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Ray of Sunshine Egg - Sitting in the corner of the clutch, this egg seems to be observing all of those sitting around it with either a watchful eye of delight or one of scorn. It's hard to tell as the feeling one gets from touching this shell changes quickly, though the overall sense of dedication and pride that comes with being a gold can certainly be understood. This egg is very clearly going to hatch a Gold. Gold Serlaith to Moira

Fresh Dirt Egg - Directly across from the Ray of Sunshine egg rests a massively large egg, one that would be hard pressed to be mistaken for anything other than a bronze. The overall feeling from this egg is one of pure gentleness with a hint of...well, hunger. All hands as welcomed, if not encouraged, to touch this shell over and over for a feeling of reassurance and a rumble in their stomachs. Bronze Scarath to Silbakor

Bared Fangs Egg - The egg seems oddly appropriate with this one. There's a sense of stubborness to the point of irritation here... and a definite MINE mentality, though over what is uncertain. Throughout the weeks, this egg has sat stubbornly upright and refused to move despite being nudged. Size indicates a blue or a green. Green Viridith to Kyros

Grassy Plain Egg - The first thing you notice about this egg when you touch it is a sense of surprise. Not fear, but genuine surprise, as if the egg didn't expect you find it. There's a sense of transparency and selflessness in this one, and a quiet strength. A very intriguing little egg, its size indicates a blue or a green. Green Dynith to Optheli

Loud Echo Egg - Loud and insistent sums up this one. Whomever touches it is greeted with the impression of singing and calls, perhaps the dragon is particularly sociable? Size indicates a large blue or brown. Brown Linnaeth to Salin

Shirking Violet Egg - This egg sets nestled amongst its companion eggs as though it were trying to make those around it look larger and more vibrant. When touched the egg gives off a pleasantness that can certainly put a person at ease, though there is a touch of hesitation if a hand stays on the shell a bit too long. Second touches yield the same result as the first, though perhaps not as stressed. A rather small egg, this is certainly a green. Green Toulonth to Falleren

Battered Wing Egg - The little dragonet within gives the impression of being mild and contemplative. There's a pleasant feeling about this one, so much so it seems to shy away from the more forceful personalities that greet it. Brown Tytoth to Auren

Mellow Daisy Egg - This one... almost feels as if it hasn't quite made up its mind yet. There's no strong emotion one way or another and it's surprisingly neutral, perhaps even appraising, in its reaction to those who touch it. Could it just be a more reserved individual? Went Between

Withering Leaf Egg - Touching this egg before you've touched the one to it's left or right in order will result in the feeling of complete and utter disappointment. It seems like whatever is inside absolutely abhors things that deviate from a routine and a pattern and is likely to be generally grumpy to all hands during the touching. The size of this egg indicates it could either be a large brown or a bronze. Bronze Plexith to Devlin

Watching Eyes Egg - This egg is set off from the rest of its clutch, likely either rolled there by the Queen or somehow moved by its own violation. It stands upright and gives off a feeling of aloofness when touched, one that suggests the dragon inside either doesn't want company or simply doesn't need it at all. All hands are welcome, provided they aren't streaked with dirt or sand - in which case this egg is not pleased. Likely a blue or brown. Blue Lifth to Gabriel

Tree Bark Egg - WHAT'S THAT!? There's a decided sense of insatiable curiosity about this one, almost as if it's greeting each and every person who touches it. Those who touch it more then once will likely realize the egg seems familiar with them. Maybe the dragonet has a good memory? Size indicates a green or a blue. Brown Violith to Sheridan

Gentle Breeze Egg - A feeling of straightforwardness can be felt from this egg, along with a mixture of impatience. Each touch renders a feeling that whatever is inside would probably rather be doing something else than sitting on the sands, though there never is any cruelty behind each sensation, instead a general feeling of being bored and wanting adventure takes over. A fairly small egg in size indicates this to be a green. Crimson Luvith to Saekagi

Distorted Reflection Egg - Well hello there ladies~ This egg seems to give a feeling that it likes the touch of women and women alone; in fact the more the merrier! Everyone is given a welcoming feeling though when touching this egg, as if they were being carefully guided into something. Likely a green or a blue. Blue Daroth to Nasuymi

