Small but Still to Matter....(Orylth's Hatching)

[Terayne]

It had been a quiet day, just slipping into the darkness of twilight. In the Hatching Grounds, a female wrapped tightly about three precious bundles, her hide gleaming softly in the last rays of Rukbat sliding through the upper entrance. She was dozing, almost fully asleep, when she felt it. The slightest twitch against long tail, which was immediately lifted to eye the bundle lying closest to where it had been.

Intent gaze caught it again, the smallest sign, and a soft rumble of pleasure slipped from within her chest. Mine. It is time. Come.

The soft voice slipped into Ylara's mind, and she grinned with pleasure, hopping from her desk chair where she'd been checking some last bits of information to race into the Grounds. "Are you sure love?" she inquired, and the Wood rumbled and motioned to the egg, which was now noticeably rocking. "Then inform the Weyr that their time has come."

Orylth's head rose, and a low bugle sounded from within her, then settled into a low, thrumming hum of pure pleasure and excitement as she unwrapped from the eggs and stood back, so those inside them would be better able to find those they needed....

[Serah]

It seemed like any normal day for Aelynn. Chores, lessons, meal times, then bed time. However, today was really anything but a normal day. Sure, the beginning was the same. But the end was definitely not in her normal routine. A bugle came from somewhere in the Weyr. It was a second before she realized where it had come from. The Hatching Grounds.

She put the white robes on and worked her way to the Grounds. It was a walk that felt long. Aelynn did not know what to expect from her first Hatching. All she hoped was that it wasn't that bloody. She was extremely excited. She wondered who all would Impress, and what colors would Hatch. She would only find this out when she got to the Grounds.

When she got to the Grounds, she first stopped in awe. Three eggs were on the Grounds, along with the Wood who laid them. Aelynn bowed to the Wood. "Thank you so much for letting me Stand today, beautiful Wood." She said, before taking her place where she remembered the girls were supposed to Stand. She seemed to be the first Candidate to arrive, which was fine with her. So long as she got to see what was happening.

[Kaya]

On the plate sat a single slice of bread with a dark jam over it. The last bit of dinner and Holt had saved it, "One of the mountain berries. Makes a good jam." He felt silly for giving such importance to some jam, but it reminded him of home and even though he'd now spent Turns at Rainbow Mists, the Blue Rider's mind kept the notion of having two homes. "Funny story about this stuff, actually," he mused, wondering if Mau would care for the story. He hoped so. "Couple of kids at the Hold, they were new and hadn't tried it before. After that day it was a struggle to keep it away from them, they snuck in somewhere and got a whole jar of it open, licked it clean and feel asleep. Town found them the next morning, all worried where they'd gotten off to, only to find a couple of sticky kids. Completely covered in sticky, dark patches. Town talked about it for months," Holt smiled, telling the tale. He grinned and took a bite of his own slice of bread.

Mouth still full, he felt the air become charged with a sound. It took effort not to sputter on the food. He knew that sound. Holt swallowed his food and looked to see if Mau had the same expression on her face. Still feeling a little nostalgic from his story of home he asked, "Want to go watch?" Had it really been so long ago that they had Impressed? And they were graduated Riders now. Where did the time go?

[Shoki]

The scent of the jam in the air mixed with the K’lah under her nose to create an oddly enticing aroma as Mau listened. As he reached the end she chuckled at the image she got, namely two sticky individuals with jam. She was done eating, just had gotten another cup of hot K’lah to hold her over.

“I bet. I wonder if-“ Mau stopped her thought short looking up and around when she caught an earful of the humming. Well then, looked like there was going to be a hatching. Cool. Thoughts of recipe ideas fled from her mind as Holt asked if she won’t like to go watch the hatching. “I think it’d be fun yeah. But you got a little something…” She motioned on her own face on her cheek, indicating the jam might be a touch messy. “Might wanna get that before we get there.”

---

R’le hurry up! The Cloud dragon looked impatient, his tail twitching subtly. R’le himself was just sitting down with a plate of food. The man stared down as the food before sighing.

‘Go on ahead, I’ll be there in a minute.’

