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

[Shoki]

Kashpa joined her young cohorts in some giggling as the midnight and flame dragonets all covered in sand tried to play, even while being tired. Oh, it was true, most of the girls were not looking at them with desire for future impression, but they DID love to watch them be cute.

Speaking of desire, one of the large eggs cracked, and there was a moment of awe that silenced her group. A moment later she was tugged on from all sides, with pointing and calling. Kashpa stifled laughter while children tried to drag her along in the excitement.

“Yes, I see it. You don’t have to pull. A lovely Bronze. Do you guys like Bronzes?” As if she had to ask. Every secret wish was for the lads to impress a Bronze, and the lasses to impress a Gold. Not that they would say such things. Tales that she told would talk of plucky colors of all sorts, but Bronzes could be the best of the stories, all fearless leaders and the like. A few of the youngest of the bunch declared they would impress a Bronze when they were old enough to. Kashpa watched them converse about dragons, a spark in their eyes. She might like hatchings, but she liked them better for the wonder they inspired in the children. Back when they had been dour every day it had been a rare treat. Now it was something that they could use to dream about. She loved that.

She let the boys be extra boisterous for the moment, though she would calm them in a second. There was another egg hatching and she watched it for a moment. A tiny brown dragon. Let see, that was something right? She thought about it while speaking to the girl on her right.

“What do you think of that one?” The girl looked up at the little creature who was making a pile of eggshell on the sand.

“She’s silly.” But the girl looked on in wonder. Kashpa let a smile play over her face.

“Maybe so, but I think she’s cute.” The little hatchling being careful about hatching. Very cute. Kashpa got a nod of agreement from the girl as they watched the hatching proceed.

[Cait]

(This sucks and I'm sorry)

As the hatching progressed, Dyranor watched intently as each Impression was made and as each new dragon hatched. Saddyris was only mildly engaged in the hatching in was instead more interested in her little brother. "I supposed that would be a difficult task for anyone. I know I was never any good at keeping the idiot out of trouble." She glanced at Dyranor to see if he was even paying attention. Without even looking away from the clutch, the young man reached out and pinch her leg.

"Would you two stop your chattering!"

Saddyris snorted and raised a brow and then glanced back at M'brey with a raised brow. "Well then."

[aliceinwonderland]

Behka now that she had attended to her injury returned her attention to the Hatching and felt her excitment and awe returned.

This was her very first time standing in a Hatching and the only other Hatching she had attended with her ship mates and father had been turns ago when she was little. So the sounds, scents and sights were a little overwhelming to the sheltered ship girl. But she took it in her stride, as she did everything else, tempering her awe, excitment and natural wonder at being this close to a large dragon mother and her hatching babies, Impression happening all around her.

She tried to remember and put away as many memories as she could so she would remember this for her children and grandchildren, good story it would make. Their grandmother, injured by a Hatchling! scars to prove it.

Her lips twitched into a grin and she chuckled quietly to herself, amused by her own thoughts as her attention was caught by the little hatchling's careful progress. How sweet, unlike her siblings, she was taking her time to enter Pern. She liked that, she wondered what she planned to do with the egg shell bits when she finished?

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Talira glanced back and forth from the playing Flame and Midnight to the egg that was slowly cracking, one piece at a time. The suspense was getting to be too much for her, she needed to know! As if hearing her need, an egg burst in two, suddenly drawing her attention to the glorious Bronze who stepped forth. She watched as he surveyed the Sands and the people gathered there, breath held without realizing it. Finally, she managed to tear her eyes away to check back on the smaller egg, but it was still in the process of gradually chipping away at its shell.

She started to return her attention to the playing Flame and Midnight, having thought she heard a warbled protest, but then abruptly, even as she noticed the Flame on the ground, the Midnight pushed her out of the way, knocking her to the Sand. Arms shot out in reflex, too quick to stop, and even in that moment of brief contact with the super-heated Sands she winced. Scrambling back up to her feet, she glanced down at her hands, but there was no visible damage, and she returned her attention to the eggs. Surely, her dragon waited out there still.

[Kaya]

Crack!

An egg shattered and a thin Black rolled onto the Sands, propelled along by the force that had shattered the shell. There are been no warning, no indication that the egg was next to hatch. She picked herself up and looked around, taking in the sight. She craned her neck just a little more regally and angled her head to inspect the Candidates. One of them would do. She set off with her imagined dragonet grace, wadding across the sands.

The Flame was on his second lap around the Candidates, now at a speedy trot. Something clicked and he took off at an all out sprint, path veering uncontrollably. Miiiiiine! Zisheth! Me. Ah. That's me. Sorry. So long. Took so long. Hungry. Zisheth stumbled over his words, the sensation of communicating them to another stalling the channel between raw consciousness and words. It would not be a problem for long. Zisheth would have a lot to say. The desire to go always faster however, that was permanent.

Two eggs left. No, now one. One finally gave up to the pressings of the small creature within. A Citrine joined the others on the Sands. She snaked her tongue out to try and remove some of the sand on her face, but she couldn't reach. That wasn't going to work, was it? Best find someone else to lick it off. The Crowds were actually quite shocked to see a Candidate, did they?, lick the dragonet. The two burst out laughing before leaving the Sands together.

Just one egg kept its secret.

The Bronze watched his siblings come and go. It was well, his brothers had found their Riders and had come out none the worse the wear for their scuffle. The little Wood, he turned to look, yes, she was out. She had made a neat little circle around where her egg had once been with the shell fragments. She carried one piece, carefully selected, with her. He looked back at the Candidates. There was one. He moved closer to her. The one whose legs were not whole, but who dared the world to say it was so. She was strong. He watched with quiet deference, eyes swirling colors in a slow turn. What a will was that one there.

