Archith's 2nd; Rules Made to be Broken [E]

[Kaya]

74.07.28 | Late Morning | Hatching Sands

The light of the new day had risen upon this one like any other. The bakers were fast away preparing for the inevitable Hatching and the feast that would follow it. The Masters and Assistants rushed about, making final preparations, trying to get what they could sorted now, and accepting the reality that some things would have to be dealt with after, even if it was more difficult to instruct a stuffed, fading dragonet and its new rider.

The seventeen eggs and their mother rested upon the now glowing sand, the day’s sun now inching closer to its full height. Rilora was sitting quietly upon the Stands, a blanket around her shoulders. She had been there since the dawn, at Archith’s request. She had in her sleepy mood said something strange, something about needing to keep an eye on the eggs…but it was the way she had said it that had struck the woman. She was left with that feeling as she tried to stay awake and await the young dragons that would enter the world. Archith wasn’t settled as a Turn ago. She had been certain the eggs would start their rocking and shaking the day before. Yet there they were, still resting on the quiet Sands, still as could be.

In the corner on the far side of the sleeping Archith, a little egg started to struggle. It moved but only one faint crack formed. It tired and feel still again, unnoticed. Its neighbor sensed the feelings of freedom and escape. The egg nearby felt it too, and the dragonets inside the next layer of surrounding eggs, until the feeling spread like wildfire around them. So while those eggs began to move, their mother Queen slept, exhausted from the disappointment and stress of not seeing her children arrive the day before. There was no greeting hum, no whirling excited eyes watching. They had not been called.

So when the largest egg burst, the one her front claw was loosely wrapped around, it startled the Queen into a bugle, bolt upright, staring down. On the Sands, staring back up at her, indignant, eyes piercing, was a large black colored dragon but with another color. Not like a bicolor. No, the gold color was distinct, the tilt of her head was unmistakable. She could only be one color. A stone appeared from between and lodged itself deep in Archith’s chest. She took a deep breath and lowered her head to look the young one square in the face.

You have the power to change the world, young one. Use it for good. Dramatic? In the moment, it never occurred to her.

The young Abyss stared back, eyes whirling, then turned to the Sand’s entrance and let out her own bugle. To come. She just knew: come. A pathetic attempted roar came from her next. Late. Come. It made sense to know these things should be happening, but she couldn’t place all the knowings together. She looked back to her mother for assistance. It was a strange sort of mother-daughter bonding moment. A sly smile, not unlike how she’d felt on the day of her Flight, crept onto Archith’s face. Yes, she would oblige.

A thunderous roar shook the valley and echoed off the walls and around even the Hatching Sands, built outside against the Bowl’s wall. This was the power of a summons, and it would fit them. She looked down to her eggs to notice a very muscular Brown had already arrived. She was pleased with him and encouraged him to come stand by his sister, so that they, in manner that broke tradition in their Weyr’s very tradition of doing so, would greet the Candidates as they arrived. A hum made its way into Archith’s chest. There were some things that never changed.

And a lot that did.

[phantomofthewolves]

Oola rushed to the Hatching Sands, struggling to put on her candidate robes in her sandals. The eggs were hatching! She arrived first, gasping for air. When she lifted her head, she silently gasped under her breath. A black and yellow dragon and her brown brother had already hatched and the gold was staring at the Abyss square in the face. She sneaked to where the female candidates were to stand and stood silently.

How could this be? An Abyss in a gold's clutch hatching before any candidate arrived? She had heard the tales of a weyr where this certain color ruled. She hoped, no, prayed to Faranth that this Abyss wouldn't choose her for a rider. But she had a little hope that this Abyss would be different then the other Abysses. Her chest swelled with pride, and she silently hoped to Impress the young Abyss, or any dragon that sees her as their rider.

[Terayne]

The day had come quietly, and Adelia was still sitting on her bed, just finishing oiling her Sunlance. Beam was humming happily, but abruptly, the little one dived under the pillow as the roar shook the walls. Wave woke with a start and looked around, then chirped sharply at his Mine and darted to the chest that held the woolen white robe and sandals she was to wear. Squeaking, Adelia leapt from the bed, stripping out of her bedclothes, and darted to the chest as well, throwing it open and reverently pulling out the robe and sandals, pulling them on without any hesitation.

