From Ruin Comes Rebirth (HATCHING) [V]

[shapeshifter]

Yes, my mine can help out... Bamath replied and then in turn mindspoke to R'niaan, Mine, the Moonlight's Rider needs help. Some disobedient Candidates.

I'm on it... R'niaan replied and headed over towards the Candidate and the Rider.


R'niaan grabbed Aiya's arm, "Now she may not be able to tell you what to do, I can. I'm a WeyrlingMaster and let me tell you, whether you die or not you are damaging those dragonet's life decisions, get back towards those Sands, now." R'niaan said and gave her a shove in the back towards the Sands.

"I will not tolerate insubordinate Candidates or Weyrlings, I have rank on you and if you choose not to listen I will have you on the next dragon out of here." R'niaan snarled. One thing he never took kindly to was disrespectful brats. He would have a fun time with her if she Impressed.

[Terayne]

Aiya jumped as the man grabbed her arm, immediately moving to pull away from him. She just about slapped him, she was that furious with him, and with the Moonlightrider. "Excuse me RIDER, but I have no desire to remain anywhere near you hot headed asses any longer!" she snapped viciously. "I don't care what you THINK you're doing, or WHY, but you are NOT making me any more inclined to go back on those Sands with your behavior." Her eyes were flashing dangerously as she glared at both of them, tired of being bossed around by those who THOUGHT they knew what they were doing.

"I used to respect you, but I have only seen ONE Rider today who was even WORTHY of that word. And neither one of you two is it!" With that she turned and ran, headed straight for the exit, shoving people out of her way. She could feel the hot sting of tears beginning to come, and knew she had just made it impossible for her to even come back to this place. But she didn't care. Not if they were going to act like this.

[summerrain]

Yuki turned and stepped between the new WeyrlingMaster and Aiya. "Rank? Rules? Let me ask you this..." she began, her tone dangerously quiet. "Where were your rules when that traitor was allowed to Stand this day?!" She pointed at Garna. "Has word not yet reached your ears, or are you just too stubborn to listen to sense?! Before you lecture others, you need to look at the other Candidates. That girl attacked the Weyrleader of Rainbow Mists, and very nearly struck a Weyrling Queenrider. How she managed to get through your precious rules to Stand this day I do not know." She stood between the CrimsonRider and the Candidate. She was her brother's friend, and as such Yuki would do what she could for the girl.

"If I may add, a person is a person, regardless of rank," Yuki continued, speaking louder now. "Rank gives you no right to treat a Candidate like a thing!" Her green eyes flashed angrily. "Would you want to stay there with blood and ichor soaking the Sands? Do you not feel the pain of the Hatchlings at the loss of ten of their Clutchsiblings? These are my Ayleneth's sisters and brothers, so perhaps I feel the pain more than you would, being an outsider..." As if to emphasize, Ayleneth decided to rejoin Hers outside the Sands. The Aurora's eyes swirled grey, with faint specks of red. Ayleneth snaked her head around so it was beside Hers, and Yuki placed one hand on it.

"Sister, please stop this," Chiara spoke up suddenly, gently grabbing Yuki's sleeve in his left hand. The bandages on his left arm were slowly turning red from the reopened wounds. "It will do no good to fight now..." Suddenly, a shot of pain went through his chest. Chiara gasped and bent over, pressing his left hand to the bandages. Yuki's eyes widened in fright.

"Chiara... Chiara, you're going to be alright," she told him, supporting him with her arms. They spent little time together, but the love between them was obvious. Chiara began to stumble, but Yuki caught him. "Chiara..." She didn't know what to do any more. She forgot about the other Riders, the new Weyrlingmaster, the mouthy Moonlight Rider just out of her Weyrling days, and the Candidate. She was focused completely on her brother. "Chiara... Chiara, hang in there. I'm sure there's a LifeWing or a Healer who can help..." The boy's eyes went out of focus, then his eyes closed, the pain becoming overwhelming. Yuki gasped softly. This couldn't be happening. Not her brother! She gently lowered him to the ground, holding his head in her arms. His robe fell open, the bandages on his chest again stained red with his blood. She felt so helpless. She couldn't do anything but sit with him until something happened. She forgot everything around her.

Why... Why her brother? Why?!

