Temperanth's Hatching [73.13.21]

[Void]

Sk'ar and Verith had been out taking a leisurely flight in the ice cold wind leisurely usually translating into them doing flight maneuvers that were generally frowned upon for their lack of safety but they of course did anyways. When the cold finally got to them they glided back to the Weyr.

Do you hear something?

Hear what Mine?

I don't know, just somthing.

That is very descriptive Sk'ar Mine, thank you for the update on your new ability to hear strange noises.

He thumped Verith on the shoulder. I mean it, can't you hear anything?

No but I feel it, it.. is humming. The hatching must have started while we were away Mine.

And with that discovery he pumped his wings gaining momentum and glided to the hatching sands discreetly landing on a ledge low enough for Sk'ar to easily see what was going on but not in a manner that took any attention away from the Hatching itself. He bowed his head elegantly to the Queen acknowledging her presence and to the success of her clutch.

I see Era! Sk'ar said excitedly spotting the girl that became his friend in his time as Watch in Icy Caverns. He waved knowing she could very well not see them at all if she was intent enough on the eggs, which she probably was.

Many have hatched but the Hatching has not lasted long as of now. The first to break shell was a Chrome. There are many mixed feelings about him swirling around.

I can understand why but the only way to know how a dragonet will be is to see how it grows, judging to soon will get no one anywhere.

This is true Mine.

[summerrain]

Yuki had gotten there just in time to see the Hatching. A Grey, Chrome, Sunlace, Aurora, and a White. She smiled slightly when the Grey Impressed, but had eyes on the Chrome. She looked for her brother, who she knew would be among the Candidates. She dared not have Ayleneth attempt to send him a message. Disrupting a Hatching was something that wasn't done.

She remembered the Hatching of Ayleneth's dragonets. The white in that Clutch had called out to Hers, requesting help in order to Hatch completely. She'd even turned away her Aurora brother who had attempted to help. That was definitely a strange sight. But the colors from the Dark Mists incident... Many of those brought back dark memories for many of the elder Riders. She herself had only heard tales of it from the Weyrharper and the scrolls. She had been thankful to have not been involved with it.

She saw her brother among the Candidates. She knew he was also attempting to follow their father into carpentry. He would have something to do if he didn't Impress, which was fine. Yuki was the first Rider in their family for many generations. If her brother wasn't Impressed, she knew he'd be a bit disappointed, but that he wouldn't be bothered too much. Or so she hoped. He'd either live at the Weyr, or return to the Hold nearby.

[Shoki]

Kyuuki watched the other dragons hatch with a little more joy. She couldn't quite shake off her previous feelings but with the more friendly colors, it was certainly a start. She watched the yellow dragon hatch, and pondered the question put before her.

"I agree. It, uh, just seems more like a Sunlance." She had been to more hatchings, but she always found that dragons had a habit of surprising her. Therefore it was hard to be confident.

"Which one looks, uh, nicest to you?" Kyuuki sort of directed her question at Tamaruk, but it was generally aimed at the others present. After all, for the most part, everyone had an opinion as the hatching went on, even if it was all moot.

---

The Aurora looked at all the eggs, and after she was done looked over at the candidates. Well, they did look interesting. She started trotting over, taking a look at both the male and female candidates, even pausing for a glance at her Sunlance and White siblings. Then she spotted someone fascinating. The dragonet raced toward the female candidates, leaving her investigation of all but one of them for some other time. She had something more interesting to learn. EraMine! Why do you have a blue thing about your neck? Tuniseth finds it most interesting.

The Sunlance male was taking his time looking through the female candidates, having paused to let his more excited Aurora sibling by him. He didn't feel the need to rush, even taking time to look behind him at the eggs when another one hatched quietly. It was a Pink dragonet, who looked up at the ceiling once she had her bearings. Her wings were on the large side for her color, but the most striking thing was that she looked peaceful as she listened. Oh, the humming in the air! She hummed once, then paused and tried again. Oh, the pitch was different! She ignored both genders of candidates, the stands and even her siblings. The humming was much more beautiful to her.

