| Characters | Arratreayu, A'she & Qhatiratrixth, Karmelia, Ky'zai, Ligeia & Verzhuqueth, T'syn |
| Synopsis | Verzhuqueth and Qhatiratrixth's eggs hatch! |
| Out-of-Character Date | December 23, 2023 |
Igen Weyr - Hatching Sands
As if temperatures in the rest of the Weyr weren't uncomfortable enough, the sands are positively blistering. The air shimmers from the onslaught of heat, leaving the area with a hallucinatory feel. Black sands stand currently empty but for the occasional egg-shard or 'print not swept clear. A raised platform of smooth stone provides a lounging-spot for queens or their mates, or a retreat for the lifemates that accompany them from whence they can cool their feet somewhat.
It's a fine, wintry afternoon that finds the Weyr roused by the sound of a hum - the hum of a hatching! While the lower caverns set about making ready for a hatching feast fit for the record books, the candidates are all rounded up and ushered to the barracks to prepare for their judgement day before the hatching dragons. Ligeia isn't far from the Sands and, so, she's there with her lifemate in short order. Her hair's pulled back and she's dressed comfortably enough considering the sweltering heat, but it's not long before she's dabbing at her face with a cloth to mop up the sweat. She glances to the galleries from time to time, with a cautious smile offered to a few familiar faces that she sees - or thinks she sees - up there. Verzhuqueth is quick to call her to task, however, as the eggs start to jostle and shake, and the gathering of candidates begin to bow to dam and sire.
Movement? Here? No, no. Tricky Teeth Egg hasn't moved an iota this whole time. Nope. Not a bit. Just pay no mind to the fact that its wallow has somehow gotten a little wider.
Discarded Tangle Egg wobbles to and fro, shedding bits and pieces of cloth-like shell across the sands. Here a mask, there a shirt, and over there, by that other egg? Pay those no mind. Surely they're not Ligeia's.
With a jerk and a lurch, it seems that Crudely Carved Egg might be up to something… until it stops abruptly. No, nothing to see here.
A'she saunters in as the humming begins; it may be Ligeia's first rodeo, but he's an old hand at this by now, and Qhatiratrixth isn't anywhere near as broody as Verzhuqueth. The bronze is here. Somewhere. No doubt skulking in the shadows and plotting which Candidate he's going to divest of their good luck charm first. Never mind the smokey bronze lurking in the shadows.
That spot, that dark spot on the dark sands which may or may not be something like the Specter of an Egg draws a not sort of attention as the most keen of eyes note that something about the darkness seems to have just /shifted/. Then again it could totally been a figment of imagination, the choas of the sands is already quite a bit much don't you think?
Something wicked this way comes, but it's not Tricky Teeth Egg's occupant - yet. But cracks suffice as a herald for changing times and there is no way to deny that the time of reckoning will be at hand.
T'syn is also lurking, staying out of the way, but ready to help with the Candidates. Why the harper? Never ask. He refuses to join the Weyrlingstaff - but he's always their go-to when they need someone to usher Candidates around on the Sands. He's useful that way.
Discarded Tangle Egg continues to wobble and twirl, shake and swirl, more and more and more as bits and pieces fling outward, pelting candidates and hatchlings alike. It's like a strip tease - or it would be, if anything was being revealed, but somehow despite the flying eggshells, there's still no hint of the hatchling inside.
Another spasm. Another twitch. But, all Crudely Carved Egg seems to earn for its troubles is a crack that races from top to bottom along one side.
Arratreayus coming out at a steady, but hopping walk. The sands feel hotter than ever. He has his hair basck in a runnertail. Hopping from the heat he takes up place near Karmelia and starts watching the eggs crack, eyes blazing with excitment
Karmelia hastily makes her way onto the sands with the other rushed candidates. Her first couple of steps across the sands are awkward, and she finally pauses to reach down to fasten the strap over her heel securely. Soon she's giving respectful bows to Queen and Sire then spreading out among the others around the eggs, her gaze darting to a few of the eggs as they start shifting.
A trio of Candidates begin to quietly squabble about who is standing precisely where, until one heavy-set girl shoves another skinny chit. The smaller girl doesn't quite fall over, but does slink away, muttering under her breath as she inches closer to Karmelia. The boy of the group watches after her with some dismay, but the larger girl seems quite content to have him to herself.
