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Nessa jumped along with just about everyone else when the angry little blue hatched, stepping back a pace or two at his screeching. She was startled that she could hear that - totally unused to dragons talking to anyone but their chosen Rider. Okaaay ... so maybe this Hatching wasn't like all the others she'd been to. Honestly, the young Healer Apprentice hadn't been paying too terribly much attention up til that point - except to note that dragons were Impressing and time was passing.

But now... now she was taking notice. And she frowned, remembering the talk about one of the eggs being considered dead. She had thought at the time it was just some kind of nasty gossip maybe. Surely, things like that didn't happen, right? But looking over toward the egg in question, she wasn't quite sure. It looked really ... rather sad, over there all alone. Well, maybe it wasn't actually dead. Hopefully not. Biting her lip slightly, Nessa edged that direction just a bit. It also helped that it meant she was moving away from the angry blue Hatchling.

When he reached his twin at last it was just as another set of twins almost identical as the boys themselves hatched. Grinning he draped his arms around his twins shoulders leaning in against his back. "Surprise, I made it. Ohhh twins, just like us." he whispered softly with a grin, which faltered when the two both went to one boy as if asking him to choose. That was unheard of, and surly not a good thing for the one that wasn't selected. Would it go between like the first? He sighed and his arms slid further round Helios in an odd backward hug.

"You're late!." Helios scolded quietly but not too seriously. In fact, he was rather relieved that Jetta finally made it. It was hard to think of being at a hatching without him. Leaning back into his brothers arms, he felt the world was right once more. "Where were you?" he questioned lightly with a mom-like voice as his finger wagged just a little.

Then, he glanced over at the two green dragons. "Yes, twins but I don't think they are that much like us..." he answered back just as softly "I'm not sure they like each other. Maybe more like rivals than friends. I have a bad feeling about the one that doesn't get accepted by that kid." He paused and glanced back over at Jetta, "Even if I do get angry with you at times...You're never going to just disappear on me...right?"

The question popped into his head when he thought of the odd situation these two greens were in. But...it was their choice to be in that situation, but still...it just didn't seem right to him. Would the other dragon choose a different partner? He guessed not. Maybe that was the similarity, these dragons both had a sense of stubbornness. In that way they did seem like Jetta and himself. He had to think that Jetta would be more reasonable than these dragons seemed to be. With that more assuring thought in mind, he sighed and squeezed Jetta's hand.

She was gone. It was almost a physical pain, and the young brown couldn't help keening softly to himself. It wasn't fair. "Lateth, please don't go..." He didn't share the useless plea with anyone, his words were private, meant for a person who no longer existed... It was too late. She was gone. Hers had chosen a different dragon, Laseth. Maybe not remembering things would be nice in some ways. "I won't forget you." In other ways, remembering was good. Maybe a part of her would live on in the minds of all of those who had seen her brief existance. He wished he'd known the name of the green that had gone between before he hatched.

"Are you alright?" Fealty touched his lifemate's shoulder gently, feeling a lump form in his throat as the dragonets feelings washed over him. He hadn't been so close to tears since he was about thirteen. Are you alright was a stupid thing to ask, really, he could feel very well that His wasn't alright just now. "You will be. Try to celebrate the successes for now, at least one of them Impressed."

"Yes," Dith sighed heavily, a very faint hint of green fading into his greyed eyes, "Laseth is alright. I'm alright. Those of us here are alright. We've found Ours, and there are clutchamtes still to hatch. I'm sure they'll find theirs too." He hoped they would anyway. Poor Lateth... Later. He could mourn her later. This was a time of joy, as His said. Bonds were being made, and he had found the best of them. Crooning softly as his eyes faded fully into green (albeit dull green) Dith nuzzled his rider. "I love you, Fealty."

Helios briefly smiled at his brother's whine and reached back to tap his nose once for good measure. "You can't?" he childed him back just a tiny bit then nodded as he looked towards the queen egg. "I'm glad that we could never have that job." While Helios didn't mind work, he wouldn't want to be dealing with a Gold. Too many extra duties came with a gold and was glad he was born as a male. Not that the challenge wouldn't be intriguing...