She then gathered her ever present healer's bag(she didn't go anywhere without it after all), slid her locket under the robe to avoid it glinting and annoying the dragonets, and raced for the door, sternly telling her flits to STAY PUT. They obeyed without question, and the girl closed the door and slithered her way through the throng of gathering Candidates, and out into the Bowl.

It didn't take her long to reach the Grounds, and she hid her bag in a dark corner to avoid it being trampled on, then skidded to a halt, panting softly and rearranging her copper colored tresses, then straightening and padding inside, only to stop and stare long and hard at the young Queen already waiting on the Grounds, her brother beside her...

An Abyss, young one.... The voice was tired, and worried, and Adelia looked up, to find her Great-Grandmother's Silver looking down at her. Somehow, the Queen and her entourage of Browns and Green had already arrived and taken their places, the aging Silver greeting and congratulating Archith on her beautiful clutch.

Abyss... Adelia managed to hide the shudder that threatened, knowing the history of that color all too well, and she strode forwards, not allowing her own growing concern to taint the welcoming thoughts she pushed to the forefront of her mind. She must NOT allow her thoughts to be colored by anything. They must be welcoming, loving and open. She had been instructed well in what she was SUPPOSED to do, she thought, amused. But that didn't mean anything when the time actually came, and she was sure that her dragon-riding family knew that.

[Shoki]

Cyanee was suddenly rocked by a great roar produced by the Gold. It must be the hatching. There had been speculation that it would start yesterday but, no, today it was. She bolted to put on her robes, with more urgency then the previous hatching. She couldn't be late, or left out. She wanted to stand this time, not just see what happened. After getting the white robe on she paused for a moment, and poked her head out into the Bowl, just for a moment. Kiyosh was there, resting, looking unperturbed by the noise. Her head turned back briefly before turning back.

Good luck my little fledgling.

Cyanee broke into a smile, so happy to have support from the Lifewing. She could tell it was all she could get right now, so she rushed to the sands, and nearly tripped when she saw what was there. They had hatched! A brown was milling about and a dark dragon, with golden tears in it. What? That was...

Remember, no matter what happens, you have to deal with it. Dragons don't break it to you softly.

The words from her brother came unbidden, and somehow they pushed her into her place, into the area the female candidates were gathering. An Abyss. A dragon spoken of in quiet tones, with terrible stories attached. But that couldn't be right, it existed right here and now. The Candidate looked a touch bewildered, trying to force what she knew from old tales into what she saw before her eyes into the same thought. She couldn't do it. Whatever she knew about the dark Weyr, it couldn't mean that it would be bad here. After all, the candidate master had a Blood, and not many liked them for the same reasons. So Cyanee stared at the Abyss, unable to take her eyes off it, since it was the most beautiful, confusing, bewildering creature she had ever seen. She didn't know what to think about that.

---

Irai arrived at the Weyr again, having planned to walk here yet again tomorrow if there was reason to. It was a good way to get exercise after all. Of course Kumori was pulling the strings. Irai would want to be sure to be here to support the lovely young lady she had met earlier. However, Kumori wanted to see what happened. There was a certain amount you could tell about a person by what they impressed. And if Rekkora impressed, Kumori wanted to use it to gauge the young woman. That meant a walk from Cliffside to the Weyr everyday. She rested at the Weyrbowl for a moment, then flinched when a bugle was heard. Irai could be frightened sometimes from loud noises. Kumori was interested how this hatching started off. Well, best see what was what.

Irai made her way to the sands, and of course the stands to watch the hatching. She entered and her eyes caught sight of a color she had not seen for decades. An Abyss. Irai reflexively wanted to run but, Kumori broke her mask for a moment and hurried up into the stands.

Cower in the stands you mewling mask, I must see!

Irai cowered in her chosen seat, while Kumori's mind raced. An Abyss, eh? Well, the queen of vanity was a lovely one, much better then the more justice oriented Gold, the too serene Silver and the friendly Rainbow. She admitted, legends of the Azure were a bit better. Loyal creatures who caused vengeance. Lovely. Well, she was happy to be here then, looked like it was going to be fun. For a moment a uncharacteristic smirk made its way onto the old woman's face, and her eyes narrowed in appreciation. A moment later, there was no trace of it and the simple minded Irai was looking around for Rekkora, trying not to think about the Abyss. Or so it seemed.