Look! Look seriously there is /something/ there. There, .there. you know. That dark spot of that thing which might be a Specter of an Egg (or not). That pile of dark sands nesting a pike of more darkness suddenly seems to emit a -presence-. You can sense it can't you, that something is there, brooding, waiting, lurking for the not egg that is an egg. Is there a not hatchling within the not egg, or merely a ghost of a hatchling that will endlessly haunt the sands.
Verzhuqueth is the best at broody. She's lurking there, wings half-spread, and all eyes on the candidates… and boy are her eyes red. Ligeia glances over briefly to offer a sheepish smile to A'she, then to the candidates, but she turns her attention back to the galleries… when she can get away with it.
Its fate is sealed. Tricky Teeth Egg is destined to end and make way for the next generation - and it does. The shell cracks and shatters, leaving a brown dragonet in its wake. He lifts his head, sniffs at the air, and hesitates as he gets his bearings. Where will he go from here? Only he knows. For now.
Up in the Sands, a young man seems to be one of the few paying no mind to the eggs. Leaning on the railing nearest the clutchparents' platform, he only has eyes for Ligeia, patiently waiting for her to have a moment to glance in his direction.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Stronger Than Fear Brown Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nobility takes many forms and this brown is but one definition of it. His hide is a rich, dark umber, streaked with bistre, chocolate, and finer threads of tawny to render the illusion of dark fur on draconic hide. His visage is vaguely lupine, with headknobs that perk upright more than backward. They're balanced against neckridges that rake backward, as if blown back in perpetuity by some unseen wind. His neck is powerful, leading into a deep chest and narrow flanks, while long legs promise to carry him for so long as he might desire. The shadow'd hues of his hide grow darker along his belly and the insides of his limbs, pooling into darker, richer colors at his paws and along the length of his tail. His wings, on the other hand, are a splendor unto themselves, with darkest night filled with celestial forms that seem to spin and wheel in their orbits of copper and sepia. Galaxies and stars alike are scribed upon those 'sails, promising lifetimes of adventure yet to be experienced.
"Oh! Brown!" The high-pitched squeal comes from a smithcraft boy hovering near the Tricky Teeth Egg. "I knew it! Don't get in my way," he warns his smaller companion. "I don't want you trampled when he comes to get me."
Movement there has been not. Sucking, lurking darkness finally draws the attention it has so far been deflecting as the Specter of an Egg is suddenly just /there/. A ominous swirling the dark grains of sand around the dark shell seem to lift and bounce around the bottom of the ovoid as a rumble of tremendous power bursts from it. A flare of something intense from the hatchling within that causes many to flinch and miss whatever happens to the shell but for the next moment the egg is no longer and a rather vivid blue hatchling stumbles forth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Enchanting Moonrunner Blue Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A dragon it is that your eyes settle upon. What is most prominently noted at first glance is the entirely vivid hue of this sturdily built creature. When he stills, a pool of vibrant living ink he is where details are initially lost in the fact of that initial overwhelming image. When the eyes adjust one will begin to settle upon the subtle details that tease out what is actually quite an impressive figure. Spiky ridges are cast prominently along his short neck, the last centered between the somewhat elongated headknobs at the back of his rather large skull. The bony skull protects placidly whirling eyes and ends in a rather flattened tip with notably elongated nostrils that are well suited to dealing with Igen’s desert sands. A mottling of a shade somewhat darker than the main hue casts upon the sides of each arm, leg and along the length of his tail. From his belly down, the underside of his tail is frosted in sunset purple, overtaking the mottling completely at the end to ensconce the very tip. Large, thick talons protrude from each finger and toe and, unlike the rest of his body, are a flashy gilt gold. The final piece, of course, are his wings. When settled across his back they blend into that same vivid hue but, when stretched, the light pierces and reveals tendrils of moonlight weaving their way like a spell within the fabric of billowing sails. Entrancing, enchanting one could watch forever the snaking lines as they shimmer and shift with each subtle movement.
A'she smirks at Ligeia. "It's interesting dealing with one that cares," he admits. "Seyu can be broody, but she doesn't get worked up about it. I think she has some latent memory of our first clutch." Briefly, his expression darkens, but he forces himself to smile once more. "It'll be fine."
Arratreayuwatches the first hatchling closer. He liked the color of the browm and thinking how beautiful creature. So this he turns watching the hatchlings
"And a blue!" A Harper girl all but shrieks with delight and claps her hand with a mounting sense of hope. Another candidate has to elbow her to calm her down.
