Welcome to Gaia! ::

“No, no, no,” Moira whispered, watching the first of Alumanth's children as she stumbled across the sands. Her fingers were clenched into tight fists at her sides, her focus on the little green. “Come on. Find them.” This was, after all, more than just another dragonet. This was Alumanth's dragonet. This was the chance to prove that she, like Brakiath's young, could grow to serve Pern. Perhaps, had Alumanth been there to encourage them, they might have been stronger. “Make her proud.”

Serlaith was also watching, eyes whirling with anticipation. The newest queen crooned her encouragement, standing up tall and spreading her wings as she urged the little green forward.

My sister is strong, she said with confidence.

Just as suddenly as she'd moved over to the boys the green was quickly lifting her head in the direction of the girls, her eyes whirling still that yellow as she scanned the group.

She'd found Hers, that was certain. Hers was not amongst these boys, no, but back over where she had originally started to move. Hers was there and waiting, calling out to her. The green could hear her voice, so in vain she tried to call back. Was hers hearing? Did hers. . . .hear her at all?

From the looks on the faces and from how they were all standing, it was clear Hers had not heard! Was this possible?! Did she do something wrong?! The Green wouldn't have that come to pass, she knew Hers was there, so it was with a surprising burst of gusto that she headed back into the crowd of girls, her eyes scanning each one up and down as she nearly barreled into the line of them.

Where?! Where was hers?!

There is someone here for you, Malina told the dragonet, begging her to listen, begging her to find her rider. It was hard for the little Healer to see above the crowd of Candidates, but she could see the baby dragon. She wanted, needed that dragonet to Impress. Please, your mama would be so proud. You've just got to Impress. And if she didn't, Mali would be heartbroken. It wasn't fair that the little ones who had been left behind not have someone to look out for them. It wasn't fair at all. So, with all of her might, she sent encouraging thoughts to the baby, hoping beyond hope that she might be of some assistance. Just find your rider, please. It was so traumatic, watching the hatchling mill about, unsure of herself. She didn't... didn't know how to help, but she was trying. Could that kind of encouragement work?

B'tar's self absorption did tend to be a bit unfortunate, as did his occasional timing on asking some of his more unusual questions, but that was perhaps why he worked well with Primath in his own way, even if his tendency to blithely march through the chains of authority with an distinct air that he hadn't even noticed that they were there was bound to drive people to distraction. ((Sometimes it seemed likely that he really even DIDN'T have the slightest idea why he'd just upset someone.))
He shrugged vaguely at S'raid and glanced back to the green, his amusement fading to a vague look of worry. He would of course, root for the little greens.

We just thought S'raid's expression might be worth seeing, when we saw where the Crimson was going, since S'raid has otherwise seemed... bored. She'd spotted some fidgiting and tapping.

Akaya remembered to hold the line, though she was tempted to step back in the face of the green's...well, she supposed she'd call it 'enthusiasm' as she shot back for the girls. The decisive move was encouraging--surely she had an idea of what she wanted to move so. But the trouble of locating her chosen one seemed to continue. Akaya found herself a bit puzzled at the green's quandary--how did Impressing work on the dragon's side, anyway? Were the hatchlings inundated with all their thoughts before picking one? That theory would seem to hold with this little one. Perhaps it was like tuning--you held the note in your mind, you knew what it was supposed to be, but you had to work to find it. That would also be why the Touching was important--to give the hatchlings a more definite sense of the note they searched for.

Both dragon and rider seemed to hold their breath as one, watching every move the little green made. Moira's heart felt as though it were beating in her throat, and her already too-large blue eyes were wide with anticipation. Would they lose another one between? Without Alumanth there to support them, to urge them forward, would all of her clutch be lost? The thought alone made Moira's stomach knot.

Only when Serlaith nudged her side, nodding to the Benden bronze, was Moira distracted. She looked up at Galvanth, the proud dragon that he was, and grinned like an idiot as Serlaith noted that the proud beast was crooning! Well, that must have had S'raid's panties all in a twist. His big Benden dragon crooning encouragement to the weakened child of a lost Crimson. It tugged at Moira's heart, and for a long moment she stared at Galvanth – if not S'raid – with a proud gaze.

Perhaps he wasn't so bad.

F'ren shook his head, he thought he'd heard Salin, but guessed he was imagining his friends support, he continued to feed chunks of meat to Toulonth, the meat leaving red trails down his robe front and sleeve. Mine, someone is calling your name, they sound friendly. F'ren looked up to see Salin waling towards him, a Brown in tow "Salin?.... Both of you Impressed? that's great!" he said, a smaller than usualy smile across his lips, he paused in his feeding, then stopped looking down into Toulonth's blue/green whirling eyes It's ok F'renmine, go and see your friend, His looks strong maybe i shall say hello too

Is Bonth's voice reaching you now, Malina?

"Yes, I can hear you," Malina said, tears of joy streaming down her face as she burst out of the crowd to come to touch her dragonet. She all but fell on her face in doing so, but she didn't care, because she was on her knees in the sand, and Bonth was hers. "I was so afraid you w-wouldn't find anyone," she told the Green, who butted her head against Malina's shoulder. The tears continued to fall, but the newly made weyrling was happy. She was so far beyond happy that she could not truly describe the sensation.

I love you, Mali told the Green, holding her so gently, so very gently. You'll never be lonely again, she promised, meaning every word with all her heart. Bonth would never have to look for her again, because they had found each other, and that was more than she ever could have expected. She resolved that she would love Bonth twice as much, because Bonth didn't have her mama there to do the loving. She felt a faint confusion at that thought register in the back of her mind, and to her surprise that thought belonged to her dragonet.

They had been joined by another pair, and when Malina looked up, she realized that it was the new Queen and her rider. Bonth gratefully accepted the assistance, weary from her exertions, but she was very firm on one thing. Yes, I am very strong. Mali knew it. After all, how else could she have found her rider in the crowd as she had? And, Mali knew, Bonth was very smart. She could feel it, and with pride, she petted her dragonet, loving her as well as she was able. And that was quite a lot.

"Thank you," she said, too grateful for the support they were receiving from the other rider and dragonet pair, amazement showing in her tear damp face. Now I think I would like to eat, Malina, the dragonet entreated her rider, and Mali quickly got to her feet. "Let's get you something to eat," she agreed, and with a swelling of pride and the most profound joy, she made to lead her dragonet off to the meat that had been prepared for the new weyrlings. She glanced over her shoulder, inviting the Queenrider to join her-- and blushing because what silly Greenrider thought she could invite a Queen to do anything? But Bonth might well need the support of her 'big sister'.