only the dainty form of the silver caused her to stop her intense concentration for a moment.
But just for a moment.
"How did that go..." She sat down and put her head in her hands, only to raise it seconds later, her eyes wild until they found the two crimson dragons with those they Impressed.
Very softly, out of earshot of any around her, she repeated a verse that was old as time itself. She had only seen it once, on a scroll that was now lost to the horror that had fallen Benden Weyr.
"When the hide of the dragon runs the color of blood..."
Tag Any
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Post by L'ryn and Cerbanyth on Aug 15, 2010 1:19:49 GMT -5
Lyryn listened to the hum of the other dragons. He looked over at the eggs as a cracking sound sounded. The eggs were hatching! He found himself staring as the shell of the first egg fell away and a bronze hued dragonet slid out, covered in its own birthing fluid. A lucky sign, the first egg producing a bronze. It impressed to one of the other male candidates, a male he hadn't really known all that well other than a simple hello in passing.
Lyryn turned his attention back to the eggs as the cracking ensued again. Another egg was hatching and as the shell fell away a green female fell out onto the sands. It impressed to Alix, a girl he had met and talked to a bit when he had nicked himself a few times during his weaving.
Another egg hatched, producing the second bronze, which impressed to his childhood friend Landron. He smiled at his friend, glad that he hadn't been left standing on the sands. After that, the gold and silver dragonets hatched, impressing to ceinwen and Brekka respectively. Lyryn made a mental note to congratulate both of them later on.
A red dragon hatched yet, a crimson color he hadn't seen before that he could remember. He was admiring the deep red hide of the wet dragonet when he heard it. “Lyryn mine…. Cerbanyth has need of you, and of food!” When he looked back to the source of the voice, he spied a blue dragonet, freshly hatched and calling out to him. The poor thing had a hind claw caught on his wing.
Thinking quickly, he ran over to the dragonet. "Easy," he told the little squirming beast. "Hold still or you'll tear the wing." Carefully, he untangled the wing from the hind claw and checked it over. There didn't seem to be any damage done to the wing that he could see but he would have to ask the dragonhealer to take a look to be sure.
A drudge brought over a pail of meat for the dragonet, which he hungrily ate before she sat another in front of him. Lyryn hadn't paid anymore attention to the eggs after his dragon had called out to him. His dragon. He'd have to get used to saying that.
A hyper crimson, which had just hatched, ambled over to his impressed, knocking Lyryn down by pure accident in the process. Lyryn thought nothing of it...until he felt a twinge and noticed a bit of blood on his tunic. It seemed somehow that little encounter had torn open a gash. Cerbanyth was instantly worried about his rider and left the pail he was eating in to see if Lyryn was alright. "Are you alright, mine?"
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Post by L'dron and Heroth on Aug 15, 2010 14:24:14 GMT -5
Landron stood among the male candidates, waiting. The deep vibrations of the dragons' humming gave him strength and soothed any glimpse of worry away, reassuring him that the dragons now had them under their wing. Looking to his left, he noticed Lyryn, an old friend who he had grown up with back at Ista Hold, and was momentarily stunned. Lyryn! He was here and okay! But now was not the time for a reunion, so Landron calmed himself an instead let out a hearty call of welcome.
“Lyryn! Friend! Good luck!”, he called out to the younger adolescent. There would be time to catch up soon enough. Shortly after his greeting, Oskarion walked up next to Landron, with a few words of his own. ” Nice time for a Hatching, don’t’cha think?” he called.
Landron’s face split into a broad grin as he turned to his newfound friend. “Indeed! Things seem to be well-placed at last.”
He would have continued on, but was distracted and cut off by the sudden crescendo of the dragons in the surrounding risers. All of the eggs were shaking and tapping out separate cadences within the shells; determined to get out towards their mines and food. Then, suddenly, one egg towards the center of the clutch split cleanly in two, spilling forward a bronze! Landron’s breath was held tight in his chest as he watched and waited to see who the lucky dragonet would select.
For a moment, Landron thought that the beautiful being was running towards him, bleating imperiously as he was trying to find his mine. But it was all too apparent that the beauty only had eyes for Oskarion, and Landron was extremely happy for his friend as the little bronze’s eyes turned into an array of colors as the new pair was led off of the sands. Landron’s gaze then returned to the rest of the clutch. While he had been focused on Oskarion’s Impression, a little green had selected the girl, Alix as her lifemates. What a good first two hatchlings!
Then, strangely, all the dragons except for the bronzes quieted, while the larger males grew louder still as they hummed their welcome to the third egg. Not skipping a beat, the new addition to the world placed so much strain on the shell that the egg appeared to explode, leaving a damp, handsome bronze to stand in its place. Unlike the other two hatchlings however, this bronze surveyed the sands quietly – with the air of authority – and then made his way over to the male candidates. Tripping a bit, the yet-to-be-coordinated dragonet made his way unfalteringly– to Landron’s astonishment – him.
“I am your Heroth, bring me to food.”
