A Successful Hatching Celebration

[R'enh and Mnoranth]

m11 d13, Evening

The dining hall was set for maximum capacity and the kitchens had gone all out. Even the Harpers had set up a small group who were playing when the guests from the hatching began to file in and find their seats.

R'enh escorted Maram to the head table and waited for Sorelle and B'lor before being seated.

They'd spent some time congratulating each of the new weyrling pairs in the hallway outside the hatching grounds. He'd tried to make it even handed but he couldn't help but feel a special pride in Zorenh or Z'enh. And now all the pairs were feeding their dragons to insensibility and once the little ones were asleep the riders would be able to join the party.

The one wet blanket on the evening was the lack of a Lord Holder from Dragon Hold. The recent death of the man who had lead the reclamation of the abandoned facility was difficult on the entire population.

But tonight was to celebrate!

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OOC: this is a traditional part of the hatching event in the books and usually is a very boisterous party. There is a lot of food, and music (theres a band) and dancing and fun. Time for a party! New Riders can join the party once their dragons are bedded down and asleep.

[Stephanie and Lialsuth]

Stephanie had just put her new lifemate Lialsuth to bed, making sure she was still fast asleep before she left. Good emotions were forced to her mind as she caught a few of the dreams of the dragoness. How enchanting it was! She still remembered the rainbow colored eyes staring at her with concern, then hunger, then sleepiness.. and finally they had shut and the little Lialsuth had fallen fast asleep. Now her lifemate, Stephanie, entered the banquet hall. She noticed immiedetly the decorations, the people starting to come inside. Her freshly wrapped arm had a bandage around it, slightly blood stained, but the bleeding had stopped a while ago. Her eyes went to the streamers, the great tablecloth and dinnerware. She was not used to such grand treatment. She was a dragon rider, perhaps the lowest ranking of colors, but in her mind her dragon soared above them all in personality... Though she would not hesitate to obey her higher ranks, she still would love her lifemate with all her heart. Already she could feel the bond. It was small, yet grand.. They did not understand each other yet but they would.. And some day they'd fly together...

Her thoughts returned to the meal as she took her seat, flashing a smile at R'enh. She admitted to herself that she would have to give up men and dating until her dragon was ready, and so she pushed all other thoughts then politeness towards him out of her mind. She looked to him and looked away, smiling at the other people. A band played music and it boosted her mood. She decided to wait on food and started to dance a little, her moves growing with her confidence. She was happy, truely happy! Nothing could ruin this moment, as emotions of the impression hit her. The realization hit her; she was a dragon rider, she had bonded to a dragon. The great joy renewed itself as she danced, giving a happy yelp as she invited anyone who wished to to dance.

[Jeta and Issdanuth]

Jeta looked through her clothes to see which one would suit her for the Hatching Feast. Finally she found the outfit she was looking for and took it out of the chest at the foot of her bed. She found matching shoes and went to take a quick bath. She cleaned herself and when she was done she got out and dried off. Jeta then put the dress on as well as the shoes before fixing her hair a little bit to make it look pretty. The girl felt Issdanuth wake from her slumber long enought to ask her lifemate a question.

Jetamine? What are you doing?

"Hatching Feast Issdanuth. It is in honor of you and your Clutchsiblings." Jeta replied as she finished her hair and grabbed something to keep her warm if she got too cold.

Issdanuth yawned and replied, Have fun Jetamine. See you tomorrow. The Green went back to sleep.

Jeta smiled and left her new room and went to the Lower Caverns. Once there she saw that R'enh and Stephanie were already there. The girl smiled to her fellow Weyrling and greeted R'enh warmly, "Greetings Weyrleader," Jeta said with a warm smile to R'enh. "How is Mnoranth?" The girl couldn't wait to get the party going. She looked forward to eating and dancing and letting herself loose.

[Echo and Anayeth]

Echo hadn't meant for her dress to be the same color as her dragon. She hadn't ever really thought she'd Impress to a Silver anyway. But when she did Impress to Anayeth, she had been overjoyed, sad, and extremely curious. The mind-link, fragile and yet unbreakable, was something she would have to get used to. But Anayeth, so incredibly cute even as she gobbled down her food while managing not to get any blood anywhere other than in her mouth, was a doll. She was overly cautious over everything and needed prodding just to leave the Sands. And Echo had to be strong for her, just like she had had to be strong for the dragons she'd stitched up and so forth.