Animal Tracks Egg - This egg seems to give off an air of determination, one that doesn't exactly seem so quiet. It's a drive that pretty much encompasses the rest of the feelings that this egg may offer which is slightly troublesome. While not exactly hostile towards any it is more accepting of younger hands than older, and seems to prefer the touch of men over women. This egg is likely a large blue or a small brown. Blue Suvith to Nithan



Windswept Egg - Only one thing's for certain about this egg, and that is it's angry. There's a feeling that specific hands shouldn't touch this egg lest they risk the chance of feeling like they've been bitten, but the problem lies in the fact that the energy from this egg can't even tell which hands it will accept. Size indicates a green or blue. Silver Sakath to Kelvari

Starshine Egg - Touching this egg will certainly brighten the mood of any who come and caress its shell. Providing a feeling of love and devotion and perhaps even a bit of pep, this egg certainly isn't above showing everything that it adores them. Size indicates a green. Green Sleeth to Akaya

Moon Rising Egg - This egg seems a bit. . . conflicted, almost like whatever is inside is trying too hard to figure out what everyone wants. Never giving off the same feeling twice in a row, sometimes more than one feeling at once, there's something about the small egg that simply draws the other two eggs near it to it. Size indicates a green or very small blue. Green Bonth to Malina

Foggy Grey Egg - This egg is curious! Touching it will leave you wondering just what exactly happened and touching it again won't exactly net an answer. Instead the feeling will come back stronger and maybe a little bit twisted, but certainly not in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable! Perhaps whatever is inside simply wants to know what's going on! The size of this egg indicates a green.

Thunderstorm Egg - This egg almost seems carefree, or maybe unfocused. Either way there's a sort of pleasant energy to it that hints at excitement and adventure to come. There's a definite impression of laughter with this one, but it's hard to figure out just why. Size indicates this dragon is either a small blue or green.

Raindrop Egg - This little egg, likely belonging to a green, gives the impression of a charge-up-and-go mentality. Quiet one moment, active the next, it's hard to tell what the baseline of this egg is. Whatever it is, it's a handful! Blue Lerath to Viskal

Since the Benden healers and riders had been removed entirely form the weyr, Viskal no longer had the added duties of ferrying foodstuffs and plants to the healers. Just as well. The silence Alumenth’s death had sent him into wasn’t one of fear and worry. It was a much more hostile silence, but with no one focus it on directly, it was an inconsequential one that only brought a bitter taste to Viskal’s mouth and a scowl to his eyes when he found himself alone.

In place of his old duties, he’d been returned to the kitchen to help prepare non-perishable dishes for the imminent hatching. Barring another travesty, there would be a huge feast, and whether Viskal found his life partner or not, he had wood to shove into the stoves. The heat was go great that he didn’t even concern himself over the thought of Impression, Benden, or the fate of his new home. Scorching heat lapped at his face and arms as he hefted wood into stacks by the stone ovens, harsh and stinging his face but also letting his mind rest – until rough hands hauled him back. Some kitchen hand was shouting at him and shoving him out of the kitchen, swearing unintelligibly. He half thought he’d ruined something until he was shoved into the hall. Humming.

Even a hold-bred boy knew what that meant! His eyes flew wide, and he pelted down the hall urgently, his youth overwhelming his usual bitterness and deliberating his thoughts. In minutes he was shoved out onto the sands and another layer of heat enveloped him. He was already red and sweating horribly from his kitchen work and running to the grounds, and he panted without decorum as he bumbled forward with the rest of the eager boy’s line.

Though Iweith was not a big brown, he was a long brown and such was one of the ones chosen to stay in the outer circle and stand guard. This caused him to swell with pride at having been chosen for such an honor. Already his throat was swollen with thrumming. The eggs were coming! They would arrive, it would be alright. His eyes swirling with blue-green with happiness. It had to be!