Karmelia spots Arratreayu nearby, giving him a quick nod "Good luck." is murmured and her attention goes back to everything happening. The shoving between some others is noticed, and the Beastcrafter's face clearly says 'Try that crap with me.' The first eggs fully hatch and Karmelia grins admiring the brown and blue hatchlings try to get their feet under themselves for the first time.
Ligeia scrunches her nose up at A'she and offers him another grin, "She's- I mean, it's her first, so I'm not too surprised she's like this. Maybe she'll be calmer once she's done it a few more times." She hopes, but those hopes will be in vain. Her attention darts to the galleries again with a far more dazzling smile for the lad that's all but literally hanging out over there.
Once his course is set, Stronger Than Fear Brown Hatchling starts out on his venture with a vague air of trepidation. The first few candidates he looks at are too quick to draw close and he staggers back, wings flared for a moment until he regains his balance. No. No. None of them. Disappointment only pulls his wings tighter and he marches on, with a renewed resolve in his bearing.
Sugar-Spun Celebration of Life and Death Egg rattles around in its wallow, a soft chattering sound emitting as it wobbles to and fro. It spins once, twice, then stills back into silence, waiting for its next cue.
Did That's One Full Moon Egg just wobble? Right now? Did it seem to stir upon the sands? No, no. Surely it's just a trick of the light. Nothing more.
After sorting himself out, Enchanting Moonrunner Blue Hatchling is quick to focus on the object of his desires: the white robed figures. They mean food. Yes? Yes. But his first step sets him tumbling and, after a moment, he gets to his feet, shakes his wings out, and continues on with a fierce kind of intensity. Food. Food. Food. It just doesn't seem to occur to him where they might store food.
The Parade of Creatures egg gives a definitive wobble. Something this way comes, and that woudl be this egg! A wobble leads to a wiggle and with a bit of an inward push it escapes the shallow nest of sand and rolls awkwardly for a bit across the sands. It's path is unpredictable for the egg shape lends towards a drunken escapade rather than a path striaght and true.
Don't Go Into the Egg lurches, lumbring about in a wobbly circle within its hollow. It nearly topples over, then rights itself and goes back to sitting silent, as though nothing happened. Don't Look.
A sugary shiver sets Full of Sweets Egg to trembling for just a second before it goes still.
With a little quiver, Spinners! Spinners Everywhere! Egg seems to squirm in place for a few seconds before it settles down.
The time is nigh and By Lamplight Egg finally shows signs of tentative life. It shifts a little, then goes utterly still.
Is It's Probably Haunted Egg creaking? Maybe. Maybe not? It stops moving before one of the bolder candidates dares to get closer.
With a bubbly little bounce, My Cauldron Boileth Over Egg seems to leap to a side a few inches.
Arratreayuducks and dodges as the hatchlings move around on the sands, trying to give them distance.
The smithcraft lad stares after the brown. "Wait! Come back! I'm right here!" He starts to lumber after the beast, his young sidekick grabbing his arm and being dragged along in his wake.
Sugar-Spun Celebration of Life and Death Egg begins to jump in place, twitching this way, spinning that way, always keeping an exact rhythm as it dances in place, slowly shedding its decorations in its wake.
Oh, That's One Full Moon Egg must have moved this time! Why else would it have a series of cracks weaving over the surface? But, maybe that's just how it's always looked.
Rolling along the Parade of Creatures eggs slows down as its random course hits an incline and momentum is lost. The hatchling within doesn't seem to like this pause in its escapades and the egg shudders, bright cracks starbursting into life.
Don't Go Into The Egg jumps. Then it sits still. Then it lurches. And goes still again. Abruptly it whirls once left, then once right, and sticks its right foot in. Wait. What foot? There's no foot. Don't Turn Around.
Is it getting hit with a sugar rush? Full of Sweets Egg is vibrating hard enough to send webs of cracks across its shell.
Another batch of candidates gets a good, long look from Stronger Than Fear Brown Hatchling. This time, it's the candidates that pull away when he directs his attention to them. His confidence in himself is building - but his confidence in the white robed figures? That seems to be dwindling, even as his eyes spin faster and redder with a mounting sense of desperation.
In the Stands, Ky'zai gives Ligeia a cheeky grin and blows her a kiss as he catches her eye, winking before finally glancing out over the Sands. He seems quite pleased to see the clutch; at least he's not displaying any jealousy that it's not his brown who sired the bunch.
