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Post by R'enh and Mnoranth on Nov 12, 2010 20:29:17 GMT -5
They had just finished their dinner when it started. He smiled across the table at Maram.
He could almost feel the vibrations in his feet from Chalarath's humming. Mnoranth was joining in and he could hear the building vibrations from many throats as the dragons sang to encourage and welcome their kind into the world.
Without another thought he ran for the lip of the Weyr and leaped to Mnoranth's back as they fell off the edge and floated into the hatching grounds.
He smiled and bowed with his hand over his heart as he faced the queen they'd chased so many times.
"Beautiful Sivarith! Thank you for bringing this Weyr your beautiful children."
He crossed to the Weyrleaders bench right in the middle with the best view. There were seats there for both Maram and himself, with room for Sorelle and B'lor as well.
Mnoranth rose to the back to perch eyes swirling with expectation. Other dragons of various colors ranged themselves along the back. Activity picked up as blue, brown, and green dragons dropped candidates off and people rushed to find the best seats.
The air of excitement filled the cavern and there was much discussion all around the room with bets on which would hatch first.
He leaned over to Maram and took her hand. "What do you think? Bronze for luck?"
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Post by Echo and Anayeth on Nov 13, 2010 1:40:15 GMT -5
It had been a while since the clutching. In Echo’s mind, it hadn’t been long enough. As she heard the humming of the eggs, a series of conflicting emotions sailed through her head: sorrow, guilt, and unease as well as the now-present nervousness that threatened to take away all of the emotions in a wave. She hadn’t been back to the Sands since helping Sivarith clutch her eggs, and she had even tried to stray as far as she could from the Sands when she had to walk past it. It was a good thing that Sivarith had needed little help after the clutch was laid, or else Echo probably would have died, mentally at least, from the tragedy.
She’d grown better about it, after some time, but hadn’t been able to tell R’gant. She wondered if she could ever tell the child’s father. He didn’t have to know, most women went about doing it like that, anyway. It saved them from anything horrible, especially if the males were abusive. It was a good thing that Echo knew that R’gant was not abusive. It didn’t mean that she had an idea of whether or not she wanted to tell him. It had been a long month spent worrying in her free time. After the first daze of losing the child she’d wanted to keep wore off, Echo had just grown superstitious in a way. She had stayed far away from Greenflights and any man who’d even seemed to show lust. This was just the same reason why she’d stayed away from the Sands: superstition.
Which was why, when Echo heard the humming begin, the girl shivered. But she knew how dragon brains worked; she had to want to Impress the dragon. Thus, trying greatly to shake off her fear of the Sands, Echo moved to the bunk she had slept in for the longest time (since before the last hatching), and donned the white candidate robe she had sworn to never wear again because she was going to Impress Ceinwen’s Gold. When she hadn’t, she had been forced to keep the robe another year. The robe was white.
Just like her dress during Sivarith’s clutching.
Suppressing a shudder, Echo donned the clothing and the sandals before stepping out of the barracks. The humming had grown louder. It was obvious that Echo didn’t want to approach the Sands, but she did so anyway, forcing herself to step forward, one step at a time. She moved stiffly until the heat of the Sands washed over her; when it did, she let out a sigh she hadn’t known she’d been holding and moved forward. After bowing to Sivarith, a jerky sort of movement, and Sorelle (and, to a lesser extent, B’lor and the others near Sorelle), Echo moved to take her spot. She couldn’t help but glance over at the spot where she’d landed and lost all that blood. Of course, it had been cleaned since then, all the ichor- and bloodstained sand having been either churned into the Sand or scooped away.
She forced herself to look away, to look toward the eggs. They stood, slightly green-colored, proudly. They were Sivarith’s last clutch, and with them sat another strange silver egg like the one Panitath, Brekka’s Silver, had hatched from. Echo remembered Sivarith’s final push, the Gold’s wing clipping her head, and remembered the strange pain. But she tried to banish those memories. Tried a lot to do that. It didn’t work, and while she smiled on the outside, her stomach twisted in the inside.