Ayleneth let out a low croon, then a soft growl. It was a protective growl, as she glared at the Crimson and Moonlight Riders, as if daring them to try to get closer. In her mind, it was their fault for getting Chiara excited again. If they hadn't said anything, then this wouldn't have happened. If that Korvalia had just stayed away, then Yuki could've gotten Chiara to the Infirmary before the wounds reopened. This could've been prevented if they hadn't said anything. Ayleneth wouldn't let them near the boy until a Healer or LifeWing got a look at him.

[shapeshifter]

"Why don't you keep your mouth closed and tend to your brother, woman?" R'niaan scoffed, "He'll die if you don't keep your mind focused on him and not other Candidates. You have no business interfering in any matters." R'niaan's Crimson Bamath swooped in, towering over the Aurora dragon, watching his Rider.

R'niaan...you're starting it again...

This disrespecting bit-.... R'niaan growled back to Bamath, and thought the better of his statement. I'll walk away now... He turned and motioned to Korvalia, "Come with me."

R'niaan grabbed her hand and walked away from the Rider and her brother. He didn't care if he died, he wasn't his charge and the way that Rider disrespected him? R'niaan thought it better to nope out of there before he backhanded her. He had a fighting streak when he hit a certain point of pissed off. She had pushed some buttons.

R'niaan strode back to the Weyrling tables and turned to Korvalia, "You would make a good Candidate Master, I think we should see to it that you do...much less my assistant would be a good position." He did his little devilish half smile at the girl, that charming smile that many women found themselves addicted to. He then turned to face the entrance, "We need more Impressions or we will find more dragonet's between."

[Cait]

Korvalia was livid; beyond livid. They thought she had no compassion but compassion had a time and place and coddling Candidates was never a good thing. Hatchings were sometimes cruel and unpredictable and this one more than most. Compassion had its time and place but it was not on the Sands. Candidates were given the incredible honor of standing and in return they were expected to shoulder the responsibilities that came with it. They were to behave admirably on the Sands and off and show respect and dedication to their superiors and their studies. Being a dragonrider wasn't all fun and games and quick jaunts between it was about honor, discipline, duty and respect; no matter what.

Perhaps you should let R'niaan handle the--[/b]

No! I will not allow them to disrespect the robe. If they cannot handle the responsibility they shouldn't be given the honor!

When the Crimsonrider approached and laid hands on the Candidate, Korvalia shifted to allow him room. She might not agree with laying hands on the girl but his words were true. She opened her mouth to enforce him when the girl proceeded to say words that no Candidate should ever dare utter to a dragonrider. Pale blue eyes flared with anger at the girl's tone, as though she thought to scold them. "You have not learned your lessons as a Candidate very well or they have not been taught to you. Being a Candidate is not supposed to be easy. Being a Candidate is a tremendous honor and a privelage; one that I will personally see revoked. You clearly are not mature enough to handle the responsiblity. I don't know what you thought it would be like, that you'd get to prance on and off the Sands as you pleased but rules are in place to protect everyone, Candidate and hatchlings alike."

When the Aurorarider turned again and snapped again, Korvalia saw red until the words actually registered...then her anger which until that point had been boiling beneath the surface exploded. Queen Weyrling at Rainbow Mists...she knew of only one. Rekkora, her sister. She was going to personally see to it that the Candidate Master lost their knots for this. That someone who would attack a Weyrleader and a Queenling would be allowed on the sands near hatchlings...a muscle began to twitch below her right eye and she would've stormed off to confront the Candidate Master then and there had Yuki not opened her mouth.

"Enough!" She was past livid now, and what's more the damn woman was accusing her of being unfeeling! She cared about every last Candidate and felt the loss of every hatchling. This wasn't any easier on her than anyone else. "Never mistake control for indifference." Before anything else could be said, before Korvalia could lose that precious control of hers, the Crimsonrider grabbed her by the hand and hauled her away and she lurched after him, mind in turmoil and a mixture of hurt and anger. She felt the soothing touch of Croony before the Sunlance-Black swooped down and landed on her shoulder as she moved towards the feeding station with the WeyrlingMaster.

Your feelings are hurt, you are too upset.

I'm fine, I just need a few minutes.

Up on the ledge, Korinath crooned and hesitated a moment before gliding down from her perch to land near the new Crimson, peering around him, her eyes a whirling mess of concern, annoyance and the ever present curiosity. She watched as the small girl ran towards the exit, rudely shoving people and huffed. Foolish Candidate; then again, not everyone could be as wonderful as her Korvalia.