The White dragoness was getting frustrated. She couldn't find hers. She bounced as she searched, peering at the male candidates, before sitting down to look around again. Hmm, maybe they were a girl? She started to head that direction, then was startled by the egg by Temperanth. A dragonet appeared out of the egg, spilling out on the sands with a loud cry, making the White jump back while spinning to face it. It was actually a very graceful maneuver. She faced her strange sibling, who was looking disoriented. He was a rich purple color for the most part, but on his legs and tail the color seemed to fade until it was actually gray. It was subtle though, so that it was impossible to point at where the gray began properly. The Purple-Gray stumbled a bit, trying to figure things out. What was going on? It was loud and he felt weird. He was so conflicted in his feelings that he just stepped back until he hit Temperanth and sat down. Maybe if he sat down for a while he would feel better. The White observed this, and bounced over to the female candidates to look them over with the Sunlance.

-----
Aurora (f) Tuniseth (Tune- is- eth)
About: Tuniseth is a polite little dragoness but has a need to know everything. If she finds something interesting she will jump on it like no body's business. She has a great mind for investigation and an enthusiastic demeanor. Still, she has the trademark Aurora loyalty and will not stray very far from hers to investigate things she finds curious.
Adult length: 30
Hex: 3ca8c3, bd65ad, ef95e1

[Terayne]

The newest hatchlings caught Diamond's attention immediately, and she cocked her head slightly, just watching them. She bit her tongue to avoid chuckling as the poor little Purple-Gray backed into his mother and flopped down, and then she looked towards the Pink, who seemed to be caught up in listening to the older dragons' welcoming humming. Her smile flitted loose again at that thought, and she listened to it as well, seeing how it could have fascinated the little one, Pinks being known for a love of music after all. Her attention soon reverted to its original target though, coming back to the little Chrome, and she watched him intently, though she was still aware of the other dragonets. Having seven siblings and two parents meant she had had to learn to split her attention, allowing her to focus on certain things, tune others out, and pay attention to still more. She used that quirk now, giving her attention to the Chrome, and then splitting the rest between the unHatched dragonets and eggs. No good missing something important after all, like a dragonet rushing to get to Their's! She didn't particularly like the idea of being bloodied after all.

S'lieze was also eyeing the Chrome, though not as intently as some he was sure. He had allowed his Silverlight to distract him as she pointed out the two Impressions so far and admired the pretty little Pink, an amused tone coming through her chest as the little female took to her haunches and decided to try her paw at humming with the adults.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Startled, Tivax looked around. No one seemed to be too close, nor paying too much attention to him, but he could have sworn that someone had just spoken to him. It couldn’t have been a dragon, surely he was focused enough to avoid hearing any of the dragons. Still, maybe it had been…

Thank you, Sayurith, he replied, hoping that he’d guessed right about who had spoken. Before he could spend another second on such thoughts, though, the little Aurora darted off to the female Candidates, obviously having found Hers.

Turning his eyes back to the eggs, Tivax was just in time to witness another dragonet break shell. This one was primarily purple, but with some fading into grey on the legs and tail. Can a dragon be two colors like that, Tivax wondered, staring at the newest Hatchling.

——
Tamaruk joined everyone else in applauding for the Aurora, but his brow was furrowed in thought as he considered Kyuuki’s question. Right as he was about to answer, another dragonet broke shell, this one a combination of purple and grey.

“That one looks the coolest,” he opinioned, gesturing towards the latest to Hatch, the Purple-Grey. “But the Chrome…” his voice trailed off, when he spoke again, it contained more urgency. “Is there something wrong with him? Can dragons be shy?”

[Lark]

Xiana paused a moment to watch as a pink spilled from her shell, the dragonet humming along off-tune to the music. It wasn't terrible really, probably a harmony not that she would know. Still, the pink was content to just be there for the pure love of the music it seemed. Most candidates might have missed this, but somehow, somehow Xiana could tell because it was in a sense one Harper to another. She knew that kind of peace, and it was not among these dragonets and candidates.

