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There was a dull thud as an egg decided it was it's time to hatch. The egg jolted forward and large cracks began to split on it's surface. By it's erratic rocking it could be guessed the the hatchling was thrashing around inside. A piece of shell fell away and sound was added to the scene. The harsh scrape of claw against shell, the slap of the hatchlings body colliding with the side of it's egg. The small opening revealed glimpses of the hatchling as it tossed and turned. A wingtip, a muzzle, a foot; all in a pale blue.

Cracks zig-zagged across the eggs surface, connecting together until the shell could no longer support itself. Sensing it's freedom was near the blue hatchling spread it's young wings and pushed forward, springing from it's egg and roaring it's defiance that anything should seek to contain him. The blue was large in comparison to his brothers, more so when he instantly straightened himself up to regard the candidates. There was a soft whoosh as the hatchling pointed his wings backward, but still refused to close them. Better get on with this then.

With his head held high the blue walked nearer the candidates with a composed grace. He looked at each candidate in turn, pausing only to snarl at those that dared to make eye contact with him. He was not theirs, they had no right to face him as an equal. Stopping suddenly, the blue turned his head slightly. What was that? Unknown to the dragon, when he had caused the destruction of his egg, shards had clung to his damp hide. It was one such shard that now caught his attention.

Only able to see it out of the corner of his eye, the blue mistook the light playing of the shard as movement. Twisting sharply he brought his jaws together with an audible snap. In that instant the composure was abandoned. The blue devolved into a growling, snarling, creature; bucking and jolting like an unbroken runner, in an attempted to rid himself of that infernal thing.

"They'll be fine, Z'iv." T'rel's observant eyes had caught where his friend was looking. "They'll Impress." He sounded more confident than he looked. He ran a hand through blond hair, and, carefully avoiding glancing at the gold egg, watched. The future of the Weyr was dependant on those down there. "They'll be fine," he repeated, forcing a smile for his Weyrsecond. He hoped they would be; Z'iv had lost his family to Thread. Even T'rel knew what it was like to lose someone. He wasn't about to allow Z'iv to lose the two girls.

~~~~

The brown that had been struggling with his shell suddenly burst free. He ignored the male candidates, after snorting in their general direction. He seemed to want them to know that none of them could ever be good enough. He made his way to the girls, and studied each of them. He snorted at Kafi, swiped a claw at Zena. He didn't seem to intend to injure the girl, as he proved when he moved inbetween her and Lora. He shoved Zena roughly with a shoulder.

The brown studied Lora with admiring eyes, for a brief moment. That moment ended when he snorted disdainfully. Why did you not come to me, mine? I have waited a long time. I am Hanth. You may call me this. Did you see Tribleth? She likes me. All the dragons did. Of course they did. He was Hanth! Did you not know that I am the greatest? I hunger, mine.

~~~

An egg close to Amarath burst to reveal a dazzling bronze. The bronze looked left, and then right, seeming to be looking for something. Or someone. It gave a cry of distress, and vanished between.

As if distressed by the bronze's departure one of the eggs closest to the candidates began to move, the hatchling making an attempt to escape the walls that held it. But there was something odd about the egg, it wasn't moving as much as some of it's siblings had when they escaped. Every movement seemed to be precise and if someone was to look closely, it seemed as if the dragon inside was focusing on only one or two spots. A few more moments of rocking about and suddenly there was a single crack forming, then bam! The shell was split in half then pushed away as deep blue wings spread out to dry.

This new hatchling looked around the Sands in interest before shifting his attention to his blue brother who was making a scene. Really! This wasn't the place for such foolishness! Snorting, the dark blue slowly made his way around the female candidates; they held no interested for one such as he. Now the boys, yes, this was were he was supposed to be at! Whirling eyes shifted from boy to boy, judging each one's worth. Why must they all look so weak, only flesh and muscle that could be so easily torn.

However, there was one that might prove to have something about him. There you are. A voice easily entered Kelstar's mind, as if it had done so many times before. Look at that silly one over there, Kelstarmine. Such foolishness should be done somewhere else. Right, mine? The blue made his way to the boy's side, very lightly touching his muzzle to Kelstar's hand. Come, your Jedith is so very hungry.