Tag Hatching
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Post by Eralynn and Liirith on Nov 13, 2010 10:42:08 GMT -5
Eramine! The hatching is beginning!!!
Eralynn's breath caught in her throat as she and Liirith sailed through the skies upon processing the news of the next generation of dragons. Today was going to be a wondrous day for eleven new riders. She held tightly to Liirith's neck as the duo barrel-rolled in excitement.
**Let's get to it then!! I don't want to miss the Impressions!**
Even as she flew, Liirith began emitting a welcoming hum to the babies inside the eggs. They should join the world and find Their's!!! Alright Mine, I'm ready to go between.
Closing her eyes, Era pictured the view of the sky above the Hatching Sands, and in an instant they were in the heart-stopping chill and nothingness of between. But just as it always was, in three-coughs time, they emerged from the void back to a world full of colors, warmth, and sound. Sending all the love and excitement she could to Liirith to make sure the Green felt pampered; the duo landed just outside so Liirith could drop Era off before joining the other humming dragons in the rafters. After dismounting, Era rushed to Liirith's head, giving the dragon a mighty hug as Liirith nudged her back.
**You will always be my heart, dear Liirith. You have been for 17 turns now, and for the rest of my days you will be. Now; let's join the celebration!**
Eyes swirling every hue of green imaginable, Liirith retracted her head from their embrace, sending love back to Hers as Era stepped back. Once Era was out of wing-reach, the two-toned green leaped to the sky gracefully and joined the quickly-filling rafters, her hum adding to the growing clamor of rejoicing dragons.
However, Liirith noticed one that wasn't completely in the spirit. One that she was familiar with, and who had made sure her own wing was back to new... Back when she was a pitiful shade of drab olive green, and Hers was very weak from being stranded. Echo. Without second-thought the large Green reached out to the girl.
You must be strong! This is your chance for you to be one of those eggs' Mine. Any dragon would be proud to be Yours. My EralynnMine will always be there for you too... she is very fond of you.
After a pause to allow the girl to process what she had told her, Liirith sent one last thought.
You can do this.
And with that, she ended the communication and focused on her great golden mother, excited to see what her youngest new brothers and sisters would bring to the Weyr.
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Eralynn meanwhile, completely unaware that Liirith was soothing a candidate which she was very fond of, entered the Sands happily. Bowing deep to Sivarith like she had done so many turns ago the day she Impressed Liirith, Era praised the clutch and the Queen noble enough to have been their mother.
"They are a fine clutch, Sivarith. Just as they always have been at Benden. Thank you." she stated truthfully, excited to see the Candidates and how the Hatching would turn out. She quickly climbed the rows of benches, and was fortunate enough to grab a seat just below the Weyrleaders. Bowing again to them and her old acquaintance R'enh from Benden, she took her seat.
Tag All!!! Yay for baby dragons!
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Post by Chloe and Alorath on Nov 13, 2010 16:45:38 GMT -5
At seven months along Chloe was beginning to feel ungainly, and awkward. She was heartily glad that she and Alorath had chosen a weyr only one level above the Weyrbowl.
So when the humming began she wrapped a shawl over her warm dress against the evening chill and descended the steps with one hand on the wall.
I can carry you much easier than if you walk Chloemine.
**I know my love but it’s so much work just to climb up onto you now sweetheart. And I need help getting you your baths. But luckily it’s only two more months and then we’ll see how fast I can climb back onto you and soar through the skies.**
She knew if she didn’t put a good foot under her she wouldn’t find a good place to sit and she certainly didn’t want to stand for an event that might take hours.
She funneled in with the crowds and strained to look through the dignitaries to see if she could spot Tobias but she didn’t see him. As the Tanner Craftmaster he would be accorded a reserved seat up front but she was less than certain there would be a place there for her so she continued her search for a seat. She bowed to Sivarith before climbing the stands.
Finally up past the second level one of her wingmates made a spot for her and she sank to the seat gratefully. She took a deep breath and watched the candidates as they arrived. Her eyes went to the golden dragon on the sands crooning encouragement to her eggs. Brothers and sisters to her own Alorath were nearly upon them.