Taking a step back, the Harper apprentice nodded to no one in particular and then turned around, moving toward the back of the group and not quite the exit, but at least on the outskirts. She wasn't meant to be here, she never was. On her way she passed by the boys, her eyes flickering to the nearby form of Tivax. Part of thought to call out and greet him, but that part was pushed aside. He wasn't no more a part of her world than she his either. Sensing the change in His, Niro popped in near the ground of the sands, clambering up Xiana's robe and hiding among her dark hair.

[Shoki]

Kyuuki smiled at the dragonet Tamaruk pointed out. It was certainly an interesting one, she gave him that. She had seen her share of two colored dragons, but some color combinations were more common then others. To his answer Kyuuki gave the most collected answer she had all day.

"Of course they can be. They can be loving, prideful, depressed, happy, stressed, outgoing, shy and just about anything else. They are a lot like us, as are Lifewings. Right?" Her gray eyes looked slightly behind her and upward to the Lifewing in her place. Vallesh looked at the humans, not showing her amusement.

Yes. It's just the same as with humans. The swan Lifewing spoke to both Kyuuki and Tamaruk. Vallesh's voice, much like her song, always sounded like a lovely smooth trumpet. At least in some ways. It had a brass quality to it, but lovely and high pitched.

"See? We are, uh, just the same in some ways."

---

The white dragonet continued down the line, quickly reviewing the candidates. All at once, she knew exactly where hers was. She bounced over, and locked eyes with her rider, all happy bounce having impressed. The pair went off the sands, leaving the Sunlance to mull over the candidates again. He decided to stroll over to the male candidates, but paused when another egg broke. Another Sunlance broke the egg, a female this time. She quickly trotted over to her similarly colored brother to ponder the male candidates. They were very much alike, understanding each other quite well. So they had no trouble looking over candidates together.

The Purple-Gray was still reeling. He didn't understand himself. He felt all hyper and full of energy, but at such a loss as to why he would want to bounce around or run. It was so strange. He decided to try and expend some of this energy and see. The dragonet got up and ran across the sands, not toward or away from the candidates. Halfway, he just stopped and flopped down into the sands. He didn't feel excited about it. Maybe he would just sulk here for a while.

The Pink was starting to catch something from the humming in the air. The beginning of a melody. As the possibility came to her, she suddenly had a rush of inspiration. Oh, the lovely pitch of each note! If she tried to fit them all together there where so many ways to do it. She had to try it. A simple chain of three hums in order of pitch was heard, and made the Pink's eyes whirl with excitement. If there was one thing she had to do from now on, it was this. Not the humming, she wasn't trying to sound good, it was about the notes together, making new ways to put them in place. The dragonet stood up and bounced over to the female candidates, far too excited. She had to share this! She arrived at the bundle of girl and abruptly turned to the right, heading to the end of the row. Without slowing much she turned, heading around the back of the candidates. Then she ran straight behind all the candidates, too excited to slow much until she got to hers. So it meant that she didn't quite stop in time and bumped into Xiana. It didn't stem her enthusiasm though. XianaLove! Listen to this. The Pink hummed three notes, strung together. Oh doesn't it just sound like it could be part of something grand? Tasth would very much like to get started to make it perfect. Only, I think I'm hungry. Maybe we can work on it while I eat?

Back with the other eggs, one began to shake gently, knocking into the one next to it. The other egg knocked back, and then both of them broke open. A Cloud flopped out onto her Wood sister. It was a sight for someone used to Wood dragons in the south to see the dragonet here. Her hide was a mingling of dark browns, some with a little gray brown tinge. The Cloud pounced on the Wood playfully, though the darker colored dragonet seemed less then amused. Still, it looked like the Cloud was going to try and play with her sister for a while.


