|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dragonriders of Pern Shop Captain
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 1:59 pm
The combined sadness on the sands made the little green still partially in her egg give a low warble. For a moment the nose disappeared, almost as though the green had decided to stay firmly put within her shell. It was a good decision, as within seconds the Candy Cane egg shattered, flinging bits of egg shell into all of the nearby eggs. Another green, darkest so far, stood in the remaining pieces. She seemed a little perplexed at first, blinking at the gathered candidates. Then, she took several tentative steps forward, clearly very nervous. As she neared the gathering, she gave a small sniff and then froze.
Any blue that had been left in her eyes vanished in an instant as she backpedalled, tripping over her feet in a desperate attempt to get away. Eyes now whirling bring yellow, she screamed to all minds, THE PLAGUE! THE PLAGUE! It looked like the Ghenza clutch had finally found its germaphobe.
As she turned to flee back to her mother, Sajyeth bellowed, clearly instructing her to return to the candidates. The green skidded to a halt, torn between the command of the gold and her obvious fear of those she was supposed to choose from. Unable to disobey an order but clearly unable to even think of bonding to an infected person, the green gave a final screech of THE PLAGUE! before she too was gone.
From her position by Sajyeth's side, Nalina frowned darkly.
The Shaking Egg green gave a frightened chirp, and received a bellow from her gold mother as well. Unlike her sister, however, the green took off like a shot. Still with her foot stuck in her egg, the green raced across the sands towards one very particular little girl.
Rinee! Your Jenith is afraid! Do not let her disappear like the others!. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:09 pm
"No!" Her name! What had her name been? He had felt as if he almost knew it but then she was gone. Three between, one never to hatch? Too much! Was it meant to be like this? By looking around, he didn't think so. Giving another quiet keen, Dith lent against his lifemate and wrapped a wing up around his shoulders. "M'glad I heard you from inside my shell," he murmured, "or I might have gone like them."
Well he'd never seen a hatching like this before. Three out of fourteen so far, and the queen still to hatch. If she vanished, or went to someone from High Reaches, there would be uproar. They would all be hated, but they wouldn't be hurt... right? Nobody would try to hurt Dith over this, would they? They wouldn't. They wouldn't. He'd stop them, somehow. Nothing would hurt the large, lanky, currently agonized dragon beside him. He would always be there to stop that.
"I know," Dith replied softly, " but why Mine? Why did they have to die?"
Fealty sighed and stroked his lifemate's long neck gently. "I don't know Dith. I really don't know."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:11 pm
Rinee! Your Jenith is afraid!
At first the voice of another in her mind left Rinee confused, and standing there just blinking, but then;
Do not let her disappear like the others!.
More tears welled up in the little girl's eyes, hear heart beat so strangely, as if the plea were wrenching it from Rinee's own chest. Oh! The young one was scared! Rinee had been afraid as well, "I'd never let you disappear!" Emotionally then she embraced the young dragon in that sweetest way that only a young girl could achieve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:31 pm
. . . . .
There was a rumbling from within the cowering Bronze at the latest whirl of activity, his heart once again starting to pound heavily as yet another sibling's presence disappeared between. They had been screaming something of the plague, a terrored idea Wilth couldn't understand but knew to be bad thanks to how Panata had tensed at such words and actually pulled the bronze's head closer to his chest.
This clutch was turning out all wrong, did he actually find himself wishing for bloodshed over the deaths of all these dragons? Would he rather watch humans die than watch a dragon go painlessly? How could he even think such thoughts? It shamed him that he'd actually let himself get that far down the track, and he lowered himself to the ground before noticing that Wilth had done the same, the Bronze all but laying on top of him. If anyone wasn't looking they probably could not see the boy beneath the folded wings, but they were there together, and they both were crying (or dragon crying equivalent!).
Wilth had been a lucky one it seemed to have Panata here for him. So very lucky.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:36 pm
"They need us!" Wilth's distress blessedly shoved his own out of his mind, and Dith moved over to the larger dragonet, draping a wing over him as far as it would go. "We're here for you," he told Panata and Wilth, "I know it hurts but we're here, and we'll always be here to look after you. Whatever's wrong, I'll do what I can to fix it, okay? We can't help our sisters now, remember them but look to tomorrow." Whatever it took, whatever he had to do he would look after the people around him. Life and happiness were so delicate, how could he not try to protect those things?
