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Aila sat in the Stands, close to the front. She was near the entrance for the purpose of intercepting the injured once the hatching was over. She knew all too well that last thing an injured new weyrling wanted to do was visit the infirmary, so she had some light supplies with her and planned to go around afterwards patching them up again. Back before thread, it was one of the only times she saw real injuries around here.

Already several candidates had been injured. Aila held her head in her hand and sighed. Though it was a happy occasion, she felt her mood deflating. So many hatchlings had already betweened, everyone a potential fighting dragon that could have helped them protect Pern. Only the splitting of the gold egg perked her up.

Ooh, there's the pretty little queen, Tanzith. she said, sitting up. She reminds me of you.
Tanzith made a small noise of agreement. Only her dragon could understand that gold made her think of Tansy, a medicinal herb that boiled down to a golden-yellow, which sounded like Tanzy, Aila's nickname for him. Her assosiations often skipped a step. No one else would see the resemblance, but Tanzith appreciated the pun.

She watched the queen sit down patiently in the Sands. While others were rushing around, she seemed content to sit and watch. Aila chuckled. What a tease! Surely every girl on the Sands would be itching to know who she'd chose.

Yet there was something worrying about the way she wasn't moving. Aila fell silent as she thought about that little bronze, the green before it, and its blue brother. Switching moods quickly, she held her breath as she watched the queen, barely daring to voice what she was thinking. She won't between will she?
The gold just sat there, eyes swirling red. Aila's hands tightened. "Oh, she won't, will she?!" she whispered out loud, nerves spilling over.
I'm sure she won't. Tanzith assured her.

The small eggs attempts did not go unnoticed by Mecesa. With so few eggs remaining any movement was noticed. Every time the egg started to move again, every attempt at freedom the girl would hope that the hatchling would make it's way out. But the egg was so small and it's movements seemed to have so little strength behind it. The egg stopped moving and Cesa let out a sad sigh as the creature abandoned it's fight. Some of them just couldn't make it alone, and sadly this was one of those things they had to do by themselves. It was just the way things were, if a dragon couldn't get out of it's egg then it probably wouldn't be very strong. It may never be able to even fight thread. The stories of the white dragon were hardly enough to base helping possibly incapable hatchlings. The blue earlier had showed it well enough, some hatchlings just couldn't survive. It was a harsh rule, but one to be accepted.

But not by all it would seem. Still looking at the egg, Cesa didn't notice T'rel's movements until they were pointed out to her. Another kitchen worker gently touched Mecesa's arm to get her attention and then pointed as the Weyrleader made his way down the stands. Sitting upright the girl craned her neck to see what he was doing. What could possibly be important enough to interrupt a hatching? It wasn't until he climbed down onto the sands that Cesa realised. Her eyes widened as she got up and made her way down after him. What was he thinking? He wasn't allowed to interfere. He'd get himself into trouble, that was if one of the remaining hatchlings didn't stumble across him and decide to take a chunk out first. What would the clutchmother think?! Ash would surely kill him for creating such a scene.

By the the time he began to pull at the shell Cesa was sure that every pair of eyes in the cavern were on the bronzerider. Surely they would think he had gone absolutely mad. He had to stop now. What if the poor thing was already dead. That wasn't a sight anyone wanted to see and there was every chance it had already launched itself between. The cracks grew bigger and Cesa found she just couldn't move fast enough. She was gonna kill him for this. He couldn't just discard tradition and laws as and when he pleased. He was the Weyrleader for sharding sake. He upheld the rules, not threw them out.

When the hatchling tumbled out of her shell Cesa froze. What had he done. She wanted to scream at him. Look at her, she didn't even seem to have the strength to stand. Wasn't it just cruel to force her out? Who knew what state the green's mind was in with her body being the size it was. T'rel had better be hoping himself between that she found someone, because if she didn't then this whole painful spectacle would have been for nothing. In that moment Cesa was torn between wanting to help the green and go down there and beat the senses out of T'rel. She just looked so small on the sands alone.

