[E] Make Me Whole (Archith's 3rd Hatching)

[Kaya]

| 77.02.20 | Hatching Sands | Midday |

[morning]

"Alenna, do you have the eggs?" a voice called.

"Yeah, they’re right here," came the reply in the bustling kitchens of Rainbow Mists. Amongst the noise and the hustle, a pair of hands seized on the container of eggs. "Wait, no wait that-"

Splat. "-egg." A single egg had been left next to the bowl was now on the floor. "Bad omen," the woman tisked, leaving her task to help clean up the mess, lest someone slip.

"Sorry, Alenna..."

"It’s alright lass. You can’t put too much stock in myths like that," Alenna reassured the girl. "They're just stories after all. Now help me clean this up and let's get these sweets made. Archith is stirring. It'll be today, I'd bet my new shoes on it."

“Yes, Ma'am.”

---

[late morning]

The hissing whispers always kicked up when passersby peered into the Sands. The rump of the Gold Queen was squarely placed in the entrance, denying passage through the lower Candidate entry way. Some had climbed the stairs to the Stands prematurely, trying to puzzle out what Archith was up to.

The Gold remained pushed up against the side of the Sands. What should have been a radiant and proud mother curled up with her eggs was instead a tired face with unfocused eyes. Where? Where…? The searching thoughts repeated without stop, echoing and wearing down the same path as she retraced the memory and the guilt and the anguish.

Why? Why did it feel this way? She had lost children before. All Queens did. It was the way of life. Everything died eventually. Some tragically young. Some old and well lived. Some in the middle. But her egg, the tenth egg. It was stolen. It was not here. She did not know where that pair of bright eyes was, where the soft hide of a new, sleeping dragonet would be. Was he alive? Was she alive? Would she ever get them back? Or find out what became of them? Archith pushed herself further against the wall. She felt a brick shift. She shrunk away from the stone and into herself. This should be a great day. It still would be for the nine…but the tenth?
What about the tenth?

---

[midday]

…do you see, that one's moving? a part of the Gold asked. Archith looked up to see her Rider Rilora in the Stands. See, there,

I see.

They'll need people here, Rilora coaxed.

I know.

I could call them,

No. Your voice is too quiet, Archith felt. She watched the egg against the wall opposite her wobble very slightly. It was the consistent wobble that was the sign. That one was soon to arrive. The others would follow.

Do you think you could be ready? For them?

Silence. Seconds ticked by, stretched out by the lack of things with which to fill them.

In a slow, halting broadcasted voice, People,

Dragons,

Candidates.

To the Sands.

Then Archith lifted herself from the doorway and up to a ledge near the Sands. Each egg of the nine had been placed against the edge of the Sands, against the brick walls. They leaned there, sand piling up at the base of each egg. Archith waited. She saw a herd of white robes arriving, one or two in the lead.

All of you. In the middle, came the order. Archith looked around for the Tiger that belonged to this clutch. Mosiliath? The anguish that tore at her for the one missing weighed on the life and energy of the nine remaining. She couldn't bear it. To see so many look at her, to judge and blame and think themselves righteous and capable of better. She didn't want to be there. Not with all those eyes and creased brows that haunted her thoughts like a vision.

[Shoki]

Kashpa was wrangling a group of wriggling youngsters when the words echoed through the minds of the Weyr. She looked up, but said nothing, her attention returning to some of her small friends. She’d promised to take them, with some of the other people who helped out in the crèche. But not all were quite so eager when they heard the slow voice, hesitant almost. One of the younger girls pulled on Kashpa’s dress. The Harper leaned down, putting her hands on her knees to give the girl attention.

“Why does she sound like that?” The woman smiled, a little sad.

“She’s worried. She just wants all her kids to be happy, she cares you know. Grown-ups get worried too, sometimes.”

“You to?”

“Sometimes. But I get to hang out with all my friends today, so not today. Today will be good.” Kashpa let a smile spread across her face, and it infected her small friend as well. She held out her hand as she stood up straight, and she helped guide them all to the stands.

