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Ok, see? This was the problem with suddenly barging in on other people’s conversations. Mal just heard something about S’van biting people and couldn’t help himself. “Oh dear. You don’t, S’van? That’s a pity. I’ll just have to find someone else.”

Oh hey. Everyone was turning around. Mal turned around too, curious as ever to see what was so darned interesting. Oh… another fainted person. They were just dropping like flies, weren’t they? He recognized the two angry Greenriders, the Weyrlingmaster and his weyrmate (or at least the man who might as well be his weyrmate), but he didn’t think too much of it. Drinking happened. Hopefully it wasn’t some dreadful sickness going about. Although, all those people falling down during the Hatching… Oh hey! Cute firelizards! Look, it was a perfect distractions. “…Should her legs be able to do that?” Mal asked eventually, pointing down at the pathetic little Kia.

Surprisingly enough, Ailurnath’s croons were soothing enough for Aeron. Or maybe it was the fact that she was so clearly sorry and, more importantly, had so clearly understood that some wrong had been done against the flits. Aeron slowly calmed down, eyes going from an angry red to a more relaxed green. When Kia started to squall, he moved to help her, trying to untangle the little ‘lizard. After all, he had practice at this.

“…yeah, I’ll see if I can get him out of there. Come on, Aer. Look, I’ve got a treat for you!” Actually, Mal had an empty hand for Aeron, but the Bronze had yet to pick up on this trick. He hissed in a half-hearted manner at the human, but slowly approached him out of curiosity and love of food. “Right. Try to untangle her while he’s distracted.”

Notos, overhearing the words that J'riar was saying to Jessan leaned back a little. "I agree. We'll all be rooting for you." His hand extended to ruffle Jessan's hair, hoping to cheer the male up. They all understood the disappointment of not impressing, but to have most of your friends impress all at once.. even Notos had to wince at that. They would stay friends though, of course! Making a note to hang out with Jessan more often since he would alone until a new roommate came along.. Notos placed another reassuring hand on his shoulder.

He moved back to the conversation with E'si though, as not to ignore the other male. That wouldn't do, after all.

Asceth turned around, to see that a green had made his way over to him. Hello Ianquith. He turned to look at Hers, J'riar. Yours is very nice. Asceth replied warmly. He did like Hers. But before he could say anything else, Asceth could see the distress in the other's gaze. Possibly for the same reason that he had been, before N'tos had assured him. Do not worry. Someone else is taking care.

Jessan moved forward when N'tos and J'riar beckoned him forward. On the outside was his same, self assured grin. Both of them offered the usual condolences; when his cousin gripped his shoulder and was firm about the fact that he would Impress... Well, what did one say?

"Hey Notos, or is it N'tos now? And thanks Jir-er... Um... And what do I call you, cousin? And the names of your dragons? A pretty green and a handsome, how awesome is that?" He tried to sound light and cheerful but his stomach was weighed down. He wondered if he was going to catch that sickness.

There were already murmurs of another person who had collapsed. This was a rider and not a candidate. He thought whether or not he was going to stay the whole Feast if people were going to be dropping like exhausted runner beasts. A drudge came by with a pitcher of okay wine. Grabbing the man by his arm, Jessan poured himself a rather full cup of wine. Raising his cup, he gave his unsure-but-game face and saluted those around him. "To a healthy and lively group of Hatchlings and their riders. Congratulations all of you."

It wasn't hard to catch the whispers and mutters around here. Some sort of sickness... and F'sey had it? He was the Weyrlingmaster, wasn't he? O'asis brooded over this thoughtfully. There were a couple faces that he'd noticed missing... like Kyllae's....

Someone should've seen this coming, after that lice plague. It was the harbinger to warn of overcrowding, how quickly something could spread through the Weyr. And nobody had realized it, it seemed; himself included.

O'asis Mine, Uktenath's voice filled his mind, tell me what you are thinking.

"I'm thinking...." O'asis began, then grimaced. "Shards. I'm thinking that getting everybody together for a celebration might have been dimglowed." If this thing was serious enough to lay so many people flat already, then the last thing the Weyr needed was to throw everyone into a room together for close company. There was no saying who might be contagious....

Uktenath shifted his wings, the faintest sign of the dragonet's unease. Is there danger?

O'asis exhaled loudly, folding his hands behind his neck. "Hard to say... the Healers would know, I bet." The bronze looked up at him, patiently urging. "... We should find someone to ask."

This was to Uktenath's satisfaction. They should find out what was wrong. It was very important that he and His be aware of what was going on in the Weyr, so that they could prepare for it properly. He let out the smallest hint of a positive chirp, and turned his sights upward.

Galliath, he asked, while O'asis began searching the room for someone that would have an in with the Healers, do you know what is making people fall?

Ariaen looked up in time to see F'sey fall. What was going on? This never happened, at least in her lifetime so far. Sakitcuath looked at her, head tilted.

AriaenMine? What is it? she asked, her red eyes changing colors with worry. Ari stood up, to get a better view.

"I don't know, Sikatcuath. Someone fell, like on the Sands earlier. Something is wrong," she said. Their connection spilled worry on either side. What if she got it next? Ariaen shook her head and went to get some kahl. Her green followed her, her eyes swirling back to red. They passed on the out skirts of the large group of weyrlings, trying to not run into anyone. Or have Sikatcuath maul another Candidate.

Ariaen was going to have to talk to her about that some day. It wasn't good to tear through the crowd just to find Hers. That was for another day, she decided, trying to hide a small cough that edged its way out of her.

No. She would not get sick. She would not do it.

Turning to the group at large next to them, Ari supposed she should congratulate the others, or at least the gold rider. She coughed again, but wedged her way into the group.

"Ah... Congratulations on Impressing the Queen. She's quite the beauty," she said to Nandeli, feeling quite awkward. "Congrats to the rest of the group as well." She heard Sikatcuath growl behind her and edged her way back out of the circle.

No need to stay there longer than necessary.

The little cousin looking to Jessmet is larger, Ailurath pointed out. Sensing he was being talked about, Trundelbug chirped at the gold, mantling his wings in a sort of a bow. Of course, since he was perched on Jessmet's shoulder he didn't have a lot of space. The girl carefully removed one brown wing from her ear.

Ailurath eyed Kia skeptically. My legs do not wave like that. Perhaps she is stranger than we thought.

Jessmet accepted a goblet of wine from the server, toasting Jessan in return and sipping appreciatively.

"J'riar, now that sounds right. Just imagine the fit your old man is going to have when he finds out you Impressed! You will be the talk of the winter camp for ages to come," Jessan remarked, taking another swig of his wine.

When the darling green approached him and peered up, an actual lump formed in his throat. He had to wait a moment before he could say anything. His blue eyes hinted at gray now, the only real betrayal of the torrent of emotions on the inside. "Hello Inaquith. You are such a lovely lady. I am Jessan, your rider's cousin."

Looking around, he spotted the man who had fallen. At least he was being taken care of by others. Some other riders and celebrators were looking flushed and warm. Maybe it was having so many together. Jessan tried not to act paranoid at such a happy occasion. "I wonder if it was such a good idea to have the feast right away. Many look ill."

He finished his cup of wine withe the third swallow. Motioning a female drudge this time, Jessan helped himself to another cup. He would just have to remember to eat soon so that it did not all go to his head.