V'tur was high up in the stands, close to his dragon as possible. He was in his full riding gear, rank cords and all. Arms crossed, he watched as O'rer march the group on out. He could only hope on the shell of his dragon that this Hatching would go well or Benden would pay dearly. The man could only watch and wait. He spotted several faces that he knew and wondered if they would impress this day.
~~~~~~

Nasuymi cursed and headed for the Candidate Barracks. Though she slept in her parents' home, she did have a bunk and a small locker with a few treasures. One of those being her white shift. She hated dressing up but rules were rules and she would do nothing to endanger these eggs. Especially after, ever since. After it had happened, she had to console so many children. Their tears and the keening of the dragons had cut deep to her insides. She wasn't sure what lay underneath but deep down Nasuymi had wanted vengeance. When the bronze rider had been vanished back to Benden, the creche worker had celebrated.

This Hatching had to go right! If any of Alumanth's eggs failed to hatch on Impress, it would be on all of Benden's heads. Every one of the riders and the Weyr leaders would have to pay. Or at least should. Shaking her head, Nasuymi tried to clear away such angry and savage thoughts. Soon new life would be coming forth. Now dressed, she allowed herself to be herded out to the sands. Her feet were bare and she was sure she noticed a couple of people that she had spoken to during lessons or around Trine. Not that she cared. All that she cared about was being strong and finding that one spark that might be hers. Moving to the left as ordered, Nasuymi could finally admit that she was excited! How could she not be?

It was a Hatching after all.

Malina had been a sobbing mess since Crimson Alumanth's death, heartbroken by the loss of the dragon, and by the sad spectacle of motherless eggs, whose only guardian now was Brakiath. The tenderhearted girl had been overcome with grief for the lost pair, sniffling her way through her daily duties. She had been shocked to the core by the Benden rider's behavior, and stricken all the more deeply by the very notion that dragon would fight dragon. Her mind had been a buzz with it all, and she had had a hard time meeting the eyes of the few Benden riders that she encountered after that point.

She had had an alarming tendency to simply burst into tears when she did catch sight of them, so she had spent as much time as she could cloistered with the healers-- the real healers. What time was not taken up with that and lessons seemed to be spent with Sheridan, who had held her while she cried. ... They didn't know each other very well, but she didn't know anyone, really, and she had needed someone rather badly. Anyway, he didn't seem to mind.

With some trepidation, she responded to the call for Candidates, struggling into her robe, and running a comb viciously through her wild curls... which seemed only to provoke them into an even more deadly mass. ... It didn't matter. She threw down the comb and took off at a dash to join the others, skidding and nearly falling from time to time. Mali was not graceful. It could be said, in fact, that she had all the grace of a newly hatched dragonet. That was to say, practically none at all.

Breathlessly, she tried to follow the Candidatemaster's instructions, cringing a little at the mention of their potential deaths. Well, if there had ever been a Hatching during which Candidates might be at risk, it was this one. She took her place on the left, wringing her hands a little in her robe. When she realized that she was doing so, she straightened it, and rested them behind her. That would at least take away the temptation, really. Her eyes were still red-rimmed, showing signs that she had once again been weeping over the tragedy.

Still, she tried to be welcoming. Surely new babies liked to be welcomed? Her eyes swept around the Sands, and they widened as she realized just how very many people were present. Oh dear. And with Benden weyrfolk there, things might get interesting. Not Mali's kind of interesting, but interesting. Interesting bad. She hoped not. That would not be good for the eggs, or the new hatchlings. Darting her gaze away from them, she worried her lip between her teeth, and waited, trying to be hopeful and not simply overwhelmed.

Ofelia had heard the thrumming and seen the looks of excitement on all the faces around her, but it took the movements of her brother grabbing her hand and leading her out towards the Stands to get the tanner to understand what was going on. Even the chirps of excitement from her flitters had been no indication of anything, the young woman had her mind set on the vat that had been before her, so it wasn't surprising that she actually protested a bit as she was lead off to join her brother in watching something amazing.

She'd never seen a dragonet before, let alone been to an actual hatching, and as she got a good seat near the middle of the crowd the tanner gave a strong yawn as she fanned herself with her hand. The strong smell of brine and urine clung to her as she'd stopped working mid-burn, and it wasn't surprising to see people giving both her and her brother a rather wide wake as they sat down. Just fine as it were, it was hot enough anyway, and Ofelia rubbed her eyes a few more times as she watched the flurry of candidates enter the sands.