Discarded Tangle Egg suddenly gives a lurching jump and explodes outwards, peppering everyone in its vicinity with egg goo, egg shells, and sand. Left behind in the remaining pile of clothing shell is a skeletally thin green hatchling with a rather disgruntled expression. Shaking free a blindingly scarlet fragment of shell from her head, she uncoils herself and looks around, then makes a beeline straight for an equally painfully thin girl with thick glasses and mousey brown hair. "What? Mumreth? If you insist," Shalbie says with a sigh. "But I am not Sha'bie." Spoiler: Yes, she is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< She's In Stitches Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A patchwork of colors drapes over the hide of this mid-sized hatchling, a conglomeration of colors from palest spring to the deepest of pines. Lopsided stitches in a brilliant lime trace along her muscles, picking them out in vivid verdigris as they slick across a body more thin than slim, almost to the point of being emaciated. Her wedge-shaped head comes to a wicked point, her nose nearly as sharp as the ecru teeth that crowd a mouth constantly gaping in a ghoulish grin. Her skeletally-thin fore- and hind-paws are tipped in talons of darkest obsidian, glinting cruelly against her mint-hued toes. Her long tail is whippishly thin and in constant movement, waving behind her like the tail-end of a forgotten scarf.
With a triumphant cry the She's In Stitches Green Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
A harder shiver finds Spinners! Spinners Everywhere! Egg covered in gossamer-fine cracks.
With an experimental shake, By Lamplight Egg tests the waters of the living - but when a crack forms, it promptly stops, as if rethinking its decision.
Maybe It's Probably Haunted Egg is actually groaning. That would make sense, right? The surface is soon riddled with pockmarks and fissures that ooze, but the movement stops before it reveals too much.
Another small movement finds My Cauldron Boileth Over Egg spinning in place, with a crack in the shell catching the air and making a brief whistling sound before it stops.
Arratreayuis just dancing and dodging hatchings and trying to get it all the wonder of the event.
A'she grunts. "I can't remember ever seeing one go so fast," he remarks. "Seems they got their mother's temperament, because their father's a lazy bum." Qhatiratrixth will remember that.
One more wobble and, then, Crudely Carved Egg finally reveals its heart of green that blazes every bit as brightly as any gold could dream. The vibrantly hued green flares her wings, then pulls them tight to her form - no peeking! Her secrets are hers!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Fickle Foxfire Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will o' wisp greens haunt a gaunt vision of a green who is wrought of slinky curves and deceptive angles. Her narrow snout and sleek neck set the stage, but it's the misting of ghostly sage and luminous foxfire that truly defines her nature. Cunning and canny in equal measure, her movements betray both grace and elegance. Even the sweep of her tail feels calculated, despite the intoxicating swirls of absinthe that dominate it. She all but glides onto the Sands with a speculative consideration, her star-dappled wings pressed tight to her sides. She sprints off across the sands until she startles a cook named Inarii with a snoot to the belly. "Tsunebith!" Inarii cries and soon the pair are whisked away to a new life.
With a triumphant cry the Fickle Foxfire Green Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
He's nearing the end of his limits when those fast-wheeling red eyes finally alight on someone. The one. Stronger Than Fear Brown Hatchling finally, finally spots the person that will make a perfect padawan rider - and it's a young, brown-haired man with hazel eyes, whose skills might be across the board, but whose heart is clearly in the right place.
With a triumphant cry it seems that the Stronger Than Fear Brown Hatchling has found its partner at last and impression is made!
Skidding to a halt, the smithcraft boy gives a low cry. "But I was right here!" he wails at the brown as it Impresses to someone else. At his side, his friend pats his elbow consolingly.
Ligeia returns that blown kiss to Ky'zai before the first Impression happens and she's snapped back into the reality of the moment. She looks to A'she again with a tilted smile and a glance up to her lifemate, who is both humming and still somehow agitated at the whole thing. How dare they take her babies?! "They probably do - but I just hope they're not, uh, quite as spicy as she can be." Said with affection, of course.
