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 Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:29 am
The eggs! Soamith shouted into Senda's mind, accompanied by a a pleased trumpeting noise that faded into the same loud hum all dragons had when hatching began. Senda nearly tripped at the sudden noise, mental and aloud, but she realized as quickly as anyone could, what was happening. She barely had time to fling herself- still beltless- atop Soamith's sopping wet neck before the green had launched herself into the air with a careless splash from the bathing pool.
Senda leaned forward, clutching desperately to the neckridge in front of her. Flying beltless just to get from her weyr to the ground was one thing, a common occurrence. Flying beltless to go between and collect watchers of this great event was entirely another, and probably stupid. But, it was clear from her rapid rise the Soamith was in no mood to wait.
To New Igen first, Soamith! Senda commanded, using every ounce of her resolve.
But what if it happens while we're gone? I want to see! Senda rolled her eyes, then clutched tighter at the spine before her, abruptly aware that they were high enough to go between- or to kill her if she slipped.
You'll know when they're hatching. You always do. Now, come on, we have healers to collect.
Soamith gave another of her annoyed huffs, but immediately went between, focused on the walls of Igen.
==-==-==-==
Zafir was judging the taller candidate, though he had no other words to offer. The woman was right, of course. There was no need to absurd, aggressive behavior. Still, though Omerzen was- at least- a foot taller, the seaholder was almost certain he could win in a fight. The other candidate's size was misleading. He was thin and gangly, clearly not a strong one. For a moment, Zafir wondered what bacakground the other had come from. Clearly not a farmer. Maybe some kind of crafthall. Not miners, certainly, but perhaps glasscraft? Or maybe he was a tithing Holder. Who could say.
Given more time, Zafir might have actually finished making a judgment. Instead, he felt the air around him begin to vibrate with the humming of dragons. His bronzes drove their talons into his shoulders at the sudden excitement, filling his head with images of seasides and nests of tiny eggs, as they finally connected the large shells with the lives held inside them.
Kalt lit on his outstretched arm, twittering with glee. She wanted to fly, but she remembered her masters commands. He had taken hours each night to train her for this. Zafir pinched her wedge shaped head delicately between his fingers, and focused on the trunk in his small room- far, far up a path so narrow it was almost dangerous to run. He envisioned the trunk open as he'd left it this morning, and every morning since he'd arrived in the Weyr. Lying on top, he knew, were the white robes of a candidate.
Kalt chirped gleefully, knowing that her task had finally come. Zafir slipped his sandals off, flinching at the unshielded heat of the sands, but it wasn't unbearable. He picked the discarded footwear up, and gave one to each of his bronzes.
"Go, then."
Suddenly, all three were gone. Cor and Serrin didn't return, presumably they'd joined to flocks of fire lizards wheeling above the eggs. He held his breath, waiting for Kalt to come back,hoping she'd remember and behave, because otherwise, he'd have to find robes somewhere in storage, and he wasn't entirely sure where storage even was.
Fifteen seconds later, the golden body reappeared, dropping a pile of white fabric atop his head and speeding away to join the celebration.
Zafir exhaled loudly, and bolted towards one of the many large rocks dotting the Weyr floor. Behind it, his slipped the robe over his clothing, and then stripped beneath it. He could come back later, to collect the clothes.
Barely three minutes after the humming began, Zafir found himself back on the sands, taking up the position on the edge of the eggs that T'ren had drilled into the candidates' heads since their first day. There were only a handful of others back already, but that would surely change in the next few moments.
The native of Tillek found himself searching for the egg he'd chosen out of the many shells. Like so many of its kin, it was shaking, slower than many of the others, but rocking back and forth none the less.
He spared a glance for the queen's egg. Of all the moving eggs, the queen's was almost wild.
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:52 am
Ryala was still stowing her things, having only arrived and been accepted as a Candidate barely an hour ago, when the excited noises in the Weyr attracted her attention. Looking wildly around, wondering what in the world was the cause of so much fuss, she left her things and hurried outside.
Out there, the humming was more audible. Humming? The eggs were hatching now?!
Dashing back inside, she grabbed her white robe and hastily pulled it on over her outfit. The only thing she hated about it was that it looked so much like a dress! She made a face at that though as she ran at full speed toward the Hatching Grounds. Stopping outside, she leaned against the wall in a desperate attempt to catch her breath. When she felt able to breathe freely again, she straitened herself and entered the cavern.
The sight of the eggs rocking every which way made her stop and stare, awed. Then a flying spot of color attracted her eye, and she looked to see a number of firelizards flitting about, equally excited about the coming event. Tearing her wistful gaze from them, she quickly scanned the cavern until she spotted the queen, and respectfully bowed to her before taking her place amongst the other Candidates.