Quiorith didn’t waste any more time. He wanted to see the eggs hatch! He made his way to the sands to get a spot to watch. Alighting as quietly as possible. His eyes whirled excitedly ,happy that he wasn’t late. He checked back with his rider to see how long he would be, to find that he was turning his dinner into a sandwich between the rolls he grabbed. Looks like he would be a little bit longer.

[summerrain]

TeraMine, quickly! Picosith spoke sharply. Unusually so.

"Just a moment, you frantic creature," Tera said with a laugh. She was fifteen Turns now, her Turnday having been only a few sevendays ago. She twirled in the skirt, a deep, rich blue, that her aunt had made for her. "I'm thinking... Black shirt. Black goes well with anything." She quickly changed, then went out to meet her dragon. She climbed on Picosith's back and the pair flew quickly to the Sands.

Yuki had been in the Weyrbowl with her daughter Yura when the bugle sounded. Yura stopped and looked around, never having heard the noise before. Yuki knew that Ayleneth would watch from above, so she picked up her Turn-old daughter and began walking. She hoped to finally be able to talk with D'gan there... Yura was his as well, though he had purposely avoided meeting the child. She kept replaying their last conversation in her mind. Things had been said that needed resolving, but resolutions could not be formed without communication... Yuki sighed.

"Mama?" Yura said, head tilted.

"Mama's fine," Yuki said with a smile. She'd made sure to be a part of Yura's life, as much as she could, which was easier without the constant threat of Threadfall. And her daughter had allowed her to recover... If only D'gan would understand that...

It was bad manners to miss a Hatching, but Kokoro had been feeling a bit ill recently. Bad timing, too, since she'd just Impressed a new Flitlet. Dusk, her Grey-Black flit, was curled up on her pillow. Kokoro sneezed, startling the little flit awake.

"Sorry Dusk," Kokoro said softly. She rolled over and attempted to fall asleep again.

[Kaya]

"Oh," Holt paused when Mau pointed out the jam on his face. "Y'know, jam doesn't bother us from Dragon Ridge so much. If it's bothering you though you're welcome to get it," Holt remarked, inclining his head toward her.

You are in the most peculiar mood, you know, Korith chimed in. He was already on his way down to the Hatching Grounds. He had been sitting on a ledge on the north face of the valley, looking out at the immense jungles roll on into the distance, the lazy rivers threading in between them. Sonder, Holt's Brown firelizard, had stayed with him. The Blue and the Brown were together like waves and sand during their off time. When the two reached the Grounds, Korith picked an emptier spot, though granted the Stands and ledges were filling up. He could hope. Sonder landed on his head and leaned forward. He wanted to see these new lives, but Holt and Korith had continually impressed on him the importance of staying out of others' space.

[Terayne]

Orylth looked up as her clutch's father came in and rumbled in a distinctly pleased manner. It would have been horrific for him to miss his own childrens' Hatching! She then looked down as the wriggling egg began to bulge oddly on both sides, as if something inside were shoving against the shell, trying to split it in half. Cocking her head, the dragoness then glanced at her rider, who looked absolutely enthralled by the spectacle, causing Orylth to lower her head slightly and nudge one of the eggs which wasn't moving, enticing it to do so.

Her effort was rewarded, and the little egg, the smallest of the clutch, in fact, began rocking vigorously, sharp cheeping able to be heard from inside. Its occupant was obviously healthy, and impatient to be OUT!

[Shoki]

“Oh really?” Mau eyes his reaction and the jam on his face for a moment, smiling just the tiniest bit. She toyed with an idea for a moment, entirely unable to reject it for a few…reasons. One of which was there wasn’t too much jam on Holt’s face. Without really thinking about it she leaned in toward him and with one quick little motion licked the jam off his face. She drew back a moment later, pressing her index finger to her lips. She hadn’t thought that all the way through. Well, best say what was on her mind. “Tastes good, I can see why you like it so much.” That… wasn’t quite what she had in mind. Shardit. Maybe she’d manage later. “Well, all clean. We can go now.” Well, there went her attention at the hatching. Still she turned on her heels and headed that direction, turning just a little bit red. She didn’t regret doing that, exactly, but…she was getting confused. Too much thinking. And an all too excited mind was imposing itself on her.

It’s a hatching! I got a good seat now and you are late Mau. Hmm? Is something on your mind?

