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Sellae jerked instinctively, stepping towards the mauled boy; "No!" her voice was a scream of protest, directed straight at the angry bronzeling.

She couldn't see clearly from here how much damage had been done to the other Candidate, but her entire body vibrated with the urge to try and help him, somehow! But with the dragonet right there, she didn't dare, fear rooting her to her place three steps away from where she had been.

Bashir had watched the Impressions up until this point with a feeling of contentedness. Although he would have loved to Impress any of the dragons that had hatched so far, he was content to wait until the right one was born. He could imagine A'ram didn't share his sentiments, but when he was on the sands he didn't have to think about his grandfather. His grandfather couldn't make the dragons choose him any more than Bashir could. He stood even less of a chance of doing so, in fact.

However, when the more violent dragonets hatched Bashir became instantly wary. He'd heard speculation that there would be violence at this hatching, but he'd hoped that the rumors would be discredited. He didn't want anyone to be seriously hurt. Some injuries were always common, but that one pair seemed completely out of control. Especially that bronze! Bashir wondered if Dorath would step in and chastise her son. When she didn't do so immediately, Bashir moved toward Panata - cautiously - to make sure the young man was all right.

To Jaylin he muttered, "You're not too bright, are you?"

...eh?

Panata's brain didn't have time to react, a sudden blur of Bronze lunging straight at him, before he could feel something impact with his side. It sounded to him like sounds that often drifted from the bellows, a sharp hiss echoing through his ears, and the boy looked over to see the angry Bronze and a spray of red.

. . . .I. . .

When everything finally registered inside his mind all he could think to do was gasp, his small frame shaking against the sudden shock that accompanied the wound. One of his hands slowly trembled as it moved towards the Bronze, his fingers outstretched as if he were pleading, while the other made its way towards the rakes that decorated his side. He felt hot and cold, scared yet oddly calm. This had been his choice, the darker Candidate from before had tried to protect him, but for some reason he couldn't find a fault with the Dragon.

It had been his fault, so he should take the punishment, right?

It. . . you . . .okay.

"It's....okay....I'm...okay."

He tried to wave off the others, not wanting anyone else to come closer. Panata did his best to smile as well, though all he could manage was an unsteady one at best. His legs were shaking, yet still he managed to stay on his feet. He would not fall, he would not fall.

Regadth was munching on the meat when a blue sibling flopped down beside her. The meat juices dripped from the content chin and she patted Makareth's tail lightly with her own. "They did?" answered Regadth as she stretched her neck up to look over the blue back to the bunch of candidates. She hadn't been thinking much about anyone else since R'ysan led her here. In fact, she had been more determined to be fed than anything considering soon others would be joining them.

R'ysan noticed Uuni's predicament and said while his was feeding Regedth and said, "If ya don't want to touch it, just..." He didn't have time to finish as the blue took to the table on his own.

Regedth giggled and nudged R'ysan as she took another morsel from his hand. "My sibling is as hungry as me. But luckily we were here FIRST!" She was rather proud of that and was glad to be the first to find her rider because it meant she'd have plenty of the food.

A small chuckle fell from R'ysan's lips as he watched Uuni pick up the meat. "It isn't all that bad. Guess you've never had to cook for yourself before?" He said to her before looking back out to the eggs.

One blue had taken to the stands and while he didn't know what the deal was it seemed pretty unsual for a dragon to go that far to find someone. But from what he was told it was better that than one disappearing for lack of someone suitable.

He heard the loud angry sounds out there and caught a glimpse of the cause. Finally, another piece of the second puzzle! - An angry bronze. Wow! His body tensed up as the dragonet started to cause problems. Someone was going to get hurt if they didn't watch themselves.

Regedth scooted closer and nuzzled her face against him pushing body against the table. "No...you're with me now, you're safe." R'ysan's eyes shifted down to Regedth and he relaxed. Her finger fore hands grasped his robe assuring that he'd stay right where he was.

Jaylin glanced at Bashir, frowning. "What the Shards else am I supposed to do, stand around and wait? At least I'm doing something while doing it!" He'd like to think he was distracting the enraged Bronze to allow the other Candidates to check in on the one that was slashed.

Or at least make the dragon stop and think. Knowing Jaylin's luck, he probably made the situation even worse. At least he was ready to run.

"He'll either find his bondmate or he won't. If we upset him, the chances that he won't increase a great deal," Bashir replied in a voice that was surprisingly soft and calm, considering the situation. "Just a thought."

That sort of attitude wasn't going to win him any friends, but from Bashir's point of view, Jaylin was simply agitating the bronze dragonet, and it hardly needed that. It was obviously agitated enough without the assistance. Not to mention.

Leicha watched in horror as the smaller boy was attacked by the Bronze, a feeling of guilt sweeping over him even though before he thought he wouldn't care if something happened. He'd warned him, he even stepped in front of him, but the smiling youth had stepped aside and gone to aid someone he considered a friend.

A lot good that did, with him bleeding all from his side. Leicha could only ball his fists and stay put, knowing that any further commotion could lead to even more injuries, though his eyes did grow wide once more as Panata not only reached out towards the dragon at first, but he gave an shaky smile while trying to keep the others safe.

How...how?

((CRAAAAAAAAAAAP! HURRIES TO POST!))

Dashias had just been getting ready to head down to the tithing rooms where he had been spending much of his time lately. He had become good friends with the records keeper and as such now had a little flit egg that was warming in a jar full of sand. But that was a thought for another time. Without thought, he stripped out of his clothes and instead of dawning Harper blue, he tossed on the white of the Candidate shift. It was chilly but thankfully he was not so tall that he would be flashing anyone his front or backside. No footwear, he watched as others more experienced and just as new to this as him, finished preparing themselves.

They had to all look the same. They could do nothing to confuse or frighten the dragonets.

Hustled and bustled to the Hatching grounds, the thrum of the dragons' hatching song was so loud that Dashias felt it reverberating deep down in his bones. He spotted Bashir in the crowd, the only real person he knew since coming to High Reaches, and tried to shuffle slowly but surely towards him. And suddenly, they were there!

He looked up and spotted his father, Shandarin and his sister Nydella in the stands. His holder was there as well. Everyone knew it had been an honor for Dashias to be selected for Search. He only hoped that he would not let them down. Moving and settling into a spot where he could watch all the eggs hatch, Dashias hunkered down.
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He had no idea how much time had passed. So much had happened. So far three dragons had Impressed and the two bronzes, both very different in personality, were on still on the Sands. He wondered what was going through the mind of the angry bronze. Surely, this one would be talked about for a few turns to come. He had winced and felt much pity towards the boy -Panata?- who had been hurt badly. Still, he didn't think death would visit them this day.

He was sure his father, just like he was, was recording the details of the event for future tellings. Dashias was just glad to even be considered for Impression. They had been warned by the Candidate Master that young dragonets were full of emotion and hunger; Dashias wondered what both bronzes were thinking. One seemed to be shy and waiting for his mate to approach and the other...the other seemed ready to rip Pern apart. He only hoped that the bronze so lively and full of personality would not go between.

Moving slowly forward as others moved back and away, Dashias curiousity got the better of him. It was the Seaside and the sunrise eggs along with the sunset eggs that had drawn and tugged at him the most. He remembered his talk with Bashir and about how he told him he didn't want to see cliche in wanting to be a bronze. Any dragon would be dragon enough for him...

But then why was he taking another step forward? Urged to try to put a stop to the carnage? He had to be crazy. One of two things would happen, Dashias supposed. He would either Impress or be mauled. Personally, he hoped for the former.