Welcome to Gaia! ::

“No! Nononono you can’t actually come with me! No!”

It wasn’t long since the call had gone out, and Weylin was worming his way out of the clinging gaggle of excited children, handing them off to various Lower Caverns women and just about anyone who seemed relatively willing to watch them so he could change into his Candidate robes. “No, you’re not old enough to Stand, you’ll need to go elsewhere. You can’t come with me, I know, I’m sorry, but no!”

His possessions weren’t kept in the quarters with the Candidates but instead in his own room—halfway across the Weyr from Candidate quarters and far from the Hatching Sands. He made a sprint of it and was out of breath by the time he erupted into the room. Fumbling through his clothes for the robes, he exchanged a quick ‘Hatching!’ ‘I KNOW!’ with his roommate as he changed. The robes were odd and uncomfortable, but he had been Standing for years, and the discomfort was (to him) worth it in the face of a possible dragon. Pausing to look at the little flit egg, he turned it in the sand before stepping into his sandals and dashing out to reach the Candidates before they entered the Sands.
He just barely made it, and straggling in with the last of them, he moved off to stand with the boys. Making sure he was at least briefly in the magnificent Queen’s line of sight, he dropped a low bow to her before righting himself and moving straight into the middle of the group.

It was nearly impossible to keep himself from yelling at everyone to line up quietly and get out of his way, but his typical controlling nature was soon enough eclipsed by the thrill of a Hatching, and he found himself nearly quivering with excitement alongside the rest of the boys. Twining his fingers together behind his back, he shifted back and forth on the scalding sand and waited for something to happen. It wasn’t long before he realized he likely wouldn’t need to wait at all; as he glanced at it, one of the eggs split open and spilled its cargo. Brown already. A good omen, though not as good as a bronze.

Weylin leaned forward and watched with baited breath.

Hard to believe not so long ago, H'dek was one of the lads standing out on the sounds, too busy worrying about, well, everything to notice much beside the eggs and the other boys bustling around him. Maybe it was just the narrow vision at the time, but the senior weyrling thought it looked like maybe, there were a lot more people standing this time.

He didn't hurry quite as fast this time, having to explain to his bronze where he was going and why, exactly, he wanted to go see some boring eggs as opposed to itching him, but some coaxing finally convinced Bondyeth that sleeping would be very good this evening and he would oil him extra good tomorrow morning. He'd even wake up earlier than normal, and that promise seemed to put Bondyeth at ease. He was arrogant as all get out, H'dek thought, but at least he was trusting.

....oh, shards. He was late!

The first dragon had already barreled his way out of his egg, H'dek hadn't even seen the little brown hatch! Well, at least he was the only dragon to have hatched so far! Not recognizing anyone immediately, H'dek found a spot next to some friendly-looking strangers and settled in to watch the dragons find their riders. It was thrilling, even when he wasn't standing!

A brown! Not as good as a bronze for the first to hatch, but nothing to sneeze at either. Jessmet stood on tip-toe, watching to see which of the boys would Impress first. Her hands clenched at her sides, her stomach quivered with excitement. Above her, through the the link she shared with her firelizard, she could feel the combined thrumming of all the dragons attending.

Shears in hand, Kriia stared at the mound of pale blonde hair littering the floor by her feet and took a moment to make sure that her hack job was at least somewhat symmetrical. It wasn't in the slightest, and Kriia had to bite back tears, all the while berating herself about crying over her one vanity. Lice had stuck their wily teeth all through her hair and though she scrubbed and scrubbed, there was just no hope for her hair. Turning at the sudden increase of noise (and almost stabbing one of her fellow candidates) Kriia noticed their wild, hungry expressions. Either cook had just made some of her famous bubbly pies- or there was a hatching at hand.

Tossing the metal shears carelessly on to the rough table (Kriia knew she would be reprimanded later- but it was the hatching!) Kriia gathered up her robe and took off with the rest of the candidates. Nearing the hatching grounds, Kriia noticed that already the pit was filled with candidates, all milling around the eggs and the queen in a sort of haphazard, nervous manner.

Out of breath, Kriia bent over, resting her elbows on her knees, happily bowing low for the queen in this auspicious occasion. Feeling a little lost, Kriia looked around the knots of people around the eggs, and noticed that the boys voices were calling louder. One of the eggs had hatched!