Her hands caressed her belly and she thought, **perhaps someday that will be you little one.**
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Post by Maram and Chalarath on Nov 13, 2010 16:49:19 GMT -5
Maram had been just as excited as the others when the hum had begun. Sivarith's eggs were hatching! She joined R'enh as they made their way quickly to the sands and greeted the beautiful golden dragon.
"We await the arrival of your magnificent children, Sivarith," Maram said, acknowledging the gold, before making her way to the Stands to watch with R'enh.
"What do you think? Bronze for luck?"
Clasping his hand in return, Maram smiled, recalling the last time they had all gathered here on the Sands for Chalarath's clutch. Maram glanced up at Chalarath, perched next to her own mate, far in the back. She could sense the Gold's satisfaction that the Weyr was doing well. Though she preferred the attention on herself, Chalarath was pleased for Sivarith and the current situation. Her tail managed to twine with Mnoranth's.
With a smile on her own face and her hand entwined with her mates, Maram replied, "Bronze for sure. Luck has been on our side already with Sivarith's rise." The Clutching had been difficult, but thank the stars that Sivarith had survived and so had most of the Clutch. They needed every single breathing dragon they could get if they were going to survive.
Maram's gaze turned to see that some of the candidates and other riders were arriving. Eager and excited. Hatchings were always a time for great joy in the Weyr.
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Post by zen on Nov 13, 2010 17:05:14 GMT -5
He had been keeping track of the days ever since Sivarith's eggs first dropped to the hot sands, so he knew they were close to the day of hatching. His days had been spent observing dragons and, under the direction of R'enh and Mnoranth, bathing a very large Bronze. He watched the newest dragonriders as they took to the sky to continue their training. When they returned, he made sure he was nearby to listen to them boast about what they had done. Most importantly, he listened when they talked about their failures. His foster mom had been lenient on him ever since the discovery that he was R'enh's son and that he would soon be standing at the hatching. Of course, the easier she was on him, the harder the other foster children were on him. It made for interesting times.
As the humming began, one of his 'brothers' ran in with the news, but Zorenh had already heard the drumming of dragon vocalizations. His Candidate robe was thrown at him and he quickly shooed the boy away by throwing a boot in his direction. Zorenh changed into the robes and slipped on his sandals.
"I still think it's funny that you get to dress like a girl for this."
He heard his foster mother shush the boy and suddenly she was at the opening to the alcove. "Good luck," she said to him. "Remember what the weyrleader told you."
Zorenh nodded as he brushed past her. He wasn't likely to forget. She had been repeating it ad nauseum ever since he had made the mistake of telling it to her in the first place. He ran as fast as he could to the hatching sands, but skidded to a stop just before entering. Looking up, he could see a phalanx of dragon bodies, all humming, all guarding, all celebrating the moment. It caused a shiver of excitement to wash over him. When he had gone to Chalarath's hatching, he had done so with a cloud over his head the entire time. He had never noticed the excitement on the faces of the crowd, nor had he seen any of the spectacle. "Too into myself," he muttered as his eyes moved over the jubilant dragons.
Echo passed by him and he followed her. He had heard she had been ill, but nothing more. She looked very pale and he thought he saw a slight tremor of her thin fingers. He bowed as she bowed, and, when they faced Maram and R'enh, he threw the weyrleader a nervous grin before turning to follow Echo as she took her spot. He suspected he would not Impress, just as before, so he decided he would do the next best thing and protect the smiling woman beside him. If she were still healing from her mysterious illness, then she would probably not Impress either. The two of them would need to stay sharp to avoid being trampled. Zorenh ran a hand over his abdomen and felt the small scar caused by just such an occurrence. He'd make sure Echo didn't get hurt. Nodding at his decision, he let his eyes travel over the beautiful gold dragon and to her eggs. Such a small number, and so many candidates. The odds were against him for sure.
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Post by sorelle on Nov 13, 2010 20:27:50 GMT -5
Sorelle had taken a moment to get something to eat when she heard the primal sound of dragons rejoicing.
"Mine!"