---

D'ziel heard the roar and it seemed like the hatching was up. He had been sitting in the Barracks, petting Pounce, but it seemed like he had something better to do. Namely support Dandzeal. He was sure with a Queen hatching his brother would impress easy. He didn't want Dan to become more distressed over the matter. Hocteth raised his head as Dal lifted Pounce up onto his shoulder, the feline purring before settling nicely. The Moonlight looked more ambivalent toward the feline then he had previously. She had been proving herself slowly, though still annoyed him more then the dragon would like.

"Come on, gotta be there for Dan." D'ziel headed out and Hocteth nodded before heading there himself. It was quite proper to go an support one's family, he had learned. And if it was proper he must do it.

Dal scrambled into the stands and looked with shock down at the hatching sands. Oh boy, that was a surprise. Abyss and Brown already there. Well, He wasn't sure about it, but Archith always seemed to have things handled, so it should be fine. Pounce rubbed her head against his hair, oblivious to human concerns. D'ziel grinned. There was a reason he liked felines. He got a seat, and brought Pounce into his lap, stroking her so she didn't get to wandering. The silver feline purred her contentment and left D'ziel and Hocteth to worry about the hatching. She was a feline, therefore did not care. So D'ziel watched, not about to chat to anyone, even Hocteth for a bit. The sands had his attention.

[Cait]

Ridiculous! That’s what it was! For a moment Rekkora was livid that she’d not be given the proper amount of time to prepare for what could very well be the most important day of her life. If things went the way she planned, this would be the day she was joined with a very special young dragon. In her mind it would be a Queen, of course; she was, in her rather humble opinion, well suited to the task. Of course every young girl was probably thinking the same thing, but they would see. Yes, they would. It would be Rekkora who Impressed the Queen. And so, Rekkora fussed with her hair even as she slipped on her candidate’s robes.

Falling in line and then pushing her way towards the front, Rekkora kept to a swift, clipped pace that was just shy of jogging, inwardly feeling a bit of disgust at those who were running. It wouldn’t do to arrive out of breath and disheveled. Though when she did finally step onto the sands she was surprised and a little annoyed to find two hatchlings already on the sands. It was a brown and a blac…her eyes went wide then narrowed as she glided to her spot amongst the female candidates. That was no black, of course she wasn’t quite sure what it was. It looked nothing like the strange bicolor dragons that were cropping up, not with the way the gold slashed the dark hide…wait, gold? Yes, gold and not yellow. She knew of only one dragon with that coloring and then only from stories.

Suspicious and more than a little disgruntled, Rekkora made sure that her hair was in place and her robes hung correctly, smoothing a few stray folds before lifting her chin and settling her nerves. This would be the day, she thought to herself confidently. Her past failed attempts had led up to this, she was certain. Not even an ounce of uncertainty clouded her mind. At least confidence and arrogance were good for something every now and then.

---

Saddyris blinked as a weyrbrat came screaming through the corridor, shouting something about a hatching though it was rather hard to tell what the boy was saying. When she could figure it out, it took a little longer for her to actually process it though when Poica and her cousin’s Suiauthon began to hum and then disappeared it became rather clear.

Grabbing the pillow from her cot, she whacked her dozing cousin—Dyranor—and shouted for her brother even as she dragged a clean tunic over her head and tucked it into the skirts she’d already been wearing. Tying a vividly red sash around her waist. Her hair was a mess though and as she struggled to pull a comb through it she glanced over at Dyranor who’d simply grabbed the pillow, hugging it and rolled over. Lazy sack of…

“Get UP!” She shouted, lifting a booted foot and shoving his back until he was pushed off the far side of his cot. Then turning in a swirl of vibrant skirts, she tossed her comb aside and exited the room, fingers deftly weaving her hair into a long braid. By the time she was halfway across the Bowl, dragons were flocking in a haphazard manner to the hatching grounds and Saddyris was muttering under her breath about her cousin and his ridiculous behavior.

It was midmorning and she had to shove him out of bed? No wonder the elders were concerned about him in regards to becoming heir when uncle Dyrmar took over the clan! If he didn’t shape up soon she’d withdraw her support of him and then he’d be forced to face the vote when the time came. Still in a bit of a mood, Saddyris allowed herself to be ushered into the Stands and found herself a decent spot, saving room for Mobrey and Dyranor when they joined her.