Mouth slightly agape in wonder, the next sound was of Chalarath’s bugle of approval as her son’s eyes became a swirling palette of colors and the new dragon butted his head into Landron’s chest. Suddenly Landron was flooded with joy, happiness, and… hunger. Hugging the handsome bronze around the neck, not caring if he got egg-fluid on his Impression-garb or not, Landron reassured his new partner, ”I will get you your food; I promise you. Let’s go now.”
“That would be good, LandronMine. I am very hungry!”
The pair was then lead off the sands and towards the pails of meat that Heroth was so looking forward to when both rider and dragon were distracted by one of Heroth’s crimson brothers. As his sibling screeched demandingly at the world, the damp dragonet bowled over a new blue weyrling- and it was Lyryn!!
“Cerbanyth’s needs help, mine!”
”I see that. Can you help calm Cerbanyth while I collect Lyryn? Or do you need your food?”
“We can be quick, and then you can get me my food, mine.”
So with both their minds made up, both rider and dragonet went to aid their brethren. Heroth stumble-walked over to his blue sibling, his eyes a whirl of red and yellow in a mixture of control and hunger. “Cerbanyth, allow Mine to help Yours. I can get to the food quicker, and you can get sleep faster that way.Yours needs humans right now also.”, he said; his eyes turning more and more red with hunger as he spoke. While he took care of Cerbanyth, Landron quickly bent down to Lyryn, throwing the younger teen’s arm over his shoulder. “Come on, Lyryn…we have other halves to take care of.” He said through clenched teeth as he stood, lifting him to his feet. Heroth followed closely behind protectively of Landron.
When they reached the end of the sands, Landron handed Lyryn to a healer, but didn’t recognize who it was because Heroth’s thoughts and emotions were nearly overcoming him with the hunger that the dragon was feeling. He needed food, and needed it now. And that was when a bucket of meat was shoved in his hands. ”Heroth, here is your food, finally!” Bending down to give the meat to Heroth, he was met not with words this time, but rather a wave of euphoria sent through their mental bond at the sensation of eating for the first time. Moments later, as Landron sat besides his lifemate, he was met with whirling red eyes.
“LandronMine…I need another bucket!” the bronze stated calmly as he sent the feeling of his still-present feelings of hunger to Landron. Laughing and scratching Heroth on his eye ridges, he happily placed another pail in front of him.
”Congratulations Landron! What a nice bronze!” Landron’s gaze shifted from Heroth to his friend, Oskarion. Beaming back to him, Landron’s face was a huge grin, full of pride and love for his Heroth. “I think I may now be L’dron! However the same should be said to you! These bronze brothers are quite handsome!” he replied back, one hand running over Heroth’s back ridges. Heroth, head still in his bucket, rumbled, pleased by the compliments from the two men.
Turning his full attention to Heroth, L’dron suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion: they both needed sleep. The rest was a blur of congratulating all that Impressed, getting settled into their new Weryling barracks, and finally preparing for bed. The last thing that L’dron remembered was Heroth’s bronze figure curling up against him as they fell asleep; their dreams intertwined as they drifted away.
End L’dron/Tag All
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Post by alix on Aug 15, 2010 19:45:36 GMT -5
Alix looked around the hatching sands with wonder as egg after egg hatched into dragonet's that impressed to other candidates.
She was so amazed by what was happening around her. The dragonets that hatched around her were so beautiful. She had seen the bronze that had hatched first. When he tumbled out onto the sands she saw the silvery looking flecks on his legs. She saw the bronze dragon impress to a boy on her right. From where she was standing she could see the love and happines on his face. She smiled and looked forward toward the sands again hoping that by the end of the day she to would be able to feel what impression was like.
Locking her eyes on the eggs one in particular seemed to catch her attention. She watched as it rocked back and forth.
When it broke she watched as a beautiful green dragonet spilled out. The bright green egg goo still covering her hide. Despite the goo still covering her Alix could still make out her true hide color. It was a beautiful light green moss color with darker coloring on her wing veins, on the inside the membrane was still the color of moss.
She watched as the mossy green curved her neck gracefully and walked toward the group of girl candidates.
Alix gasped as the green came closer to her and then fell down in front of her feet. She was about to rush forward to help the dragonet when she heard a beautiful sweet voice in her mind.
"I am your Pasuth. May I have food?
Alix was shocked when she heard the voice in her mind. She could feel a smile spreading on her lips, and tears starting to run down her face as she dropped to her knees. Not caring that the burning sand was hot she wrapped her arms around her Pasuth.
Standing up she said, "Of course Pasuth I'll get you some food".
Walking toward the tables that were set up she watched as other candidates-now weyrlings sat down with their dragons and started feeding them. Making her way to a free seat she picked up a random bucket that had been handed to her by a drudge. Looking inside she inspected the chunks of meat in the bucket. She had to make sure that none of them were to big so when Pasuth ate them she wouldn't choke.
But before she could finish checking all of the chunks Pasut had seized the bucket and started eating the meat straight out of the bucket. Shocked she said "Pasuth! I wasn't done checking the meat." "You were to slow and I am very hungry", she thought, not even bothering to look up from the bowl.