A smallish egg began to vibrate. Just what was going on out there? Why was everything so loud! Swaying to the side almost dangerously, a green claw managed to break through the shell before it was quickly pulled back. But in doing so, the egg ended up moving and falling against a slightly bigger egg before rolling off the side and landing in the sand. Oh, just lovely! How dare that big egg knock it over! Just who did it think it was? One last violent rock and the shell was kicked aside to reveal an angry green, eyes whirling red as she hissed.

As if in retaliation the larger egg rocked a few times before all but exploding to show an equally angry green. The two immediately began to argue with each other; hissing and grumbling along with the occasional swipe at the other before both heads turned in the direction of the candidates. They could wait, for now they had to settle just who ran into who!

Tolin noticed the haughty-looking blue suddenly start chasing itself, and recover. He couldn't help but smirk at that and watch...and almost missed the hatching & subsequent disappearance of a bronze. What a shame, he thought, and barely had time to duck out of the way of the blue, which promptly attached itself to another boy.

He shrugged, and spotted the pair of greens intent on choosing somebody. He looked them over as they approached, as he was certain everyone else did, but then he looked past and around them, wondering how many more eggs would hatch--and what colors they'd be.

Kelstar stood in his place and watched with amusement in his eyes as the light blue creature bounced and bucked around. What a fiery little thing, it was certianly going to keep its companion busy when he found it.

The brown who had come tail first into the world seemed to shun the male candidates and found his among the girls. Kelstar silently wished her luck in feeding her dragon, he would get big, very big.

He gasped as a truely beautiful bronze burst from his egg. Oh what a magnificent dragon. The bronze seemed quite distressed and after a quick look around, vanished between. Kelstar could almost feel the Weyr sigh in disapointment, a sad day a sad day indeed.

Although the tall blonde boy had little time to dwell on this as an egg nearby flashed to life in a meticulous and coordinated way. It penetrated its shell with precision. A crack ran the length of the egg and then the hatchling emerged from the shell quite spectacularly. Both halves were pushed away in the wake of rich blue wings, Kelstar could only stare as the blue made its entrance. He thought it a bit odd that a hatchling was that coordinated right out of the shell. Had it been practising in there? rehersing for this very moment where it could broadcast its skills to the world?

The blue inspected the females first after voicing his opinion on his uncouth brother. He came back from the females empty handed and sifted through the boys, he seemed surer of his path now and Kelstar held his breath as the beautiful dark blue came closer and closer.
There you are.
Kelstar blinked. An almost familiar deep voice was sounding in his head, he stared off into nothing and listened to the voice.
Look and that silly one over there Kelstarmine.
Kelstar did look. That definitely wasn't the one talking to him as it seemed quick preoccupied with its runnerbeast like shell rodeo.
Such foolishness should be done somewhere else. Right mine?
Kelstar nodded, quite mute.

Something nudged his hand and he was finally released to look down. It was the dark blue who had been speaking with the ancient deep voice.
Come, your Jedith is so very hungry.

Kelstar knelt in the hot sand as joy blossomed on his face. He looked into the swirling eyes of the being who was his missing other half, the half that he had not known was lost to begin with but now fit irrevocably in place in his heart and soul.
Could we stop kneeling and go eat? The dragon seemed to whisper in his head, the dragonet hadn't wanted to disturb Kelstar but he was really rather hungry and this would have to wait.

Kelstar felt his eyes shimmer as he croaked out the words. "Of course Jedith, we must go now.

Kelstar rose a blue rider. He could feel his chest swell with pride and he thought his hand tingled where Jedith had touched him. He reached out a hand and placed it on his dragon as they moved toward the feeding tables.

Kelstar set about finding the best cuts of meat in as short of time as possible as the red in his hatchlings eyes was intensifying. As Kelstar dug around in bloody chunks, Jedith watched his brother's buckfest. Kelstar had the oddest feeling of disdain and looked down at the piece of meat he was holding, no it was perfectly fine, so what then..? He glanced up and saw his dragon watching the sands. Oh, OH. He didn't know they could do that. Well he did but he had never thought it would actually feel that way. He waved the meat in Jedith's line of vision.
"You can critique your brothers behavior later, or were you not as hungry as you seem?"
Oh no mine I am very hungry. I simply didn't want to distract you so I watched.
The blue opened his maw and Kelstar placed a chunk of meat in it, them watched in fascination as his dragon ate it. He proceeded in this fashion until the hatchling was all but stuffed to the nines.