The tiny hatchling pulled herself to her feet and made her way to the stands without even a glance at the remaining candidates. Judge me not by my size, A voice slipped into Cesa's mind and she found everything went still in the moment. Ice slid through her at the thought. No. This couldn't be happening. I do not need size to prove my strength. I am your Yodith, mine, and you are my Cesa. Her Yodith? Her Cesa? This wasn't supposed to happen. Cesa had never wanted to Impress, she'd never even tried.

Why do you stay up there? The voice sounded so confused that she was not with her. Did you not expect me? Well how could she have? She had been to numerous hatchings in her lifetime and this situation had never occurred. Nobody freed hatchlings. It didn't happen. Today it happened. Yodith's voice continued to sound in Cesa's mind and it unnerved her how much comfort she took in the sound. Mine, why do you still stay away from me? Do you not want me? The note of panic in the green's voice set Cesa's heart pounding. She saw her small eyes whirl in alarm and her take a step back. She could feel what was there in her mind. What was there here if hers did not want her? She could not exist without hers. But hers did not want her. She had no choice. It was her Cesa or... or...

"No!" Cesa shouted before Yodith was allowed to finish the thought. Faster than before, driven by pure fear Mecesa ran down onto the sands. Yodith ran towards her and Cesa knelt just in time to catch the tiny hatchlings as she jumped into her arms. Yodith made small crying sounds as Cesa carefully stroked her back. She was not good enough for hers. In her panicked state the green could not find it in her to see her positives. Hers had only seen her size. Not the strength that she held. Her Cesa had thought her weak, she was not good enough. Every sound and every thought tore at Cesa's heart and she soon found tears running down her face as she apologised to the hatchling over and over. "I do not think that, Yodith, truly I don't. You're prefect, just as you are. I wouldn't change you for anything."

The green's actions weren't quite enough. T'rel did back away, seeming somewhat frightened (he'd been mauled more than once, and wasn't looking forward to experiencing that again). As soon as she headed towards Nati, however, the man gave a relieved smile. He didn't seem at all eager to leave the sands--what if another dragonet needed him? What if, if he went back to the stands, he couldn't get to them in time?

The gold sitting in the middle of the sands up to now had been twitching her tail impatiently. Almost as if she had been waiting for something to happen. She rose carefully, and set glowing, red eyes upon T'rel. How dare he come onto the sands? How dare he stay? She was grateful that he had helped Yodith, but really! He had to go! He was stealing her audience! She snorted, and quickly made her way over to him. She swiped a claw at the man. It was a warning. Leave now, or get hurt.

T'rel, gullible as he was, had taken it as a threat. Or perhaps he was too frightened to do much else. He ran up into the stands. "Z'iv," he breathed, "That gold wants to kill me."

Well, now she was clean and much more presentable! The green pushed herself back up from her sitting position and shook herself free of any sand that might've stuck to her. A glance was cast towards her golden sister, as if she was deciding if the other would be okay by herself. Eh, she'd have to learn anyways. And with that the neat green began to make her way towards the females. There was no hesitation in her body, she seemed to have made up her mind long ago. This one could not afford to be hesitant, there was much to be done! Kyya! Kyya! Come out here right now! There is much you and your Padmith must do! Pausing in the middle of the candidates, she waited for her chosen to come to her. She did come half way, now it was Kyya's turn. Before that, we must get myself fed. I hunger greatly, mine.




Well, this was just lovely. That one had gone and got hers before she had! The other half of the arguing pair was not happy at all. Eyes had begun to swirl an reddish-orange and seemed to be on the edge of lashing out at those around her. But the candidates were saved, for just as she was about to reach out her eyes landed on just what she was looking for. THERE you are! The green hissed as she approached the girl, her voice angrily making it's way into Selta's head. How dare you hide from your Imperith! Did you not see me looking for you? No matter, you will feed me now! Let us go before the others eat all of it.