Anayeth had finally settled down to sleep, with quite the worried tone in Echo's head, when Echo decided that she would, in fact, go to the Hatching Feast. She hadn't meant to, as Echo wasn't really that good with crowds, but, despite Anayeth never wanting Echo to leave her, the Silver thought it would be best for the newest Queenrider to go to the Feast. Boost everyone's spirits, Ana had said.

With Anayeth asleep and Echo in her sparkly-looking silver dress that looked oh-so-smooth and fit her body perfectly (but was also casual enough to pass for semi-daywear), Echo made her way down to the lower caverns where the Feast was being held. She expected a hush to fall over the crowd when she entered, but no such thing happened, and that quelled her bad thoughts instantly. Then she felt for Anayeth's mind-link, brushed the sleeping dragon's mind, and walked into the room.

It wasn't that horrible, especially since people only wanted to congratulate her, but Echo felt alone now, after being so intimate with Ana, and she shivered quietly and to herself. After being congratulated for a few minutes, she quickly excused herself and walked away to a less crowded place in the area. She could lead when she was working... but how would Echo ever lead when she couldn't even stand to be so close to so many people like that? It wasn't claustrophobia as much as it was some sort of other fear, some fear of... Echo-ness.

Again, Echo brushed her dragon's mind and thought she felt Anayeth's mind brush back, though that could have been a dream playing across the silver's eyes. Echo felt safe.

Tag Any? R'gant/Era/new riders...

[zen]

Z'enh yawned as he made his way down to the lower caverns. It had been a long day and all he wanted to do was go home and curl up on his bed. He frowned, knowing that he wouldn't see his bed ever again. He would live in the barracks during his studies and, after that, who knew. Already, his foster mother had sent his belongings there, almost as if she couldn't wait to be rid of him. In the back of his mind, he knew she was happy for him, but he could never shake the sense that she preferred some of the others over him. Of course, he hadn't given her a reason to like him. Aloof, reclusive, and moody, he had been almost a ghost in her weyr.

"Mine?"

**Go back to sleep. Everything is okay.**

"I want you here. Now. Here. Now now."

Z'enh turned around and went back to Rath. The dragon had worked himself up and was wild-eyed. Sitting down next to Rath's leg, Z'enh patted the bed. Rath plopped down and let out a grunt, then put his big head across Z'enh's thighs, causing Z'enh to cringe in discomfort. Rubbing the creature's eye ridge, Z'enh took in a breath and let it out very slowly, thinking calming thoughts.

"I will always be near," he said quietly.

"Stay."

Zorenh placed his head against the dragon's neck and began rubbing just behind the little nubs where horns would grow. Rath groaned and stretched out his tail in ecstasy.

"I like that."

Fifteen minutes later, Rath was finally in a deep sleep and, with the help of another candidate, Z'enh slipped out from under the dragon's head. He limped slightly, his legs asleep from the compression of the heavy head, as he made his way back to the party. He could hear the band and the sounds of merriment. Hoping to enter unnoticed, he rolled his eyes as he was swarmed by people congratulating him. After too many pats on the back, he was ready to find a quiet corner. First thing, though, he had to stop at the main table.

He bowed to Maram and R'enh, then to Lady Sorelle and B'lor.

"Mine?"

Z'enh lowered his head and shook it in exasperation.

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[kale]

"I really shouldn't be here," Kale thought as he picked up a mug of Klah and held it carefully in his oversized hand. He had helped set up the party, carrying the larger items and mending a couple of the great tables before the guests arrived. Earlier, after Sivarith had left the hot sands, he had hauled away the two bad eggs, being very careful not to crack them as he pushed them with his back up the wooden ramp and onto the cart. A good distance away, he dug a hole and buried them, letting the earth reclaim their minerals.

Having jumped into the bath quickly, he dressed in loose-fitting trousers and a light, linen shirt that tied down the front with crossed leather lacings. The food smelled amazing, but he didn't touch it, as he didn't want to be the first. Already, many accused the miner of eating more than his share.

"Where'd the serving platter go?"