---

After being hit rather forcefully with a pillow, Dyranor grumbled and dragging the pillow to his chest, rolled to give his back to his cousin. She really was too bossy sometimes. Though, no sooner had he settled back into his cot than he felt the sting of a boot to his back and he was kicked, toppling off the cot to land rather roughly on his stomach, his chin connecting with stone floor enough to scrape a layer or two of skin off. With a yelp and a growl that went unheard, he sprung to his feet, kicking at the pillow and squaring his shoulder, intent on giving Saddyris a piece of his mind; couldn’t he just sleep in once?!

She wasn’t there.

“Coward!” He snarled to himself as he climbed nimbly over his cot and rubbed at his bare chest, moving over to the small polished bit of metal to inspect himself. His chin was raw and blood was slowly beading together to trickle downward. With a huff, he grabbed one of Saddyris’ tunics and dabbed at his chin, becoming increasingly irritated until he realized why he felt that way. There was a steadily growing hum that permeated the Weyr and the room in which he stood. Blinking several times as he stared at his distorted reflection, it finally dawned on him. The hatching!

He’d been at the Weyr for seven months now, acting as representative to his clan while Saddyris ferried messages back and forth between the caravan and the Weyr. Progress was slow but he rather enjoyed life at the Weyr. There was almost nothing routine about it…or at the very least he hadn’t been there long enough to detect any mundane routine that might be present.

Tossing aside his cousin’s ruined tunic, Dyranor dug out one of his own, pulling the crisp white linen over his head and tucking it hastily into his hide trousers. That was followed by a yellow sash and a donning of boots as he hopped around first on one foot then the other. By the time he was dressed as befitted such an auspicious occasion, a great deal of the Weyr had already assembled, clearly more prepared for things like this than he was.

Unaware that his dark hair was a mess, he squeezed past a particularly…round spectator, having easily spotted his cousin. She’d saved a spot for him though when he went to sit down she glanced at him and snorted, rolling her eyes. Not sure what her problem was that morning, he rolled his own eyes and plopped down, blue gaze travelling to the clutch. There were seventeen eggs but what surprised him was the fact that already two of them had hatched. Was he truly so late? Once he was settled, Suiauthon fell from an overhead ledge, snapping his wings open when he was a couple feet above the nearest person, making them nervous, before gliding over the Stands to land on Dyranor’s shoulder, humming contentedly as he tucked his wings away and canted his head slightly to the right, mimicking the position of his handler who was peering at the strange dark dragon on the sands.

[Simile]

Chantrea shot bolt upright at the sound. Could it be? Could it really be? It was time for the hatching. She took a deep breath and threw on the Candidates robe. Of course... she wondered, with all she had done, what dragonet would want her. She stood quietly, looking at the white robe in her hand for a moment before her flitters started to swoop about in excitement before dissapearing to flitter above the hatching sands, humming to their hearts content. She sighed. Well... It looked like she should go after all. Besides. You never knew. Dragons were... dragons. they had there own rules and own ways of telling who was worthy and who was not. She sighed and pulled the Candidate's robe over he head, pulling her hair from the collar and pulled on the tan boots which would protect her feet from the hot, glowing sands where the eggs rested. She did not rush, but rather walked, feeling a certain excitement mixed with dread as she walked onto the sands, staring in a momentary shock at the first dragonet which stood on the sands.

It was an Abyss. She hadn't thought she would see one like this. But.... it's appearance could only mean one thing. Change was coming. But what that change would be, she hadn't a clue. She bowed to the Gold and to her Abyss daughter as was only respectful before moving to take a place near the front of the gathering group of girls and watch. Which egg would be next? What hatchling would wander out to the waiting Candidates... and would it come her way? Would the Abyss come towards her? Even if it was not meant for her. Would it pass close enough that she could get a good look at the black and gold dragonet? She was something else and, after this hatching she, and whichever girl she chose... they would change Pern... for good or bad, however, that would have to be seen in the future....

Chantrea lowered her gaze to the sands for a moment before standing straight and squaring her shoulders, making her stance more solid, and waiting. Waiting quietly, ready to move should she have to.

She paid the other Candidates no heed. There were only two things that mattered right now in this moment. Herself and the dragonets. That was all. And that was what she would focus on entirely.