It was always an experience taking the kids out for a field trip, since the first half of it was always to get everyone settled. So all of the little ones were the first to take in the strange sight before Kashpa had a chance. Of course they were all excited. This was new, different.

[Moo]

[smear:ff7f24]Here…I [/smear:ff7f24][smear:ff6600]am here, Archith.[/smear:000000]

Mosiliath, who had already been on his way to see Archith, padded over to her side and took up a seat next to his Queen. He nuzzled her neck affectionately, a purr rumbling in his throat.

He knew she would be pleased and excited for their hatchlings, and so she should! It was a fine clutch. But he knew she was also bound to be feel some sorrow, and wanted to be mindful of her feelings. He felt it, too, mixed in with the pride that swelled in his chest.

Not all of their eggs were in attendance today.

It was a low blow, a cowardly move. Only traitors stole hatchlings! They were the lifeblood of the Weyr. And they were His hatchlings, none the less! He would be glad to put his teeth in the egg-thieves, if Archith did not get to them first.

Mosiliath sighed and refolded his wings. No more of those thoughts, not now. Today was for new life, for their remaining nine, lovely eggs and their new Riders. A light in the darkness surrounding the Weyr, just like the beacon that was their Queen.

But even a light, no matter how big or small, needed tending to from time to time.

[smear:ff7f24]Take heart, dear one. I am with you now, [/smear:ff7f24][smear:ff6600]we will see our hatchlings through this day. And once this is over,[/smear:292421]we can focus on the tenth egg.

###

Left….right…left…right…

Damn the healers, damn the Weyrling Master, damn everyone who said she wouldn't have been able to walk out on the Sands on her own. Against their warnings, she had left her cane in her quarters, and left her quarters about fifteen minutes ago. It had taken her that long to reach the Sands, and she tried not to think about how her un-scarred legs would have carried her there in a couple of minutes. The muscles in her legs ached, and she was sweating, and the Candidate's robe she had stolen was musty and ill-fitting.

No one could doubt her resolve now, and even if they stared, or whispered behind her back, it was a victory in itself. But it was not her ultimate goal.

Shazza approached the eggs and chose to stand a respectable distance from the large, bright Gold Queen. She knew she would not be able to bow -- it was taking all of her strength to stand straight. She bobbed her head instead and focused on remaining upright, which was no small task.

She gritted her teeth and breathed out slowly through her nose. She could do this. She could. And hopefully, a hatchling would find her worthy enough to be its Rider.

Nine eggs. Nine chances.

She could do this.

[T'ren]

Her morning had started out just as plain as usual. Another ordinary, nothing special day to complete her chores and perhaps do some studying. As usual Ayrenn had woken up and headed directly for the kitchens, for klah was calling her name and caffeine was always her only way to start the day. She wondered if that would change when..well, if she impressed. She'd have more important matters to attend to. No longer allowed to be so selfish, at least not while the dragon was still new hatched and young. A smile spread across her face as she thought of a dragonet of her own, which is what normally happened. How could one not be happy when thinking of such a glorious event?

It was then in her thoughts of impressing, and small, soft new dragons that she felt the voice of Archith touch her mind. A familiar feeling, having happened at previous hatchings, a welcome feeling. She smiled broadly, the time had come. Ayrenn rushed to get dressed, white candidates robes hanging loosely from her frame. The voice of the queen had made her wonder, today was supposed to be a happy day..but happy Archith did not seem..and Ayrenn then bit her lip with concern crossing her face. She took a deep breath to try and calm the wings fluttering within her tummy, to try and settle the thoughts racing through her mind.

The walk to the sands seemed like it took forever, only making her heart race faster as she peered into the sands. She glanced to Queen Archith with worry still clearly written on her face. Ayrenn bowed deeply to her. "Thank you for the opportunity to stand for your eggs, Queen Archith." She spoke softly, going to the middle where the candidates had been told to stand. Her eyes then fell to the eggs against the walls, carefully taking in each of them. Ayrenn wondered if her lifemate would be in one of these eggs..maybe this time they would be, whoever they were. 