Sorelle knocked over a pitcher but didn't stop to clean it up. **"I'm coming."** Already others around the great fire were packing up and hurrying to the sands. Off in the distance, runnerbeasts were panicking by the sound and fleeing to the far reaches of their enclosures. Their short alarm calls cut through the humming. Shoving a final piece of meat into her mouth, she chewed as she ran to the hatching grounds. After being accidentally rammed into by the small goldrider, a weaver laughed and called after her, "I think they'll be there when you get there." She waved at him with her arm extended behind her. A late candidate zipped past her, panting heavily and she chuckled. Soon, his legs would be tired from all the standing and waiting.
She climbed up the stands to join R'enh and Maram and said, "I'm getting too old for this," as she plopped down on the bench.
Sivarith bugled in her direction.
**"Same to you."**
The golden dragon grunted and turned back to her eggs. "They move."
Straining her eyes, she still couldn't detect any movement. Just as she started to look away, the silver egg wobbled slightly. "Look," she said, pointing the egg out to those around her. A murmur rose up from the crowd. One of the other eggs started to move, too, and the excitement began to build. Sorelle sent love to her lifemate. **"I'm so proud of you."** Sivarith arched her neck proudly. She was in her element and loving all the praise.
"Where is Imahyth? Where is Tonuth?"
**"They'll be here. They wouldn't miss it."**
"They should have been here already."
There was no pleasing Sivarith when she was in this mood. Luckily, the dragon became distracted as others sang her praises. One of the eggs rolled over on its own and Sivarith stopped to examine it and jumped back as a crack appeared. The egg wobbled back and forth violently.
"That one's impatient," Sorelle said.
The egg cracked further and the wet beak of a dragon appeared. As the encouraging songs of its kind filled the air, the egg rocked again and two bronze front legs thrust out into the air. Other eggs began to move and cracking could be heard.
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Post by J'lor and Tonuth on Nov 13, 2010 21:14:40 GMT -5
They were quite far away from the weyr hunting when the hatching started. So they were unaware until they popped in above the star stones.
J’lor immediately heard the humming and knew what was happening. He felt the rumble beginning in the big brown as they spiraled toward the hatching sands. He inserted himself rather neatly into the traffic pattern and before he knew it J’lor was striding across the sands toward where he saw Sorelle.
We were hunting please excuse our tardiness glorious Sivarith
J’lor grinned at the effusive salute. He didn’t attempt to grab the seat next to Sorelle… that belonged to B’lor but he passed behind her and squeezed her shoulder to let her know he was nearby.
He found a place on a bench down along the side of the cavern. He couldn’t see the eggs well from there but he could see Sorelle. Too many times he had been in the middle of the sands when Brath and Sivarith’s clutches had hatched. This time he wanted to watch her face.
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Post by Echo and Anayeth on Nov 13, 2010 21:44:57 GMT -5
There was a very, very small part in Echo’s brain that told her that Zorenh was following after her. She hadn’t really given the man any special attention. She had been too focused on her own movements, which were creaky because she hadn’t wanted to be here and yet yearned to be here. She also hadn’t really acknowledged him because he was sticking too close to her. Apparently her ‘illness,’ as it were, had gotten around the Weyr. Echo wasn’t a sick person, she was just a fearful person after what had happened.
Just as an almost overwhelming smell of blood, which made her begin to shiver uncontrollably, tickled her nose, she felt something tickle her mind. With a start, Eralynn’s green bespoke her, saying: You must be strong! This is your chance for you to be one of those eggs' Mine. Any dragon would be proud to be Yours. My EralynnMine will always be there for you too... she is very fond of you. You can do this.
With a start, Echo turned in a full 180 degrees to stare up into the Sands. She saw many unfamiliar faces, and a few more familiar ones, like that greenrider whose dragon she’d saved, or the bluerider who’d helped her in the infirmary one day. Then she spotted Era in the Stands and offered her a shaky smile and a wave. Her stomach hurt, though, and she turned back to the hatching just in time to see two bronze-colored legs break free from an egg. A small smile fluttered across her face.