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:57 pm
(( I am so sorry you guys! I've been bogged down by so many things lately that I couldn't do much of anything on the computer! I will get on more now because my life's been straightened out ))
Zaira stood from the egg she was watching and walked up to the queen egg. She smiled as a feeling of pride washed over her. She was standing not very far from Mirth. She reached out a hand to touch the Queen and tentavily scratched her eye ridges.
So, this is the feeling of a dragon. She's so soft
She pulled her hand back and jumped a little as Mirth picked up her head and began humming.
The Eggs!!!
Zaira took off towards the exit and headed to the barracks. She was a worker and had great stamina and strong legs from her work in the field. She made it to her room and undressed as soon as she saw her robes. Tossing her clothes onto the bed she pulled on the robes running back towards the Hatching Grounds. She saw another girl along the way, she continued to run as her flitter popped in above her head.
Don't follow me right now little one. You must stay in the room, please listen to me and stay in the room
She entered the Hatching Grounds and was surprised to see how quickly it had filled in just a short amount of time. She ran down to the other girls and stopped next to one who was breathing hard. She glanced sideways at the girl and a look of concern crossed her face. "Are you alright? Do you need any help?" She asked feeling kind of bad that she couldn't really do anything at the present moment. She held her hand out behin the girls back incase she fell or something. She didn't want a potential friend to miss this hatching. She smiled as a way of encouragement towards the gasping woman next to her. "My name is Zaira," She said extending her hand "And I hope you have very good luck walking out of here with a dragon of your own." She smiled hoping the same for herself
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:08 pm
Sevina watched as more and more people came into the cavern. She watched Sev'en land under the great clawed feet of a dragon. Sevina was worried the great blue beast wouldn't see her little gold, but he wasnt moving, and she was quite safe. Sevina watched the eggs on the hot sands. Her feet already red to the calf.
"Oh, I know the sands are broiling hot... But to tell the truth, I dont feel it too much, and I know that will mean I will have to go see a healer, but I am too excited to care at this moment. But I am also saddened beyond the lives that are coming soon. We are going to lose the Queen. I dont want her to die..." Sevina whispered to the girls next to, the one who had said hello, and a newer one. She was slightly out of breath, but lovely.
Sevina's eyes drifted from the golden orb, to the other shimmering orbs on the hot sands. Waiting for the first crack, that would signal the start of the finnish
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:21 pm
((No problem. ^_^ It's understandable, real life comes first.))
Omerzen stared at the other candidate, who was watching him without a word in response. Scrutinizing, probably, and not doing anything else. The Bitran sighed, waiting for him to simply get on with whatever he wanted to say, if he had anything to say. If not, he was leaving. He had more important things to do than glare back and forth at each other - like touching the rest of the eggs in the clutch.
But before Omerzen abandoned the other candidate, a low hum resounded throughout the cavern. For a brief moment he paused to listen and identify where the noise was coming from, and then Meek threw back her tiny head and began humming, high pitched and sweet, as well. It was then that Omerzen knew exactly what was going on, just as Meek showed him a picture of rocking eggs. Immediately Omerzen darted towards the exit.
Just before he went through the opening of the cavern, he peered back over his shoulder to see if any eggs were moving yet. None so far, but he knew they would start soon. Momentarily his gaze settled on Zafir and his small fair, and the lad's features twisted in a scowl. So he had his sharding firelizards to help him with the job! Omerzen knew that Meek would assist him if she could, but she was too small. Shaking his head, the Bitran turned away and hurried off to change.
He made it to his room soon enough and quickly shucked off his boots and his clothes. Then he donned his white robe and hurried back out the door. Sometime during his run back to the Hatching Grounds Meek had left him. Most likely went to go find a perch, Omerzen concluded and kept running. He slowed to a walk just outside, quickly smoothed the wrinkles from his robe, and strode inside to stand with the other boys.
Eggs were rocking now, he noticed. He was glad he had made such good time going to his room and back, for they were shuddering and trembling so violently that there was no doubt they would be hatching very soon. Had he dallied, he could have missed the beginning, and possibly his dragon.
What would he impress? Something good, he hoped. After his short encounter with Zafir he'd decided that he didn't like it when people snapped back at him. If he were in a position of power, no one could ever talk down to him. No one could ever send him away, he added bitterly.