...Well what was he meant to do? He had never really tried to look after anyone but himself in the long term, but Dith was pledging forever and... and he could do nothing but go along with it. As they said, the dragon decides and the rider complies. "Yes... we're here."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:41 pm
A hush fell over the gathered humans when the Gold Speckled Egg began to wobble, still bearing the shattered pieces of the Candy Cane egg. Sojayeth quieted once again and watched the egg with an almost unrivalled intensity. It was the moment of truth. Would this gold hatch properly? Would she go Between? Or worse, pick a High Reaches candidate?
Only time would tell.
The egg continued to rock gently, cracks appearing near the top as the dragon inside began to break her shell.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dragonriders of Pern Shop Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:48 pm
"well we're as close as any rider and dragon pair and closer than dragon twins it seems." he mused. "I might not be able to see into your mind but I know what your thinking most of the time.So I could never disappear on you." he added with a wry smile. Fingers crossed the rest of the hatching would go off without a hitch, the small shy little green snout was promising, unsure but in no great hurry to dash between like the first and clearly alive and capable of breaking out of its shell.
But the drama of the hatching was not done yet, oh no. As the first green vanished back to safety the next one practicably exploded screaming in panic, Instantly Jetta tried to reach out to calm it with his mind, the moment of panic the frightened words had caused amongst the crowd really not helping the situation. He released Helios from the reverse hug and took up position beside him, his hand searching out his twins so the fingers could entwine, offering a small comfort and protection.
This situation was ridiculous and he felt like he wanted to shrink back into the forest and brood on the events, try and figure it all out. Not that it would do any good and he had to watch this through to the end, it was new and mostly unexplained, his calling, his curiosity and mostly his brother kept his rooted to the spot watching in what had become mute concern and disbelief.
At least the last green impressed smoothly enough, frightened, which was understandable but at least bonded and moving off the sands with his bonded partner, all they could hope for now was that the same would be true for the gold that now started to show the first signs of hatching with its slow rocking. Shaking and quivering the new gold of Ghenza took action to show it would soon be arriving. Weather that would also include a brief parting like her sisters weighed heavily on his mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:53 pm
This hatching had been almost as exciting as the one at Telgar. And more terrifying, in some ways.
Dragonets choosing death as Theirs were not there... how many had been lost due to the secluded society of Ghenza? Jada reached up, absently about to twirl a strand of her dark hair, only to remember just how much of it she had shorn off before she came to Ghenza.
The specifics of how she had gotten here were still confused in her mind (M'dor was certainly convincing. His tongue had to be golden.) but she'd been dropped off about a day after the arrival of the High Reaches weyrlings and a few others. She'd only told the Ghenzans she was a late arrival, and they had assumed she was from High Reaches, and thus was beneath the notice of most of them.
She was shoved towards the back of the people standing around the sands, getting only brief glimpses of the events, mostly knowing what was going on because of whispers.
Fourteen eggs. Thirteen hatched, and four of those gone between. A loss for any Weyr. She scribbled something in the small notebook M'dor had given her to take notes in before she left.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:58 pm
Mine, Rayth crooned quietly, forgetting all about his choking and Bajenth's scolding of his rider. They keep going...I think we should have done something...
"I..." B'hec set down the hunk of meat he'd selected for his dragon back down. Rayth clearly wouldn't be eating much more on this morning. "I know. But I don't think we could have helped," the newly made rider sighed, glancing around at the others. It didn't look like anyone was handling it well, especially the dragons. All the High Reaches folk were huddled together and- B'hec reached down to stroke Rayth's head.
The Queen...
"...please...for the love of Ghenza..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:59 pm
Wilth just barely lifted one of his wings to acknowledge his clutchsiblings's actions and words, his focus still on the boy who sat on the ground with tears on his face. It didn't matter that the Queen egg was now hatching, that if something happened to her there would be trouble for everyone on the grounds that was not from Ghenza. Those who were outsiders, would cruelty come to them? Would the boy who cried with him become hurt by the people who were from his native land?
The Bronze did not like that idea at all, so he drew his wings closer around himself and His, together trying to ignore all else. Panata was protecting Wilth even if he didn't seem like it, just like Dith was trying to protect them. It made him happy to know he had the love and support of his brother, even when there were many who eagerly turned away from him - including his Queen.
The pair stayed silent until Panata broke them apart, sensing that the Gold was ready to hatch based on the feelings of the dragons around them. Wilth may not have been talking, but certainly the air was filled with sound.