The two green sisters continued to argue with each other as they slowly started to make their way towards the girl candidates. Both were quickly silenced as their blue brother betweened and could not help the sad tone that left their bodies. The truce was short-lived as the bigger of the two almost tripped over herself once only to have the other laugh at her. Outraged, she let out a challenging bugle before all but running towards the crowds of candidates. Move out of her way! Couldn't they see she was much too important to be hanging out on the sands for too long. She'd show that sister of hers! She would get hers wayyy before the littler one! The moment she was near the females, wings and her tail pushed people out of her path. No touchy! Only hers was privileged enough to touch this gorgeous hide. Now....where was hers?



The smaller one almost looked to pout for a moment, as if she'd been enjoying the arguing, before she too decided to join in this race. Hey wait...her sister was so far ahead of her! Picking up speed, the little green charged right into the candidates, not even bothering to move anyone out of her way. Excuse her, EXCUSE HER! So many rude people! Helllllloooo! Couldn't they see she was in a rush! However, being in such a rush eventually ended up with her tripping over one candidate and falling into the sands. Whining almost pathetically, the green lifted her head to see who she had landed in front of. Oh..

Ah! I found you! Much quicker than my sister will find hers. Eyes were quick to change color as the pale green hatchling looked up into the face of Melira. Meliramind, I won. Your Rebelth is much better than that other green! Shakily managing to push herself back up, Rebelth gently nosed the girl's hand. Now stop hiding, mine. You must feed me! Let us go, before the others come!





Really, there was so much racket going on, how was an egg supposed to hatch and get noticed! Once more an egg began rocking, the hatchling inside determined to get out as soon as possible. One, two, three...free! Quickly kicking out the side of her shell, another green stepped out into the world but did not seem all too concerned with getting anywhere. She was more worried about the shell fragments being stuck to her and why in all of Pern did she have to be so sticky! So without a second thought, the hatchling promptly set to grooming herself so she would look at least a small bit presentable.

The usually chipper and mischievous Ferrick was somber for once, an odd sight for sure. No smirk played across his features as he stared out at the sands and the hatching eggs. It was sad, seeing such a handsome looking bronze go between, joining the green from before. It was sad to see them go that way, and to be frank honest, the boy wasn't used to letting himself feel sad.

The lad shook his head, as if to shake off the odd and foreign feeling weighing him down. There were still other eggs and hatchlings, and his was still out there. Of course he'd impress; he was the amazing Ferrick. His ego wouldn't let him accept anything less. It was thanks to this ego that the boy was convinced that -his- dragon would be the best. That's why it hadn't come yet; everyone knew that the best things came to those who waited, or were saved for last, or something like that. The boy didn't waste too much thought on it, instead focusing his attentions back to the hatching.

It wasn't turning out to be their best clutch, was it? Even with the gold egg in it. It was to be expected though, the clutch was quite a size and the queen herself wasn't exactly a yearling anymore. There were bound to be dud eggs and dragons that couldn't find the ones they needed to bond with. Still, it was a sad occasion. The hatchlings betweening and the sad cries from the older dragons seemed to mare the happiness of those that remained Impressing. Still, there was always the gold. A new gold hatchling was always good for boosting the spirits of the Weyr, something desperately needed as of late. It had been a sharding year for Ista.

Cesa stopped her musings to turn her attention back to the stands. There didn't seem many eggs left, it'd be over soon enough. There'd be plenty for her to do after that. Hatching feasts were always a big thing, but few that didn't work on the preparation seemed to think that everything just appeared from between. Still, it was worthwhile as a celebration of new life. Speaking of new life, there was a bronze. A somewhat clumsy bronze, but a bronze none the less.

Sitting up straighter Cesa drew her breath in as the bronze cried out. Oh, not him too, they couldn't afford to lose two bronzes in one hatching. They couldn't afford the one really, but there was nothing to do about that. Mecesa let out a sigh of relief as the bronze seemed to find who he was looking for. Thank Faranth, that had been far too close for comfort. Mecesa glanced at the remaining eggs only to find the gold already hatched. There she was, the one that she was sure every girl remaining on the sands was hoping for at least a little. She couldn't blame them really, they were young and a gold represented a lot of power. The hatchling didn't look too pleased as she sat down. Still, better that than absolutely panicked.