----------
Hedria grinned and grasped the harper's hand firmly. "Nice to meet you, Sevina. Call me Hedria." As Sevina looked away, Hedria surveyed her. Tall, beautiful, formerly a Master... this woman had everything going for her. Hedria would not be surprised at all if she impressed. She, on the other hand, was plain and had no real significant past experience, just a simple but enjoyable life as a trader - not really anything eye catching. What did dragons look for in people? Oh, how she wished she knew.
More people arrived and Hedria diverted her gaze to the woman she had briefly spoken to at the queen egg. Her hair was an awful mess, all frizzy and flying everywhere; Hedria was thankful her hair was limp and lifeless. "and good luck to you," she said, speaking loud enough to be heard over the humming.
She took another deep breath and brushed aside a stray lock of hair from her face. It was so hot and stuffy in on the sands, making it it a little more difficult to regain her composure. One of the women near her noticed and was kind enough to ask about it. Hedria sent her a smile and waved her hand dismissively.
"No, I'll be just fine, just need to catch my breath" she assured the candidate, and then added with a laugh, "I don't think I've ever ran so fast." She shook the hand offered to her. "I'm Hedria. And likewise." As Sevina spoke again, Hedria nodded in agreement.
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:46 pm
saturnnightshade She entered the Hatching Grounds and was surprised to see how quickly it had filled in just a short amount of time. She ran down to the other girls and stopped next to one who was breathing hard. She glanced sideways at the girl and a look of concern crossed her face. "Are you alright? Do you need any help?" She asked feeling kind of bad that she couldn't really do anything at the present moment. She held her hand out behin the girls back incase she fell or something. She didn't want a potential friend to miss this hatching. She smiled as a way of encouragement towards the gasping woman next to her. "My name is Zaira," She said extending her hand "And I hope you have very good luck walking out of here with a dragon of your own." She smiled hoping the same for herself. Hearing the girl next to her adress her, she turned to face her. "Yeah, I'll be okay now. Just didn't want to miss this." She gestured in the direction of the eggs. "I'm Ryala," she added, accepting Zaira's offered hand. "I hope we both get lucky today. Or, at least you. I haven't had a chance to get close to the eggs yet, so I don't know about me," she said, tring to act like it didn't bother her.
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:53 pm
'Hendria' Sevina stored the girls name mentaly. If she was to fly with these people, on any color of dragon, she wanted to know them, and hopeful become friends and colleagues with them. Sevina felt the beads of dew and moisture rolling down her forehead neck and down her back.
It was hot and getting more crowded. Sevina suddenly got a mental image of a glass of water. Looking around Sevina saw Buck perched on a jutting rock. Smiling she shook her head.. Thats when Sevina noted the male candidates slowly filing in. Some at dead sprints some at a more sedate jog.
Wiping her sweaty hands on her white outfit, slamming heart and shortness of breath shone in Sevina. Her hair, damp and starting to get slight waves, she wished she had tied it completely up. Its weight was starting to give her a headache.
Sevina waved her gown a bit trying to get a draft. She looked into the stands, trying to get a look at anyone she might have recognised from Benden Weyr. But they where gone.. Right?
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:13 pm
((I have no idea who your character was addressing, Saturnnightshade. X3 ))
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:28 pm
 Lunara looked over to one girl as she was adressed and nodded, smiling. "Good luck to you too." She whispered as she tried to smooth her hair down. What horrible curls! If only it wasn't so hot and humid down here. She had to keep moving from one foot to another from the heat coming from the sands. The brunette was thankful she at least had sandals to wear. Otherwise the soles of her feet might just melt off. She shuddered mentally just at the thought. Looking back at the girls, she surveyed them. They were all very pretty, and she sighed. She was the shortest of the bunch. Short, with a slight tan, a brush of freckles over her nose... and her hair was certainly the least tameable. The others had such nice hair, and yet here she was, nearly a ball of fuzz. Ugh. She wish she had a comb. Smoothing the hair and tying a small length of leather around the hair to keep it out of her face, she sighed with annoyance. A bath would certainly do her good right now. Her grey-green eyes returned to the great golden egg. It was rocking and trembling nearly out of control. She had to wonder that it didn't fall over. Poor old Mirth was certainly taking good care of it to not let it topple and crack prematurely. Oh what a glorious creature. She had to admit, coming back to the weyr had been a good idea. The Harperhall had been so nice and luxurious... but there hadn't been any real adventure. This was certainly a nice change of pace. And what of the boys? She turned back to look at them. They were a nice lot, and none of them lacked in physical features... but if she were to take the new queen, it was likely that one of them, if taking a bronze, might become her mate. Ugh. She frowned a moment at the mere thought. Don't think about that right now. Focus on the eggs. She nodded at the new train of thought and returned to the queen egg, watching, waiting. Here her fate was about to be decided... Green or Gold... which shall it be?