Sighing she sat back and decided to watch her mossy green eat. "Just be sure to chew dear". Alix couldn't wait for their lessons to begin.
When Pasuth was finally done eating. Alix led her plump green toward the weyrling barracks where she chose a nice ben near the back so Pasuth could have some peace and quiet so she could sleep. As Alix laid down on the bed she made a mental note to go and wake Blizzard up in the morning. The small frosty blue firelizard, had barely been on her mind since her impression. Just now she realized that she hadn't woken him up before the hatching began. She would retrive him in the morning.
"Mine stop thinking please I can't sleep."
"Sorry Pasuth", she said as she laid her head down and closed her eyes, drifting off into sleep.
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Post by L'can and Tanemoth on Aug 16, 2010 15:51:57 GMT -5
Lorcan grinned when a bronze was the first to hatch. He wasn't sure if it would really bring good luck, but it was an encouraging sight for the Weyr. Next to hatch was a green, then a second bronze. They all seemed healthy and strong. He held his breath as the Gold egg began to rock; even though he couldn't Impress the Gold, it seemed like a momentous occasion.
His mouth dropped open when the second Queen egg hatched, and a dragon as silvery as her egg emerged. Like the Gold, she Impressed to a girl. It wasn't long before a second oddity made an appearance, a bright red dragon that Lorcan assumed was female because it Impressed to a girl.
When a second red dragon hatched, Lorcan guessed that it wasn't just a fluke. This one seemed excitable, running into a boy in his haste to get to the candidates. Lorcan backed up when the red dragon neared him, not wanting to get in the way, but then the dragonet marched up and butted him in the chest. "Your Tanemoth is very hungry. Is there food?"
Lorcan stared into Tanemoth's whirling rainbow eyes, seeing his own soul reflected there. He was no longer alone in the world. Tanemoth was his companion forever. Smiling in disbelief and joy, he scratched the Crimson's eye ridges gently. "Of course Tanemoth, I'll feed you right away," he said.
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Post by Echo and Anayeth on Aug 17, 2010 19:38:47 GMT -5
It all happened so fast. What did her father say? ‘You’re a Dragonhealer, dragons are bound to want to Impress to you. You have natural empathy, and dragons like people with more empathy toward them.’ That’s what her father had said. She had believed him. He was the MasterHealer after all. He knew these things. But maybe, maybe he had told her that so she wouldn’t be scared of all of the dragons rushing toward her. Now, as Echo stood dragonless, one of the last candidates on the Sands, her father’s words crushed her. She looked around at all of the happy faces and felt happy for them, those who’d Impressed. But her own heart, which had soared before, had plummeted to the ground like a rock a dragon dropped from the air.
Wait, so what had happened?
After the first Bronze, a Green hatched. The Green was a lovely creature who immediately Impressed herself to Alix. Echo had cheered with the others just as she had with Oskar and Landron. But her soaring hopes had begun to fall when more Greens hatched and Impressed to others. The Gold hatched and then the silvery egg hatched to reveal a dragon the same color as the egg. Echo watched as each dragon went fearlessly toward their riders: Brekkarial and Ceinwen, Brekka for the Silver and Cein for the Gold. Echo clapped heartily for them, for Ceinwen would make a wonderful Weyroman (even if she wasn’t Senior Weyrwoman), and Brekka… she didn’t know about Brekka.
Then a couple of red dragons hatched. One headed for Nerystimon, the other for Lorcan. She nodded her acceptance of the odd pairings, because, of course, those were odd dragons, and no one knew about them. What had R’enh called his little firelizard? A Crimson? Echo saw that firelizard eggs weren’t the only ones to have mutated. It was the dragon eggs, as well. But, at least the mutations had not affected the eggs that much, seeing as all eggs hatched and Impressed. She watched as a blue chose a candidate she didn't know very well. Sadly, though, none of the eggs Impressed to her. Not even the last egg to hatch (into a Green) even looked her way. A happy girl walked off the Sands.
That was when Echo’s heart plummeted. She searched for the Candidatemaster, her eyes sad but the rest of her body poised as if there had never been a hatching in the first place. She strode toward him, and when she neared him, she stopped. “Well, I suppose there is always a next time.” She said, and then hastily added, “If there is a next time for me. I daresay I might be too old the next time there’s a Hatching.”
Sadness laced her voice, but Echo stayed strong and stoic. She spotted Oer, her father, standing in the stands and calling for her, but she did not listen to him. There would be time before the Candidatemaster called the remaining Candidates to him. In that time, she’d go back up to the Infirmary, to her old cot where she slept when everything first began. When the Weyr first began.
This was only the beginning, only the first Hatching of the Weyr. Chalarath was strong and healthy, despite all of Echo’s worrying. Chalarath would clutch again, but Echo had no idea whether or not she’d be able to Stand then. Maybe next time she’d be right next to her father, cheering on a different crowd of Candidates, maybe some of whom had familiar faces. Echo would not allow herself to cry, it was not her. So she walked off the Sands with a stoic face and walked toward her Infirmary, as Ceinwen and Alix wouldn’t be needing it much anymore. She’d sit there until the Candidatemaster called.
End Echo
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