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Veyes tried to remain focused on the bronze after the blue impressed just because the curiosity was eating at him even as a slight tickle started to grasp at his chest. He tried to ignore the feeling as he rubbed his chest. It had to be nerves so he wouldn't complain about the discomfort; he'd been through a lot worse in his life. He continued to stare at the bronze feeling like it was the only keeping him in focus; his mind had a bad habit of drifting away. Today, was harder than usual though; he really had to stare to keep himself in the right frame of mind. So he tried to ponder questions that might help him...Was the bronze arrogant enough to wait for them to line up for a one by one inspection? Or maybe, it truly was waiting for someone to step forward? He moved one step closer and paused to scratch his chest from the tickling within not wanting to have a coughing fit and disturb the sanctity of the sands

Glancing around, he sought another distraction as he realized the bronze seemed to be taking his own sweet time, he spied Conomor on the sands. He was thankful to see him on the sands even if they weren't friends anymore. The other had such terrible luck in the past getting to a hatching that it seemed like now the tides had shifted. He'd made it to his second hatching and Veyes could only guess that Con was very happy with that. Veyes smiled at the thought while he wished the sands didn't feel so sharding hot today.

For once Ren had managed to get washed up and finish his meal in reasonable time. He had done his latrine duty and scrubbed up that morning which actually suited him better as his other tasks then seemed easy and even pleasant in comparison. And when he was able to slump into his cot early that night he was extremely grateful Curling up and dragged down to dreamland within the first few seconds of head and pillow contact. Plus he didn’t have to worry about unpleasentries in the night, since the touching tension and excitement had all been high in the Weyr but mostly with positive effects and Ren found that he could blend back into the background, who cared about a past hatching feast when another was so close?

It was true that everyone had been on edge for the hatching but Ren at least thought it would be during the day and so when the humming came and pushed him from the state of unconscious bliss he rolled over and pulled his furs over his head. Waving a casual hand through the air as if to banish a bug that was singing in his ear. Shading insects. It was lucky therefore that Ren was in an over crowded part of candidates brackets and sleeping on the floor. So he was woken promptly when one of the candidates scrambling to get to the sands and more quick to wake stepped on his hand. He yelped and bolted up as his poor fingers throbbed instantly sticking them in his mouth to try and sooth them.

But the humming suddenly became clearer and the connection clicked in his mind to what it meant, the hatching! And suddenly he was scrambling out of beds and grabbing for his robes like all the rest. Unfortunately he was in such a rush to get them on that he managed to catch the robe on the edge of the robe on a nearby chess and with a horrendous ripping sound the white fabric tore right along the hem of the shoulder so across the top of the left sleeve it had completely come apart. Panic ensued ad he threw open his chest searching manically for something to pin the robe with so that it would at least not be hanging off his shoulder.

It was only by blind luck that he managed to find a pin in the bottom of the chest, using it to hold the tear together he pulled it more gently over his head. It held…just. But hopefully he wouldn’t need it again. But he knew he could be disappointed as last time. Still he had to try, even if he was going to be late. And he had to look on the bright side, even if he failed to impress no more latrine duty!

Once he managed to get the sandals on without breaking them he didn’t waste time falling into a dead run towards the hatching sands. Slowing as he saw the press of candidate shuffling inside just in time to see the blue shaking off its shell. But a Bronze was already standing. That meant a Bronze had hatched first! Surely a sign of good luck for this hatching. Two hatched, what a relief he hadn’t missed it completely. He eased himself to somewhere he could see clearly but wasn’t pressed to the front of blocking any others. When he had settled and looked back at the sands the blue had alredy impressed but the bronze still stood and waited. Oh he hoped that he would find his bonded soon. It would be awful if a bronze went between and silently he willed the baby onwards to its match. And hoped it would be him.

Okassis was doing fine and dandy, standing like a fardling dimglow where everyone could see if (he couldn't tell himself, when) the bronze turned him down for another Candidate. He was a Trader; getting attention was usually a means of sustenance, and spinning bad opinion into good was just part of what he did.

But then someone - a boy around his age, built skinny where Okassis had bulk - pulled up beside him. Trying, as hard as he was, to catch the interest of the little bronze. Being confident and unshakable, where Okassis was being cautious and contemplative.

The sands were no place for competition. Staying calm and greeting the new Hatchlings into as calm an environment as possible was key, no matter how badly you wanted something. But Okassis never could stand down from an obvious challenge; and besides, he always rose to competition.

His glance toward Ceanandin was brief, almost insultingly so; but then he was grinning, turning his attention back to the bronze, pulling himself together and projecting himself and his personality in that way that came so naturally for public players, people that had to stand out in a crowd to win their dinner. Reservations, rationalizations, cautions; all of them, forgotten. Come on, he urged the young bronze. Come on, little guy. It's your pick today. You can pick anyone here, and you'll be good - but if you pick me, then the two of us, we'll be great.