For this moment, time would stand still in the paw steps of every dragonet. There was one thing, though... perhaps the birth of a queen color first would bode very well for the clutch as a whole. Or perhaps the fact that it was an Abyss meant that further dark colors were hiding amongst those eggs. The stories of the now dead Abyss Queen of the extinct Dark Mists Weyr tickled the back of her mind and she wondered... Had it been a gold who had laid the egg of that Abyss as well? And... what had that clutch looked like as a whole then. What had come of the eggs. She kept her eyes out, though... waiting, her breaths steady and trying to keep herself quietly focused on the dragonet... and the eggs, though it was hard to remove her eggs from the Abyss queenlet which walked the sands.

--------------

Dandzael shot up as Andi jumped on his face, flailing and trying to pull the black flitter from his face only to feel her claws leaving scratches. She was excited for some reason... and humming? Oh... Humming! The hatching had started! That was the only explanation. "Okay! Okay!" He frowned. "ANDI! Let go! I'm up! I'm up!"

Andi let go, still humming, looking rather pleased with herself as her human rose and went to the trunk where his Candidate robes were waiting. He still remembered the bitter disappointment of the last hatching. He didn't feel any qualms about having been napping when he should have been doing chores however... In fact, he had been finding a lot of ways to try to avoid chores and lessons since the last couple of hatchings. They had both been such bitter disappointments... He hardly held out hope for this one either. But he would go. He hadn't given up. How could he. Other had stood longer and still had hope... and still Impressed.

He pulled the robe over his head, thinking for a moment that he could certainly use a haircut. His hair had gotten so long... He didn't dwell for long as he pulled on his boots and turned towards the door, just staring at it for the longest moment before hearing a slight hiss from his black firelizard that jump started him and he headed out towards the hatching sands... only to stop as he entered and saw the Abyss there, a small trickle of fear and disgust tightening in his core. He knew what stories his grandparents told of the Dark Weyr and its queen. How could he expect anything different from this child of an Abyss? he bowed to the Gold, but was very careful as he walked to take his place on the boys side, watching the Abyss with a wary eye as he finally came to a standstill. How could he focus on the other eggs and dragonets when there was an Abyss on the sands!

------------------------------------

Talithia heard Maetioth hiss. The eggs hatch. Come. We must pay our respects... to the young Abyss Queen. Talithia froze. An Abyss. Faranth. She smiled slightly. "I see... so you are hoping for it then, Maetioth, are you not?" She would have to keep a tighter leach on her dragoness who would most likely seek to influence the young Abyss... and most likely for the worst rather than the best. However, Talithia felt almost giddy at the prospect of the young dragonet. Someone else who would understand how they felt... and who could use some protection themselves from the scorn of the Weyr. "Let's go." She moved over to where her dragoness rested on the Weyr heights and climbed on her back before the dragoness fell down towards the Weyrbowl and lifted herself, taking them the short distance to the hatching sands and descendign to land on an upper ledge. We welcome you, young and beautiful queen, the copper said, her voice smooth and oily with just the slightest hint of jealousy. Hmm.... such promise this little one had.

Talithia slid from her dragon's back to take up residence beside her and look to the nearest rider. She rather wondered what the flame father of this clutch would think of his Abyss daughter...

[kelsin]

Kelsira started as the gold's roar washed over her. After a brief moment of confusion, she jumped into action, quickly putting on her robe. Sliding her feet into her sandals, Kel took a moment to straighten her robe, smoothing out the remaining wrinkles. Not for the first time, the miner wondered who had decided on this ridiculous outfit to put candidates in.

Shrugging absently, Kelsira joined the line of candidates making their way to the Sands. Joining the cluster of girls, she bowed to the gold and her abyss daughter. Taking her place, she looked over the hatchlings. They seemed healthy at least, which was the important thing in her mind. Kel didn't feel the dread that the rest of the Weyr seemingly felt. The little Queen could decide to not to be like those before her, and deserved the chance to do so. Resolved, Kelsira squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She would see what would come with confidence.

[seraphim]

Melana started from her bath, heart hammering as the shock rippled through her. Faranth what was that?! Looking about, she saw white robed people bolting past the bathing chambers, and her stomach dropped.

The Hatching had started! That must have been Archith's roar, calling the Candidates to the stands. Quickly rinsing off and scrambling out of the baths (her hair was dry and brushed, thankfully), she put on her white robes and sandals and bolted to join the other Candidates.