"They would never allow me to be Candidate Master, I'm far too young. But I will see to it that the current one loses their knots over this. She has no control over the lot of them and they have no respect or discipline." Korvalia paused and turned to actually look at the Crimsonrider for the first time. He wasn't much taller than she was and she supposed he was reasonably handsome not that such things impressed her. Knowing how close he'd been to losing control while still managing to retain it would've been far more impressive to her. Assistant? Now there was a novel idea and certainly one she might consider. Of course that would mean that she'd have to put up with her brother who would no doubt be endlessly belligerent.

Then he smiled at her and it was one of those smiles that she was sure usually got him something. Perhaps it was meant to be charming but Korvalia simply lifted a brow clearly not amused and rolled her eyes. That was one thing about dragonriders that tended to irk her--aside from many of the female riders being overly mannish and opinionated--that the men seemed to think they were infinitely charming; well many of them at least. "The fact that over half of the hatchlings have managed to Impress amidst all of this chaos and general unruliness is good. Though if one of those dragons left is meant for that girl and it goes between because of her immature, selfish behavior..."

[shapeshifter]

R'niaan turned to face Korvalia, "Look, age doesn't matter if you have the maturity level to do it. We can always discuss with the Weyrwoman the issues. Nothing that can't be settled with debating. However, these Candidates need to be taught a lesson." He shook his head and a grim look appeared on his face, "Not to mention, that Citrine Weyrling will have to be watched rather closely. If she's as rambunctious as to attack a Weyrleader and try for a Queen Weyrling, she'd almost do good as being left between..." He muttered the end of his sentence, not wanting anyone but Korvalia to hear it.

"Sorry if I seem a bit gruff, I just don't take kindly to anything other than how things were meant to be. Rank matters where I've been. One day I will be a Wingleader or Weyrleader after I'm done with this...but the fun part will be getting this boy of mine to chase any Queen other than a Gold." He laughed and added, "Then again, their ranking system here being thrown off with this Silverlight conflict. Either way, I could care less. All I care about now is when these damn Weyrlings will finish Impressing. I would actually love to be able to go Feast and dance...it'd brighten the mood around here." He sighed and looked up towards Bamath.

Bamath was eyeing the Moonlight, This is a bit of an odd situation. He meant this as in the Aurora who was being almost a guardian over her Rider, though the Crimson easily looked down on her by a few feet. He wasn't exactly the largest dragon out there, but shards if he wasn't close.

[summerrain]

Ayleneth growled as the Crimson glared at her. {He is important to Mine, and thus to me,} she told him. {I will not let you hurt him!} In her words was the belief that the two Riders had been the cause of his wounds reopening so soon after they had been closed. Her eyes still swirled grey, but the flecks of red were becoming larger, more pronounced. She would not strike first, her posture said so, but should he attack, she would retaliate.

A healer quickly made his way over to where Chiara and Yuki sat, the boy's best rising and falling rapidly. His body felt warm in Yuki's arms, too warm.

"Not good. They're already getting infected," the healer muttered. "I can't do much, but I'll try to find a free LifeWing to help. If we can stop it soon, he'll be alright." Yuki gently placed a hand on Chiara's head and nodded. He had a fever already... This wasn't good. Yuki tried to remain calm. She had to. She would show those ignorant riders who they were messing with. They wouldn't make the mistake of getting her angry. Not again.

Suddenly, Grace popped from between before Yuki, crooning anxiously. The Silver-Gold flit settled on the woman's shoulder, unsure of what was really going on. Yuki couldn't even smile to reassure the Queen flit. It was all she could do to keep herself together...
________

He was going around the new Hatchlings hurriedly, makin sure none of their injuries were too bad. Suddenly, he spied a familiar LifeWing. It was Wivish, a LifeWing that his Linked had worked with before. "Allash, let's go help them."

{Of course, D'ton.}

The man hurried over to the girl and her LifeWing, the Snowy Owl flying behind the man. "You two did well," D'ton said. "We'll take over."

{I specialized in Dragon healing,} Allash told Wivish. He then began his song, making sure to adjust it to heal the tail stump properly.