Sugar-Spun Celebration of Life and Death Egg goes into a paryoxism of performance, leaping, spinning, twirling, whirling, all the while scattering pieces of itself in a colorful, conocentric circle. Suddenly, it disintigrates, collapsing into a pile of sugary dust, coating the hatchling that remains behind. The hatchling remains crouched for a moment longer, then slowly rises and shakes itself free. For a moment, it seems as though the eggshell continues to coat it, then it becomes obvious that the pale ecru of his hide is his natural shade, and only the swirls in various shades of blue give away his actual hue. Rising with a cackling chuckle, he begins to dance outwards in an ever-widening spiral, inspecting every white-robed Candidate he comes across until he finds him. "Reapreth!" exclaims Giarhym. "Yes, of course I'll be your G'rhym! But I don't think they have anything sweet for you. Let's go find out."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Danse Macabre Blue Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s only the swirls of sapphire and lapis that identify the color of this hatchling; otherwise, his pale hide is nearly the color of the inside of his eggshell - a bony ecru from nose to tail-tip. Despite his almost dangerous thinness, he moves as if dancing, his every motion a study in grace and rhythm. His voluminous wings spring forth like the tails of a cloak, splashed with the same hints of cobalt and turquoise as the rest of his slim body. The only other sign of color is the incongruous scarlet slashed across his forepaws and talons, as though he were wading through blood.
With a triumphant cry the Danse Macabre Blue Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
There is no denying it when That's One Full Moon Egg finally does hatch, an explosion of shards heralding the birth of a staunch, brown dragonet with glowing red eyes. With a roar - albeit a bit on the baby wolf 'awoooo' side - he starts out on the hunt of a lifetime.
Karmelia shifts her feet, not that it's cooling her feet any, but hopefully, she'll be quick enough to not get charged by a hatchling. It seems to take no time at all before more eggs are scattered on the sands, hatchlings are choosing their own white robed pet while other hatchlings are beginning their searches. After a few seconds she glances among those nearest her. "Wow, this is crazier than I has imagined."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Bound By A Lunar Leash Brown Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thickly wrought, this brown is a beast among dragons. His wolfish head leads into a truncated neck and a solid chest, only to grow lean through his flanks before flaring into powerfully muscled haunches. His hide is a near-solid hue of rich, woodsy brown that only darkens at his paws with an ominously ruddy quality. His wings are powerful and narrow, with moon-pale 'sails framed in ebon darkness. He snuffles at the sand for a moment or two before perking up immediately and turning his attention toward the candidates. He's soon off at a lope and that lope turns into a sprint when he draws nearer his prey. Once a hunter, Lyraka is now a weyrling - a weyrling named Ly'ka. As the brown chews on his robe, Ly'ka laughs. "Yes, I'll get you some food, Lugaruth, but you need to stop eating my robe!"
With a triumphant cry the Bound By A Lunar Leash Brown Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
With an agitated whuffing sound, Enchanting Moonrunner Blue Hatchling gets close enough to one group of candidates to sniff them over. He walks around a few, then pokes his head under a robe, but all of them seem to be lacking what he's looking for. His stomach rumbles audibly in betrayal and he utters a sudden keen of despair as his hunger threatens to overwhelm him for a moment - but then he's moving on, resolved and ravenous.
The colorful Parade of Creatures egg gives a final wobbles that sends it rolling back down the incline it had paused on. As it goes bits of shell flake here and there until the whole mess suddenly gives way and seems to dissolve in a puff from which a small dark blue hatchling continues for a roll or two before coming to a stop amazingly upright, if a little wobbly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< A Dark Knight Blue Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A dark blue coats this rather small but sturdily built hatchling. His head is rather angular, the hue cloaking in a smooth almost metalic mask over his face to long headknobs that gives the appearance of creepy pointed ears. Neck, body and tail carry the same dark hue but change in texture to a rather leathery look, worn and weathered as if he's been out in the elements of the night. There's even a few battlescars already that hint across his flank in dark slashes which are easily missed as shadow. Wings spread in a mysterious cloak, the sails rippling despite the lack of a breeze as he suddenly dashes off. Not a whisper of sound as he comes upon a cluster of white clad candidates, surprising several who squeal and dodge out of the way. He huffs, as if looking for a fight before curling like smoke around a tall older lad, rumored son of some minor holders lost in a tragic accident. Who can say but whatever his future might have been Br'ce blinks and looks down at the creature who has ensnared him "Really Wayeth. No need to be dramatic, if you wanted a joker Red's the one of this candidate group." The blue snorts and looks mildly alarmed in the direction of said other candidate but no, his partner is right here and whatever tribulations the future holds this dark knight will no longer face life alone.