Kale looked to the back and saw two drudges arguing, each blaming the other for the loss. They continued, their voices rising, until someone else he couldn't see told them to hush. The smell of meat wafted past Kale and his stomach grumbled loudly. Starting and finishing his drink in two swallows, he set aside his mug and quickly stepped aside as one of the candidates danced past him. Then he saw the new silver rider enter. She was a vision, shining like some of the minerals he pulled from one of the more productive mines. It was fitting that she get a silver. The woman moved like water. Tearing his eyes away, he noticed Z'enh enter. Just before the boy stopped at the main table, Kale clapped him on the back and congratulated him. "Well done," he said. "You've done the Weyr proud." After that, Kale stood there, uncomfortable and itching to get to the food.

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[N'la and Aereth]

N'la sauntered down to the Lower Caverns, a grin on her face as she straightened her blue brocade jacket over her white dress tunic. The best part of a Hatching was the party afterwards.

You don't mean that, mine.

She could hear Aereth's smile. }True. But it doesn't change how much fun the party is.{

In fact, she was really looking forward to this - it was a chance for her to mingle with fellow riders... and maybe forget a little of why she came to Dragon Weyr in the first place...

N'la firmly shoved those thoughts aside, running a nonchalant hand through her cropped hair as she entered the dining hall. She recognized a few faces, but wasn't entirely sure of everyone's name yet. The few people she could name were sitting at the head table, where one of the new weyrlings was bowing.

Finding a spot to lean against the wall, boots and arms crossed, she smiled at the room. She would relax for a moment, get a feel for things, people watch a little, and when someone caught her eye, she would enjoy herself. Absently fingering the dice in her pocket, she wondered if anyone here played... and what the shells she would gamble with...

You plan how you act at parties as if you were playing chess.

}I do not... I'm much more aggressive at chess.{

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[Eralynn and Liirith]

The day's hatching had gone near-perfect...aside from the little bronze whose to-be rider had probably perished in the apocalypse. Thankfully though, there were two healthy metallics born today: Echo's Anayeth and Z'enh's Rath. Not to mention another brown, two blues, and five greens; which included Jeta's Issdanuth and Stephanie's Lialsuth.

Eralynn and Liirith were especially happy to welcome Liirith's new green half-sisters, but even ten-fold so about Echo's Impression of Anayeth. The young woman had done so much for them, and Eralynn had become concerned over the past month after the Clutching-incident. Not being able to ever have a successful pregnancy of her own in the past, when she had always dreamed of being a mother, Era's heart had broken for the DragonHealer upon hearing the sad news. But with the new life of little Anayeth, both Eralynn and Liirith were confident that Echo would successfully walk away from the sadness that had enveloped the woman recently.

Preparing herself for the Hatching celebration as she always had over the many years she spent at Benden, Eralynn walked into the Dining Hall wearing her deep emerald satin gown, complete with light green detailing along the bottom of the dress and along the cuffs, which flared out at her wrists. It had been her tradition to wear the dress that bared her dragon's unique two-toned coloration at every Hatching Celebration, and as always she glowed in it.

Congratulating all the new riders with a broad smile rather than the repetitive smack on the back, she inconspicuously made her way over to a less-congested area where she had spotted the DragonHealer-turned-Silverrider when she had first entered the room.

Mine, I would congratulate Echo myself through Anayeth...only the little silver is sleeping... I do not want to bespeak her again, now that she has Impressed.

**You bespoke her??? When was this? And how did I not know about it?**

She was frightened on the Sands. It was private. came the simple reply from Liirith. Her tone was quite pleased.

**I will pass on your feelings, dearheart.**

Smiling at both Liirith's actions and Echo's accomplishment of the day, Eralynn quietly walked up to the other women. Placing a gentle hand on Echo's shoulder, she began her congratulations. "I hear you're the newest Queenrider of the Weyr, my dear. Liirith tells me she no longer has the need to bespeak you directly, now that you have Silver Anayeth. However...since your little one is sleeping... I was asked to pass on to you that she is pleased. I myself am overjoyed." Pausing her speech a moment, Eralynn hugged the woman lightly, and before pulling away added her last words. "You deserve this."