"Good Allash," D'ton told him. He pressed more cloth to the wound. He looked over at Wivish and Hers. "If you could, there's a boy out cold in his sister's arms. Seems like there's infection setting in already, and the wounds are bleeding pretty bad. I'll finish here."

[Jay Kitten]

Behind all of the drama, and all of the tears or anger, there still sat three dragonets, and one in particular was taking his sweet time in deciding. The little Grey, who had picked apart the Candidate's brains over the last few minutes, was now running through his decisions to make and trying to find his best available choice. But at every turn, he was shooting himself down, and one could see it in his actions as he would approach a Candidate, hopeful looking, then turn away, downtrodden. He seemed to be convincing himself of something that was returning him to to the Grey's typical state of mind. In any case, the Black/White dragonet eventually grew impatient, and stepped forward, bumping him on the rump with his nose, telling him to get a move on.

It seemed to spur the Grey dragonet, and suddenly, he made his decision, jogging over to Sesthnyat, and burying his face into the man's hands. Se'yat, you will be good for Worynth, right? I think you are strong, and smart, and probably funny too! ...Oh, but what if you're really not, and instead you pick on poor Worynth? Oh, there's nothing I can do... At first, his mind-voice was quite excited, but as soon as he turned to the alternative though, it slowed and became sad sounding, even as his eyes lit up and flashed quickly through every color of light there was. He still huddled against the new Rider, and it was obvious he had chosen, but he seemed to regret his decision almost immediately, even though most people in the Stands could agree he had chosen well.

But now, with a pressing matter at hand, the White/Black seemed to stagger forward for a moment, before she sped up, into a running lope to chase down Her's. She pushed passed the few remaining Candidates, and approached a man and a girl, Aiya and the Rider whom had stopped her. I hope, AiyaLove, that you do not wish to leave just yet, as Yinth has news for you.[/color] She pushed away the Rider with a stern nose, and once he was away, she looked up at her newfound Bonded, grabbing her robes with her maw and tugging her back toward the food. You are a Rider now, and as such, you shall have to feed me. She creeled in hunger, and her eyes lit up first purple, then blue, green, yellow, orange, finally stopping on red and holding solid there, expressing just how starving she was. She had waited for her brothers and sisters to make their choice, when she herself already had. But her twin's impatience had served her well, as she was able to catch Aiya before she left. Her feelings flashed apologetically.

Over in the Candidate's circle, the one dragon remaining seemed to be judging the Candidates, looking through not only the men, but the women as well. It seemed like he was driven to find the perfect fit, the exact one that he needed for himself as well as his Rider. The black half of his body glittered with the remnants of the fluid from his egg as he spun about, looking at each of them in turn, his eyes narrowing on a few of them. There were two girls in particular who stood out. Andromedae, who's convictions seemed important to her, and Raevin, who certainly wouldn't take no for an answer. For a moment, he was torn, the different halves within him seeming to conflict for a couple seconds, before his head twisted round, and he approached his chosen.

His eyes sped through the rainbow much like his twin's, as he stared up at the girl he had chosen.

You are the one whom will lead me to my wishes in life. Yanth is humbled, Raevin, to be Yours. He bowed on one knee, and the crowd in the Stands cheered wildly as the humming began to die down, the dragons knowing the end was upon them. The Ice Queen let out a mighty roar of triumph, each one of her dragons had chosen and none of them were self-Impressed, something that she had feared for this particular clutch. And in the cheering and hollering, Yanth smiled that draconic smile, pushing Raevin hard with his nose toward the tables... Food was what he wanted, and he would get it if it was the last thing he did.

Dragonet Profile #7
Name: Worynth (Woor-inth)
Hue: Grey (444444)
Personality: Worynth is not what you would expect from a normal Grey, he certainly seems optimistic! That is, until a few seconds later, when he shoots down his own thoughts of positive-thinking. Worynth is still a grey, despite his silver-lining attitude, and as such is easily effected by the outside world's obvious penchant for the depressing events of daily life. A deep thinker, this dragon will eventually become smart and full of vibrancy, despite his obvious setback garnered by the color of his hide. He can be described as dark, passionate, thoughtful, brooding, or overly caring. His biggest flaw is his ability to overthink almost anything, starting out with a positive thought and quickly turning it sour.
Description: For a grey, he is quite a dark shade, a thick, almost stony color dominating his entire body. He is slightly shorter at the shoulder for his color, but wider in every direction, making him in total large for his low rank. He's built for speed, with the body to match in power for such a tiny thing, and with the right training would make a fine warrior on any front. His eyes tend to bristle with all sorts of emotions, though they are always accompanied by appropriate thoughts that usually derive from something else and some other emotion, and as such his can switch through many colors throughout even a single discussion.
Adult Size: 19 feet
Impresses To: Sesthynat