With a triumphant cry the A Dark Knight Blue Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
Don't Go Into The Egg shatters, leaving behind a hulking, bulking shadowy form that rumbles menacingly as it sits amidst the terrible devastation that was once its home. With slow, deliberate grace, it lifts to its feet, stretching out stubby wings and extending obsidian-tipped talons with a scraping sound. Hissing softly, it hovers, then when no one's looking, it creeps forward, sticking as much to the shadows of the other eggs as possible. From shadow to shadow he inches - Qhatiratrixth is beaming over here at his prodigial son - then abruptly he darts into the open, glomping onto a skinny geek of a Techcrafter. The boy yelps and cowers. "Nemesith!" the boy yelps, "don't do that!" Shakily, he gets to his feet. "Do you have to call me D'wiht? Yes? Okay…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< The Shadows Gather Bronze Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s the flash in the dark; the shadow in the spotlight. An antique bronze so dark it’s nearly black slicks from the broad nose of this massive hatchling down to the tip of his stubby tail. Muscles upon muscles bulge beneath his unishade hide, granting extra bulk to his body. His wings, like his tail, are short, and one might wonder if they’ll ever be capable of supporting his weight should he grow into his hefty frame and gigantic paws. Despite his size, however, he moves with surprising stealth; one moment, he’s there, and the next, he’s nowhere to be found.
With a triumphant cry the The Shadows Gather Bronze Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
FINALLY! Full of Sweets Egg hits peak sugar high and erupts in a frenzy of eggshell and good. The blue left in its wake is all mouth and promptly starts trying to gobble up one of the shell shards before Verzhuqueth ushers him onward.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Nothing Is As It Seems Blue Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bubbly shades of effervescent blue seem to rise from some undetectable source and color this dragonet in hues of danger. Electric bright in places and cobalt cool in others, the conmingling of colors is enough to keep an onlooker on their toes - visually speaking, at least. As dragons go, this blue's maw is terribly large and broad, with eyes set deep under expressive eyeridges. He's a squat fellow otherwise, evocative of some plump amphibian. He quickly gathers a different piece of shell in his mouth - much to his dam's chagrin - and hastens onward toward the ring of white-robed figures. He pulls up short in front of a young woman who fashions herself an adventurer of sorts and, once he's found her, he opens his mouth - and, at some unspoken bidding, she reaches in to take the prize of shell. He briefly threatens to trap her hand in his mouth, only to release it a moment later. "You're mad, Irthosth! Of course I'll be your Ch'aris!" Charimaris Ch'aris exclaims while she pulls the mouthy blue closer to her to embrace him. "And, yes, there is food - it's not a trap!"
With a triumphant cry the Nothing Is As It Seems Blue Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
The rapid eruption of eggs and the swiftness of the resulting hatchlings only seems to intensify as fewer and fewer are left. Verzhuqueth's wings rattle a little as they're stretched to their limits, but all of her babies must fly the coop eventually; they can't stay small and shelled forever.
Like a spinner's eggsac, Spinners! Spinners Everywhere! Egg finally hatches - the shell shards crumble and the green dragonet within slinks forth, lowslung and creepy-crawly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Scuttle, Scurry, SCARY Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This green might seem to be shorter than the average in height, but that's only because she has a terrible tendency to crawl. Dark, iridescent green cleaves to her like armor, darkening at the joints and creases of where spindly limbs meet a bulky frame. Her build is an incongruent thing through and through, with a head that seems too small, a body too large, and limbs that seem too thin to carry her properly. Her tail is a remarkable thing in contrast to her shimmery and oily darkness: it's practically luminous, all electric green and shocking for its obvious strangeness. She scurries forth after hissing briefly at her dam, perhaps chastising the gold for attempted meddling. It doesn't take long before she catches Yoki, a weaver, in her figurative web: "Oh, Chigumoth! You're perfect! I think there's food over there- but you don't have to catch it yourself!"
With a triumphant cry the Scuttle, Scurry, SCARY Green Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
Though it may struggle against the inevitability, By Lamplight Egg finally yields to the forces of nature that compel it. A two-toned green slithers forth, blinking owlishly before she pulls overlarge wings up and over, as if to try to hide from sight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Let The Right One In Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She's a study in light and dark, a boldly divided green that draws the eye for her naturally striking looks. Though her build is fairly average all in all, the most remarkable part of her is the bifurcation of her hue: deep, dark, shadow-drenched forest greens claim the upper part of her body and the outsides of her limbs, while a jade-tinted mist skims the underside of her face, her throat, her belly. The insides of her limbs are just as pale, while her tail is a muddled, mixed-up affair that merely looks mottled rather than one color more than the other. Her wings are tremendous and large and dark, the best to hide under - or hide others under. She's soon compelled to leave her makeshift roost on the Sands and, when she does, it doesn't take long for her to find her heart in a young Healer named Miriam. "Bellath! Yes, they do have something to feed you, but you can't just suck the blood out!"