"Good. I'd get really mad if you did." he whispered back with a decided foot planting in the sand. Helios actually didn't care to watch much more of the Light and Dark green. Because the feeling of that dreaded outcome had come to his mind just moments before. And now that vision came into their Reality in such a sad way. He wondered how that new rider would feel about his choice. Forever haunted...he could imagine.

Sighing slowly he took in his brother's words as a supportive reminder and patted Jetta's head against his own curls. Then he took in a deeper breath and hoped that the rest of this hatching would finish off without any more disturbing events.

He really didn't think that the newcomers had anything to do with what was happening with the dragons. Dragons many times weren't reasonable with their first few choices. He wondered if there were a better way to conduct hatchings...and touchings. Maybe research would be in order when he had more merits to his crafting skills. Ideas wouldn't reach the folks in Ghenza without proof...and that...could take a lifetime.

H'ex looked on as his bronze finally finished wolfing down his food and settled down at his feet. He did not envy that poor Candidate, not the decision or the guilt he was certain would follow when the other green turned away and blinked Between forever.

Tialzieth rose then and keened his grief, loudly, mourning the loss of a sister and for a moment H'ex felt the weight of the world settle on his heart, and a flash of anger sparked by the death the boy's choice had caused. The bronze did not voice any words, thankfully, only bugled mournfully, his gaze fixed on the spot the green had been a moment before.

Turning away from the hatching then, Hivex dropped into a crouch and turned the bronze's eyes to him, We will remember her. And the boy's choice. One Impressed, that is better then none. It was sad. Ghenza had now lost two dragons to Between and a third was dead... it really was proving to be an unfortunate clutch.

But this is such a sad story, Mine. Surely others mourn too... a sister is lost. It is his fault. the bronze murmured sadly, tail flicking back and forth as he leaned against his bonded, eyes whirling with emotional distress. Distress Hivex was trying to ease by smoothing his hand over the bronze's neck in a gentle fashion - a technique he'd learned in dealing with upset and crying sisters. Gentle words and gentle touch normally calmed them so hopefully it would work for Tialzieth.

Panata had to cover his mouth and look away when the boy's decision had lead the unchosen Green to jump Between forever, his heart aching slightly for the beast. It was something they had all expected, there could be only one dragon for a rider, but it still didn't make it easier on all those who witnessed such an event. Ghenza would probably not forget this day, and Panata knew he certainly wouldn't for a variety of reasons. The largest one of course was the dragonet that still had its head smooshed against his body as if he could protect him from everything, but there were a few small things here and there.

"Wilth, are you full? You're not feeling hungry anymore, so I think we'd best stop eating and wait for the others to come over. Sound good?"

He tried to sound reassuring, to take the Bronze's mind off the whirling emotions he was clearly feeling. Panata could sense the terror that he still felt about everything around him, the sadness he felt over hearing the other Bronze bugle into the sky, as well as the pure love and joy that echoed out of his being about staying together forever with P'ta. It was working, the rapid yellow muting to a greenish yellow hue, though the trembling did not cease. That didn't matter, they'd be alright for now.

"I wonder what's going to happen next. Did another egg hatch, Fealty?"

He addressed the boy he knew by his former name still, unsure as to what to call him. Shards, he hadn't even thought of a name for himself!

"Not yet," Fealty craned his neck to look over at the sands, "the next will be soon though I think..." Love. Mmmh... How was he supposed to deal with that, anyway? Dith was still nuzzling against him, so he stroked the dark head gently. Yes, of course he loved Dith too but... but how could he say that? He was no good at this.

"I know," Dith raised his head and flicked his green tongue out to lick Fealty's face, "I know you're no good at it all, but I know you love me. If it's too hard, you never have to say it. I'll always know."

Well, that settled that then. Fealty smiled slightly at his dragon before shoving the dark brown nose out of his face. "Get'off me you beast," he muttered. "If I wanted to be slobbered on I'd, err, I'd've bought a canine."