[Kitty]

Kitalia was off in the Weyrbowl quietly daydreaming. She was imagining what it would be like to have her own dragon companion. By now she had met and seen a number of dragons and longed for one of those beautiful beings for her own partner. And it was then that the voice of the beautiful queen cut through her daydream. She jumped and looked around in shock. No way... surely it was simply her mind playing tricks on her... But no! She was still talking, calling them to the sands! Kita squeaked in excitement and delight and tore toward the Hatching sands. But she skidded to a halt. "Oh no!" She cried before tearing back towards the candidate barracks. She had forgotten her candidate robe! Gah!

Quickly she dashed within and threw it on haphazardly. At least she knew right where it was... Once she was properly prepared she made a mad dash for the sands again, not stopping until she had arrived.

Panting heavily she ran into the area and skidded to a halt just within sight. She paused before hurrying onto the sands alight with excitement. She was careful not to approach the eggs just yet and dropped into a low bow to the Queen and her lovely rider. Her grin was highly infectious and the joy danced in her eyes. "Good day! I thank you both for allowing me to be here!" She gasped gently as she caught a glimpse of the eggs. "Ohh... They are beautiful..." She gasped as she looked to the queen mother. Was it scary that the thought to run over and hug the dragons leg crossed her mind? Probably... but she kept herself in check... for now.

[Cait]

It had been some time since she'd been to a dragon hatching. In fact the last one that she could remember hadn't gone particularly well. Her cousin Dyranor, fool that he was, had interfered with the hatching and nearly gotten himself flattened by Archith. She hadn't seen much of him for the turn following. He hadn't returned to the caravan but she'd discovered soon enough that he hadn't. He'd gone off to Cliffside for a time before returning to the Weyr once things had calmed down. From what she'd heard from her aunt,things weren't on the best of terms between Dyranor and his father and there was the question of who would succeed the man when the time came with his eldest son bouncing about between caravan, Weyr and hold.

Because he'd been so scarce, Saddyris was surprised when she caught a glimpse of a familiar face when the call went out to gather at the sands. Slipping up behind him, she grabbed hold of his arm, pulling him off to the side and ignoring his vulgar curse. "When did you get here? No, nevermind that; where have you been?!" He had returned to the caravan after about six months only to have their grandfather dress him down quite spectacularly for making a scene at the Weyr. After that he'd disappeared again. She'd heard a thing or two from various friends of the families that he'd been seen around Cliffside as well as Rainbow Mists.

"I've been here. Where have you been?" Dyranor growled as he jerked his arm away from his cousin who had once again donned her superiority cloak. He was still a tiny bit bent out of shape over the incident and her role in it. No one had told him she'd been sent along as the real envoy until he'd made an utter fool of himself. He'd come back to the weyr but they wouldn't have him as a Candidate; not after the incident with that girl that had had a go at the Abyss weyrling and then tried to attack the Weyrleader. But he'd stuck around, helping where he could. Though, caravaner that he was, it was hard for him to stay put. So he'd spent some time at the Hold as well and even hooked up with another caravaner family to attend the gatherings at Melisong.

"I've been with the family. You stayed?" It was clear by her tone that her skepticism at a friendly welcome for her cousin was also implied. Dyranor rolled his eyes and brushed passed Saddyris and settled himself in the front row; as he had for every hatching he'd been able to witness. It had become almost an obsession of his, since Mobrey had gotten a dragon of his own and seemed to content. Saddyris had the family and Poica, Revina and Mud. HE had Suiathon and the disdain of their grandfather and leader as well as the distrust of a Weyr he was finding that he would not mind being a part of.

"Of course I stayed. Stop hovering and sit down."