Then, stepping back, Era beamed at Echo. Just as she had said, every inch of the Greenrider's stance expressed joy and happiness.

Tag All/ Echo

[Lilia]

Lilia’s ride to the Weyr had come on the back of a beautiful klah colored brown behind a rider with wingsecond’s knots fairly high an honor to have accorded a Master in the old days before the cataclysm. She figured she probably had R’enh to thank. He was almost legendary in his ability to handle detail.

She chuckled at the absolute storm of words that had come from Renhick telling her about his new ‘brother’ when she’d landed. She’d brought her newly completed Hammer Dulcimer for the banquet entertainment after the hatching. Of course she’d also made she her small chamber group was already playing by the time the attendees started to file into the party.

She held her hands out to Maram and with a genuine smile leaned forward to touch cheeks. “Good to see you.” she greeted the Weyrwoman and then R’enh. She dropped a small curtsy to Lady Sorelle “a beautiful hatching, Congratulations” she said with a smile for both the queenrider and the bronzerider standing close by. With all the people surrounding the Weyrleaders she knew she didn’t really have a prayer of getting a moment for the time being but she’d try again later.

Her eyes roamed the room and saw the knots of people around the newly impressed riders. Her lips twitched when she finally spotted the one who looked so much like her former weyrmate at a younger age it was almost uncanny.

The cluster around him eased a little, and a bouncing eleven turn old pulled her in his direction. “Z’enh” he gushed proudly “this is my ma.”

“Hello Z’enh,” she said and held out her hand. “I’m Lilia, nice to meet you.” She smiled and refrained from the celebratory slap on the back she was fairly certain he’d had enough of by now.

She saw a familiar figure across the room but her eyes slid away and back to the young man in front of her almost immediately. This was the first time she’d seen him in the months since the gold flight had caught them all unprepared. Tonight though, she would try to talk to him if he didn’t dodge her again.

“Congratulations!” she said.

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[sorelle]

Having changed into a simple dress the color of rust, Sorelle joined B'lor, R'enh, and Maram at the main table. They all sat and began the tedious task of greeting all of the guests. After smiling yet again to another person, Sorelle leaned into B'lor and whispered, "this is what you get for Imahyth catching a Queen."

“a beautiful hatching, Congratulations”

"Thank you," Sorelle smiled to Lilia. "The music is lovely tonight." She gestured to Stephanie, who was dancing with abandon, "I believe the guests approve as well."

Z'enh was standing nearby, having withstood the congratulatory blow to the back from the mighty hand of one of the miners. He looked defeated and exhausted.

"R'enh," she whispered to the man on the other side of her, "I believe your son needs a nap."

From the look of the other new riders, they all seemed rather subdued. Well, except for Stephanie. "I wish I could bottle that energy," Sorelle thought. She noticed the miner just standing in place, obviously uncomfortable over the entire situation.

"Excuse me," she said to those around her. Getting up, she headed straight for the man. As she got closer, she felt smaller and smaller. "Shards, you're huge," she said to him. She had to strain her neck upward to see him. Grabbing him by the wrist, she said, "come with me." She dragged him over to the food table and waved her free hand at the huge display of items. "Eat. I won't take 'no' for an answer." She pointed to a drudge, "see that he gets anything he needs." That said, she smiled up at him, patted him on his mountainous bicep and trotted back to the table.

"What'd I miss," she asked as she sat back down.

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[Maram and Chalarath]

Maram, who'd arrived with R'enh just as the festivities were started, had been enjoying watching all the new arrivals, both guests and riders, as well as the newly Impressed. This feast was clearly a favorite of hers. Even with the loss of the one dragonet, this was still a time to celebrate as many others had Impressed this day.

Maram greeted each guest as they arrived. Smiling warmly when Lilia took her hand and brushed cheeks with her. "It's good to see you," she told the Master Harper.

When Sorelle arrived, Maram greeted her fellow goldrider warmly. After she returned to them, Maram said, "Overall, and excellent hatching Sorelle. Sivarith did a magnificent job."

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[N'la and Aereth]

She’s certainly enjoying herself, N’la thought as she watched one of the new weyrlings dance.

You could join her. N’la nearly laughed out loud. Aereth was puzzled, You enjoy dancing.