"Come. We must watch your new Queen."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dragonriders of Pern Shop Captain
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:04 pm
With a well-placed kick the egg cracked straight down the middle, revealing the dragon within. The freshly hatched gold sat down and blinked, apparently a little dazzled by all the attention (or perhaps just the sudden light). Sojayeth was still eyeing her fiercely, however the little dragon didn't even seem to notice. All those people! And they were looking at her!
She gave a little chirrup and got to her feet, rustling her wings as she tried to figure out the best way to put them. Compared with some of the earlier greens, she seemed confident, and there was a definite hope that she would find hers. Daintily, she made her way across the sands towards the candidates, turning her head this way and that as she looked for Hers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:05 pm
"Oh, yes, another sister!" Still with his wing over Wilth, Dith turned to observe the golden dragonet; he hoped this one Impressed alright, it would be awful to lose a fourth today.
"Worse for it being a gold," Fealty commented.
"Eh?" Dith cocked his head quizzically. "So why's that? She's not worth more than my other sisters just for her colour. I might end up liking her better for who she is, but just for her colour?"
Fealty shrugged. "I don't know, it's how most people at High Reaches feel. Golds are the best."
"Ahahah! Really?" Dith snorted and shook his head. "What a strange place you come from Mine. It's a wonder you know up from down!" But now another sister was coming, and he had to hope for her to find hers. He could tease Fealty later, right now this mattered more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:10 pm
Tialzieth was startled by the germophobe's reaction when she hatched and jumped, lifting his head to sniff at the air as well only to find he couldn't notice anything. When the senior bellowed, he stopped and backed away, instinctively shrinking away from the large and powerful gold. Then the green went screaming Between and again he keened in mourning.
She might not have liked the plague... but, she... she should have found Hers. Why did she choose death? Was Hers not here? Tialzieth didn't think was the case and so the sorrow was mixed deep confusion.
Hivex patted the bronze and pointed to the green that next appeared, "See? There, she's Impressed. Not all are lost."
Tialzieth glanced to Hivex, who's expression was sour, then back to the eggs and how the green still had some of her egg stuck to her foot. He rumbled at that and crooned a greeting to his sibling, flaring stubby wings to welcome her, the last of the lot. They'd survived this ordeal... and he felt lucky. If His had not been here... he too would have chosen Between.
And then the gold egg began to hatch and a hush had fallen over those gathered. Tialzieth, immediately interested, crooned in encouragement and padded forward a little, nodding to his dam but his eyes were intent upon the golden egg. When it hatched at the gold stepped forward, composed, Tialzieth grinned and called out more loudly as he toddled further forward still only stopping to bow in recognition as she began to look.
He could feel her calmness and so he felt excited for her, rather then worried. Find Yours quickly!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:10 pm
Varianth ate everything quickly sending side long glances at those he considered traitors to Ghenza. He didn't like those that were not from his homeland to be so near to him, even those in his clutch who had impressed from the Weyr were hissed at as he gobbled his meal.
Please eat slower, Varianth, R'sey instructed patting the red eyed blue with one hand as he handed small scraps of meat over with the other. You will get a stomach ache.
I will not, Varianth answered as he licked the palm of his rider's hand.
Look, the Queen is hatching, R'sey felt a wave of excitement and dread, what if she impresses to someone from the Weyr?
Then she will be like the others, she will not be one of us. Varianth put it in a way that he thought would be simple to understand.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:12 pm
Panata was watching the Gold as she moved around, demonstrating all the natural airs that one would put off as they went about picking their chosen rider. It reminded him a bit of Sharath and his first standing, that proud and lovely Queen, and it was odd how he suddenly wanted to see her again. He knew Amelia to be here at Ghenza, all of the hatched Riders had come along, yet he had made no efforts to seek her out. Were they not friends? He should go and find her, and bring Wilth along. It would be fun to see their dragons side by side, with his little one almost the same size the Queen had been at her hatching.
Sharath? Amelia?
Wilth's thoughts stabbed into his own, the words spoken with every bit of fear that could be expected. Up until now Panata had not been thinking of anyone else but Wilth, so for the bronze to get images and thoughts of new people was disheartening if not a bit frightening.
"They're the Queen and her Rider from our Home."
Ghenza?
More fear, but was that a hint of excitement? No, it was fear.
"No, High Reaches. The place we will return to someday."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