Dragonet Profile #8
Name: Yinth
Hue: White/Black (CCCCCC, 000000)
Personality: Yinth is a very calm dragon, always thinking ahead and being careful of the choices she makes. Her mind is clear, her thoughts untarnished. She is a leader rather than a loner, unlike her brother, and is much more concerned with the group as a whole than herself. Always a follower of the rules, Yinth believes that those deserving justice should have it brought to them, however she is balanced by the thought that her punishments of others should be severe. This thought of over-application washes into other aspects of her life, while normally she would be level-headed, it might stray her from that course on occasion. Loyal to the last, she will protect any charge even if it costs her too much.
Description: Bifurcated in color, Yinth is mostly snow white on her right half with raven black on her left. Her white side seems identical to her brother's black, it is smeared over onto her darker half, swirling with it like snow on the rocks. Her tail is flecked with black near her rump, but is otherwise solid white. Her wings are the opposites of her brother's, one solid white right wing and a solid black left. Her right cheek has a spot of black running along her mouth, making that side look more menacing when she bares her teeth. She a few feet larger than a white would be normally, topping out at 24 feet, slightly smaller than her brother.
Adult Size: 23 feet
Impresses To: Aiya

Dragonet Profile #9
Name: Yanth
Hue: Black/White (000000, CCCCCC)
Personality: Yanth does not take no for an answer. What he wants, he strives to obtain; his goals, once set, will never be removed until he reaches them. Passion in every bit of his life drives him to take what he deserves, for he certainly will deserve it. He is quick to temper however very controlling of it, and capable of using his anger in battle. He is balanced by his willingness to help others in need, yet cares not for rules imposed upon him by those seeking to hold him back. He is dedicated and sometimes can come off as abrasive, but he always means well in the end.
Description: Two colors grace his hide, but the most noticeable is the deep, dark black on his right-hand side. It envelopes him, consuming most of his hide including the last few feet of his tail, which are only flecked with white. It is as though somebody had drawn a line down the middle of him, then gotten angry and smeared the black over the white, it spirals in wisps coming over his spinal ridges, pouring onto his left shoulder and mixing with the contrasted color. His right wing is entirely black, his left entirely white, the stark opposite of his sister. A spot of bright white runs along the right side of his muzzle, contrasting his face into two distinct halves. He is of average size for a black.
Adult Size:25 feet
Impresses To: Raevin

[shapeshifter]

Andromedae let out a heavy sigh, "Mine was not here..." She muttered as the last dragonet Impressed, "However, giving up is not an option. A half grin fell upon her face as she turned from the Sands.

She then had an idea spark in her head, 'Maybe I can attend Rainbow Mists' Hatching and transfer back?' She then realized how much she would hate leaving Ice Stone. She walked up towards the stands and sat down, leaning over with her head in her hands. She just sat there, staring at the mess that still laid there. She was a bit roughed up but nothing a little salve couldn't fix. She leaned back, her back resting against the seats above her watching as Riders and weyrfolk began to prepare for the Feast that would take place. She had a hurt heart, that was out of sheer disappointment it wasn't this time for her.

[Kaya]

You are the other half of my Rider's family. I will always help you. Wivish reassured the little Blue, something like love swelling in her chest. It was a strange feeling for the LifeWing. She had a deep friendship with Eira, they were Linked, it was as it should be. But she'd never had cause to truly care about anyone else. The large bird understood better now her Rider's drive for their work.

"And take it easy with food," Eira cautioned, "He won't want to move that tail much, and as such...well, bending a tail is a bit more difficult. If Thoth will eat it, I'd try blood oat mash like new whers eat for a few days." Out of the corner of her eye Eira saw a familiar Snowy Owl approaching. "Listen to what Allash tells you, he knows more about dragons than we do." The other pair asserted their knowledge and dismissed her. Eira let a small frown on her face. She didn't want to leave her brother, but she knew they were in better wings with Allash. She'd see to his arm later, if nothing else.

