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Surprised when one of the dragonriders noticed him and waved, he started forward again... and jumped when the rider's brown suddenly bugled, and the pair sprang into action. In what seemed like mere moments, they were gone.

I wonder what happeened? He stared out the entrance for a moment more, then again turned back to the eggs and approached to within two meters of the nearest one.

Nakoreth told me that K'makin left a basket of food and klah on one of the lower gallery benches, he got called away before he could finish eating. Why don't you go eat something, and a mug of klah might settle your nerves.

With a wary glance at the two candidates, Ray shrugs. Good idea, I suppose, she admits. She heads up to the stone benches to find the promised basket. Eating might keep her distracted from worry about the Threadfall or the Weyrlings, out on their first solo flights away from the Weyr.

Isskio says they're fine. Here, look, Wrath sends a few images from the flit's perspective. Somewhat reassured, Ray sits down next to the basket of meatrolls and takes one to nibble. The two candidates look frightened, and Ray smiles quietly, recalling her own days as a candidate.

Wrath snorts at Boryanor.

Ray looks up from her snack. "Be nice dear, you did tell me to invite the candidates, after all."

I know. But he's interrupting a lesson. The queen sounded indigant. Fine, fine, I won't traumatize him. Why don't you go on down to the lower caverns, I bet that klah's cold by now, and the threadfall is over. And you could do with a change of clothes.

Good idea, Ray agrees silently. Riding leathers shouldn't be worn for long stretches in the Hatching Grounds. Don't snap too closely at the candidates, we don't want them panicking during Hatching.

Wrath blinked her outer eyelids at Rayi innocently. Giving up, Ray headed out of the Grounds to look for something that wasn't three layers of wool and wherhide.

Ray returns to the hatching grounds with two covered baskets. Whistling tunelessly, she heads toward the two candidates who are standing among the eggs.

"I believe these are for you," she says with a cheerful grin. She peeks into one basket, wrinkles her nose in concentration, and hands it to AndrAIa. "Isskio had more eggs than sense, so I gave you two." She hands the other basket to Boryanor. "That is, both of you got two eggs. They should hatch any day, so you should keep a stash of food on you. Isskio will probably find you just before they're set to hatch.

"Oh. If you're going to be hanging around in the Hatching Grounds, just half-bury the eggpots in sand while you're here, and I'll make sure there's a supply of meat for them in the Lower Caverns to bring here when they're ready. Otherwise, keep them on the hearthstone of whatever rooms you're in."

She can't think of anything else to say. "Uh. If you've got a question, let me know."

((The eggpots have different glazes, based on my guesses as to the contents. Boryanor, your eggpots are glazed in blue and a sort of metallic browny greeny. AndrAIa, yours are glazed in blue and green. That should be a clue. wink I'll mass PM all eggholders when the time comes for them to hatch, which should be at some point over the next day or two. You can RP the hatching here or in the benden weyr thread.))

Ray leans against Wrath's side, her eyes closed.

"So tell me how goes the Hatching at Fort," she says. "Since you won't let me hitch a ride there and all."

She was jostled by a draconic shrug. Hatchingly? Eggs are cracking, and a few younglings are wandering about. No Impression yet though. Glith trained them decently in that; they seem to be looking to her for advice, instead of blindly Impressing the first person to meet their gaze.

"Like you did?"

I did no such thing. I arranged to have you standing nearby when I came out. Nobody realized it though, because I'm very very sneaky.

"Suuurrree. Tell me, oh sneakiest of dragons, how did you manage that little feat?"

I told mother I liked you, she let the idea slip into the old Weyrwoman's thoughts, and when time came to arrange the Candidates, she automatically put you nearby without even noticing. I also leaned on you a little bit. I knew you did not want a Queen at all, and thus would naturally avoid my egg. Haven't you wondered why you just up and walked toward my egg?

Ray shrugged, remembering her Impression. "Perhaps you did. I had my eye on a lovely brown before getting distracted by you. You know I have a thing for browns, right? And blues. Ah, blues are beautiful." She trailed off sleepily.

Wrath snorted indignantly. Ray obviously had no taste.

Yawning, Ray ambles into the hatching grounds again. Her nap hadn't gone all that well; Wrath's interest in the Hatching at Fort kept leaking over into Rayi's half-asleep mind as strange visions and scraps of conversation.

Curling up in the hollow between Wrath's forelegs, with her back to the large queen's chest, Ray wonders if she should have brought a sleeping fur to keep sand out of her pants. Oh well, it was too much effort to go all the way back for one.

"So how are things going?" Ray asks.

Wrath nuzzles her rider. A candidate apparently has unruly relatives. He made a fool of himself, and angered Glith to the point of actually threatening him. I'm not sure if she could have restrained herself from hurting him... The tone of Wrath's mental voice was worried, and the emotion spilled over, making Ray feel somewhat sick to her stomach.

But no dragon could ever attack a human. It's just not possible!

I know. I find it incredible that she even considered it an option. Threatening, yes. Restraining, yes. But actually being within inches of attacking a human? The prospect terrifies me. I can't imagine the kind of strain Glith is dealing with, to be at that point. But ... for the activity she seems a bit more herself. She's been very upset since Zorith went between.

AndrAIa moved along the lower ledges... all thease eggs. And no way to tell what colour they are... she sighed and at lanth thought... Oh I wish I could Impress.

Ray perks up a bit. "Ava! I've been looking for you, I have an eggpot for you... Talk to Lyanti in the Lower Caverns, she's the cook in charge of the klahpot, she'll know which one to give to you. I have to stay here and supervise the candidates, since we're expecting the new ones from Fort to arrive and introduce themselves soon."

((I just made up an NPC cook, you can just post in the Benden Thread that you claimed your pot, it's a green one.))