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Ofelia had been watching the Dancing Queen instead of whatever else she should have been watching, mostly because everyone else seemed to be watching, though the moment she heard the sounds of shells breaking eyes went straight back to the eggs - just in time to see a green come out from one of the shells. A green didn't involve a shovel, right? And the green looked healthy enough, right? It was all Impressive if that little one was from the clutch of that dead Crimson, and Ofelia sorta wished it well. There wasn't much else she could do, right?

That being said, the sound of shovel contacting with something hard. . .maybe her stomach drop and hurt. Her eyes drew wide as she watched the shell being cracked, the Weyrwoman having amazing aim and skill. All things considered she'd probably done this many times before so she knew what she was doing, but Ofelia hadn't really been prepared.

People had told her that the eggs of duds were cracked, to see if anything were truly inside. Images of rotting egg had invaded the tanner's mind, she wasn't going to lie, though she gave a thick sigh of relief when a crimson head poked out.

". . . THAT'S PRETTY DARN COOL."

There was a yell, and a point. Ofelia would have been standing too if her brother hadn't grabbed her about the waist and sat her down, the young woman's immense surprise at what came out very, very evident.

What. Was. This. Nonsense? No, not the nonsense over there that Moira was perpetuating (S'raid was used to that sort of nonsense by now, and largely overlooking it). No. No, this nonsense was a female, clutching dragon potentially Impressing to a male Candidate! "... That is completely unnatural," he said with faint disapproval, though it was a slightly confused disapproval. This kind of think simply did not happen! At least the Crimsonrider who had died had been female. That Crimson down there surely did not want a boy. She was just fooling herself. She ... seemed to want a boy.

I told you they were unnatural, Galvanth said unhappily, though he seemed somewhat mollified by the fact that that horrid shovel had not actually damaged the egg. He gave his Wingmate a look of dissatisfaction, not quite understand why Xalth felt the need to nudge at him like that. He was not acting out of turn! He never acted out of turn anyway. He rumbled at Xalth, staring the Blue down.

Then, his attention returned to the Sands, and to the little Queen. She is very spirited, S'raid. This is a good quality in a Queen. As though S'raid didn't know. Feeling particularly grumpy, he stared down into the new weyrling's eyes... or tried to. It was awfully hard to manage when she was doing a booty dance and leading her Gold into doing much the same. Ah, Moira. The glare lasted only so long, however, because the Weyrwoman had reprimanded her for all to see. Oh yes, that was indeed a smirk that the Bronzerider wore proudly. Chew on that, his gaze informed her.

As the green wandered around the girls the crimson continued to toddle towards the boys but it was clear from her slowing steps that her stamina was fast running out. Still, the tilt to her head and the huff of determination marked her for a fighter. This one would not give up.

So when she headed straight to one boy in particular and collapsed at Saekagi's feet, mewling, she looked deep into his eyes and offered a draconic grin.

Saykiro was excited that the little crimson found hers fast. He looked at the new rider and knew that these dragons knew who would be best for them.

" . . did that girl dragon jus' impress ta a guy? Aren't Crimsons supposed ta only look ta girls or somethin'? From what I 'ear from the others in the tannery an' all male riders are kinda rare an' what have ya. I guess this is a good thing?"

Once again Ofelia was probably talking to herself since her brother was making notes or talking to the person next to him, his social skills far better than her own. A deep frown pursed over her lips and her brow flattened itself with a miniature sulk, the fact that her questions were going unanswered the main cause.

It wasn't like Ofelia to normally sulk like this, but she was hot and tired and things needed to move faster. There was a green out on the sands now, stuff needed done!

"I'd rather be swimmin' right now then sittin' 'ere waitin' more. . an' I dunno how ta swim even."

. . . PINCH.

"Hello, Farellen~" Gabriel greeted chipperly as she and Lifth reached the feeding tables. As she reached for the first piece of meat, she said, "Congrats to you both!" The golden queen and the brown dragonets left on the Sands had been all but forgotten by her. "This is Lifth by the way. Lifth, this is Farellen and... um, sorry, I'm afraid I don't know her name yet."

Hello, he greeted his clutchmate unenthusiastically before turning his gaze right back onto His and the meat. Mine, do hurry. I wish to eat quickly so that we may wash.

"Slow yourself down a little. We don't want you to choke or get indigestion," she remarked as he gobbled down the first hunk of meat. "Actually, do dragons get indigestion from eating too quickly?"

I suppose we shall find out.

The pair's attention was soon drawn back to the Sands by a green dragon keening and running about in a panic. Oh no, Gabriel thought to herself at the sight, face blanching. Oh no, oh no, don't do it! But there was nothing that could be done. The female had not found Hers and instead went Between.

Lifth let out a mourning keen along with the rest of the dragons around. What a terrible shame that she could not find Hers. I am glad not to be in her place. It was a terrible thought to not be able to find your partner, and the blue knew full well he'd have ended up the same without His.

Yes, I am glad you are not in her place as well, Gabriel agreed silently, feeding him another piece of meat while patting his head comfortingly.

Several more dragons hatched and Impressed, and the teen let out a whoop of glee when Salin joined the ranks with a brown. "See? Told ya it was our Turn," she remarked to Farellen with a grin, elbowing him playfully in the rib.

Alright, I am full. We can wash now.

Liar. Your eyes are still red.

... Fine.

~~~~~

Fortunately there were no other dragons that had gone Between thus far in the rest of the Hatching, and no dud eggs either. She did have to laugh though when Mr. Not-Spy impressed a Crimson. "Awesome! He should have a lot of fun with her," she remarked to no one in particular. The teen blinked though when her dragon suddenly was up on his hind legs once more, forepaws on her chest and staring her straight in the eyes.

...

He didn't have to say it again. She knew what he wanted. "Alright, alright. Sheesh. And they call me impatient," she said with a small smirk, patting her dragon and then leading him off so that they can get cleaned up. Don't you even want to see your siblings hatch?

We will be seeing them the rest of our lives. It can wait.

F'ren was smiling broadly when Gabriel stepped up to the feeding bowls, he was still passing chunks of meat to Toulonth, who seemed to just inhale them Chew Toulonth love. He was about to go and give Gabriel a hug of congratulations when the little Green panicked and ran towards her mother, his whole body froze as he watched the small creature cry and go Between "NO" he cried, and almost fell, that is if Toulonth hadn't leaned against him at that moment.

Toulonth sensed F'ren's distress immediately and leaned up against him as her clutchmate went between her eye whirling her own distress at concern for F'ren Mine, it couldn't be helped hers was not here, and a dragon can't survive without Theirs, look at the new one finding Theirs she said to him, nuding him towards where the next Dragonet was Impressing everything will be alright, we shall fly strong soon she said with complete conviction