-----
Pink Tasth (Tas-th)
About: Tasth loves music, but more than that she isn't content to be just a lover of music. She wants to create it. This pink wants to compose music, even though it might take time for her to wrap her head around music with more than one part to it. Once she has a melody she likes, hers will be the first to hear of it. She is remarkably energetic when she is inspired, but tends to be much more mellow otherwise.
Adult length: 28 feet
Hex: d965c7

[Terayne]

Diamond was watching, and as another Sunlance Hatched, and the White Impressed, she smiled, applauding the new Bondings. Then the Pink came rushing over, and her split attention took enough note of it that she managed to shift slightly. However, the little dragoness wasn't interested in going through, apparently, for she wove around the girls, seemingly attaching herself to a girl in the back who Diamond just now noticed seemed to be have been... Leaving? Why would anyone leave the Sands? the girl thought, highly confused. She who had promised herself her whole life she would one day be here had trouble understanding why someone else would not want to be. She'd heard the rumors, of course, about the Silverlights, about the kidnapping. But still... It hadn't occurred to her that this girl might not want to be there.

Her attention was distracted as the Purple-Grey rushed forwards, then flopped down, and she frowned slightly, debating whether to move to it or not. She decided not to, not wanting to upset the little dragon anymore than it might already be. It was for this same reason she hadn't gone to the Chrome, though her heart ached for the poor little creature. He seemed so scared and alone. She also took note of the Wood and the Cloud, but it was obvious to her that they wouldn't be Impressing anytime soon. They were too busy playing.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Another dragonet, just like the first… Sunlance. Tivax mentally committed to the designation. After all, he just wouldn’t say anything out loud until the end of the Hatching, then he’d know for sure and no harm done. Both of them were heading closer, though the White had left the Sands and the Pink had darted back to… Tivax stared. That was definitely Xiana!

Turning his attention back to the eggs, Tivax noticed two more arrivals. One looked like the sky when it had clouds drifting across it, and the other looked, rather like that painting of tree-trunks that his Unc… ah… Lord Brencis had. He had to think about it for a little while, but he finally worked out that the tree-trunk was a Wood, and the cloudy-sky a Cloud. All this identifying colors was hard, but at least it kept his mind occupied so that he wasn’t hearing every dragon in the place.

He looked around again. For some reason the little two-toned dragonet had raced away and was laying in the Sands. He debated trying to ask what was wrong, but quickly squashed the idea. There was no way that he was going to lower his “shields” when in close proximity to every dragon in the entire Weyr.

——
Tamaruk got to lead the applause for the Impression of the Pink. He’d been one of the first to see it, since he had slid out of his seat and was leaning on the railing in an attempt to get a better look. He’d nearly laughed at the actions of the little Purple-Grey, but he still couldn’t help being a little worried about the Chrome.

Surely they’d do something if he wasn’t going to be ok, Tamaruk thought, glancing back at Rallin, Kyuuki, and Ayasha. They helped me, and I’m not even a dragon.

[Cait]

”Wait right there.” Davquil instructed the young toddler as she ducked into her room and hurriedly changed into her Candidate’s robes. She’d been searching for the boy when the humming and thrumming had begun and the call had been sent out. But rather than abandon her task as some might have done, she’d set her mind to finding the boy. His name was Valenrik and according to some of the women who worked in the Weyr, he had a knack for getting himself in trouble and the most inopportune times. Yet, for some reason he seemed to have taken a shine to young Dav and when she wasn’t busy with her duties as a Candidate, she would offer to distract the boy. Of course when she’d gone down to get the three year old for a game of tag she’d been informed that he’d wandered off…again!

Though she’d only been in the weyr a few months, she had ferreted out several of the boy’s favorite hiding spots and had only made it to two of them when the Hatching had begun. By the time she found him—in the last place she thought to look—he was crying from all the rumbling noise and she’d had to carry him all of the way back to the barrack, which happened to be closer than the lower caverns; besides which she doubted anyone would be there to take him.

The boy stood inside the door, rubbing at his ear, clearly bothered by the loud humming that vibrated the very air and once Dav was changed, her hair pulled back into a hasty braid with bits and pieces sticking out rebelliously, she rushed towards the boy, scooping him up on the way as her sandals slapped against the ground. ”Little man, we are late and I am certain I will get in trouble for it.”

