The Day We Arrive (Hatching - Open) [17.6.181]

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

The bronze certainly didn't seem to be going anywhere. The youngster blissfully unaware of the dismay and disappointment that surrounded his hatching. Iridescent however certainly had plans about going somewhere. The egg continued to pitch and rock, the motions creating a gently snaking trail through the sand as it shifted further away from the remains of the clutch. A single shard, barely bigger than a mark, broke from the egg and Iridescent went still. Two egg-soft talons poked out, gently feeling the edge of the hole, the motion causing even more small flakes to fall away. The talons receded into the darkness and were replaced by the tip of a nose. Dark blue nostrils flared, drawing in the scents of the sands. The hatchling gently began to push forward with his muzzle, slowly forcing the gap larger. A straight muzzle. Large, emerald eyes. Gracefully swept back headknobs. An elegant neck and a boldly marked face. Iridescent slowly moved his head back and forth, intense, swirling, gaze fixed on the candidates.

His eyes remained fixed on the candidates as he pushed forward, the egg breaking away as he forced out his shoulders. His wings swiftly followed and the rest of his long body slipped out of the shell without any difficulty. The strikingly marked blue gave a dismissive flick of his tail at his egg and began to make his way towards the candidates. His steps were unhurried and allowed plenty of time for the audience to get a good look at him. Even as a newborn he was undeniably handsome. Straight facial features, elegantly long proportions. The blue carried himself upright and proud, his steps even and deliberate as he glided closer.

 

[TawnyAngel]

Shaff.

Vee stared at the relaxed bronze as he lolled about, completely unaware that the colour of his hide had pretty well doomed them all. Well she was just going to have to really enjoy the coming turns wasn't she? Wasn't like she'd ever expected to live to be old anyway... But other people thought they would, and kids were being born now who'd be her age when the Thread came back. It wasn't her problem but she didn't like thinking about it.

Luckily she was distracted soon enough but not by the egg she'd been expecting to hatch next; the longer Lightning took the more worried she was getting, it had been so keen to get out!

But then Iridescent made his way out of his shell fully and you couldn't help giving the beautiful blue your full attention. Vee studied his boldly marked hide with a sharply curved smile on her lips and folded her arms across her chest. //So, have you already made up your mind?// She was willing to be that he had; always six steps ahead was how he'd seemed to her, a real schemer.  

[Shaddaling]

Well that could be an issue couldn't it? Joscelin admitted softly as Iridescent ended up blue, handsome and relaxed and certainly knowing it. But unless Lightening hatched gold, doubtful but then hope was always there.

But they had hatched. Joscelin looked over them both and wondered what the dragons thought. Did they know? But then how could they say the north was doomed ... diplomacy would have to do. Hopefully they can persuade the South to send and queen egg. They couldn't want the north to stampede to their colonies, holds and weyrs, for so much to to be displaced.

And who would the two hatchlings choose and would lightening hatch? He hoped it would the egg was like biting into plain food and being overwhelmed by spice.  

[Dizzy_Kat]

Cai blinked is surprise as the Iridescent blue climbed his way out of his shell. Wow. That was all that really could be said about the impressively marked blue as it glided it's way towards them. Cai glanced back at the lazy bronze for comparison and yes, while the bronze was larger and literally shone with his damp metallic hide, the blue had far more presence.

There weren't many eggs or hatchlings left and Cai suddenly began to pick up on the desperate tension among the remaining candidates. What were they all planning? They'd all be in their 40's at best when Thread returned, and that's if any of them or their dragons lived that long. What would they do in the meantime except prepare for a battle they would likely never see? Yes Cai was standing here among them, but he had immediate plans for him and which ever dragon chose him. He had no way to predict how long he may have his partner and he intended to use every second of that time spent to further his research in the hopes of creating a cure. It may not be enough to save the last of the northern dragons, but should the plague ever return again, Pern would be prepared.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Iridescent moved closer towards the candidates. He didn't follow a straight path, his steps instead leading him in wide curves. Intelligence glinted in his gaze as it roamed over the group of youths in front of him. Many would recall the way that Iridescent had embraced them upon their visits to his egg, pulling each one close and making them feel special and coveted. The blue's movements around the candidates could have been easily taken as him searching out which candidate was right for him, many in the stands will assume that is what the dragon is doing as he moves. However if that is his intention then the dragon is being far from thorough. Although his graceful motions allow him to look at all the candidates and for all of them to look at him, Iridescent isn't really looking at any of them in particular. The dragon's eyes have the effect of addressing a crowd, avoiding making eye contact with any particular individuals.

