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Ashlyn

Ashlyn witnessed everything that happened on the sands, her eyes full of a mixture of sadness and terror as she had watched everything from others getting involved to two of the former candidates leaving the sands. She looked down at Gyafrith, seeing and feeling the same from him. They were in agreement that they hated this fighting, they wanted it to stop.

This is terrible, Ashlyn mine, it should not have happened. You need to say something, this is your time to shine,Gyafrith suggested. Ashlyn looked down at her dragon, feeling his love and loyalty to her.

'I can't, I'm scared,'Ashlyn thought to her dragon.

I will be right here and I am sure your parents and family are too. You can do this, mine, I have faith in you,Gyafrith spoke soothingly. He unfolded one of his wings and patted her leg with it, sending more strength into her.

Ashlyn took a shaky breath as she started to walk forward, trembling as she did so. When she got to where Calith was, she bowed to the golden queen and cleared her throat. If she could ease any pain, then that is what she would do.

"What happened here today never should have happened, but it is also something that should serve as a lesson. We should learn to respect each other and the dragons, if we are to work to eliminate the threat to our lands. If we cannot work as a team, then we do not stand a chance and will just end up destroying ourselves. I do not want what happened here to be repeated, we need to show the true meaning of being a rider and earn the respect that others have for that title. Now we have dragons who have not impressed yet and one who is hurt. We need to take care of him as a team, who is with me?"Ashlyn's voice spoke, starting quiet, then getting stronger with each nudge from her dragon.

One great eye swivelled to stare at those that had approached the mother and her child. It was natural that the dragon was apprehensive of their approach, many of them had been angry with the bronze just moments before, why should they have changed their minds? Yet the dragon did not have it in her to growl or snarl as they walked closer, not wanting to move as she listened to the laboured breathing of the dragon that leaned against her muzzle. She looked at Mei and Hennory for a long moment before she blinked slowly and rumbled gently. It was not their fault, not truly. These things happened sometimes and there was nothing that Calith could have expected them to do.

As more approached her gaze shifted once again. It was a pair of girls this time, one shortly followed by another. Ashlyn was the first to receive the slowly whirling gaze of the gold, deep grays swirled beneath the faceted surface like rain clouds, pale yellows sliding through the mix as she regarded the Weyrling. The dragon was silent as the girl spoke, understanding clearly what she was doing. You have chosen well, my son, she is very brave, Calith spoke softly to Gyafrith. It took strength for her to be the first to stand and speak to her peers.

There was a slight twinge of irritation at the use of 'thing' to refer to one of her children, but this was quickly soothed by her own rider. The human, though physically separated, was firmly rooted in her dragon's mind, attempting to calm and reassure her, despite the tears that slid down her own face. There was no barrier of silence to protect this woman, her dragon's heart-torn weeping was all too easy to hear for her. Calith looked from Kieza, to the bronze beside her. She worried that he would not accept their help, but at the same time knew he could not last without it. Turning her sorrowful, jeweled, eyes back to the Weyrlings she moved her head in a parody of a nod, trying her best not to jostle Serval as he opened his eyes and tried to move. Yours are allowed to aid your brother, my daughter, she spoke with the same gentleness to Nyxbath. The young bronze shifted himself slowly and tried to drag himself upright, abandoning his cause with a whimper and slumping back against his mother.

Hennory

The soft rumble was a good enough indicator that the queen was no enraged at them, and he straightened back up and took a step back. One woman was offering to help the injured bronze. Was she a healer? Those skills would certainly be handy. Hennory himself had no training in healing and ultimately felt helpless. "Do I need to help with anything?" He offered quietly, hovering nearby.

Mei

She quite frankly, was just glad she wasn't dead. The serval, however… she wasn't sure if he'd make it. Her stomach lurched at the thought. She wanted to think he'd make it. Honestly, she did…. but nothing in her made her feel very confident that he would. Her dark brows knit over her similarly dark eyes. Maybe even the only way he ways staying alive was the tenuous physical connection with the queen mother. Queens after all, supposedly had such powers to ease the pains of the other dragons and settle their minds.

Standing close to Hennory, she wrapped her arms around herself and frowned deeply.

It seemed that Serval was still too proud to accept help from anyone, jerking his head out from under Ashlyn's hand. He did not need her comfort, he was not some weakling to be pitied and cooed at. He snorted his derision at Gyafrith, it did not matter if she knew what she was doing, he did not need her help. He needed his and that was all. Not some silly girl who wanted to pet him. Another snort escaped him when Ashlyn spoke of his larger sister. Oh, of course she was a princess. He was just a bronze, but that dimglowed wher was a princess. Fueled by irritation Serval hauled himself to his feet, looking down at Ashlyn. He did not need her help, he was just fine on his own. Until he found his he would stay on his own. Turning away the bronze hatching managed a commendable five steps, before the large set of claws marks on his flank caused his right leg to collapse beneath him.