Later Qui. Quimyenth stared for a bit, looking a touch confused. She didn’t leave it though, continuing to probe until-

Oh! You went and- Qui was starting to look just as excited as she was before.

Qui dear. Can it. Mau’s demeanor got sickeningly sweet for a moment and Quimyenth got very quiet. Mau only did that when she was mad, and apparently she really didn’t want Qui to be talking about it. So the Green observed the hatching instead. But she kept an eye for when Mau came in.

---

R’le had a napkin wrapping up his two makeshift sandwiched and bolted over to the sands. Not long after he was in the stands and had acquired a seat. He let out a long breath before relaxing visibly. Nothing hatched yet. Looks like he was still in time. Good, he didn’t want to miss this. What’d I miss?

The littlest egg started to rock just a little bit ago. Quiorith’s eyes were not leaving the sands. Obviously not, he wanted to make sure he knew exactly what happened to this clutch. For R’le, it all reminded him a little of the flitter clutch he had found before. He should have guessed that Quiorith would be just as attentive to his own eggs.

Sounds promising. R’le observed the sands as he snuck out one of his dinner sandwiches, munching on it without really looking at it. He didn’t want to miss a thing either.

[Kaya]

Holt's face kaleidoscoped through expressions, from shock and disbelief to mild disgust as the saliva cooled on his face to embarrassment that colored his cheeks red and splotchy. He wasn't sure if he could process what just happened, or Mau's comment that he--no wait, the jam--tasted good. uhm... And with no further time for comments of his own, she was so caught up in trying to process the same things it seemed, she turned and started to leave, though at least she said "we."

"Uh-wait up," Holt took several large steps to catch up, wiping his cheek with his sleeve as he did. He matched step with her and noticed that her face vaguely resembled his own. Was that a good sign? Or just embarrassment? "Hey," tumbled out, it seemed words weren't quite back in order either. "You got some jam on your hand too," he said, looking down and nudging her hand with his. He didn't trust himself not to miss and look foolish taking her hand at this speed. "I could take care of that for you, you know, if it bothers you," he said, though the words sounded strange and he wondered if perhaps any of this was really happening.

Holt, are you going to be here soon? You feel strange.

I think we both feel strange, his mental thoughts and reply melded together. We'll be there...or not. Don't,- worry about it, Korith.

If you say so. The first egg looks to hatch any-

Korith, busy.

'Kay. The Blue looked over to Quimyenth but she looked normal enough to him, and not distressed. So they weren't in any trouble, those Riders, it seemed. But then the nonsensical didn't make much sense to a sensible dragon, did it? Well, at least you're here, Sonder, Korith thought. It didn't really bother him...not really. Not at all. Maybe a little, he just wanted to watch the Hatching with his Rider and think about time and have that good feeling that comes from sharing good, old memories.

[Shoki]

Mau looked at him with a side long glance, having to tilt her head up a little to get a better look. She usually did, he was a pretty tall guy after all. She could see his face being colored, but had a harder time reading it. His expression had been so jumbled up before, it was hard to figure out what that had meant. What with that, and now, well he didn’t sound quite normal. ‘Well what did you expect when you did that?’ Mau gave herself that point. She felt his hand brush up against hers and when more words tumbled out. She turned her head a little to try and figure out what he was thinking. It didn’t work out very well. Partly because she didn’t really know what she was thinking. She just started to do it.

A quick little hop and she bounced in front of Holt, intending to be looking at him, not just standing next to him. She still looked a little flushed, but has a small smile of her face, her usual little smile that quirked up a little too much on the left. After just a moment of looking at him she presented her hand and just held it out while she spoke.

“I thought a little jam didn’t bother you?” This was definitely a situation where she was doing first and over thinking it later. Because she couldn’t quite tell herself no, before she spoke.

[Moo]

Teth cocked his head to the side, his big eyes spinning a brilliant shade of blue. As the few, glimmering rays of light from Rukbat dimmed in the horizon, he looked across the Weyr Bowl from his perch and began to rise to his feet. As much as I hate to disturb your work, I do believe we are summoned, L'ras. I shall meet you on the Grounds.