As he is walking the blue's steps slow, his head tilting slightly. Iridescent slowly turns his head to look over his shoulder, his long body turning in a wide arc as he alters his path to double back. A look comes across the blue's face that seems the dragon equivalent of a slow, sensual, smile. Iridescent glides past the candidates without a sideways glance, head held high and body gently swaying as he walked. Until he came to stand in front of a candidate. The dragon turned his intelligent gaze to look directly into the lad's face, eyes beginning to slowly swirl in a rainbow.

With Iridescent impressed there remained only one hatchling on the sands. One hatchling and an egg that had not shown a hint of movement since the start of the hatching.  

[Concinnity Blaise]

Felaroth said approvingly - they might not be his hatchlings, but he could still admire - and then



V’ko was many things, and taking a stance was often beyond her, but she was certain on one thing: letting this sickness spread amongst the dragons of the south was the worst thing that any of them could ever do. The northern dragons were dead - or as good as - but there was still a hope for the future if no one got desperate or stupid and broke the quarantine. Their duty was to all of Pern, not just themselves.  

[Dizzy_Kat]

Quote:

As Chrysicai watches the hatching he may begin to feel a tickling, starting in between his shoulders. As the newly hatched blue moves in front of the candidates the feeling persists, but does not increase. When Chrysicai's thoughts turn to his plans for the future though the sensation becomes more tangible. It begins to feel as though something is moving up his back, something slowly gliding, with cool skin, working its way up his neck. On the sands the blue's head tilts and he begins to turn, making his way back in Chrysicai's direction. The sensation reaches the top of his neck just as the blue looks up into his eyes, swirling emerald giving way to a rainbow.

Those are some very large amibitions, Cai. The soothing voice slips into his mind easily, a feeling of amusement close on its heels. The feeling in his neck moves to his head, the tangible feeling of something wrapping coils around his mind, as a sweet, smokey, scent drifts into his senses. Nacreoth looks up at his rider even as their consciousnesses intertwine. Love and respect begin to fill the lad's mind, like smoke in a room. We will have to work very hard to attain them.

Cai rolled his shoulders.

Then he stretched his shoulders.

He plucked the sweat damp fabric from his back with a huff.

Suddenly, his eyes connect with the hatchling blue's, and the odd itch exploded in a cool sensation that trickled over his skull. Nacreoth, the name surfaced from the tendrils of fog that curled through his mind as the hatchling spoke to him. "Of course we will." Cai replied aloud, his voice sounding harsh and abrasive compared to the smoky softness of the voice in his mind. "We have a lot to do, and we may not have a lot of time to achieve it." He glanced, it was so hard to look away!, at Nacreoth's dying mother. Suddenly the thought of losing Nacreoth was like an icicle stabbed straight into his heart.

Then let's get to it. Nacreoth slid easily to Cai's side. His warm hide pressed against Cai's calf as the hatchling urged them both away from that sight and thought. Cai let out a heavy exhale. What a wonder Nacreoth was! Their gaits matched easily as the blue gently guided his new rider towards the feeding tables. All ambitions between the pair aside, he was starving.  

[Shaddaling]

S'aren sighed and leaned back, uncurling the brown firelizard from her throat and set the little thing on her lap, stroking danish till he calmed. Not what they needed and they dare not go South. She felt the deep venomous feel of Vespeth in her mind, sharp and biting overlaid with the trickling hum of welcome.

They would figure it out. Well others would figure it out. More diplomatic and clever then they were. S'aren rubbed her eyes and sighed. One more egg, one more hatchling and then probably a good bye to the queen if she chose not to linger a little while longer.  

[TawnyAngel]

Well... Shaff. Vee's hands clenched into fists as Iridescent Impressed, she'd thought that the blue might have been looking for her or at least she'd hoped that he might, he or Lightning but Lightning still hadn't hatched, hadn't even moved. Vee looked over at the boldly marked egg again, and then at the bronze lying around on the sand- maybe he would choose her? He hadn't seemed to hate her or anything.  

[Shaddaling]

"Congratulations," Joscelin replied softly to Cai. Iridescent... he hadn't really felt like the egg had really saw him for all the egg had been warm and inviting. A lot of people managed to fake inviting. The blue was pretty and well built and he was glad that the hatchling had impressed.