On wings of leather, shining like the sea...
Silver Thread
Star of Red
Which dragon will be bestowed to me?
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:01 am
There was a resounding crack from somewhere among the many-colored eggs, and silence fell upon the crowds gathered to watch the hatching. The only noise came from the dragons and their tiny brethren. The deep bass crescendo of the dragons, the musical alto of the swarming flitters, and from somewhere in the far distance, the unsteady warbling of a wher.
But, though the first sound had come from the common eggs, all eyes were watching the Queens. The break had been silent, a spider webbing of tiny cracks all along the shell, as though it had been shaken apart by the frantic hatchling within, rather than broken by a bony maw or sharp talons.
Mirth gave a pained growl, and launched her huge, elegant form clumsily off the sands. Her wings beat, one, twice, until she was high above the edges of the cliffs that surrounded the Weyr. And then, with no warning, she was gone.
There would be time to mourn the last Queen of the world before the Cataclysm in the upcoming months, though. For now, there was the little one, the new generation.
The creature wailed piteously, her body unaccustomed to the freedom she now had, as she stumbled in the ring of female candidates. One unfortunate girl ran to help the queen find her feet after the first tip, only to be whipped harshly from an unwatched tail. Two more fell to the ground after being butted by the little queen, who studied their faces, and moved on to the next.
For a long minute, the only dragon on the sands was a queen. The same, noisy egg from before Mirth's flight, though, finally shattered, and with the blue body that rolled out, came the frenzy and zealous chaos more common to hatchings.
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Harpermaster Sabola Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:14 am
The short girl gasped as everything became quiet. Her eyes widened as the golden egg began to quiver and crack. Oh... this was it! The big moment... She swallowed a little and stood there, still. Glancing beside her, she made sure that the meat she had brought was at a close proximity. When they Impress... feed them first.. It was the only rule she remembered at that moment. Biting her lip, her eyes returned to the egg. Her heart almost stopped when the golden body slipped out of the egg. She was so fixated on the egg, she didn't even realize that poor old Mirth had disappeared forever between. A few girls ran to help the poor beast... but they were swatted away. The brunette felt her legs freeze up... but who else would help her? Taking the bundle of meat, she jogged to the little queen to help her get to her feet. Whatever gods there are, protect me... She prayed as she knelt by the dragon's side. Even with the coating of film from the egg... she was still so beautiful. Glistening with a metallic sheen, golden from head to claw... Her perfect little wedge-shaped head.... she was absolutely gorgeous. Lunara swallowed. Whoever she Impresssed would be a lucky girl.
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:26 am
Any further conversation was put on hold as a loud cracking sound suddenly rang through the chamber. Heart pounding, Ryala turned her attention once more on the sea of eggs, her eyes easily drawn to the glistening queen's egg. Eyes widening as the shell around the new gold silently broke, she found them going even wider as the golden mother made a pained sound and took flight..... and then disappeared.
Anguish filled her as she realized that the last of Pern's great queens had gone. Now, though, the new one was waiting, looking around her for the right girl. Privately, Ryala didn't envy whoever that was to be, as the pair would almost certainly instantly be not just dragon and rider, but Senior Queen and Weyrwoman.
Seeing one girl tripped up by the young gold's tail and a couple others knocked over from being bumped by the hatching's snout, she found herself very glad indeed that she'd decided to stand amongst the other Candidates rather than close to the egg of the queen.
More sounds intruded, bringing her gaze back to the other eggs. The first one to have cracked had finally broken entirely, sending a little blue onto the Sands, and from the sounds of it, other eggs were following that example. Still, despite the fact that she was hopeful of leaving the Sands with one of them herself, she couldn't help but cast curious glances toward the queen hatching, wondering who she would find worthy. Who knows? she thought. She might even decide on Zaira..... she seems nice enough.
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:09 am
Relin lay on his cot, it was quiet which was nice. He had decided to skip out on the touching long before the eggs had been laid. "No point going to see hatchlings that won't care who's touching their egg...it's just a distant noise to them probably." He murmured to his green, who was laying on his chest. The firelizard gave a disapproving snort to his words and ruffled her wings a little before settling back down.
