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There were advantages to being in the front row of Candidates. One was that Firyal could see the eggs hatching with an uninterrupted view. However there were definite disadvantages, too, Firyal learned as the blue came barrelling toward the females with abandon. Namely that it's very hard to step out of the way because all directions except forward are blocked by someone else and forward was the direction the charging dragonet was coming from. Still, she threw herself backward with sufficient speed and force that she avoided being knocked into by the blue, though she did succeed in bumping awkwardly into the girls nearest her.

"Sorry," she murmured as she quickly regained her footing in the blue dragon's wake. They would understand, she was sure, but an apology was still owed.

He was certainly a vocal little creature. And so emotive in his vocalizations. Her heart went out to him as he sought fruitlessly for his bondmate. She wished there was something she could do, but the only person who could ease his way was his bondmate, whomever that ended up being. She didn't want to throw herself into his path to see if she was the one he was looking for. One mauling was plenty, though the spirit of this one would probably be different. It wouldn't make it any more enjoyable. It wouldn't be enjoyable at all, actually, she was quite sure.

Almost instinctively she sent her thoughts toward the blue as though he were one of her firelizards, though she doubted he would sense or respond to them. Firelizards deal best in emotional concepts, and she imagined a very young dragon would be similar, and so she tried to send him reassuring, soothing thoughts. But, of course, that could only meet with limited success, if any. She didn't expect it to have much of an effect.

Xanthoth watched as his new brother barreled into the candidates. At first, the action seemed to differ little from what the gold had done earlier, among others, but he felt something still just wasn't right. Under normal circumstances, he'd have been more disapproving of a male starting to trampling over the young ladies present, newborn or not. These were not normal--at least, he didn't think so. Though he stopped to examine those struck by his sibling, the majority of his attention for perhaps the only time in his life was mostly on another of his gender as opposed to the fairer sex.

The concern of the recent Thoroughbred hatching was not one they shared. For one, he had no desire to leave. On the contrary, he appeared to determined to follow his sibling, as if watching over him. The bronze was mindful to do this at a good distance; not too far, but not so close he may hinder his ability to find a partner. Xanthoth had already found His. Therefore, he had no need to worry about such things.

Speaking of, B'lin had been awakened by all the commotion, jumping to his feet and seeking out his own dragon with his eyes alone. "Xanthoth?!"

Once again, the bronze was especially careful not to bump too hard into anything female, but this time, it wasn't quite as careful as before. Something was wrong. Something was wrong with his brother.

Yours is fine, B'lin. But something is still very wrong.

Santhea's eyes widened as the small blue burst out of the big egg. She watched him, slightly dazed, as he staggered out, and jumped a bit when he shrieked. The way he moved, it didn't seem right. And the big egg for a blue? Something was going on.

Santhea tensed further as the crying blue came closer. The poor thing sounded terrified! And he just barrelled forward.. Santhea was shocked by the pitiful sound he made - and noticed his intention just too late.
The blue rammed into her and the girl beside her - though she heard others moving away. Santhea was falling awkwardly backwards, near the heels of Firyal, but hurting her wrist when she hit the sands. Her wrist twisted, but didn't crack, though Santhea didn't notice. It had helped that Santhea was already kneeling.
"Gah!" she cried, when she fell, her eyes big. She shook her head hurriedly, and tried to look up, to see if the other candidates were okay, if the blue was unharmed. Calm, little blue, please! She tried to send the thought to the wailing hatchling, along with her only half-successful feelings of calmness, peace and warmth. She groaned lightly, and held her arm to her chest as she sat up.

Mine? What is happening? You’re distressed! Did something happen to Ialluth’s? Ohh… The Green’s voice trailed off, but her concern grew even stronger as she got a better sense of what was going on. Outside of the Hatching Cavern, she couldn’t help but let out a pathetic little keen of distress at the image of the Blue wandering around helplessly. Ceylith’s eyes whirled rapidly into a concerned yellow as she shook her head.

He’ll… be alright, won’t he, Ialluth? she asked pathetically, looking towards the older Green for support and comfort. Even worse, C’ren was concerned… Ceylith didn’t like it when Hers worried so much. It simply couldn’t be good for his health.

~.~
Even Redhath couldn’t hold back his worry at that awful noise. He cringed away at the other Blue’s terrible keens and curled up a little. Mine! he said in a cross between a plaintive moan and a command. Make him stop! I do not like this, it is sad! And I don’t want to be sad! Redhath shoved his head into M’al’s chest, trying to hide in the robes.

M’al put a stop to that quickly, scratching the dragonet’s eyeridges. “It’ll be ok, Redhath. I… I’m sure he’s just afraid. It’ll be alright, once he finds His…” shards, he hoped the Blue would find someone. He had heard stories before, of dragonets going between because they couldn’t find theirs or because something was just plain wrong with them, but…

But he hoped he’d never have to see it. “It’ll be ok, Redhath,” he said soothingly again, although he couldn’t tell who he was trying to convince of this.
~.~

Xeran was just confused. None of the other dragonets had made that sort of cry. It was like… well, he’d never heard a sound like that before. It went straight to the heart, a pure emotion in a sonic form. Even the raging dragonets from earlier hadn’t created such a pathetic noise, like a last cry before darkness.

“Vera, sweetheart. It’ll be ok. Remember, most of the other dragonets were a little crazy before finding their bonded. This one will turn out alright.” His father instincts screamed at him to get his little girl out of there, before she saw something truly traumatic. But Vera was a grown woman now, as much as he hated to admit it. She wanted to be here. She had made her choice.

Kess was not in the mood to be struck again by a rampaging dragonet. It's screech had immediately put the blonde on edge and she swallowed hard as it barrelled to its feet, moving hurridly to the side. Not to soon, either, as it knocked over several female candidates, causing unease and fear.

Grimacing, she had to wonder if it would even respond to sound. Why so frenzied? Had it not developed fully? Was it missing its bond? Kess was unable to stop the sypathetic croon from her throat, her own chest aching at the noises the destructive blue was making.

It was a bad time for a dangerous dragonet. The Candidates were exhausted and their nerves already raw.

....Something isn't right.

Toronth's head snapped up, away from the meat W'in was tossing gently down his gullet, and he faced the other blue, eyes whirling yellow. A low croon escaped the blue, and he shifted uneasily, weaving his head from side to side and continuing to emanate a low noise that made W'in distinctly uncomfortable...or perhaps he was hearing it only in his head. He still wasn't sure of the boundaries.

"Toronth?"

My clutchbrother, Mine. Something is wrong.

---

Lanamine! The little Blue! What is he doing? What's wrong?

A dragonhealer on the Sands, even an Apprentice, didn't need the voice of her dragon to know that something was up. La was pushing her way through the crowd already, hanging back far enough that she wouldn't intrude on the Blue if he didn't need her assistance. She didn't know what she would do, but she would be there if he needed her.

Lanamine! Do something!

I can't, Isonth! You know Hatching rules! Your kind can't be touched until they find Theirs. You know this!

LANAMINE!

Isonth's frustrated bugle was muted, but a wash of frustration and helplessness flooded Lanakirene's mind as the empathic green focused on the panicking dragonet's energy, trying to understand what was happening even as the small creature shrieked. Isonth knew that La had no jurisdiction over what might (oh, Faranth, no) occur next, but she had to insist that Hers do something. She had to.

...Lanamine? Please?

I...I can't.