One egg left and one hatchling just lounging on the sands, relaxed and comfortable. Joscelin ran a hand through his hair, strands drifting loose and sticking to his skin. What happened would happen. He had hope still.  

[Faerie Princess Meeka]

F'liel had sat, sometimes in silence. Others times cheering a little when there was an impression. It did him good to see the brown go to the solid built lad that Endalil was determined to make his friend. But as more and more shells cracked and it became obvious that there was no gold, his heart sank and he tried to keep dread out of his thoughts.

And then, a large bronze hatched out... Uneager and unwilling to move on the sands. F'liel looked over at Malsalth who continued to hum, not worried about her spawn. And what was that? A blue! What an interesting pattern on that fellow. However, with only a handful of eggs left and everyone focusing on the unmoving egg, F'liel wondered if this was the end of the Northern dragons? Maybe those who had recovered could go back to Ista and coax a Southern Gold to them? His mind raced with all sorts of crazy ideas even as Vesunth tried to sooth him.

``````````````
Deldowth was laying on his belly, facing the Hatching Sands making it hard for Iskosian to feed him. The teen had to keep lifting his dragon's head and feeding him chunks. The brown sighed and refused to look away from the other eggs. Iskosian, look. A bronze. NO Gold. What are we going to do? Everyone is so sad and upset that there isn't a gold yet and that Malsalth is dying. How can I eat?

Iskosian, ignoring the others around him, glared at the little brown. "You will eat because you need to eat or get sick. And sit up, lying down can't be good for your stomach. As for the eggs and what everyone is feeling, we have no control over that. It is what it is and we can't force anything else."

Deldowth whined but sat up slowly, looking forlornly at the shells scattered across the sands. He continued to eat and pressed up against his rider. He wanted to go out there and comfort the bronze, tell him it was okay to find his rider. It obvious that the blue knew exactly who he wanted and went straight to his rider. At least, someone is happy.  

[Dizzy_Kat]

Cai blinked as he passed by Joscelin, catching the other candidate's congratulations. Was... was that a smile? It's possible as Cai nodded his acknowledgement, mildly bewildered and distracted by the newness of his Impression and the sifting and sorting of plans flitting through his mind as Nacreoth examined Cai's recent work.

Finally they reached the tables where the small collection of weyrlings gathered feeding their dragons. As Cai set to his new task of preparing chunks of raw meat for Nacreoth the blue settled in with a satisfied thrumm. Very happy my dear brother His green eyes turned to Deldowth. As you might well be too if you saw how attentively yours cares for you.  

[TawnyAngel]

Was the Enfolding bronze to be the last of them? D'lana looked to the Lightning egg and a flicker of a frown crossed her face, she hadn't seen it move at all and yet Masalth had not cried out in mourning for it. Was it struggling, or waiting to make a dramatic entrance? She hoped for the latter but really what difference could one more dragon make unless it was a gold... No she refused to think like that, every dragon mattered and who could say what these new pairs might do in the days to come? Any one of them could turn out to be the key to their salvation.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Enfolding seemed quite content to remain lying in the warm sands and with the last egg behind him showing no sign of movement it was almost like the hatching had come to a standstill once again. There were probably even a few impatiently tapping feet as the bronze lounged in the remains of his egg. Enfolding turned his head slightly, his gaze shifting to the Lightning egg. The dragon looked at the boldly marked egg for several moments before letting out a deep huff. His gaze swivelled back to the candidates, lifting his head he let out a long, low, call, before flopping back down. The bronze looked at the candidates, eyes a slowly whirling rainbow, as the dragon began the long, slow, process of getting his legs up under himself.  

[TawnyAngel]

It wasn't her. She hadn't expected it to be her but that the last hatchling had passed over her for somebody else - she didn't bother to notice who - was like a punch in the guts and Lightning, Lightning that had been so full of fire hadn't even moved...

Last hatchling Impressed, one unmoving egg left, no more golds and so no more clutches she could be banned from standing for. What was the worst thing the could do to her? Throw her out? Oooh, scary.

Vee squared her shoulders, inhaled deeply, and broke ranks with the other candidates. She walked at first but after a few paces she started to run, just in case anyone thought of stopping her. Within a few moments she reached the Lightning egg and she skidded to her knees beside it, hands outstretched to press against its shell. //Come on, I know you're in there, hatch!//