Grey eyes closed as the boy started to drift off, thinking perhaps that maybe it would've actually been fun to go see the eggs like he used to. "You never know...it might've helped." He said as he yawned and let himself start to drift off into a peaceful sleep. Even before he could be considered fully asleep humming broke through the sleepy thoughts. One eye cracked open to see that End had risen from her place on his chest and was sitting back on her haunches, her head weaving back and forth as she hummed. The candidate smiled a little to himself, it was almost impossible to believe, but the day of the touching was also the day of the hatching. He laughed softly and started to rise up from his place on the cot. "Come on End." He said, shaking his head in disbelief as he moved to his trunk to get his robe.
End flew around in circles, humming. The green watched her bonded as he took his time to put on his robe and get ready. She landed on his shoulder long enough to bite his ear to try and get him to move faster before taking to the air again as the boy cursed her for having to bite him for no reason at all. Finally he seemed ready and the green continued to fly in circles, swooping out of the room as he opened the door and leading the boy to the hatching cavern. She resettled herself on his shoulder still humming as they arrived at the hatching.
Relin paused thoughtfully as he entered the cavern and an immense wave of heat was the only greeting the boy received as he stepped onto the sands. He watched the queen go between and felt pity for her, but there was still hope as the new little queen made her way into the world and stumbled into the girl candidates. He laughed a little to himself and made his way over to the boys focusing his attention on the blue that had hatched. Perhaps there was hope for the candidate.
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:36 am
As the humming came to a crescendo, resounding about the immense cavern, Hedria turned all her attention to the violently rocking gold egg, only taking her eyes off it for a moment to watch old Mirth as she rose into the air and disappeared forever, finally to rest. The young woman nodded in respect of the old queen, the returned her gaze to the egg. Cracks spread all across its surface and, clumsily, the queen spilled out onto the sands.
Hedria's breath caught in her throat. The dragonet was beautiful, gleaming golden and, despite her awkwardness upon hatching, she acted so imperial and regal - true to her color. Stumbling forward and crying out, the little queen butted and pushed away the girls who hurried forward and attempted to help her.
Although previously rooted to her spot, Hedria swallowed and stepped forward with the others girls, sternly ignoring the fear that threatened to bubble up inside of her. The future of Pern rested on the young gold's shoulders, and on whoever impressed her. Hedria had to stay strong or there was no point in even presenting herself to the queen.
No thoughts now for a dainty green, for the hopeful candidates around her, or even for the sands burning beneath her bare feet. Though she did move forward, the did not rush to the gold's side like so many others. The queen was strong enough to fend for herself, and so far those who had tried to assist were pushed away...
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:53 am
Sevina felt her heart go with the old Queen. She was a breathtaking sight, even in her depleted body. Then her eyes where drawn to the glistining little queen. Small as she was, her body shimmered and flexed as she pushed past girls. Sevina's breath caught. She walked forward with the other girls, making sure she kept alongside the other girls, if they stayed in a line, no one would get crushed.
Sevina's head turned when the blue whined pituously for his rider, Sevina was worried the little dragons would be hurt. Her eyes fell on the silver and black veined egg. It was moving, but hesitantly. She turned back to the queen. Willing the clumsy girl to make a choice. She watched the light hit the drops of fluid still on her wings.
Oh how she could picture them alight on those wings, souring in the sky, wind in there faces, sun on there backs.
Sevina stopped daydreaming and focused. She dimly heard the roar of the crowd as another dragon freed itself from its egg, and the hums of dragons accented by the hums of the Fire Lizards. Her eyes where on the swirling eyes of the queen.
======================================
Valad made it to the hatching grounds off the back of a silky brown. He had been given leave to go to southern and visit his sister who just gave birth to a lovely pare of twins. The brown, Menateth, he remembered the name, had started to hum just after nightfall, when the twins where an hour old.
Valad was still startled about Timing, and slightly off balance, but the arrived as the first crack was heard. He stumbled into the line of candidates. His brown and yellow hair was windblown and he smelled slightly of fish and fruit. Smiling at his bunk mates from the candidate hall he took his position just as a blue dropped to the sand.
His eyes where drawn to the queens circle, the girls were breaking the half circle, three had already been passed up. Shaking his head he looked at the sands. There was a slightly purple egg he was interested in. It was rocking back and forth, but slower than the others. His mind went to the dragon Ruth. His heart stopped. 'Oh, what if.... What if they dont hatch?' he chocked on his own thoughts.
Shea, his pern ferret was slinking out of his pocket and twards the sands. Shea for all his inabilty to talk, was an intellagent little beast. He knew to get off the sands and hide. He would appear in Valads reed bed later, wanting kisses and pets. For all his breeds blood thirsty nature, Shea was more canine than ferret. Wanting carresses and care.
Valad wondered witch dragon would chose him. If any,
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