Rather than answer, Valenrik turned his face against her neck and began to play with the end of her braid. Slipping out of the barracks, Dav jogged through the corridors that connected the rooms to the Hatching Sands and as she neared, there was a small group of people clogging the entrance. Clearing her throat to get one of their attention, she handed Valenrik off to one of the women, wincing as he didn’t release her hair right away then with reproachful looks harrying her on her way, slipped past the small crowd and onto the sands, her dark eyes darting around, trying to discern everything that she’d missed and failing miserably.

”Oh bother. Well better late than never.” Her voice was soft as she jogged across the sands, slipping in beside some of the other female candidates. No doubt she would get a might lecture from her brother Davill—er, D’vill—who would take great pleasure in pointing out just how serious an error being late to a Hatching was. Still, for all that she may have botched her chances to follow him into the ranks of Riderhood, she hadn’t been about to leave little Valenrik cowering in the cubby hole she’d found him in, covering his ears and crying. Taking a deep, calming breath, she let it out slowly then turned her attention to the clutch. ”Happy thoughts, right?”

[summerrain]

The White Impressed, and Yuki clapped softly with the rest of the crowd. She placed a hand absently on her stomach. Could the healers at Ista be right? She was feeling strange because she was with child? If so, there was only D'gan who could be the father...

Her attention was diverted by the hatching of the next dragonet. Another Sunlace. Yuki laughed softly at the similarity this showed to Ayleneth's Hatching. The two Aurora dragonets were also a male and female.

The pink rushed toward the female Candidates, and Yuki was sure that she'd Impress an apprentice Harper, or a Harper's daughter. The Pink and Hers walked off, and then the Wood dragoness Hatched with a Cloud. Yuki's eyes widened. Woods rarely Hatched in the North! They blended well with the trees of the South, but seeing them in the North was as almost as rare as an Aurora hatchling in the South. Though, there were two of those now. If all went well, Auroras would be all over Pern in a number of Turns.

A late girl. Well, it happened sometimes. It was up to Temparath to do what she would with the late child.

[Lark]

What are you doing Ash'ner'sHatchling? You shouldn't be leaving, you're supposed to stay on the sands!

Xiana glanced up at the blue who was talking to her, Shirath's voice invading her head. Shaking it from one side to the other, the apprentice ignored her father's dragon, not wanting to yell up and explain that this was the end. She would no longer stand, she refused to, this was the end of her being compliant and doing what she was told just to make a man that never was in her life before happy. He was not her family, her family was dead.

"Oof!"

XianaLove! Listen to this. Something had barreled her over, the voice and the mind both taking over her own as she heard three trilled notes ascending in a lilting voice. Oh doesn't it just sound like it could be part of something grand? Tasth would very much like to get started to make it perfect. Only, I think I'm hungry. Maybe we can work on it while I eat? Blinking, Xiana looked up at the tiny pink who had run her into the hot sands, her eyes fixated on the rainbow facets that were staring back at her with adoration.

How beautiful she was, how wonderful, how magnificent, the best Harper Tasth could ever ask for! Above her she heard clapping for the impression that had just occured, her father's blue trumpeting loudest of them all. On the sands however Xiana was telling a different story. She finally managed to slip away from the dragonet, her mouth handing open in disbelief. "I...I was ready to leave....I wanted to get away from this all." Tasth tilted her head to the side, keening a soft note before perking up and mixing another three lilting tones to it. Oh! Mine, that works so perfectly. It's your song, yours and Mine that we compose. It needed that sad note in it, really it did. Please, sing something for me Mine, or let me sing and you can dance!

The dragonet nuzzled her pink head into Xiana's hand, the girl catching a breath as she jerked it away. "How....I...." Warbling uneasily, the pink shuffled her feet, the hunger pains making her keen again in a more hurtful way. They echoed in Xiana's body. Please Mine...I promise I'll be a good dragon. I just want you to love me. I want everyone to love me, but especially you. Please, sing with me Mine...please...Xiana. It seemed as if a candlemark had passed before Xiana started to breath normally again, and reaching out hesitantly the girl let her fingertips delicately brush over the headknobs and then caress the dragonet's neck. I love the music as much as you do Mine. Don't you see? We are perfect for each other....