While the bronze had been attempting to leave a small, green, figure had slipped out of the remaining candidates who stood by and approached those that had stepped forward. Oh, mine, this is all my fault. A quiet and sorrowful voice pushed against Mei's mind. If I had let him catch me then he would not have gotten hurt. He only wanted to play, but I was frightened, mine. I wanted to find you. Soon it wasn't just a voice pushed at Mei, a gangly green hatchling was soon pushing against her also, seeking the comfort that only her chosen could provide. Wildebeest looking up at the girl, her rainbow gaze endlessly apologetic. Your Tesrinth is so very sorry. She did not mean for this to happen, it was all so terrible. Her Mei would forgive her, wouldn't she? Of course she would. Her Mei was so loving and wonderful, only she would be able to forgive Tesrinth for making this happen and she was the only one Tesrinth wanted.

Hennory

Pride was a terrible thing at times. Hennory knew of it, of course… along with a feeling of entitlement he'd come to question as he grew older. He knew how it could gnaw at one's insides, saw how it could change a person. The bronze did not want any of Ashlyn's. He'd not been summoned to do so, but he stepped forward, his movements deliberate, but not slow. It was quite possibly a dumb idea. Yes, quite possibly, but the girls were doing nothing but aggravating the little bronze. Carefully, Hennory knelt in front of him so as to be eye level.

"Do you know owe it to yourself to be treated? Even the most strong and powerful of bronzes are tended to after a thread fall when they are wounded." He dropped his tone just a little lower. "I'd even say that they -owe- it to you, hmm?" He arched his brow, tone filled with with his droll humor despite himself. It was just the way he talked, the posh tone of his voice, a culture ingrained in him since he was a child. That was the issue with him, really. He sounded and acted wealthier and more important than his title.

Would the bronze listen? Hennory really wasn't sure. What the dragon needed above all, was to Impress. Hennory was beyond hoping; he assumed that if the bronze had wanted to choose him, he might have already done so. He glanced over his shoulder, looking to the remaining boys with a look that might have meant to be imploring, but translated better as scrutiny. Expectation. There needed to be some heart opening going on, and Hennory hoped it would be soon.. for the dragon's sake. In a wild moment, he'd wished that Zofer was still unimpressed and available. It was the match he would have hoped for the boy; Zofer always seemed to know what to do… but the man was happy with his green, still so engrossed that Hennory wondered if he was even aware of the chaos around him.


Mei

She was loathe to let Hennory leave her side to move towards the bronze, fearing that it would fine a means to maul him despite its injuries. Anger toward the bronze wasn't accurate. She was wary… untrusting. She had been quite sure of those emotions and was suddenly very surprised by the wave of pity she felt for the bronze. Guilt and shame as if it was her fault that the bronze had gotten hurt. It was a motion to soothe herself more than it was to soothe the green that she reached down for the gangly creature's wedge shaped head. It was like telling an extension of herself that it was going to be alright, and she was keenly aware of a sensation of being petted across her snout. But she didn't have a snout, did she?

Tesrinth. She was aware of the name immediately, as if she'd always known it, and slowly her gaze travelled down to meet the rainbow hued facets that she knew was awaiting her. Wide eyed, she stared down at the dragon, one moment questioning if this was Impression, and all in the same millisecond mentally laughing at herself for even having to question it. There was no question at all as she was so starkly aware of Tesrinth's mind, every insecurity and nuance. Every strength, every thought and feeling all the way down to the physical sensation of Mei's hand running along that dark green jaw to caress and scratch her neck ridge.

In a delirious moment she would swear she could feel both their heartbeats before it all suddenly came into focus. The immediate impact of Impression faded, leaving a calm baseline of presence and constant connection to the mind of the dark green dragonet that was looking up at her so apologetically. It was only then that Tesrinth's words hit her with full force.

"Tesrinth, no!" Mei's voice came out in a flabbergasted yell, radiating such intensity that Tesrinth's eyes whirled with confusion as she processed the various feelings her rider was suddenly exuding. "It is most certainly not your fault! You needed to run. Shells, I would have run! In fact, I would have commanded that you run were I to have any say in it at the time! If he'd hurt you, even accidentally, why I'd have--"

Those rapidly whirling facets quickened. Mei, please don't be mad at him!

That angry mouth pursed, not wanting to displease Tesrinth any more than she had already. "I'm not mad at him. You're fine, and I'm happy." The woman spoke aloud, not having the immediate compulsion to speak mentally. She was hold born, after all. She'd done all of her talking out loud since she was able to talk, why would she not continue to do so in the way that felt most comfortable? To between with anyone who didn't want to hear her conversation!