With a triumphant cry the Let The Right One In Green Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
At long last, It's Probably Haunted Egg has to give up the ghost and it falls apart, leaving a green in the wreckage. She looks both wet and dry, a shambling monstrosity of a green that glistens with egg goo and moves with a lurching, uncertain gait. What will she need first? Food? Or BRAINS?!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~< She Only Wants One Thing Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ghastly, ghoulish greens slather themselves on this dragon with complete disregard for visual aesthetics. There's nothing much to say of a green that seems to drag her tail and wings, whose hide looks both dry and oily at the same time, and who seems to be gape-mawed most of the time. Even her eyes seem to be a slghtly different hue from one another, further lending the impression of a creature that was composed of whatever parts were available and without much care that they go along well. There is beauty there, though, a beauty that might be coaxed out through oil and bathing and some physical lessons… but that's a problem for Revalnant to sort out, since that's the lad she's heading for. The Pernese equivalent of a hair dresser will have his work cut out for him - and he doesn't mind at all. He embraces the shambling green when she finally makes it to him and he murmurs, "Yes, Hgoulth, I'll forever be your Rev'ant."
With a triumphant cry the She Only Wants One Thing Green Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
Finally, finally, My Cauldron Boileth Over Egg does, indeed, boil over - notably, with egg goo and a green wing, until the rest of the dragonet spills forth. The sharp-snouted creature seems to squint skeptically at the candidates before, eventually, stepping forth to inspect them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~< Something Witchy This Way Comes Green Hatchling >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All hard lines and sharp angles is this green, who carries herself with a kind of pride and confidence that might make others prickle. Her hide is an unmarred emulsion of cream and spinach, resolving in a rich - if not necessarily palatable - hue. There is nothing soft or tender about her, as if she were composed wholly of willpower and focus. Stripped down to the necessities, she will promise to be a formidable flyer, a dangerous hunter, and a cunning creature at all other times. She wastes no time in her inspections of the candidates, though she seems to find most of them wanting. Her eyes eventually settle on an herbalist and gardener, while her narrow, sharp snout is abruptly shoved into Eneatrix's chest. "Endorath! That hurts!" But the green is unrepentant and Eneatrix laughs, ushering her lifemate off to get food.
With a triumphant cry the Something Witchy This Way Comes Green Hatchling has found its lifemate at last. After a few moments the Weyrlingmaster leads the new pair off the sands.
Karmelia looks around the sands, spotting the dwindling number of robes as new weyrlings lead their brown, blue green and even a chunky bronze off to feed. She can't help but clap enthusiastically for a couple of candidates that she's become friendly with.
There! Finally! His single-minded pursuit seems to finally pay off when he fixates on one candidate in particular. Enchanting Moonrunner Blue Hatchling's pace quickens as he races toward a young woman with mismatched eyes and a beastcrafter's touch. For she might not be food but she is the bringer of it… and, more importantly, she's the holder of all of his hearts.
With a triumphant cry it seems that the Enchanting Moonrunner Blue Hatchling has found its partner at last and impression is made!
T'syn stirs, escorting Sha'bie and Mumreth to the side of the Sands and setting them up with a pailful of meat. Afterwards, he returns, eyeing the brown. Once he chooses his new lifemate, the greenrider smirks wryly and approaches. "Welcome to the team," he tells Arratreayu A'ru. "Let's go get you and… Kanath, was it?… settled in with some meat."
Arratreayu is stunned "You chose me?" gentle hands stroke the damp neck a few times where he was expiences bursting rainbow from exploding stars clouding his vision. Jerked back to reality when the hunger pangs come. "Yes, you feed badly…it's right over there, not far now." Overwhelmed by emotion and goes to lead Kanath on a wild goose chase until Tyson stops him with a word. "Which way sir? My head's so full of rainbow light I can't see a thing
Karma side steps a brown that is waddling in her general direction, grinning when Arratreayu get's chosen. She's so caught up in watching the handyman and his new boss that she wasn't paying attention. Suddenly glancing around and staring almost dumbly, a surprised nod is given. "Istrayath?!" Taking a knee, not caring about the slow burn for the moment, she simply nods, then laughs. "I've been called worse things than Karma." She offers a supporting arm to keep her lifemate upright. "Oh careful! Oh, you're starving. Let's find something.."
