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She was buzzing with energy and bravery after her encounter with the self-absorbed egg. Darsha took a moment to look around again, smoothing her hair and tugging at her tunic while she plotted her next move. The young candidate really had no idea how much impact this touching might end up having on her chances at Impressing... she knew that sometimes a dragon didn't find it's companion within the candidates. Sometimes they found Theirs within the stands. And sometimes... but Darsha quickly pushed the thought of any of these precious hatchlings going between out of her mind. It would not do for her to have any thoughts like that lurking around in the corners of her mind and scaring the vulnerable creatures.

With a shake of her head, Darsha straightened up and marched determinedly towards the Circles Within Circles egg. She took a moment to just stare at it in awe, the complex pattern on the shell was impressive. Darsha had never seen dragons eggs before this touching, but none of the other eggs had been marked so elaborately. She wondered who was inside, and ran her hand lightly over the shell in an attempt to find out. It didn't slam into her mind, but she could feel it there, searching. Darsha attempted to stand as still as possible and allow the presence to look around until it was content, though the sensation tickled a little and she couldn't help wrinkling up her nose and sneezing at the sensation. You should be more careful when steal pies from the kitchen. A little voice said, startling Darsha into breaking contact with the egg. How could it have known?

Elated and reeling a little bit, Darsha noticed that the Jitterbug egg was, for the moment, alone. She approached the golden egg reverently, laying her hand on it gently and felt a grin split her face as the little queen inside barraged her with questions. Darsha was careful to leave her mind open so the inquiring mind could poke about for the answers she was looking for. The slender young girl stood with the golden egg slightly longer then was strictly appropriate, but she eventually disentangled herself from the little queen and made her way to the next egg, still grinning. This whole touching thing was so much more fun than she had expected it to be!

Hyweth had spotted Medura, already yellow eyes whirling furiously. They had a tinge of red to them. Oh, no, she was not at all pleased by the girl's fancy-work and bowing. None of these candidates present had any right to her eggs! Why were they here? Mine. I do not want them here. They had been having this argument since early that morning. J'len had attempted to sooth Hyweth's wrath with the assurance that the candidates would not be staying--that the faster they were able to interact with the eggs, they would leave.

Hyweth had not been at all appeased by this knowledge. There were too many people! Too many dragons! Hatteth! Why will mine not make these leave? Will yours? Have yours command them to leave! I do not want these candidates here. Surely if hers would not, Hatteth's would?

The crimson wrapped coiled her tail more tightly around her clutch, eyeing Medura warily.

J'nes and Hatteth were sitting in the stands, where J'len and Hyweth could see him. They weren't allowed on the sands (a fact Hatteth had protested to his rider about), but they got as close as they were allowed and were watching the proceedings around Hyweth's clutch intently.

At Hyweth's question, Hatteth answered, They have to be here. The Candidates need to meet the eggs. The hatchlings inside will start to meet the Candidates so they can find Theirs more easily. Of course J'nes had had to explain this to Hatteth a couple times before he accepted it. These may not be his eggs, but they were his weyrmate's eggs, and he was just as concerned about them as she was. Well, at least almost as concerned. He wasn't trying to keep anyone away from them.

They will not hurt the eggs, he assured her. I am watching them, and so are you and ours. Between the four of us, we can see everything they do. We will be sure they are very careful.

Already candidates were moving to the crimson's clutch and he was only halfway through Suunath's. Maybe he HAD spent too much time with the Languid and Swelling eggs. Ailin picked up the pace a little bit and went first to the Head First egg.

The movement within the egg had him on alert even as he was mentally assaulted by the dragonet inside. It didn't seem unfriendly but the jumbled emotions and words only managed to give him a sense of not wanting to be there. He moved on.

The bright blue Self Absorbed Egg was next. Ailin could almost agree that life wasn't rather bright at the moment. Not like it had been before. Maybe you will be the one to bring back life's glow. He thought at it before receiving a sharp reprimand for his dour outlook.