Her rider's volatile emotions caused the green to give a little whine, but it was quickly stifled when the girl threw herself down to the sands to wrap her arms around the green's slender neck. "You did nothing wrong. You're the best dragon on Pern and if anyone says otherwise, I'll snatch em up by their ears!"

Please don't snatch them up by their… ears..? Her plea was halted as she stumbled over the word, contemplating the foreign concept. But I believe you. I'll believe you always. You're hungry.

The two thoughts blended together, and Mei blinked at the last statement. Her stomach roiled. She was hungry. Very hungry. Starving in a way she couldn't imagine. Mei slapped her palm to her forehead and sighed. "Tesrinth! That's your stomach, not mine!"

Oh! The green blinked. Yes.. yes it is! I'm hungry! Funny she sounded genuinely surprised.

Hennory was forgotten, not on purpose, of course. But for Mei, she could only think of Tesrinth, and Tesrinth could only think of Mei. One hand would always be touching that dark green hide as she moved off to the side of the sands where the other new weyrlings had went, where buckets of meat were still being supplied.

Nilah had been peering through her hands, preparing to see the worst. Was the bronze going to die? He didn't deserve that! Shards, he--maybe he'd been playing! She took her hands from her face after seeing the green Impress. She gave a small smile, looking to Ame. Maybe everything would be alright now. The gold seemed fine. Maybe the bronze would be able to find his rider. Maybe the bronze would be alright.

"I think the bronze is the one needing tended to," she said. The gold seemed to only have small scratches, nothing like the violent marks she'd inflicted on Serval. "The green's Impressed, and I'm sure the gold will soon! I hope..." She gave a shudder. The Hyena gold's behavior had frightened her. The hatchling seemed nothing like the mischievous egg she'd visited with during the Touching. "I think we'll be alright as long as we stay away from her."

She didn't want to think what the gold could do to her. Or worse, to Ame.

Fitcher

Mei's glare didn't even cause Fitcher to blink, instead he'd just raised a skeptical eyebrow at her. What was going to do, really? If she was anything like her friend, kick around some sand and screech no doubt. It wasn't like he had all that much time to focus on it though, not with a gold hatchling tackling the bronze and the pair deciding to duke it out right there on the sands. That was more violent than he had expected. Dragons were always made out to be these serene, majestic and honourable creatures, yet here were two that seemed like they were set on tearing each other to shreds. He didn't fully understand why Hyena had decided to attack, sure the green was in trouble, but they'd only just been hatched, it's not like the two could be friends already.

He made no effort to get involved. Just like before he valued his skin and this dragon seemed even worse than the last had been. Serval had just snapped and growled, seeming all talk, but this gold was straight to the point. There were no warning shots with this girl. Fitcher wasn't sure whether to approve of that. Sure it got the point across, but she didn't seem to be letting up. Surely pinning him just once would have been enough? Still, he didn't know how politics between dragons worked. Maybe this was how golds got in charge, by establishing that they were top canine from the moment of hatching. He wondered if she would have gone for Elephant if he had still been unimpressed. After all he had been bigger so surely forcing him into submission would have been more of a statement.

When a candidate started bellowing Fitcher was left to once again wonder if any candidates had any sense of self-preservation left in them. All this trying to grab attention on themselves, he considered the thought that they had been around dragons too much. That, or they were just plain stupid. This were animals with big claws, teeth and a sizable amount of strength. If they were content to use it on their own kind, why not some easily damaged human? Especially some easily damaged human deciding to make themselves a target by insulting and shouting at them. Maybe they'd been around dragons too long and now saw them as harmless animals that wouldn't hurt them. Fitcher was content to stay at the back away from the commotion, one less dimglow was no trouble to him.

Then the bigger gold intervened and everything got a bit selfless for Fitcher's tastes. All this rallying together business wasn't his forté. The Weyr wasn't his home, the riders not his allies. His had no want to join their heroic little band in tending to the bronze hatchling. Still, he did feel bad for the creature. When the two hatchlings had broken apart it had been obvious who was the victor, Serval hadn't been able to stand, while Hyena had managed to flee into the crowd in her distress. It didn't seem like the bronze enjoyed having so many try to fix him. Though Fitcher could say he'd have liked it if a bunch of people started crowding him and trying to patch him up, he'd rather just go fix it himself.

He stepped aside as the green from earlier slipped past him to impress to that girl who'd gotten irate at him earlier. He didn't know her well enough to make a judgement, or the mechanics of impression either. If there were people who knew what dragons looked for then they definitely knew more than him on the subject. The pair's conversation was very noticeable, though it was one-sided from his point of view. He guessed the green was blaming herself for what had happened. He'd have said it was more the bronze's fault overall or the gold's if they were talking just damage. Whatever the case, it wasn't his business. One less dragon on the sands, meant one less for him to worry about finding him.