Tasth waited patiently while this seeped into Xiana's mind, settling there and subtly she nodded. Niro chirped a greeting to the pink, the dragonet finally taking notice of the King. What a pretty boy. Trilling her four note song, she added the chirp to it as well, pausing for a moment before trilling back two of the notes and adding another of the chirps. Ah! There, now it is going perfectly, don't you think Mine? Please, can we work on it more when I can eat? ...and sing it back Xiana, I want to hear you sing it. Sighing gently, the black haired girl nodded her head and hummed the first note along with her pink, getting the tone before continuing with the rest, singing what her dragon was trilling and chirping.

Good. You are Mine. I knew you were.
Yes...well, it wasn't what I expected.

The dragonet keened softly again, bumping her tail against Xiana's leg gently. Wobbling beside her, partially staying up do to the weyrling harper's body, Tasth whispered a soft reply. Why? Why is it not what you expected? Do you wish I was an Aurora, or a Silverlight? Her rider's eyes narrowed slightly at the second color, but other than that the reasoning remained a mystery to the pink. No...no my sweet Tasth. I just never expected to fit into the Weyr here, and now with you I will have to. The weyrling bit her lip as she pulled a bucket of meat from the table, handing a small piece for the hatchling to gobble up.

"Chew."

Obeying, the dragonet worked her jaw before swallowing carefully, pleading with a croon for not only another piece but for her rider to talk again. Oh, oh how she loved Xiana's voice. Her Xiana! We will make a place here. My song and your dance will be the entertainment of all! She hummed along to the dragon's song, looking at her mother and clutch siblings, eying the Chrome. My brother should find His soon.....he is so lonely...so very lonely. Following her dragonet's gaze, Xiana nodded her head, joining in on the sentiment. It was not exactly pity with which she and her dragonet viewed the Chrome, but sorrow for his place in the world. Tasth though it was for not finding His yet, and once he had all would be better. Xiana knew better though...this would just be the start of the trouble for the Chrome and whoever he chose for his rider. Eying the purple-grey as well, the harper decided that many of the clutch would have a hard time indeed.

So, we will have to be their fools Mine. We will have to bring them joy in whatever way we can. I will sing the most beautiful song for my siblings to wrap themselves up in and ignore the stares and comments. And with that, the pink made good on her promise, once again singing her now eight note song.

[Vanya]

Oh so much was going on! Era didn't know which way to look first, should she watch the Chrome? Or the confused Purple-Gray? So many choices and so little time! Eagerly she scanned each hatchling, taking in tiny details and storing them away for later use.

After a while she looked up from the clutch to scan the crowd of guests and dragonriders. Somewhere up there was her family she was sure, her mother wouldn't want to miss this, and her younger siblings might one day take after her and present themselves as candidates. She knew Merah at least would be chomping at the bit to mimic her older sister.

A flash of orange, blue and red made her grin as Verith and his rider Sk'ar settled themselves on a ledge. She waved back at them, glad that they made it. She would have done more maybe, but she was distracted by a very pretty voice in her head and an equally pretty dragonet standing in front of her, looking quizzically at her blue adornment.

EraMine! Why do you have a blue thing about your neck? Tuniseth finds it most interesting. Era looked down into rainbow hued eyes and blinked contemplating Tuniseth's question. "I have it because I don't like all this white. I figured something colorful wouldn't hurt. It's a scarf though, to answer you question. Here" Era pulled the scarf loose and looped it around Tuniseth's neck, tying it securely so it wouldn't come loose.

Oh! What's it made of? Who made it? And can we explore the table over there? There's this intriguing scent coming from it. It's making me hungry. The dragonet craned her head to try to look as Era tied the scarf around her neck then preceded to ask questions about it. Era laughed and gladly answered them, never once thinking about the million and one questions of her own she had wanted to ask. They were already answered.

"My mother made it for me, and I'm not sure what's made of, but it's nice and soft!" Era paused and sniffed the air puzzled briefly about what scent her Tuniseth was talking about. "Oh, The table over there? That's where you and I will be going so you can get something to eat!" She added, though she couldn't smell as her dragon could.