Lifting a brow, Saddyris set herself down on the bench beside her cousin and her pale eyes turned to the clutch. Word around the Weyr was that there had been a thief in the night. The very same night that that old woman had been killed. The Abyss rider had been involved in that as well. She didn't seem to have the best of luck. Pulling her eyes from the secluded clutch, Saddyris tried to seek out the blonde but could not seem to find her. Shrugging, she turned her attention to Dyranor and studied him. He was different; still an arrogant idiot it would seem but she'd certainly not seem him so determined before. In a way it was nice to know that he was capable of focusing on something for more than a year; it was a shame that it wasn't on the family or the caravan as everyone had hoped.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Talira raced through the Candidate Barracks, firelizards soaring and flying through stunts in a reflection of their human's excitement. Finally, after Turns of standing in the Stands, it was her turn to try and Impress a great, glorious, amazing dragon. She slid on the white robe with a sense of reverence, her footsteps slowing to a proper walk as she approached the Sands. Her eyes, though, her eyes showed the true depth of her excitement and joy. Was it not joyous, to finally Stand after a lifetime at the Weyr.

She slowed as she approached the eggs, and felt a momentary sadness rise up against the overwhelming joy. Only nine, only nine, where just days ago there had been ten. Rumor had it that the night before that discovery, Abyss Sunvoiath's rider had discovered a body in the hall leading to her weyr and that of Azure Zabrielth and her rider. A freshly dead body, no less, and Talira shuddered at the momentary thought of what would have happened if the killer had gotten further.

Shaking her head to clear it of such thoughts -- what a thing to think about, on the day of a Hatching! -- she approached Archith and bowed. "Thank you for the opportunity to stand for your eggs, Archith."

So saying, she took up her place with the other Candidates and waited.

[aliceinwonderland]

It might have only been Bekha'a second day at Rainbow Falls Weyr but she had woken in her bed in the Candidate's Barracks and decided to be useful.

No sense on dwelling on her awe at actually being Searched she decided, having been housed and sleeping in an actual Weyr. A Weyr or Hatching something she'd only seen once or twice in her nearly 17 turns...and usually then only from the Hatching Sands, not from inside the Candidates barracks.

But she hadn't wanted to sit and dwell, she had wanted to be useful, so she had bathed = what a luxury and handy things were always warm bathing pools? - breakfasted and presented herself to the Candidate Master for duty. She had been promptly assigned to attend a Healer in the Healer's Quarters.

She'd been grateful to be there as nursing and first aid were areas she had some experience, so she was fine carefully labelling jars of supplies in her small, neat handwriting and placing them where she was bit. She was listening as hard as she could to the whispers from the invalid dragonriders and weyr folk, and her Healer, they said the Hatching would happen today. She felt hope that this was true, a mere 7 day before her birthday, she might get to meet the sister of her heart..

She tried not to believe the rumour though. "9 eggs when there had been 10."

Then she heard the Queen dragon's words and paused, hand still clutching a jar, unseeing. She somehow managed to pale, flush and start at the same time, her brown eyes widening, as a flare of flitters launched themselves in her belly, chasing themselves around in there.

The healer she was assigned to smiled and no doubt following the same message said. "It's alright dear, you had better hurry on down to the Barracks and get yourself changed. Looks like the time has arrived."

Putting away the jar she smiled back, an edge of nervousness to it, as her eyes showed her excitement and awe. "Yes Ma'am."

"Good luck!" The healer called after the retreating girl.

It seemed like time flew as she ran, no sprinted for the Barracks, never having moved so fast in her life. She quickly stripped, ignoring the other Candidates doing like wise, pulled on her white robe, slid her feet into sandals and ran her hands roughly through her long brown hair.

"No time to wash your face you'll just have to do." She scolded herself as she headed for the nearest sideboard with a jug of water and bowl on it.

She followed the male Candidates smiling at one Candidate she recognised from her couple of days here and filed in. She bowed politely to the Queen dragon and took a place near middle, careful not to jostle those nearest her, managing a shy, hesitant smile for the girl nearest her.

"Stand up straight." She whispered to herself, her hand moving to grasp her stomach as that naughty flare of flits took a particularly random lurch.

A mix of nerves, excitement, awe and encouragement poured from her as she watched the wobbling eggs.