"And after this is all over, get someone to see to your arm. Or come find me." she said before looking to find the boy D'ton had mentioned. "Let's go Wivish," Eira stated, tone that of duty. She scooped up her pack and started off at a quick run on the awkward sand. Wivish hoped along behind her.

What da we got to work with?

Extensive internal bleeding, reopened wounds, mental distress. Reports of infection though I don't feel it, too soon to be sure but preventative measures against are standard. the tern reported, crouched over the boy.

"How did he-?" Eira muttered to herself quietly and looked at the impassioned women standing near by. She frowned, unsure what to make of the whole mess. Well, better to act first and ask questions later. "Rider, if you'd step aside," Eira ordered, not waiting for any action but continuing her path straight to her patient. She saw the bloody bandages from reopened wounds and frowned. This boy...one of the walking wounded. His body must have been so hurt it kept him from knowing how bad it was, and so he kept exerting himself, and now this. Her frown deepened.

Stabilizing... Wivish reported, her song vibrating and seeking to stop the bleeding. It was one of the things she did best.

They sure did a shoddy job with this wrappings... Eira commented, peeling one back. Perhaps they had slipped or the boy had done something, but the way it looked, bluntly, looked like sloppy craftsmanship. She made a note to see about getting healers here better prepared for an emergency response. The way things had been lately,...they should have been so already.

I'm going to make sure he stays down. If that's alright with you.

Is he stable? Eira asked, preparing the salves she would generously apply to his external wounds to prevent infection. It was standard. Either reports were wrong or this had been done in too much of a rush. She hated triage. The Rider was used to one adult patient at a time, and usually with them keeping them from bleeding out was most of the job. She sighed.

Yes, enough. I've stopped most of the bleeding, I'm letting some of his natural clotting kick in now. I'm getting very tired. the LifeWing admitted. If he comes back and reopens them...I don't think I can stop that much again, right now.

Alright, do it then.

The LifeWing opened her beak to release a numbing song, it would make the heads of those too close feel hazy. It meandered to somewhere far away, where her patient would go. He should not wake until the sun set and rose again. And now they needed someone to get him, carefully, into a bed. Eira sunk down next to the sitting Wivish and panted. They were drained. Three major healings...

"Done. No more. ...get him to the infirmary beds."

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Wivish and Eira had stopped the bleeding, and L’van had taken the goop-soaked cloths away from Thoth’s tail. However, a commotion started up and Thoth, twisting around so that he could see what was happening, had, somehow, managed to re-tear the skin and some of the internal tissue, so that it started bleeding again, just a little.

Why should I have to eat bloody oats? Thoth protested.

L’van nodded along with his sister’s words, still holding Thoth as close to himself as he could. It looked rather funny probably, the oh-so-proud young man curled up and clutching the body of the dragonet, while the dragonet wrapped his nearly two foot long neck around the youth, resting his foot-long head on the young man’s shoulder.

Another LifeWing rider showed up then, and L’van’s sister left, after telling him and Thoth to listen to what the man, or rather his LifeWing, said.

L’van, could you get me some food? Thoth asked, as yet more cloths were applied to his tail. It wasn’t sore anymore, at least, but it still felt odd.

L’van nodded. Now that Thoth wasn’t actively hurting so much, the young man was starting to realize how babyish it looked, sitting on the Sands and hugging a baby dragon.

“Sure thing Thoth. I’ll make it really small pieces of meat too.”

He grinned, rubbing the dragonet’s eye ridges, and stood up, only to realize that he couldn’t make himself leave the dragonet. He wanted, no needed to stay where he was, touching Thoth. He glanced over at the Weyrling tables, hesitating. He knew that was where the food was, but it was such an unbelievably long way away from Thoth…

Just do it, he told himself, baring his teeth slightly as he walked over towards the tables, scanning them in the hopes of finding some smaller pieces of meat. He shifted his approach slightly, so as not to run right into the angry looking Crimsonrider who’d been over by the exit with Aiya earlier.

[shapeshifter]

R'niaan noticed the Lord Holder's boy had slinked over to the tables to grab a pale of meat. He turned towards him and said, "L'van now, is it? Well done." he said as he walked over to the boy and patted him on the back twice. "Now, get you a pale full because I'm sure...."