Selta rushed to the Hatching Grounds, struggling to get her robe on. Of all the sharding days that she decided to take a morning walk-! Nearly tripping over the robes trailing end, she whirled around the corner and burst out onto the sands. For Faranth's sake! There were only a few eggs left! By the Shell! She struggled across the burning sands, having completely forgotten her sandals, and hopped one foot to the other in place, a little behind the few remaining girls. Craning her neck around, she tried to spot just how many eggs were left. Already there was a good grouping of newly paired riders off to the side, trying to stuff meat down the greedy gullets of the dragonets.

Eyebrows drawn tightly together, Selta scooted to one side to have a better view of the remaining eggs and the new riders. Her inner dialogue was tending towards violent and highly unlady-like at this moment. What if she missed her chance to Impress? What if the dragonet that was supposed to be hers, went between because she wasn't here when it hatched? Thoughts were running a mile a minute in her mind as she waited with the few others for the last eggs to hatch.

Near the center of the clutch's remains was an egg that hadn't so much as twitched the entire length of the hatching. The egg had long since faded from the minds of spectators. It hadn't moved, it was probably another dud. Suddenly the egg rocked hard enough to fall onto it's side. Was it that time already? Sorry, they'd gotten distracted and hadn't realised how much time had gone. Oh dear, now they were late. The egg immediately kicked into action, bouncing and rolling with an energy that was surprising given it had been so still just moments before. Small cracks began to appear all across the eggs surface. The hatchling clearly wasn't thinking to target a particular area. Eventually the egg rolled again and the force was enough for it to completely shatter, leaving a lithe green lying on her back in the remains.

Rocking herself upright the green's head whipped around. Oh, her's was still here weren't they? It would be a shame if she had to traipse all over this big place to find them. She'd much rather they were still stood on the sands somewhere. Shaking off any remaining egg the green set off towards the candidates. She was clearly a happy little thing, head held high and with a slight bounce in her step. The green seemed very close to trotting.

Not far from the candidates the green stopped suddenly and looked down at the sand. Now what was that? The green pounced forward and began to dig through the sand, most of her head disappearing into the hole she very quickly made. The green gave a happy chirp as her tail waved about in the air as her head re-emerged from the hole with a rather large, smooth, black, stone in her mouth. Holding her treasure the green resumed her skip towards the candidates.

Swerving away from the females the dainty thing spotted who she wanted amongst the males. A happy trill escaped her sand covered maw, although it was slightly muffled by the stone held in her jaws. Bounding over the green skidded to a halt in front of a lad. My T’lin! Look what I found! The green dropped the stone and shuffled from side to side in her excitement. Looking quickly from T’lin to the stone and then back again. It is very pretty, isn’t it, mine? Is it pretty like your Naomith? I found it for you. The green stopped and an audible sound came from her stomach. My T’lin, I am very hungry. Will you feed me? I did bring you this pretty like me thing.

A large egg cracked open, revealing an equally large bronze. He walked out of the shell stiffly, as if he was sore, and then looked around the Hatching grounds. His eyes immediately went yellow in concern. Would he find his? He didn't seem to think so. He lowered his head and gloomily made his way to the male candidates. He studied each with increasing distress. His was not here! His was not here! He gave a sorrowful keen, but then--then!

Mine! My F'vian! I have found you at last! Why were you hiding from your Cethrith? I could not find you! Come, let us go get something to eat! Surely they have eaten it all by now! Will you come get me? I will guide you, if we do not get eaten by tunnelsnakes.

The bronze sat, waiting for his to come to him. He clearly did not trust himself to find F'vian on his own.

Cami stood at the back of the sands, gaping and just a little bit out of breath.She had arrived at Ista as an emergency candidate and not a moment later she was having a white gown thrust on her and being pushed out into a room of hot sand in front of a large clutch of eggs. She found the whole process somehwat confusing -she didn't know much about dragons and the likes- but was enjoying it nonetheless. It was so deliciously new to her.

She watched the entire process with awe, from the joy of impression to the grief of the hatchlings betweening. Every dragon had its own personality, already its own little person. Every one of them fascinated her. And yet, so far, not one had been particularly fascinated by her!

But Cami didn't mind. She rocked back on her heels and hummed softly to herself. She was getting to see the most amazing show, after all! Nothing back home could even begin to compare!

((Rushed! >.< ))