T'syn smiles slightly; it's as loud as a grin from the reserved harper. "Don't worry about it. You'll get used to it. This way."
Seeing T'syn occupied, A'she takes it upon himself to approach the last of the Impressions. "Karmelia, right?" he asks the new bluerider with a twinkling smile. "I'd apologize, but the truth is, Trixie's got some good habits that breed true. Sometimes. Maybe you'll get lucky." He gestures. "Come on. Why don't you and Istrayath join your new clutchmates for a quick meal?"
With the last of the hatchings out of the way, Ky'zai gives a sharp whistle, then gestures towards the Hatching Grounds entrance when Ligeia has the chance to look at him. The waggle of his eyebrows leaves little up to interpretation - don't be surprised if the junior never makes it to the Hatching Feast. Ahem.
With the last of their her their brood well and truly hatched and Impressed, Verzhuqueth visibly calms, with wings dropping down and snapping neat to her sides. There's a final inspection of the shells and, as the weyrlings start to be ushered off to their new lives, the young queen seems fully intent on moving on with her own - or, at least, going to get a much-needed meal that's not delivered to her. Her rider, meanwhile, is easily called to attention by the whistle and she's quick to stifle a laugh behind her hands. A quick look goes to the newly minted weyrlings, to A'she, to T'syn, and then back to Ky'zai. Ligeia returns that eyebrow waggle with one of her own and plenty of promises to be fulfilled. SOON.
Don't worry. A'she'll cover for her. After all, he brought the beer.
And that's why A'she is the best (this time!)
Karma grins to A'she when he approaches, nodding then shaking her head, then nodding again. "Yea, I mean no, well…" He gives an uncertain shrug but can't stop smiling "I was, but he says it's Karma now." A chuckle over Trixie's habits breeding true. "We'll be right behind you." To A'she as she caoxes the young blue's steps towards something to eat, a look of near bewilderment in her expression.
Qhatiratrixth, left unattended, slinks up behind the few Candidates left unImpressed and begins to nose at their robes, testing them to determine which one can be stolen with the least amount of hassle.
A'tu keeps it slow for wobbly legs but the pair do make it soon the baby dragon learns to hand feeding. He looks over at Karma and give a bright smile and a thumbs up for congratulations. Then he turns to T'syn. "Am I doing it right?"
The greenrider shrugs. "Right enough. Don't let him choke," he warns. "They're hungry, and will inhale it you're not careful." T'syn glances at A'she as the bronzerider drops off Karma. "A'ight then. Weyrlingmaster'll be along. Remember. Small chunks." And he hurries off before anyone can stop him.
The Weyrlingmasters will certainly have their hands full, too! But, that's clearly not Verzhuqueth's concern - nor Ligeia's, really. And while she has thost promises to fulfill, she has another that's far more pressing to tend to: "For those of you that didn't Impress, please know that your dragon just hasn't hatched yet. You'll have other opportunities to Stand and we hope you will continue to Stand here at Igen Weyr until you find your other half. Please, go and enjoy the hatching feast! To the new weyrlings, congratulations! You have an exciting time ahead of you and we're proud to have you as soon-to-be riders for our fair Weyr!" And, with that, the unImpressed are dismissed, as well as the observers in the galleries. Time to eat, drink, and be merry!
A'tusure follows those in structions, being very sure not to offer anything but medium-sized chunks. "Easy there…the pain will stop, I promise. Just take it easy." and he simply waits for the Weyrmasmter to come
Also, make merry. Ahem,.
Karma keeps Istrayath from muzzle-planting in the dark sand as she speaks softly to him. "One step at a time. That's it." Soon his steps are more steady and Karma is offering small bites of food, as instructed. Feeling a hint of teeth on her fingers "Careful, fingers are not food." It's almost like she's had to say that a time or two in the past.
The Weyrlingmaster finally finishes with his set of weyrlings and claps his hands. "Alright, then! Pick up your lifemates; don't worry, it won't hurt their dignity, and join us in the barracks. Let's go get you settled!"
A'tu carefully picks up his Kamath and falls into place into the line of newly minted weyrlings
Karma grins at being told to pick Istrayath up and carefully plucks the small blue up, wincing a little as some golden talons rake at her thigh before she can grasp him properly. "You heard the man, he told me too." justifying her actions as if a complaint had been made as she makes steady steps forward.
A'tustalks slowly towards the correct door and heads for the barracks