Thoth. Bamath mindspoke to his Rider, over hearing the conversation.

"Thoth will be ravenous, even after his injuries." R'niaan nodded at the boy and said, "You need any assistance?" His mood had lightened when he watched the young Blue seem to look better thanks to the LifeWings. Those birds were very useful creatures with their healing abilities.

R'niaan grabbed up a small pot of oil and handed it to the Weyrling, "You'll need this as well. His hide will start itching very, very soon. I still have to oil him more regularly than you would expect, ten years later and I'm sure he's still growing!" R'niaan said, gesturing towards his Crimson.

[summerrain]

Allash began his song again, while D'ton pressed some cloths to the Blue's tail stump. The wounds closed, and the muscles began to mend as well. "There will still be pain for a good while," D'ton told the boy upon his return. "And he will likely never Chase a female because of this injury. The tail is an incredibly important part of a dragon's anatomy, much like the tail of a fish. There'll be a bit of difficulty when he first starts flying as well. However, resourcefulness should be able to beat that." Allash's song stopped. D'ton looked over at the Snowy, worried.

{I have done too much this day...} the LifeWing responded tiredly.

"You did good Allash," D'ton assured the Snowy. "The wound's closed and it seems the muscles are recovering as well."

{L'van, is it? You'll want to be careful that the wound doesn't open again,} Allash said to the Weyrling. {It would be best to come to the infirmary every day to get treatment, as I have done all I can now.} D'ton was feeling the fatigue of his Linked now, and placed a hand over his face at the sudden dizziness. {Oil will keep the scabs from cracking and breaking open while it heals, but too much will pull it off, and if it gets into the ichor, infection could easily set in. If you ever have a question, do feel free to drop by the infirmary. Someone should be there to answer your questions.}

If only those Sharding Wherlings hadn't gotten into such a fight... D'ton cursed silently. Quite a few new Whers and young dragons had been brought to him earlier, so he'd been working quite constantly for the last few candlemarks, only able to get away after most of the Hatching had already been completed. He'd rushed to the most injured Hatchling, which was obviously the one without a tail. But he had used more of his energy than he realized earlier.
_______

Ah. A LifeWing Rider. Yuki gently placed her brother on the ground and stepped back, giving them space. Chiara, though unconscious, wore a pained expression on his face. His breathing was ragged and shallow, and his pulse was almost alarmingly fast. Until the LifeWing began to sing.

His pulse slowed to a normal rate. His expression softened, and his breathing steadied. Yuki let out a relieved sigh. Ayleneth still hovered protectively over the boy, but knew the LifeWing was doing her job.

"I'll take him. He's my brother," Yuki said. "I wouldn't trust him with anyone else right now." Once the LifeWing Rider was done, one of the other healers ran over to help Yuki get Chiara to the infirmary. Ayleneth watched, still wary of the Crimson, despite the difference in sizes. Her hide had a slight gleam to it, a small hint at the reason for her agitation. After a moment, when it was clear the last of the Hatchlings had Impressed, Ayleneth too made her way to the Weyrproper. She would wait until Hers was ready. They would not leave soon. Not with the boy in such condition.

[Terayne]

She was almost halfway to the exit when AGAIN she was grabbed from behind, and she wheeled sharply, hearing the fabric tear. She didn't care, the robe was an ugly, garish thing anyways and she was now wondering why she had ever put it on. "NOW WHAT!?" she snapped, thinking that horrible Crimsonrider had followed her. Instead, she found herself looking at empty air, and the sound of scraping downwards dropped her gaze to the little dragonet, who had some of the fabric left in her mouth from Aiya's abrupt motion.

She barely heard her words through her fury, and her eyes narrowed. "I have news for YOU little one," she snapped. "I am NOT your Rider. Go find someone else. I am NOT staying in this horrible place any longer! I don't even know why I came in the first place! Everyone here has a black heart and no soul!" With that she wheeled again and stalked off, ignoring the shocked gasps of more than a few of the people around her who had seen what had happened and KNEW the dragonet had chosen her by the rainbow eyes.