L'ras, who had been mentally planning the next sevenday's lessons, left his perch on the desk and moved his way through the lower caverns and up to the Grounds. He and Teth had been expecting the Hatching to start sometime during the past sevenday, and during the waiting, they both kept themselves busy with observing the new candidates - L'ras especially - when they could spare the time from their other duties.

Even though the clutch was a small one, it was no less important than the others. Both Orylth and Quiorith were strong, capable dragons, and their offspring would hopefully bear the same resemblances. More dragons meant more security for the Weyr, her surrounding holds, and as always, the promise of a future to come. To say he was excited about working with the new weyrlings was an understatement.

It was, perhaps, his most favorite part of his job.

Teth swooped in and took up a spot near the other dragons, customarily humming in his throat as he and the rest of the Weyr watched the clutch. The smallest egg is rocking, L'ras. It is making loud sounds in the shell; that seems healthy enough. Hurry up!

On my way, on my way, he relayed. I just wanted to check the barracks again.

Everything still in order?

Maneuvering his way toward the entrance of the Sands, L'ras took up a spot close to the candidates and, like the rest of those present, waited for the dragons to hatch. As much as it can be at the present time. Let's hope the rest of the day goes without a hitch.

Agreed.

[Terayne]

The eggs that were rocking, especially the little one, were starting to bear cracks and chips falling away. In the larger egg, the odd bulging to either side continued, and the shell began to split down the middle. As it did, an odd noise began to make its way into the air, hissing and snarling, as if the one inside was.... Upset, with something. Immensely so. That had Orylth cocking her head in obvious confusion, but her attention was caught whent he smaller egg suddenly broke, tumbling its occupant onto the hot sands.

It was a White, delicate and VERY feminine. As she stood, she made a disgusted face at the goop and sand all over her and shifted, lifting one forepaw and eyeing the stuff on it distastefully. Snorting with annoyance, she began to stride towards the Candidates, her every motion revealing tones of pale green and pink shimmering along the whiteness of her hide. She was pretty and she KNEW it, that much was obvious.

[summerrain]

So the first was a White dragonet. An adorable little female she was, that much Yuki knew. Her daughter cooed at the sight of the tiny creature.

"Dago," Yura said with a smile.

"Dragon, Yura," Yuki said, also smiling.
________

Picosith suddenly went silent, contemplating and studying the colors swirling on the hide of this newest of dragonets. This was something the Wood dragoness hadn't done in a while, having devoted much of her time to basically raising a child who grew a lot slower than a dragon. Now that Tera was fifteen, she was able to do much more for herself than she could at twelve, when she had Impressed Picosith. Tera laughed softly. It reminded her of the day she Impressed, but it was not time to worry about that now. She watched the White, wondering where the creature would end up.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar had not intended to be late, but, well, he’d been in Cliffside — not, contrary to what the rest of the Wing thought, because of that dinner a couple nights ago — and had just gotten back. Naturally, he’d ducked into the dining hall to get something to eat, only to see just leaving it two people that he definitely knew. Holt and Mau, it appeared, were also running a little late to the Hatching, and from their faces… well, K’tar had no interest in disrupting their togetherness, right now, at any rate. He had just enough time to dodge into some shadows, suddenly relieved that he’d worn black, and then they were past him and he could grab something before racing out into the Stands.

Don’t tell Korith.

Wait, what! Don’t tell him what?

That I was in here. K’tar looked around, then ducked into the kitchens to apprehend some scrap meat before slipping out of the dining hall on his friends’ heels.

[Kaya]

"Only if it bothers you," Holt replied in time, reacting and taking stock of where they were now. She was facing him, hand up, and so in reply to her lick, or something like that, he took her hand and kissed it lightly, although it didn't do much to get the jam off.

Still not releasing her hand he smiled and glanced towards the Hatching Sands before looking back at her. "We're going to miss the whole thing if we don't get a move on," he commented, lowering their hands and starting again to walk towards the Stands. "Do you know any of the Candidates?" he asked, suddenly much more comfortable though the slightest hint of rejection from Mau was sure to change that. He wasn't going to consider it unless it happened, and so he carried on as if they were perfectly accustomed to hand holding.

Almost there, buddy, he mentioned to Korith.

About time. We've one out and are waiting on the other two eggs.