}Not like that.{ N’la grinned appreciatively at the very pretty greenrider, then shook her head a little. She had in inside straight’s chance in Bitra to get her body to move like that. Her kind of dancing was slow, and with a partner.

Her attention was drawn away from the dancing by a strange sight - Lady Sorelle hauling a man by the wrist to the food table. A very big man, and somewhat awkward. With a build like that, he had to be a miner, or a smith. Curious, N’la smiled and casually strolled over to the food table. She was feeling a bit hungry anyway.

Walking up next to him, she selected a small pastry. “Do you play dice?” she asked off-handedly before plopping it into her mouth.

Tag Kale/Any

[R'enh and Mnoranth]

R'enh had smiled and thanked everyone and congratulated each of the weyrlings when he finally approached his son.

"Congratulations" he said pulling the younger man into a rough embrace before letting him go. "I'm certain Rath will grown into a powerful protector of Pern."

"I have something for you." he said pulling a package from the table. It was traditional to give your child a gift if they impressed so R'enh had prepared something in advance for this day.

He knew these next months would be some of the busiest of Z'enh's life but soon enough the new pair would be airborne. Inside the package was a new fleece lined leather jacket to protect him from the bitter cold of between.

He didn't want to embarrass the kid so he turned to Maram and grabbed her hand pulling her into his arms.

He grinned down into her eyes. "Let's dance" he said as her swirled her away to the harpers music.

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[kale]

"Shards, you're huge."

He would have been insulted had it come from anyone else. Sorelle's eccentric nature was becoming common knowledge. However, her help to Maram since the destruction of all that they knew had been invaluable...or so Kale was told. Usually, by the time gossip made its way to the mines, it had mutated tremendously.

Kale's musings were cut short as the grabbed him by the wrist and tugged at him. Not wanting to cause a scene, he willingly followed the ex-weyrwoman, though he knew he'd get a ribbing once the guys found out about it. He was sure it made a rather amusing scene. As she dragged him, he caught sight of Lilia, but she was rather involved in conversation.

"Eat. I won't take 'no' for an answer."

"I--" He blinked and she was gone. His eyes followed her back to the main table and she returned to the other power figures. "Eat," he repeated, looking at the bounty of food in front of him.

“Do you play dice?”

What kind of question was that? Kale looked at the form from which the voice had emanated, but his eyes were on her pasty first and foremost. "Dice," he asked, tilting his head like a dog who had just learned a new word. The pastry disappeared into the mouth of the woman, sending Kale back to reality. "Oh. Dice. Um..." His stomach grumbled again. "Yeah, but I'm not very lucky at it. I've..." A drudge carried a tray of meat past him. The juices running down the sides of it mimicked what was occurring in his mouth. Swallowing, he looked back at the stranger. "I take it you play?" Kale cringed internally. He was no good at parties.

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[zen]

“Z’enh...this is my ma.”

"Your... your mom?" He looked Lilia up and down. She was beautiful. Renhick certainly hit the genetic lottery.

“Hello Z’enh. I’m Lilia, nice to meet you. Congratulations!”

Even her name was lovely. Smiling, Z'enh took her hand and grasped it in a manly fashion. He looked around for Renhick, but the boy had disappeared almost as soon as he had arrived. "Nice to meet you, too...and thanks."

Finally, a lull happened in the receiving line and Z'enh let out a breath as R'enh approached. He had learned that anytime R'enh was around, people payed more attention to the weyrleader than him, which was fine, especially in these kinds of awkward situations.

"I'm certain Rath will grown into a powerful protector of Pern."

"Well, if I get smacked one more time, I'm going to have a hard time butchering for him tomorrow. I don't think my back's going to be the same ever again."As he rubbed his back, he was surprised as R'enh produced a packaged.

"I have something for you."

"Thanks." His hands gripped the package and tears started to form in his eyes. Turning away from Lilia, he wiped them away quickly with his forearm. It was the first gift he had ever received.

"You are loved."

The sleepy voice in his head shocked Z'enh and he almost dropped what he was holding. "Loved," he muttered as he opened the package. His hand caressed the fleece as a tear dropped onto the leather. Closing the package quickly, he cleared his throat and looked around the room. "Nice party," he said brightly.

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