"Come on out! I can't wait to meet you!." She called inside herself to the dragon who might be her future lifemate - her sister.

[aliceinwonderland]

People,

Dragons,

Candidates.

To the Sands.

The soft, worried words echoed in minds all around Rainbow Falls Weyr, including one that was dozing.

Tai yawned, stretching as he rubbed sleepy dark blue eyes and sat up, bed mussed dark red hair falling around him as he sat up, beginning to swing his legs over the side of the bed.

"Where are you going?" A sleepy mutter as a strong hand grabbed his hip and attempted to pull him back down to the bed.

The red haired Candidate replied, "Everyone's been talking all day that today is the day. We've just been told."

"I can't be late, ya know!" He replied with an arched eyebrow and meaningful glance as he got up, pulling on the Candidate robe he'd been wearing all day, since he'd heard the talk that morning.

He slipped his feet into his sandles and left his pouting bedmate behind as he made his way to the Hatching Caverns, joining the first few Candidates to arrive.

He bowed with a flourish, giving the Queen a confident grin as he took his place and waited with a practiced curious and expectant face. Deep down inside though he was sweating, from the heat under his sandals and from his own inner thoughts.

"Please darling! Please be here! This time! You have to be!." He thought silently, willing with all his heart and energy at the wobbling eggs, hope and pleading filling him so full he feared it would start leaking out his ears soon.

He didn't know what he would do if his dragon lifemate wasn't here, this was his last chance. After this, he was giving up, even though his heart was breaking at the thought, he just couldn't handle the rejection anymore. It was time to follow Cienna and face the fact, that he was to be alone.

He pushed that thought hastily aside, forbidding it and its abandoned feelings to remain in his heart and his head. Straightening his narrow shoulders, he brushed invisible dirt off his clean white robe and folded his arms across his chest. He shifted his weight and hid behind that confident mask. He nodded to the Candidates he knew, quietly exchanging "Good lucks!".

Then his attention was caught by the wobbling eggs and a whisper he heard from the Stands, he checked, counted, hooded eyes narrowed.

"Indeed, 9 remained...where was the last?" He wondered curious and immediatly pushed aside the horror, the realisation.

"Stolen." Had been the whisper.

Surely not!

[SlasherV]

Keket

Devastation. That's what the loss of the tenth egg had caused within the Weyr. Within the hearts and minds of nearly all the inhabitants. Keket had felt it deeply, and only the hope of the remaining nine had had many of them holding onto the future. The morning the whisperings were increasing, nearly everyone who had been through a Hatching before seemed to agree it was today. While it had been awhile for her since leaving Fort, she admitted that she had peeked in from the Stands and eyed the brooding Queen and Eggs.

It was today. That fact was confirmed as she heard a pained voice in her head. Today. To the Sands. A flutter of excitement, marred by the realization that there was one less. With a quick run, she went to the Barracks and donned the traditional white Candidate's robe. It was thick, and more than a little warm, but who cared?

Walking with the others out onto the Sands, her brown eyes first went to the Queen. The sight of her obvious agony made Keket's heart ache for the Gold. A polite bow to the parents of the Clutch, and she turned with the others in the center, facing the nine wiggling Eggs.

[SlasherV]

Deret

It was tense, the Weyr. Even Deret felt it. After the incident with the egg, everyone who lived at Rainbow Mists was tense, wound up. The young man had been sneaking into the Stands to peek at Archith all day, and each time, a sadness, and a rage, welled up inside him. The Queen was in visible agony, a shell of her former self. Don't worry, Queen. We'll find out what happened.

The young man who had never seen a dragon up close until the Search rider found him in Riverway Hold had fallen in love. With dragons. With the Weyr. They were a home he had never had before. The chance for Impression was spectacular, but even if he was left Standing, he had every intention of staying. The later and later through the morning it got, the more tense everything became.