With raised eyebrows Ailin moved to a much smaller egg, placing his hands on the dark blue swirls of the Circles-within-Circles egg. This one felt similar to the brief brush of the gold he'd felt. Are you a little girl as well? He wondered. There was no direct answer though vague memories danced through his mind. Some of them things he hadn't thought of since leaving home...

Darsha's path took her to the Play Nice egg next. It greeted her nicely enough, but she could sense that it was withholding judgement on her, as if it couldn't make up it's mind whether or not she was a worthy sort of person. While the candidate tried not to take it personally - after all, not every egg had to fall in immediate love with her as much as she would adore it if that happened - Darsha didn't linger long there. She suppose she could have stood around caressing the egg and seeing if it would reach a decision, but something urged her onwards and she approached the Knockabout egg. She grinned at the egg's exuberant attitude and spent a moment enjoying it before another candidate came up and touched the bright green shell. In an instant the presence within the egg had shifted it's attention to people and places other than Darsha, so she moved on.

There were only two eggs left in Suunath's clutch. The Bright orangey yellow tones of the Swelling egg appealed to Darsha, and she felt herself being drawn into the egg's desire for the finer things. This was something the young girl could certainly relate to... she had always dreamed of living the high-life. Why else would she be here trying her hardest to Impress a dragon? She could appreciate the supportive and gentle swell that came from within the egg, it inexplicably made Darsha think of her mother, of all people. Reluctantly she left the Swelling egg and turned towards the Opportune Moment egg. She could sense it sizing her up, and she knew exactly what it would find in her: eager ambition with a healthy dose of mischief.

Wen took in the flaring of the wings and caught his social mistake. "I'm sorry great lady," he said respectfully and bowed a little deeper to Crimson Hyweth then he had Gold Suunath in apology. He stayed in the vulnerable position a bit longer then he wished before rising. "I did not mean to be rude. I did not wish to pressure you into revealing your eggs for touching before you were ready. They are all rather gorgeous," he soothed, voice truthful and calm. "May I touch them?" He approached the clutch but kept a few yards away.

Two eggs remained, Ailin looked through the passage that separated the two clutches. How would this be handled during the hatching he wondered? Would the eggs be moved together (and would the mothers allow it?) Or would the candidates be separated, or shuffled between the two?

He stroked the spotted shell of the Pacifist egg. It was quiet, little sound or movement came from the egg, only a feeling of watchfulness. It seemed to feel it was in charge though it was only middling in size for the clutch. Maybe a small bronze? Ailin didn't mind either way, whatever was inside felt like they'd be considerate in their dealings with others.

Finally the last egg of Suunath's lay before him. The little dark green shell reminded him of the jungle undergrowth. The hatchling within was much more welcoming though. The offer of help was politely declined. What he needed he doubted the little one within could give.

With that Ailin took his leave of the gold's clutch and the crush of candidates still swarming it. He walked slowly through the passage, looking all around as he came into the smaller Sands that had become the crimson's temporary home. Seeing the angry state of the clutch mother Ailin bowed from behind the gathered candidates. Was she preventing their progress?

.................

From the Stands surrounding Hyweth's clutch a scritching noise could be heard. Cai sat in the empty expanse, charcoal stick flying through the last few pages of her journal. At Benden she'd only seen an atypical once in passing. Their crimson as far as she knew had never clutched... doubtful she would even be allowed to try. Cai had no idea what they weyr had planned to do with the crimson and rider. She could only hope that the Revolution had brought some good in giving the dragon pair a chance to find a more welcoming home.

Here at Trine however Cai intended to learn as much as she could from this rare event. Lessons and scrolls and theories were all fine but each paled in comparison of examining the real thing. She only regretted the opportunity to get up close and personal like the candidates. Not that she wanted to be a part of their number. No, she'd rather examine them on her own, un-rushed. She had no desire to put aside her studies and passion to play their games on the off chance of Impression. Her calling was healing.

No doubt, many would be pestered by the red headed healer afterwards for what they could remember of the eggs. Any notes on differences between them and the gold's clutch would be added to her already crowded journal.