Welcome to Gaia! ::

The first egg was a Bronze. Jordan almost heard the sigh of relief sweep through the crowd. And... after a moment of child-like hesitation at his mother's apparent displeasure, the Bronze headed straight for the boys with an entirely unnecessary amount of snobbishness. Jordan raised an eyebrow but then looked back at the other eggs. Not his problem. Bronzes weren't for him. He was keeping an eye on the other eggs that were rocking, like the Quick Sparkle. The smaller ones that held potential for him.

He glanced cautiously at Yirath again. Was she going to make each child question their decision like that? Or would she eventually just lose it and go for them? For a moment, Jordan debated whether or not he could lift one of the smaller eggs, then questioned his own sanity. If she attacked the Candidates, he could only hope he was fast enough to get out of the way and make it to the exit.

The eggs would hatch. There wasn't a choice about that, Eliaza knew, but it was a hard thing to even contemplate with the Weyrwoman gone and Yirath's rage and sorrow hanging heavy over the Weyr. She'd learned to be much stronger since Halifanth had found her and the two of them could distract themselves when needs be with duties and drills and chores, but she still had a heart.

There wasn't a question that the pair would attend the Hatching, not even for the second. It was the least, the very least, that they could do to honor the Queen who had held on and lingered for the sake of the clutch. And it was a glorious clutch, a legacy to be proud of, for the dragon and the Weyrwoman and the Weyr all at once. So Halifanth and Eliaza came when the humming started. She stood by Hali, a hand gentle on her green's neck, and settled in to watch and see what came of the day.

----

To say that Cormeric's spirits had been dampened by the murder was an understatement. The tall young man had hardly cracked more than a half-smile in days. Not angry or withdrawn so much as completely stunned, a little overwhelmed, and entirely uncertain about what would happen next.

When the humming started and they were rounded up from the barracks and marched toward the sands, Cormeric found himself more nervous than he'd been in a good long while. What would happen today? Would Yirath even allow them near the dragonets at all? Would their mother's mood impact the way the new hatchlings chose their lifemates? All questions that couldn't be answered until they stood in the thick of the thing and the day proved out. Still, his palms were sweating and he felt just the slightest bit out of breath.

States not helped by poor Yirath's appearance or the sharp glint of her temper. Oh yes, he'd heed the candidatemaster and stay out of the way. He lined up, shoulder to shoulder and a head taller than some of the other boys, and waited, watching eggs and Queen with as much of an equal share of attention as he could manage.

And then the first egg hatched and a bronze spilled out and he couldn't help but smile, just enough. The first hatchling was a bronze? There'd been tragedy in the days before, but a bronze first! That was nothing but good luck and a good sign of things to come.

Analyssa had been attending dinner when the humming had started. Excusing herself she had hurried to change into her robes. Ever since Kestril's death, the Weyr had been a solemn place. Listening to the speech, Lyssa moved to her place. Immediately, three eggs were ready to make their enterance into the world.

A bronze! What a good sign. She looked to see Ja'syn up in the Stands with others. Clenching her fists, the candidate could only Hope that this Impression would go smoothly.

Tsubari heard the humming and knew that the eggs were about to hatch. Even with Tsubarisk around, the handler still loved to see the dragons Impress. This day was going to be a sadder day than most. Knowing that Yirath will go Between soon after all her children hatch put a mild hush on the people of the weyr it seemed. Yes there was talk, but it was a saddness that surrounded the area too. He still kicked himself for allowing something like that to happen. A murder should not of happened with him, Tsubarisk, Erie and her wher on duty. It was enough to drown ones pride in drink and forget it happened. Thankfully they were still busy with training or else it might not of been so good for him.

He made his way to the other part of the stands and spotted young Alain standing almost as far away without being rude from the eggs and Yirath. The poor boy, Tsubari knew in his heart that Alain would be a great Rider, better than a handler. An egg hatched and it was a wonderful bronze. A smile emerged and he watched the candidates squirm a bit at the Golds growl.

Nemmol felt like someone had heard his hopes and replied to them. A Bronze. This Hatching, if you went by superstition, was going to be a strong one. Large, plentiful in eggs, and a Bronze as first hatchling. If the Weyrwoman was still alive, she would be pleased. This would make up entirely for the last Benden Clutch, the one that had been so weak.

Yirath rumbled and even Nemmol looked away from the hatchling to cast a quick look at the Queen. When she only directed the Bronze back to his task, Nemmol checked to see what the Bronze would do. He shook off the moment and continued towards the boys with a proud arch to his neck. Nemmol smiled slightly. Haughty little thing, but at least that would help him be a strong asset to the weyr one day. Bronzes should be aware of their position, after all. This little one might be the Weyrleader's dragon one day. Nemmol watched the Bronze approach the male Candidates. This might not be Nemmol's partner, but Nemmol wasn't about to discount any Bronze or Brown that came from any of the eggs. One of them was to be his life partner. If not in this Clutch, then the next one.

Lilah was in no particular hurry to get to this Hatching, even more so than usual. Hatchings were dangerous enough, but this one was far more depressing than usual - and, apparently, even more dangerous. Yirath was understandably...unbalanced. As ever, the girl took a spot in the very back of the group of girls. No view was worth being first in line for a mauling.