Gently inching to stand next to Kelsira, she made sure her robes were settled and also squared her shoulders.. though she was diminutive in height. So unimpressive. The dark Dragon was foreign to her, but still so beautiful. She stared at it in apparent awe, eyes dazzled by its sheer beauty.

So beautiful ... so this is what it feels like to see a hatchling emerge. She thought to herself, hands shaking with nerves and excitement. This could be her chance; her day to shine as a proud Dragonrider. At this point, while a Queen would be wonderful, she didn't even care what color she got. She would love it forever.

Briefly she allowed herself to daydream about what being a Rider would be like. Would her Dragon be a Searchrider? To see those she Searched Impress to such glorious dragons would have to be wonderous. Or would she make Wingleader, and lead her Wing against the dreaded Thread. She and her Dragon would be heroes!

Or a Queen ... to lead an entire Weyr, to watch as a clutch hardened on the sands and beautiful dragonets flopped out of their prisons to Impress to their lifemates.

"This is so beautiful.." She whispered to no one in particular.

[Terayne]

Adelia shifted as more of the female Candidates filed in, until she was standing slightly off to the side and to the right of where she'd begun. Her gaze remained on the Abyss as she considered her, wondering what kind of dragoness she would become. Hopefully not another Valorith, who Terayne said she'd feared above all others, even the Crimson Deikoeth. Shaking her head, she forced the thoughts away, taking a deep breath and pushing herthoughts again to loving, kind and welcoming.

These beautiful little dragons were in need of someone to love them, to be with them, train beside them and give them their whole lives. So much like the little animals she used to bring home, the ones who were injured and in need of love and a home. She had loved bringing those home, caring for them, much to her family's amusement, Her attention shifted suddenly as she heard the comment from a girl near her, and she smiled.

"Yes, it is," she murmured softly in reply.

[Moo]

Riona opened her eyes, blinked, and sat slowly up in her bed at the sound of the…well, it could only be described as humming. Was that the call to assemble? Had the Hatching begun? Sliding off the side of the bed and peering out of her room, Riona’s eyes widened in response to the flurry of activity in the hallway of the barracks. If she was looking for a sign, those white robes were her answer. The answer was yes.

Turning back into her room, knowing speed was essential, Riona quickly pulled on the robe, pushed back her short hair, and followed the crowd toward what she hoped was the same destination. She eyed the female candidates fussing with their hair and rolled her eyes.

Rounding a corner, Riona took a moment to appreciate the grandeur of the scene as those around her vied for the best spots on the sands. She couldn’t hide the glimmer of fear as she looked up at the large Queen, her appearance awe-inspiring. Though Shimmer Bay wasn’t too far from the Weyr, it was far away enough to keep it from being a stop on the flights of most dragons. She had encountered a couple dragons before, but this Queen was the largest she had ever faced.

Instinct told her to fear her. Reason told her to cross the threshold onto the sands and bow her respects to the Queen, though…it seemed…there were already two hatchlings waiting. Was she really that late?

Without a second thought, Riona strode over to the boys and nodded to the Gold, settling into the small crowd. Now that the niceties were out of the way, she eyed the newly-hatched dragons, her brow furrowed as she tried to remember the characteristics of each.

Brown. Well, that was a hard-worker, wasn’t it? But they could be lazy. So she heard.

The gold-and-black one. Riona worried at her lip. It wasn’t a common color, that much she distinctly remembered. It started with an ‘A’, didn’t it?…Oh, but all she could remember was ‘Aurora’, and that dragon was the farthest thing from an Aurora. She had spied one in the Weyr the other day, and those had many colors.

She sniffed and wiped at her nose with the side of her hand – before remembering that ladies were not supposed to do that. That was why they sent her here, because she ‘was turning into a lady.’ Resisting the urge to curl her lip at the very thought, Riona tried her best to stop fidgeting, focus on the dragons and the remaining eggs on the sands, and relax. A good mind was a calm mind.

Will I Impress?

#

Mosiliath arched his neck, mouth stained red, and lifted his head away from the twitching herdbeast. He knew the sound of that hum. He had heard it before. The time had come!

D’gan, you know what to do.

With an excited flap of his wings, the large Tiger left his catch and made his way toward the Sands, toward Archith, unable to hide the spring in his step. Hatchings always made him feel good. It livened up the entire Weyr, and that was something to be celebrated after so much tribulation.