Denik couldn't help but grin when the blue impressed. Even though he had already been to a hatching and stood on the sands, he still felt happy for the candidates that were partnered.
He knew from the beginning that it could take longer for him, as he was a lot younger than the other candidates. Denik didn't mind though, because it gave him the chance to see lots of hatchings.

He glanced wonderingly at the bronze. It seemed to be taking its time, and he hoped its partner was somewhere on the sands.

As he watched the bronze, the shaking eggs, and the other candidates, Denik thought back to a little while earlier. His flit had woken up right before the humming of the dragons. The green woke up Denik before adding her voice to the dragons'. He was sure that his roommates weren't happy with the awakening...until they realized it was for the hatching.

It had taken Kiriwar a moment to spot his fellow roommates, blinking slowly, before he began to carefully make his way over to them, biting his bottom lip. He only prayed he didn't interrupt anything as he walked through the crowd. Finally, he came up to Jessan, Notos, and Jiriar, reaching out to touch Jessan's shoulder and smiling faintly. He nodded silently in greeting, keeping up with their promise to stand together on the Sands.

Now they just had to wait.

Late again. For once in his sharding life could he NOT be late? Oh wait, that would require falling asleep at a reasonable hour. That or stop working in forges all day and forgetting when to stop. An by the Thread he wasn't going to just up and abandon his work! Not when it was fun and got him out of some chores anyway.

Arriving at the Sands, Dorinelic paused, noticing the already hatched eggs. Had he truly over slept so much? Waiting for a small crowd to pass, Dorinelic tried to make his way to what he guessed would become his traditional spot along the back wall. Granted, when and egg hatched, he would move up, but, the other candidates did arrive first and he was a bit taller then many of the younger ones.

Taking in the full view of the Sands, he noticed that the bronze was still on the Sands. The thing had yet to go up to any candidate, while its clutch mate was already with another. Part of it made Dorinelic's mind fall to the grim possibility that its chosen was not there, and it would go Between, as they were supposedly to do when they did not bond. His first hatching had be without this event, and from what Dorinelic knew, it was quite uncommon. If it were to happen...while it would be sad and a bit disappointing, it would still be out of his hands. If the hatchling could not find its chosen, by what right could it remain? To be born and then suffer such a fate...To be born alone. Truly, a dismal prospect. Looking once more at the bronze, he hoped it would indeed find its chosen and it would not be forced into the only other option.

But in looking at the yet impressed bronze, he noticed something a bit funny. A small group of young men, maybe even close to his own age, standing a bit further out then the rest of the candidates. Did they even noticed how...odd they looked standing there like a clutch of eggs themselves? Not only that but they looked ready to and jump at the bronze if given the chance! Though he wasn't sure if it was common of not, it seemed almost a bit rude to stand to far away from the rest of the candidates.
Walking to them, a bit slowly, he scuffed his sandal in the hot sand, trying to get the boy's attention. He hissed at them as well, trying to keep his voice low. "You all look like you're farding ready to attack it! Get back with the rest of us before you are made to look like a bunch of fool more then you already are!"

Wait, really? Really? Did Mal just hear what he thought he did? Did a late Candidate just berate some others for looking ‘foolish’? The ex-Harper had to shove his hand in front of his mouth to keep from sniggering. Seriously? How foolish could a person really get?!

Of course, if he had attended the last Hatching Feast instead of getting in trouble, he’d know just how foolish Dorin could be… honestly, though, trying to lecture other Candidates on looking foolish after walking in late to a Hatching? Mal shook his head and tried to mind his own business.

After all, Z’nal was right over there. And he looked upset. Of course, that was more or less his default expression, but he was probably more annoyed than usual today. Or maybe he was happier than usual because he could now assign more latrine duty to people. Either way, Mal wanted to stay far away from him.

Initially, Okassis went all but unnoticed; it wasn't until Dorinelic called out across the Sands that Ceanandin even considered the possibility that his position might look a little odd. That thought didn't last long. He spared a brief glance in the direction of the call, but only straightened his shoulders in response, giving the 'competition' to his side a quick once-over before returning his attention to the bronze dragonet.

Foolish? He thought not. Girls could choose to present themselves specifically to the Queen egg. Shards, they were encouraged to stand forward and make the dragon's choice clear and easy! For him or any of the boys to step forward on the Sands said they cared enough to go that extra step, to brave the wrath of the Queen mother and risk looking foolish if they failed to Impress. They were the ones who wanted it most. Undoubtedly, for some of them, that would pay off.

Let the other Candidates call him foolish. There were other boys with him, other boys as desperate--no, as determined as he was. We'll prove them wrong. Come to me, little one. Let's show them what we're capable of.