Yinth blinked in startled surprise at being snapped at and backed up a step, watching Aiya carefully. As the girl wheeled and started to leave her, she looked longingly back at the food. She was HUNGRY, but SOMETHING was wrong with her Mine and she was not going to get fed until it got fixed, that was for certain. So, she sighed and turned back, trotting after Aiya quietly. Someone had acted upon the girl, had caused something to shift in her, and Yinth did not like the change at all. She was definitely going to find out who had done this and make them pay. NO ONE did this to her Mine and got away with it.

NO ONE...

[Terayne]

Aiya continued walking down the corridor, heading towards the exit, trying to ignore the scraping behind her and the persistent sensation that she was being followed by the Hatchling. Finally, she turned and glared at the little beast, stopping and putting her hands to her hips. "Quit that."

I will not, was the stubborn reply, and Yinth just looked right back at her.

"You don't get it, do you? I don't want you!"

You're out of luck.

"I don't even want to be here..."

Then we shall leave.

Aiya blinked at that last response, delivered in a cool, calm voice. "We can't..."

Why not?

"Because you're a dragon."

And?

"You can't leave."

The look Yinth bent on her was as exasperated as it was possible for a dragon to deliver, and the dragon sighed. You say you do not wish to be here. I suggest we leave. You resist. What do you ACTUALLY want Mine?

The girl frowned and shook her head, trying to deny the little dragonling's logic. "I am not a Rider. You made a mistake," she said stubbornly, and started as Yinth actually growled at her.

You are. And I did not. If you were so set on leaving, why did you return when I called you?

"Because I was curious..."

Yinth eyed her, tail flicking as she waited patiently, causing her Mine to shift slightly under her steady gaze. Are you sure that's all it was? Curiosity? she asked finally, her voice gentle. You seemed perfectly content to stay when I first touched you. What happened, Mine, to anger you so?

Aiya growled and looked away from her, seeing the entrance to a side cavern, probably where the Candidates usually waited before a Hatching. A flick of her hand had the White-Black following her into the dimly lit room and she began pacing, Yinth laying down and just watching her. She sensed her anger had turned, that she was no longer its target, so merely waited for the explanation.

"That sharding Moonlightrider got all pissy at me for trying to leave again and called another rider to help her when I refused to listen to her. I would have been fine if she'd been more respectful, but no. She had to act like it was the end of bloody Pern that I was trying to leave before the Hatching was over. And that BLASTED Crimsonrider!" She growled again, hand slicing through the air. "Bastard had the nerve to grab me and try to FORCE me to get back on the Sands, when I obviously didn't wish to be there. They were so concerned with the bloody RULES that I'm pretty sure they weren't considering what I might be feeling. I may have been only a Candidate, but I'm pretty sure that does NOT give a Rider leave to be an ass and treat someone that way." She looked to Yinth as she finished, seeing the cocked head, sensing the patient listening. "And now I'm going to have to LISTEN to that Sharding man. I'd rather die than be under his thumb, since I'm fairly certain he has little to no respect for women. I'd like to know how in Faranth's name he became a Weyrling Master with that attitude he's got." She snorted derisively, and Yinth echoed the sound.

I saw how he treated the Rider who tried to help you, the dragon replied. As if she was nothing. He may be Bonded to a King, but that does not give him leave to treat someone that way, as if they were inferior.

"No kidding." Aiya seated herself on one of the benches and Yinth stood, padding over and hesitantly resting her head on the girl's leg. Without really thinking about it, she placed her hand to the black eyeridge and scratched at an itchy spot she could feel over her own eye, causing the dragonet to croon happily.

Mine... I am hungry Yinth said a few moments later, and Aiya tensed.

"I don't want to be anywhere near that fiend," she replied, and Yinth cocked her head at her.

Find someone to bring food here? she suggested, and Aiya frowned, but nodded, moving to the entrance of the room and motioning for a passing drudge to attend to her. He came over and she gave him instructions to go retrieve a pail of the meat she'd seen on the table in the Grounds and bring it to her.

He nodded and trotted away down the corridor, reaching the Grounds and heading for the table. Without a word he got the pail-having been told to speak to no one-and headed back to her, handing it to her and smiling shyly. She thanked him, checked the corridor, then retreated into the room after dismissing him to set the pail before Yinth. "Slowly. I don't want you to choke. They'd likely blame it on me," she said, her tone changing from instructive to wry at the end. She then stepped back and reseated herself, just watching the dragon. She WOULD find a way to get out from having to obey that fiend. She just needed time to think of how.