Her mind headed from the disease of the clutching, for it was a disease in Echo’s mind, to the hatching. Slowly by slowly, bit by bit, Echo made her mind believe what Liirith said. She unclasped and clasped her hands before running one hand up and down the arm of the other. She could feel her skin beneath the robe, and how it was marked with goosebumps. This really was it, wasn’t it. Right now she knew that she would either Impress or not. If she Impressed, she would be transformed into a different person, or so they say. If not, she might not even come out of the Sands.
She’d already had one scare on the Sands; she’d rather not have any more.
Unconsciously, Echo brought her hand up to her head, where a slow-to-disappear scar was all that was left of a month ago. That’s where Sivarith’s wing had clipped her and had very nearly given her a concussion. She let out a slow sigh and dropped her hand before turning to Zorenh. This was the first time she’d given him much thought at all. “Good luck, Zorenh. I know you’ll Impress.”
Again, hatching tags~
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Post by Brekka and Panitath on Nov 13, 2010 21:54:57 GMT -5
She was brushing her hair and singing to Panitath when she heard the the beginnings of the hum that signaled the hatching. She grinned and leaped from her seat running to her silver beauty.
She scrambled up and clung to her neckridge while they dropped from the highest queens weyr that she'd been assigned and toward the hatching sands.
She pushed her way in through the slow moving bodies just in time to see the first leg poke through... "Oooooh Bronze!" a sigh from the other watchers seem to convey the same hope and joy at the good luck.
Her eyes quickly scanned the stands but she didn't see L'dron. **Is Heroth here?** Not here yet
She placed her back against the wall and slid sideways up the stairs until she had a good view for her short stature. She watched almost breathless
**You will have a silver sister soon my love.**
Yes! was the joyful cry of the almost grown Panitath.
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Post by sorelle on Nov 13, 2010 22:42:21 GMT -5
We were hunting please excuse our tardiness glorious Sivarith
Sivarith flicked her head at him and went back to watching the eggs. The shell covering the half-emerged bronze dragon shattered as its captive fought to break free. Stumbling around, he let out a pitiful sound as he tripped and picked himself up again. His head bobbed up and down, his eyes whirling. Searching.
"Something's wrong," Sorelle said. She had seen this before. It had happened during Sivarith's first clutch.
The little dragon seemed lost, without a purpose. "Shards," Sorelle whispered. "Come on... there has to be one." The number of candidates was low. They had had so many deaths and there were still a tremendous number unaccounted for from the destroyed Weyrs.
Another little bleat came out of the dragon's mouth and he passed by candidate after candidate. Sorelle closed her eyes; she couldn't watch. The bronze lowered its head, then headed for the stands, looking upward.
"Tell me when it's over," Sorelle said. Her hands gripped the edge of her seat.
Another bleat, plaintive and lost.
And then, the dragon was gone.
Sivarith's keening began almost immediately, followed like a wave of sound by the other dragons. Unable to Impress, the new life had gone between.
Sorelle put her head in her hands. On this day, the first dragon born, a bronze, had not been lucky.
"I'm sorry, Mine."
**I am too.** She sent out comfort to the distraught mother. Then, a commotion caused her to look between her fingers. The silver egg had split down the middle and two halves were on the sands, empty.
"Where's the silver," Sorelle asked, her eyes desperate to see a healthy dragon. Someone nearby pointed. The silver dragon was making a beeline for Echo. "Go, go," Sorelle urged. When it got within a foot of the young candidate, it stopped and tilted its silvery white head at her.
"What's stopping her," Sorelle cried.
Tag Echo/Any
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Post by R'enh and Mnoranth on Nov 13, 2010 22:54:34 GMT -5
The grin that had started when the first to hatch was bronze was displaced by one of horror as the little one went /between/
"NO!" he yelled leaping to his feet. Keening dragons flooded the sands with their distress at the loss of one of their own and a roar of anger came from the throat of Mnoranth.
Little by little they settled down to encourage the rest of the hatchlings.
He held his breath for the little silver as it seemed to pause in front of the dragon healer.
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Post by zen on Nov 13, 2010 23:00:58 GMT -5
“Good luck, Zorenh. I know you’ll Impress.”