It did not take him long to get to the Sands, so he took a spot in the back and waited for D'gan to arrive. He nodded his respects to Archith and added his deep hum into the fray. It was just then that he felt a hand touch his forearm.

Mosiliath...this isn't good. His tone reflected the worry he felt.

Confused, he looked down at his Rider. Hmm, what?

Look.

Looking back up, Mosiliath refolded his wings. What could possibly be so alarmi--

An Abyss. There was an Abyss. On the Sands.

An icy reverence passed through him. So...it had finally come to this. He kept a masterful hold on his emotions, his eyes reflecting nothing but joy for the occasion. But he knew everyone was thinking the same thing.

Remember when we first arrived? And there was the Haze?

D'gan nodded. Yes, I remember.

Will we still watch over this one, much like when we were asked to keep an eye on the others?

We will do what is told of us. We can't assume too much right now. Word of this Abyss will spread far and wide. For now, she is still young and impressionable. It would not be wise for us, or anyone else, to react too quickly.

Mosiliath settled into his seat and watched on, waiting for the Abyss and the Brown to pick their respectful candidates. If these were the colors that could come from a Gold and a Flame...then what was he capable of? Could he, too, sire an Abyss?

The thought was worrisome.

[Nicole]

You can't just-
I can just!

A grin flashes over Elora's face as she shoves her way through the crowd around the Hatching, wiggling her way to the front. Apologies were given to the women, flirtatious smiles given to the men, and a pat or two on the head given to the few youngsters in the crowd.

You could see perfectly well where you were.
But an Abyss! There's an Abyss on the Sands! I need to see one up close!

From her perch outside, Saphireth blew out heavily between her lips, settling her head on her front claws. She was getting big. Too big for her old favorite perch, so the distraction of all the dragons at the Hatching seemed like a good time to try a new one. Besides, she would be seeing the dragonets soon enough.

Elora, however, couldn't wait. Her hair, twisted into a messy bun around her head, shone bronze-like in the dim lighting of the Hatching grounds as she leaned forward, eyes inhaling the Sands. She knew it would go much faster than her own time on the Sands - oh, that didn't seem like very long ago, and so much had happened since then! - but it was still exciting.

And an Abyss! Rare dragon colors were exciting, oh so very exciting.

You know, if I can convince Rilora to let me do my education travel thing after we learn to Fly, I can do a special segment on rare dragon colors and why they're so rare.
Whatever you like, Mine.

[kelsin]

Kelsira murmered hellos to the other candidates as they arrived, her eyes briefly leaving the eggs in front of her as she greeted them. She'd never thought of herself as a Queen rider, but Kel couldn't help but wistfully watch as the Abyss sat on the sands before the candidates. Most girls had dreamed of riding a Gold, and Kelsira had been no different as a child. Now, she just wanted to be found worthy. To earn a dragon of her own.

"It is, isn't it?" She replied softly. It seemed silly to be whispering when the atmosphere around them was charged with excitement. Everyone from. The spectators in the sands,to the candidates were excited to welcome the Weyr's newest dragons. And yet, there was a reverence to the event. A sense of awe, knowing that these eggs would hatch soon and bond with their riders. Even the Abyss, though people seemed to fear her, inspired a sort of wonder. And so, Kelsira continued to sleek softly, not wanting to distract from the event.

"How long until they choose do you think?"

[Kaya]

So oval shells shook and Candidates came, the audience was loud as ever, and Archith replied in pleasant form to all the well wishes. Still, the little Queen at her feet demanded her attention all the same. So her attention and conversation was dominated by the young one, who seemed far from distressed about food.

In fact, it was her Brown brother that was already off across the Sands, but he wasn't looking at the Candidates. What he had smelled tasted good, and he wasn't about to stop for anything to get to it. He made his way promptly to the table, glared at the startled people milling about it, and with a low growl scooped up a chunk of meat for himself and hauled off a bowl back across the Sands with him. Some of it spilled, which angered him, but he made it back to his mother and sister. The Abyss took on a pleased look and selected a piece from the bowl. Archith looked on with a puzzled expression, and then the two set to talking again.