Before Era left the sands to go feed Tuniseth, she searched out Sk'ar and Verith, waving at them when she found them. After all, if it hadn't been for them, she wouldn't have been here.

[Shoki]

Temperanth caught sight of a candidate coming in late. With a quick glance at her children, she made sure they were fine before turning her attention on the candidate. Her lightly colored dappled snout was pointed directly at Davquil. She didn't do much, merely gave the tardy candidate a stern gaze. It was a subtle way to tell her thatbeing prompt was important. However, her gaze could only stay for a little bit, as the dragonets were still on the sands. She had to look over them, and returned her gaze to do just that.

The Chrome was having a hard time finding things to hide behind. The eyes on him were still far too great. He let a soft hiss escape him. There was no way to close the gap between where he was and the eggs. The eggs were his only cover. Still, he needed a good distraction. His Purple-Gray brother was doing a pretty good job, but there were still many a gaze directed at him, the ill-omen dragonet. A subtle movement caught his eye, and his head craned to look back toward his Ice mother. The largest of the three that had sat there, it moved. The Chrome watched the large egg move, and readied himself. He could wait, but once the moment arrived, he couldn't hesitate.

Still, even though the large egg was starting to move, some of the other eggs saw fit to go ahead and hatch first. One of the smaller eggs wiggled, trying to get out into the world. After a moment the egg spilled open, and the Brick dragonet flopped down onto the sands. Her rough hide was a mix of dark and bright reds, mixed in with some grayish tones. Still, being deposited onto the sand so suddenly didn't deter her. The Brick spotted her bouncy Cloud sister and ran right for her. The Cloud noticed the activity behind her and started to run, the pair apparently starting a quick game of tag. The dark Wood dragonet took the opportunity to trot over to the candidates and impress, heading off the sands with her own.

The Sunlance dragons were having a time trying to figure out who they belonged with. Still, they decided to take another look at the male candidates, before investigating the girls. They were exceptionally thorough, to afraid to take a look in the back row or ferret out the ones that might be hiding. It was taking time though.

The Purple-Gray was still looking unhappy. What to do. He wanted to sulk for a time. He moved his head to face the remaining eggs. An egg was hatching slowly, taking its time. Next to it, another just split open, revealing an enthusiastic Blue. He took a moment to appreciate the fact he was hatched, then turned to see his Aurora brother finally get out of his egg. Different from his sister, he had aqua and green tones, with some tones of pink to break up the other colors. The Aurora looked at his brother head off to look at the female candidates, then paused to look at his other siblings. Hmm. The Aurora decided it was best to spend time making sure he was completely clean, so he shook off the egg shell on him. One of the pieces was stubborn, so he had to sit there for a while and make sure it was off. The Purple-Gray watched both the happy Blue and his neat brother, before deciding to face the candidates. Maybe something made more sense that way. He was still flopped down on the sand, unwilling to move.

All the while the large egg by Temperanth started to steadily move more and more.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

The Hatching was picking up speed. Already there were three more dragonets on the Sands, a Blue, a Brick, and another Aurora. The Wood had Impressed, leaving the Sands to go get food. Tamaruk was still leaning against the railing, all of his attention directed at the eggs. The largest one next to Temperanth was rocking, and the Chrome was watching it very intently. The very intentness puzzled Tamaruk. What might be in the largest egg, that its sibling watched it with so much concentration. Curious, Tamaruk directed most of his attention to the egg as well, wanting to see what so occupied the Chrome.

——
Tivax watched as the Wood Impressed, and a mostly red dragonet started chasing the Cloud. Two more eggs had Hatched as well, revealing another Aurora and a Blue. The two-toned dragonet was still flopped on the ground, but the one that looked like an ill-kept sword… that one was watching the largest of the eggs. Tivax didn’t know why, nor, frustratingly, did he dare risk asking one of the dragons. The Sunlances were going back down the line, and Tivax straightened without realizing it, turning his head so that his scar wasn’t as readily visible, trying to present himself in the best possible light.