Feeling her breath quicken, Kriia nodded at Eri, and went to hover helplessly around the shy egg she had noticed before.

Crimiel stumbled to stand, Toad shrieking in protest for him, as the bench beneath him was quite literally forced out from under him as the tables accupants scrambled to their feet. The hall was quickly abuzz, few attempting to yell over the din, while some candidates were near manhandled to their barracks to quickly change.

Caught up in the excitment, Toad flew ahead while Crimiel jogged to keep up with the brown. The flit blinking between while Crimiel wretched open the worn door, already half way out of his normal wear. Fitting the white robes overhimself while still moving with a fast, long gate, Crimiels' frown deepened. This would be the last hatching he'd stand for. Next turn he'd be too old to be considered.

Giving Toad a reasurring grin, pushing such thoughts away, he shoo'd the flit away before getting swept up in the rush of people, not for a wing beat thinking the brown would manage keep it's distance.

As he stepped onto the sands, bowing to the queen, the only thought running through his head was that he'd never get used to the burn of it.

Veyes was glad he was a tanned boy because surely after sitting so long at the lake he would have burned to a crisp in the clear hot sun. He had made his way into the dining hall even though his pants were still a little damp and had a good dinner. The food tasted so good after the long day; he never had sat so long in one place and he wondered if the artist really would give them copies of the work he had done. It seemed like it would be too much trouble to give them each a copy. However, he kind of looked forward to having something rare like that to send home to his mother. She probably would be so happy...but then again...oh maybe not...considering he had been naked.

As he ate the fresh slice of bread soaked with juices from the meat he became a little reflective about his new life at the Weyr. It was such a different place from the farm and Hold. He really enjoyed the Weyr life far more than anything he had experienced. Was it because of the dragons...maybe...but the people he was meeting here were also exceptional souls - well, the Riders were. As for the others, they were just candidates like himself - yet to be proven. All he could do was try his best and hope that his efforts would be worthy in time.

Getting up from the table, he put away his dish and sighed slowly feeling rather alone in his thoughts and almost tired. Maybe he would call it an early night or play a game of Migsy just to take his mind off those deeper thoughts. Walking back to the dorm, he saw other boys there and slipped behind the curtain of his small space and stretched out on the bed. Maybe he could talk to Conomor about life in the Weyr a bit more. He grew up here...right?

However, as he continued to ponder these thoughts there was a sudden the sounds of people calling out and excitement all around. What?!! He picked out of his curtained space to see people grabbing the white robes! Shards! The Hatching! Scampering out of the bed, he opened the small chest and took out his white robe. He stripped out of his clothes and took off his shoes then yanked the robe on quickly and raced towards the sands.

When he got there he hurried out...but then slowed down as he gathered with the boys. His eyes widening as he watched the glorious site - the one he had waited in his dreams for so many times. They're hatching....he mouthed without words.

He smiled broadly when the first large egg cracked open to reveal the brown youth inside. He could imagine the dragon's curiosity for the world - that first light through the crack and its future unfolding before it. Would this be the incredible feeling he'd have each time he saw a hatching? He could only hope....

Conomor stared; pleased and jealous. So the first dragonet had Impressed. Not to him, but a brown was out of its shell and bonded. There was still time for him to fine His dragon. Still time. Plenty of time. Odd to be so calm when his heart raced so. He had hardly expected such a grasp on strange circumstances of himself.

He'd been snagged and shoved and berated for the last few minutes, the period an intense and emotional thing as Kadri was herded to the grounds with the rest of the Candidates. He hadn't even been able to check with his Flits as the hubbub suddenly exploded. When they did appear, his mind was filled with visions of bursting and light and newness and awe and panic and hope... overwhelming, really, as the flits reacted to the Hatching fervor then disappeared once more when he stepped onto the sands.

He knew, without looking, his twin was nearby. They'd been searched for this... to stand at the Hatching and he found himself really, truly hopeful that their earlier encounters with the eggs had influenced one to him. Wouldn't it be something? To walk away with a life long friend, a companion who suited you - or suited your soul as some songs were wont to say.

Jittery with anticipation and excitement, Kadri moved to join the boys. Nodding, he shrugged his shoulders in a 'guess this is it' motion as he turned to face the eggs and tried very hard to look Impressable... if there was such a thing. He hoped so.