Around here more eggs took to rocking, and then stopping, and then rocking again, in no order and without rhythm. They were a jumbled sea of eggs, not quite so early as their Brown and Abyss siblings. The hum rose and fell with the movement on the Sands, but not quite in sync so that the whole mess taken together was unbalancing and set one off guard. Even the sound of the humming sounded off if one listened to it long enough.

In another burst of power another dragonet arrived. He was as big, bursting at the seams kind of Blue, with a towering stature and posture for his nearly Brownish size. He looked about, set a determined look to his face, and promptly set off to inspect the nearest group, the boys. He had big plans for one of them, he certainly did. Let the others wander off to be last, failures and of other ill lots. He was a great one, he already knew it.

Not far behind him was a pleasant looking Dream, her figure not quite as goopy and gangly as your average dragonet. She earned herself a passing hiss from the Abyss as she made her way towards the girls. She intoned a reply to her sister, a light sound of agreement, for whatever words may have passed between them. She would oblige, of course. She set herself at a quick pace to examine all that were present and having passed them all once, circled back towards the center to confer with her Abyss sister, but the first born dragonet didn’t seem so interested in her as she was in cleaning the bowl of its last meager contents. So the Dream backed off and took to watching the Candidates from afar. She had seen the excitement and happiness that many of them had, but she would please her sister and wait. It felt right to wait besides, and so better to gain favor doing what one wanted.

[Terayne]

Adelia was about to reply when the Brown took off, and she gasped softly as he went after the table and grabbed one of the bowls of meat. What in the world? she wondered, then blinked as he dragged it back with him to his mother and Queen sister. The pleased look to the Abyss' visage, and the puzzled one to Archith's, only made her more confused, and she ALMOST reached for the Golden Queen to question her. However, she knew it was rude to speak to a rider's dragon without their permission, and to try and speak with the Queen during her hatching would almost certainly have been a mistake. But she wanted so MUCH to know what the two Queens were conversing about, for they most certainly were.

The arrival of the Blue couldn't even distract her, for he went for the boys, not the girls, and so demanded none of her curious attention. Even the Dream, as pretty as she was, could not hold the girl's attention long. It was just too focused on wanting to know what the Abyss especially was thinking....
----------

Above the Candidate, Aurorath was perched, just watching the Abyss, her tail tip twitching in a most agitated fashion. The Queen remembered all too well the havoc wreaked by Valorith and her lot, and she feared this Abyss would potentially do the same. Already she showed the same vanity and fierce anger towards a more beautiful sibling that the now deceased Abyss had, and that hiss towards the Dream had the Silver's wings fluttering slightly, although she stayed put. She didn't reach for the Abyss to attempt to scold her-that was her mother's place after all, not a foreign(sort of) Queen's after all-but she did shift. At her side, Terayne had a very worried expression on her face. She feared for Adelia, feared what the tempermental young Queen might do should anyone on the Sands displease her. They could not interfere, it wasn't right, but nonetheless she'd already instructed Adelia's mother to retrieve her child should the Abyss display any potentially fatal intentions towards the girl. They'd risk Archith's anger to protect her, for she belonged to their blood.

K'yne, perched on Lorifelth nearby, was also watching his Grand-daughter, his Gold perched on his shoulder, her graying hide dim, but still obviously golden in hue. His eyes gave nothing away, but he recalled as well as his mother the Dark Mists Queen and her temperment. No one still known to be alive had been present at her Hatching, for she had been Hatched AT Dark Mists, so they didn't know how she'd behaved then, if Deikoeth's influence had been what had caused her deadly transformation. He WANTED to know. Had always wanted to know. But his mother and the other Weyrwomen of Waterfall Valley had always forbidden him to search the abandoned hulk of Dark Mists for any records they might have kept. He wondered, not for the first time, if it was time to search it now, now that this new young Queen of Change had appeared...

[seraphim]

Melana shook her head as Kelsira spoke, unsure of what to even think at this moment. A Brown had outright stolen a bowl of meat off the table and was making his way back to his Abyss sister. A curious creature, but he too was beautiful. Melana's eyes then focused on the Dream that had shown itself, and she jolted some. The Dream was stunning, graceful in its elegance and the way it moved.

To Kelsira, she simply smiled,

"I ... judging by how they are acting, I believe they will hatch .. and -then- choose their lifemates. I've never seen such an ... organized, hatching before. It's wondrous and scary." She whispered gently, silently congratulating Archith on having such beautiful babies.