"We'll see," Zorenh said. He didn't want to get his hopes up. The dragons began singing and Zorenh watched the little bronze work itself free. His hands moved involuntarily, almost as if he were helping the dragon. It floundered around, making awful sounds, ignoring everyone as if it were blind. When it winked out of sight, Zorenh hung his head. "Am I so bad that it chooses death over me?" His hands balled into fists as hot tears stung his eyes. As he wiped them away, he saw a silver blur. Blinking, he raised both eyebrows in shock. The silver was headed straight for Echo.
"She's going to--"
But then the dragon stopped. Not knowing what else to do, Zorenh stepped to the side, giving them room. The little beast was beautiful and it's expression was quite comical. It looked like it wasn't sure whether to eat Echo or Impress with her.
"Now what," he asked. The entire room had gone quiet and he was pretty sure there were a number of people holding their breath.
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Post by L'yst and Woreth on Nov 13, 2010 23:30:31 GMT -5
L'yst had arrived with Woreth only moments before the eggs had begun to rock. Woreth had quickly taken his place among the stands, while L'yst, still struggling at times with the loss of the other weyrlings, took his place. Ready to greet the newly Impressed, direct them, see they were fed properly and uninjured.
His hands were clenched tightly as the eggs began to rock. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of the bronze. Bronze first was often lucky. And then the unthinkable happened. In a matter of moments, the little dragon was gone.
L'yst actually staggered in his spot and pressed a hand to the wall. He felt that loss almost as strongly as he'd felt the loss of the weyrlings he'd trained during Threadfall.
He was lost. His was not here. You are mine Woreth spoke proudly into L'yst's mind, giving strength to his rider once more, even as he turned back to encourage the young ones once more.
Standing upright once again, L'yst shook off the loss of the little bronze and watched wide-eyed and hopeful as a silver emerged. "Go, go," he whispered, praying that this one would find its mate. L'yst needed to feel the joy of Impression and helping the werylings once more. It was the only way he would finally be able to push the last of the sorrow and darkness from the Threadfall away for good. His breath held as he watched the little silver seem to pause, uncertain. He fervently hoped that she would choose...he silently encouraged her along with all the others who watched.
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Post by Echo and Anayeth on Nov 13, 2010 23:31:46 GMT -5
When Zorenh answered with his “we’ll see,” Echo took a step closer to him, balling her hands. “No,” she said, about to tell him not to second-guess when that’s all she had been doing the rest of the hatching, but anything else she might have said was cut short by the Bronze blasting from his egg. The smile that had left her face before had sprung back to life as she caught her breath. The Bronze was a magnificent creature born at the beginning. Good luck! Something good was to come out of Sivarith’s hatching!
But, only a few moments later, the Bronze winked between. Echo’s hands flew, simultaneously, to both her stomach and her throat. Stomach because it made her already hurting stomach more angered, and throat because it was a sort of an unconscious maneuver. With a short gasp, Echo moved closer to Zorenh, but she seemed oblivious to the keens that now split the air.
“Oh, no, he should have Impressed. He should have Impressed to you, Zorenh!” Echo said, and instantly she looked over at him to see his reaction. But he was looking at something close to the brown-haired Dragonhealer, and she gave him a quizzical look. He looked horrid, as if he were self-berating himself for the dragon’s non-Impression, but his eyes were also sparkling, and he raised his eyebrows. The second she heard him say “She’s going to—” Echo glanced back at the hatching. Was there a Green there?
Truth was, Echo had completely forgotten about the Silver. She’d disregarded it because it was such a new color and her mind had forgotten it.
But, with a jolt, Echo remembered the Silver as she looked upon it. She looked down at the Silver and waited, but the Silver just tilted its head in a sort of confused stance. Echo’s brows furrowed, and she heard Zorenh ask, “Now what?”
Exactly, now what?
“Isn’t she supposed to Impress or move on?” Or kill her. But Echo didn’t ask that out loud. She stepped away from the Silver with unease, toward Zorenh. “Please, whatever you do, don’t between.” She whispered, hoping the dragon would move on before she did as the Bronze did.
With all this tagging, the hatching should have no spot left to graffiti!
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