2.1
Hatching Story (WIP)
Teh_Sil
It was the early afternoon, and another unseasonably warm day, even for spring. Everyone was taking the opportunity to finish chores early, and then lay about in the sun, or try and stay cool at the very mouth of the stone caverns. It could get quite cold deep down there, but the mouths were the perfect degree of shade and coolness.
Even the Candidatemaster was feeling the heat. He sent his Candidates off early, letting them goof off. They would all convene for lunch soon. He wanted to speak to them all about the impending Hatching, and impart a few warnings before that faithful event; however, it appeared that he would not get the chance now. A deep humming began suddenly, and the voice of the Queen Vesonth sounded through the heads of everyone in the Weyr.
Teh_Sil
It was forgotten now though, or not thought about- at least in the case of the Candidates. Astri had been splashing around in the lake with several other young women, enjoying their company and the feel of cold water on her skin against the heat.
Loraket lounged on the fence of the herdbeast pen. His gaze may have appeared to be on the milling beasts, but his attention was on the young girls swimming in the Weyr lake. Their wet clothes clinging to their young bodies was simply a pleasant sight to behold. His bronze firelizard, Piper hummed with pleasure. Just as Piper’s humming grew more intense, Lorekat heard an unmistakable voice in his head.
Teh_Sil
My children hatch. Candidates must come NOW!
Indeed, as the Queen spoke, the first of the eggs began to rock with increasing violence, and a long crack appeared in the shell of another. Dragons began to fly in quickly, L'mel and Dimeth included. They all echoed the hum of the Queen, a deep noise that made bones vibrate. Bonds between new dragons and riders would be formed today, while the bonds between existing pairs would only be strengthened.
Indeed, as the Queen spoke, the first of the eggs began to rock with increasing violence, and a long crack appeared in the shell of another. Dragons began to fly in quickly, L'mel and Dimeth included. They all echoed the hum of the Queen, a deep noise that made bones vibrate. Bonds between new dragons and riders would be formed today, while the bonds between existing pairs would only be strengthened.
He’d heard similar beckonings before and wasted no time in sprinting to his quarters to change clothes.
Kicking off his boots and dropping his clothes on the floor, Loraket opened his foot locker and grabbed the white tunic. Throwing it over his head, he grabbed the sandals. Pausing a moment to stare at the flimsy footwear, he thought, I’ll never be able to run in these. Piper had followed him and was now dashing in and out the door, chittering at him to hurry. Cramming his feet back into his boots, Loraket, with sandals in hand, ran out the door. The bronze firelizard followed him.
Teh_Sil
It was prodigiously hot inside the Hatching Grounds, the weather compounding with the baking heat of the sands. Even those in the stands would feel the heat, and sat there uncomfortably, though eager. People were gradually filing in. There were far less Holders than usual, and the absence was noted. Those who were there looked distinctly uncomfortable. They had picked the side of the dragonriders, but the repercussions would continue far into the future, as the dragons grew older.
The dark-haired lad ran across the Weyr bowl, joining the throng of people also heading for the Hatching. Skidding to a stop outside the Hatching Grounds, he once more kicked off his boots. Sliding the sandals onto his feet, he said, “Remember, Piper. You have to stay out here.” Glancing up at the hovering bronze flit, he added, “besides, someone has to make sure my boots will still be here when I get back.” Winking at the bronze, he turned and ran into the Hatching Cavern to join the other candidates.
Teh_Sil
As Candidates continued to file in, the first egg broke shell. Pulsing, chipping, slowly revealing a green hide... The Hyena Egg broke open. There was a deep silence. The first dragon... was it a wher? Had a wher egg somehow gotten in there? But no, it was too big to be a wher, and the green was clearly a dragon. The build was just so squat though! And she looked so angry, eyes whirling red, struggling to stand. The Hatching had begun.
Here he stood again. Watching eggs crack and dragonets stumbling over the sand to find their life mates.
Whenever a Hatching was approaching, Loraket was always debating with himself, should he really be doing this? Was the promise of a dragon lifemate worth the heavy responsibility of caring for the creature dependent on you for the rest of its life? Of being a slave to the creature’s whims? No longer able to keep his world in the order that he preferred if he was bound to a creature that would invade his own mind?
Over and over these things would run through his mind between Hatchings. Should he stay away from the Hatching, or should he give it one more try. Then the thought of a hatchling, looking for only him and not being able to find their chosen, would go between rather than choose someone else, always brought him to the hot sands in time for the Hatching.
