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It was strange for Kella to be nice. It was even stranger for the girl to display compassion, or empathy. For the most part, the young girl was completely ensconced in the world of the hatching. Her attention was devoted solely to the eggs and the newly-hatched dragons. But, an odd feeling in her gut made her turn her head. She glanced around, and saw that Lynna looked... well, like she was about to cry.

"Why're you crying? Are you hurt?" Kella asked, taking a few steps to the side so she was standing closer to the girl. Lynna was really the only person that she felt anything even remotely close to friendship with. To see her upset was, well, upsetting.

Lynna smiled at her friend, blinking away her tears. "Oh," she whispered, her voice catching a little, "Just, you know, my mom didn't even want me here, because she figured I wouldn't impress." She swallowed. "Still, there's...5 more eggs, right? You and I, we'll be flying high by the end of the next turn." In Lynna's mind Kella would impress for certain. Really, that hope made her smile all the more. Without really thinking about how Kella might react, she hugged the younger girl beside her, more to comfort herself, but also to show her camaraderie.

Jahangir heart was racing as he watched one dragonette after another find there bonded and the crowd of candidates became smaller. He clutched his hand tight almost hard enough to break skin from were his nails were digging in and tried his hardest to be happy for those that had already impressed. It wasn't over yet, I still have a chance, became Jahangir's mantra as he watched the last 5 eggs.

Keira heard soft whispers, and knew it came from the group of girls who hoped to be Impressed, jsut as she did. They both were three or fours her junior, but they showed that a life in the Weyr was nothing new, and that any work could be done. Just like she did. Slowly, she walked toward the girls, her eyes still glancing at the eggs that laid like patches of gems in the sunlight. Everyone watched them, a look of fear, and reverence in each pair of eyes.

"You know, it's always good to keep up your hopes, and let your heart beat firm. Remember all the legends, all the stories about the Riders who took on the Thread when they rained upon our homes? Even though there was fear, they were brave." She clutched her hands into fist, smiling rather foolishly at the two. "Always think brave, no matter what."

Better late than never? One of the few eggs remaining rocked back and forth, back and forth. The movement was almost hypnotic, as the colors of the Crowned Crane egg blended together, becoming one swirl as the egg itself moved.

Finally it cracked, and there was something sensuous about that as well. People looking at the egg... Well, they felt almost dirty, didn't they?

But the movement of the green that emerged from the Crowned Crane Egg was suddenly upstaged, as the Queen egg finally began to crack and flake off bits, revealing an obviously golden hide.

Angered at being upstaged, the green that emerged charged at the girls, almost running into several as she skidded to a halt. She had found hers, and she would get hers to look at her over any golden lump!

Still snorting her disdain, the green plowed forward into Kallista, knocking her a bit harder than was strictly necessary.

Kallista, you are mine. Your Astarteth is far more beautiful than any Queen could ever be!

Faranie had been content to watch the green come out of her egg. She for one hadn't felt dirty at all watching it sway. It was a nice dance, it certainly seemed to know what it was up to. Of course, she'd liked it until it'd nearly run her down. Nevermind that though, the gold! The gold...She could see it poking through the shell, and the crowd swelled then hushed...A queen was about to be born.

The gold's fate was of slightly less matter to Gar, but he couldn't help but stare. The birth of a queen was a rare thing, even in times when thread loomed near. Not every gold clutch gave rise to one, even when paired with bronzes. He never failed to be amazed at the size and regal bearing of the gold dragonets. This one, he expected, would be no different.

At long last Tyven had deemed himself unable to stay awake any longer, and with out a word he rose at a momentary pause. That is, until the gold hatched. Might as well stay for that. As a future possible weyrwoman, he should at least see the lucky lass. Might be he'd find himself taking assignments from her one day.

And Merase? It was a dream come true. What child, especially a girl child at that, didn't dream of seeing the birth of a real queen. She leaned so far forward in her seat, if it hadn't been for her father's strong arms around her she likely would have toppled down into the next row of onlookers.

Even though most eyes were now firmly riveted on the little Queen that was emerging so slowly from her egg, there were a few other eggs that needed to hatch. One such was the Tribal Egg, which emitted a proud blue who Impressed to a hold-born lad, and the Bongo Egg, from which a petite green emerged, Impressing to a girl who had come from the Weavercraft Hall.

But the question was, what was in the African Wild Dog egg? And what about the Queen?