"I know a few of 'em, ya know. Gabby, Falle, La, Ky...well, a few of 'em. I'm pretty surprised ta see them out there so soon, since ya know it seems like only yesterday an' all we were jus' gettin' 'ere."

Ofelia was, of course, not talking to her brother but rather to a girl who'd come in and sat down next to her. She didn't recognize this one at all but thought her rather bold, considering she was just as dirty as the tanner if not a bit more so. The look on this other girl's face drew some concern from the woman, even though Ofelia was kinda dense she did notice some things about others, and a frown replaced her docile look.

".....ya okay? Yer lookin' awfully pale there, ya need somethin'? Should ya be layin' down insteada out 'ere?"

As the Candidates filed in and settled, it seemed the first of the eggs was beginning to hatch. The gold egg was already moving!? It was wriggling! Several people caught their breaths at that - a gold hatching first was uncommon to say the least!

After a moment the motion died down and the gold egg stopped. Wait... the Fresh Dirt egg, the massive companion egg to the queen's egg, suddenly tipped forward and rolled down the incline of the sand that had been pushed up against it and the queen egg. A moment later a richly hued foot stuck out on end, followed by another and then the whole rear of the Fresh Dirt egg cracked and fell away as a decidedly massive, decidedly handsome bronze backed out and blinked green-red eyes at the world.

Covered in egg goo and yet shining despite it, he was suddenly the object of desire for a great many people. A bronze like that - so large he was probably as big as the unhatched queen and so beautiful - he was sure to be something amazing!

And beginning the hatching with a robust, healthy bronze could only mean good fortune for the clutch and several of the more superstitious riders sighed in relief. Gold Brakiath had done it again.

One thing was for certain, and that was that Galvanth did not care for being hemmed in by the Trine dragons. More, he particularly did not care for being hemmed in by other Bronzes. What did they think he was, some mannerless fool who would trod down onto the Sands, to disturb a Hatching? No. He was above all of that. I do not like the way they treat us, S'raid, the big Bronze voiced to his rider, feeling very much like a caged animal. Still, for all of his injured pride and ruffled feelings, the dragon very much wanted to be there. There would be new dragonets on the Sands, coming to find their riders for the first time.

It would be worth watching, even though they were to be slighted so. S'raid knew better, of course. He knew that it wasn't an insult so much as criminal treatment. One among their number had been responsible for the death of a Crimson, the very Crimson whose eggs lay rocking on the Sands alongside the Gold's. Trine would have been very foolish indeed to allow them to freely attend, with no precautions taken. He did not think that any of the remaining Benden riders would be inclined to interfere now, but Trine could not take the chance.

Easy, Galvanth. They are being careful. Only think, they are allowing us to see the Hatching at all. He only played such soft games with his dragon, reserving nearly all of his kindness for the Bronze. Their tie was all the tighter for it, and he had no regrets. He scanned the crowd, and caught sight of a familiar head of hair. A flicker of amusement crossed his features. So, she would not be Standing, then? He would have to make a note to needle her on it. It pleased him in some small way to see the little wench suffering... but it was almost a pity. She would have made a strong rider.

But for now, he would enjoy it. There was so little that was enjoyable, really. Almost nothing at Trine interested him right now, aside from the very real possibilities it presented him. Toying with the girl was... a hobby, he thought. A commotion stirred up just as he thought that, and his eyes were drawn immediately to the Sands. ... A Bronze. The first dragonet hatched, and it was a Bronze? He sucked in a breath in spite of himself. That was a good omen. The only thing better would have been to have had the queen hatch first, but this was almost as good as it got.

Oh GODS hatching! She'd been helping the kitchen staff just a moment, when the thrumming began and in a rush of shouts she found herself, almost against her will, ushered in a haze of confusion (as well as a white 'uniform') to the hatching grounds. She found herself near the other girls, and licked her drying lips, her heart thundering. After the late Alumanths' death, she was shaken up, unsure how gold Brakiath would handle the double clutch hatching.

So when the first to hatch was a bronze, Liyar breathed a sigh of relief- well this was good, was it not? She looked to the mother, realizing instantly just how tiny she was compared to the large, intelligent creature, and then looked back to the comparatively tiny bronze. Eventually, this currently unimpressed dragon would be just short of this size! Liyar could only stand there in quiet shocked awe, and terror- would her whole life be changed after the next few hours?