Despite his doubts before a Hatching, once he was here on the sands watching the eggs hatch, his whole being yearned to have one of the dragonets look his way and claim him as their own. Watching eggs crack and seeing dragonets stumbling over the sand to find their life mates, he wondered if, this time, a hatchling would choose him. Seeing the looks on the candidates’ faces at the moment of impression, he wondered, would his face ever light up like that?
Teh_Sil
The egg that was cracking earlier was, in fact, the Flamingo Egg. It had been hotly contested what was inside the bright little egg, and it appeared that their questions were soon answered- it was a very, very bright green. Oh dear. Most people hadn't known such colors could come on a dragon, but the spritely creature was determined to prove them wrong.
Scrambling to her feet quickly, the green powered forward. She knew who was hers. She had known since she was in the shell. And she was so ready to prove her point!
Hello Emori. You're mine. We are together forever. Entwined. Entangled. You will feed me now? Fulfill my hunger. Satiate me. Oh, my name is Inannath. My calling is Inannath. Oh Faranth, does this little green ever shut up? Probably not. Emori had her hands full.
Scrambling to her feet quickly, the green powered forward. She knew who was hers. She had known since she was in the shell. And she was so ready to prove her point!
Hello Emori. You're mine. We are together forever. Entwined. Entangled. You will feed me now? Fulfill my hunger. Satiate me. Oh, my name is Inannath. My calling is Inannath. Oh Faranth, does this little green ever shut up? Probably not. Emori had her hands full.
A flash of bright green to the side caught his eye. A small dragon in green, so bright it made you blink, was scrambling towards the group of girls. The small egg that she had broken out of was one of the ones near the egg that had drawn his curiosity during the Touching. He glanced back at the egg, still unhatched, sitting by the broken egg shells that the bright green had vacated. There had been talk that the rough textured egg might not hatch. As if to prove everyone wrong, the plain brown egg began to rock.
He wondered if his touch had communicated any of his thoughts to the dragonet inside. Loraket knew that egg colors seldom foretold the color of the dragon inside, but being a brown egg, he’d hoped the egg might indeed be a brown.
Teh_Sil
At Inannath's Hatching, the Nile Crocodile egg suddenly began to twitch violently, suddenly exploding into a thousand shards. The little blue within it had his wings fully spread, his eyes wide and swirling, a prodigious birth. He zeroed in on the world around him, standing strong and proud, determined to find his mine.
But the first thing that the blue saw was bright lime green, eye searing to most but absolutely gorgeous to the little dragonet. Of course, he already knew who His was by now and walked towards the boys, never taking his eyes off of Inannath. She was so beautiful! How could he ever tear his gaze away from that lovely hide, that regal brow? Inannath was perfect and he could not stand it. He trembled as he finally turned his regard to the one other thing that he would focus intensely on in his life, his other half, his One, his Loraket.
But the first thing that the blue saw was bright lime green, eye searing to most but absolutely gorgeous to the little dragonet. Of course, he already knew who His was by now and walked towards the boys, never taking his eyes off of Inannath. She was so beautiful! How could he ever tear his gaze away from that lovely hide, that regal brow? Inannath was perfect and he could not stand it. He trembled as he finally turned his regard to the one other thing that he would focus intensely on in his life, his other half, his One, his Loraket.
When the egg exploded and shell fragments flew everywhere, the dark blue dragonet made an entrance befitting a bronze. Similar to the bright green, this dragnet had no doubts as to where he was going. His path was true, but his attention was distracted by the small green dragonet whose egg had lain next to him for so long.
Loraket dared to take his eyes off the blue who was stumbling in his direction and glance to see where the blue hatchling was looking. The petite green had eyes for no one but her impressed. Quickly bringing his eyes back, he saw the blue dragonet gazing wistfully up at him.
Teh_Sil
Mine, do you see that beautiful creature? Can we go speak to Her? I'm a little hungry, but that can wait... just look at her, 'mine! Oh... my name is Rangith, by the way.
“Yes, I see!” answered Loraket, a bit stunned. Holding the wedge shaped head in his hands, he said, “You chose me!”
Of course, I have, replied the blue dragonet. We must hurry. The green is leaving and we must follow her. I’m hungry too.
Feeling Rangith’s love for him relieved Loraket of any worries he’d had about the future. If he’d had any inkling that this was what it was like to impress one of Pern’s great dragons, he would never have doubted his decision to be a candidate. No matter what the future held, Loraket…, L’ket, he corrected himself, would never be alone.
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