Until finally a call went out. But even the call was sad, lost. With a frown, he hurried into his Candidate robes, and filed out onto the Sands with the others. The heat was intense, but he barely felt it. His gaze was locked on the nesting parents, and he was sad for them. Bowing long, and low, he gazed at them for a few lingering moments before turning with the rest towards the wiggling eggs.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

((Tag: Cait))

Having been around the Weyr almost constantly for roughly the last two turns, M’brey had seen a lot more of Dyranor than had Saddyris. Of course, that wasn’t really saying much, for while a little bit is more than almost none, it is still not much. M’brey had only recently graduated from Weyringhood, not even a full two months previously, in truth, and he was looking forward to being a spectator at this Hatching. He was even more excited when he saw his sister sitting in the front row beside Dyranor.

“Hey!” he called out, darting towards them.

Hello, M’brey-sister. Nellielth’s voice was soft, but warm and welcoming for all that. Why shouldn’t it be? She quite liked the sister of her rider, having found her to be of strong spirit.

“Saddyris! How have you been?”

[aliceinwonderland]

From his position out in the Weyrbowl where he was snuggled amongst the flanks of his closest friends, a small older Moonlight dragon eyes glazed over as he heard Archith's call and the stress and uncharacteristic hesitancy behind them.

Along with most of the Weyr's dragons he was aware that today was the day Archith's new babies would enter the world. What got his attention wasn't so much her announcement, but the rumours were reaching him of the missing egg.

His eyes whirling with concern he sat up, curled his tail around himself, feline like and cocked his head, absently apologising to the green, purple and pink companions he jostled.

"What has happened?" Uriluth crooned to the Queen not expecting an answer from so Queenly a Queen, but the little Moonlight was friendly and his genuine concern, love and respect showed in his tone as he addressed her.

"Congratulations on the arrival of your children." He added his crooned message to both parents, with a welcoming edge to the new little ones currently trying to break out of their shell.

Excited he thrummed, his throat filling with a draconic welcoming hum as he headed for the Hatching Cavern, not able to stay away.

"Mine, are you coming?" The Moonlight called to is Mine as he settled himself as close as he could to the action, half his hum for the babies and the other purring edge a comfort to the stressed Gold mother.

Getting back a reply both literal and through the strong bond, that his rider had arrived and stood stand by with another dragonhealer, ready to assist any dragon baby that needed their assistance.

"Oh you silly old thing." His rider sent with a wave of love and fond amusement in regards to his dragon's small self giving comfort to baby dragons and their mother.

Uriluth or LuLu to his closest and dearest sent his rider the dragon equivalent of a shrug and rueful grin. He couldn't not offer his condolences and excitement!!! As the little dragon's humming song swelled, singing one of his special songs in welcome to the new ones..and the Candidates who arrived to try and Impress them.

Oh what a day a Hatching was!

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’kar settled into the Stands. He could feel Rukbat’s midday rays soaking into him, taking a moment to enjoy the feeling. He needed this, needed to be outside, watching a Hatching, rather than inside, worried about the aftermath of two deaths and a missing egg.

Slipping along the Stands, he found a good middle range seat with a good view of the Candidates standing in the middle of the circle of eggs. Archith, it seemed, was determined to do things differently again. At least, the Hatching being in the middle of the day, no one was likely to get sun-blinded.

[Shoki]

R’le finally got to the sands. He had been, somewhat busy. That and it being midday, he needed a snack. Jerky worked well enough, so he walked into the stands with some still in his mouth. He paused to look for Rilora, who was at her spot, and gave a wave. She was probably too busy to notice, but either way he was content. He hadn’t seen where D’gan had run off to, but he wouldn’t go too long without seeing him. They were working together now after all. Speaking of coworkers, he spotted his friend sitting in the stands so he scooted right into a seat next to T’kar.

“I reeeeaaaaaally wish I could still push paperwork off on ya.” R’le grinned around the food in his mouth, and offered a spare piece to the Flamerider. “Did you ever warn D’gan about what he might be getting himself into?” He’d been working on D’gan’s signature. Just in case, but he wasn’t planning on using it. Probably.