---

Zisheth
Name: Neon Flame Zisheth (zish-eth) [zɪʃ ɛθ]
Hex color: c80b00, ff7e00, fbff00, b9400e, 0c2fff
Adult Size: 23 feet
About: Zisheth's great excitement of youth will set the stage for a quick witted adult that rarely gives a straight answer. Zisheth's mind races and he struggles to give his life a quiet moment. Sleep will be particularly difficult his first few months of life. He loves competition and will leap at the chance to prove his talent and learn from the experiences of others. His hide is predominantly fiery blues, the remaining red, oranges, yellow and dash of purple filling in the rest.


Khasth
Name: Citrine Khasth [kæsθ]
Hex color: f4fc48
Adult Size: 19 feet
About: Khasth loves a good joke more than anything, but don't ever bring her eating habits into question. She's a messy eater, to say the least. She cleans up well to flirt with the handsome dragons, though her attempts at charm may need some refinement through experience.

[T'ren]

Ayrenn watched as two more pairs walked off of the sands, she was trying to remain optimistic, but she could still feel her heart sink a little further in her chest. She nervously twiddled her fingers, picking at their cuticles and the worry spot she'd chewed into her lip grew bigger still. She thought this would be her turn, but it was looking like most other hatchings looked for the lass. Disappointing. 

She tried to remain hopeful, as there was still the little wood, who was carrying..a piece of her shell about with her? She couldn't help but crack a smile at the interestingly colored creatures antics. The bronze, who still stood, looking for the one who he belonged to. Inching closer to them, as if he'd been slowly making his decision. The black, who'd just hatched moments ago, adorably waddling through the sands with her newborn grace. And then..the one egg that was left unhatched. There was still a chance for her, she nodded at her thoughts. Of course, there was still a chance, she shouldn't sell herself short just yet.

The candidate looked up to the stands, the chatter, the people, the excitement of the hatching. She took a deep breath and looked back to the dragons wandering the sands, and the one not-yet hatched egg. Ayrenn stood a little straighter, flattened a few wrinkles in her robe and held her head a little higher, and exhaled. 

[Moo]

Shazza had been following the hatchlings with a focused gaze, her heart light as she watched them scamper about. The brilliant Flame and his beautiful Midnight brother found their Riders at last. The lovely, mottled Wood was more interested in her egg than the Candidates, and that made her smile. A Black hatched next, and then a Citrine, and they wasted no time in finding their other half.

It should have been the last egg that stole her gaze away, but something else commanded her attention. And when she locked eyes with the young Bronze, her breath left her in a barely audible ohhh.

A strange pins and needles sensation overcame her, like the feeling her legs got when they fell asleep. All save the Bronze dragonet faded away around her. There was no doubt in her mind, he was looking at her. He was coming toward her. Though how could it be possible? Bronzes did not impress to girls, that was the rule. But his eyes were wide and full of colors, and though he remained silent, she was sure he was approaching no one else but her.

And that frightened her immensely.

Shazza could feel her chest tighten with emotion, full to bursting with anxiety, with fear. Her eyes welled up with tears, and the Bronze swam in her watery gaze. This had to be a dream. It had to be. It was just like the last time, right down to the approaching dragonet. Everything had faded away, and just when Impression seemed inevitable, she had been cut down. There had been blood on her legs, and then darkness, and when she had woken up she had been left dragonless and broken.

Her shoulders trembled with the energy it took to keep from crying out, but her tears streamed down her face as she blinked them away. She tore her gaze from the Bronze and looked around, waiting for the inevitable to happen -- waiting to be knocked down and bloodied up, waiting for the cold pain and numbness and the crushing disappointment of not Impressing.

Shazza wobbled where she stood, as if standing on the edge of a knife. Her legs screamed at her to fall, to collapse. It would be nice just sit and rest and let everything happen around her. But to fail...what would it be like to fail again? She had already lost so much: her legs, her family, her very name. Did she have it in her to rise back up? What if she couldn't?

Kh'sol's stupid face reappeared in her head, and a spike of fury made her straighten her spine. He'd probably laugh at her if she didn't impress. Or worse, he wouldn't even remember who she was, but he'd pity her all the same. They all would.

The poor, crippled girl that no dragon wanted.

It was so easy, far too easy, to give in to her hatred. Her anger. It suckled her when she was weak, and filled her veins when she was strong, and was the only thing that truly kept her going. She had nothing and no one, and everyone else she interacted with only did so out of duty. She was a shadow, nothing more.

And yet...

Shazza slowly turned her eyes back to the Bronze dragonet.

She knew she couldn't afford to hope. But she watched on anyway.

[Shoki]

A whirl of activity occurred as more and more eggs hatched. Impressions as well, but more dragonets to ‘ooo’ and ‘ah’ at. There was applause for the bright Flame impressing, and an infectious bout of laughter at the Citrine. Kashpa couldn’t stop herself either, chortling at the pair, as they went to get food. It was such fun. There were still a surplus of candidates and a single egg left unhatched. KAshpa decided to make a game of the last egg.

“What do you think is in there?” She inquired to the bunch of children. Of course, what she got was a hundred responses, all different. Even as they talked Kashpa just smiled. It was really nice to see how their spirits had lifted. Some of the children had gone back to the hold, with their parents after the fire, but it that the ones here had lifted their spirits too. It was strange to think, it seemed like so long ago. Especially with new troubles now. It was good though. Time heals all wounds, as they said.

[Nicole]

She shouldn't have come. Her head pounded. Too many new voices, old voices, loud voices, and she wanted them all out of her head for just a minute, out out out out out.

And the dragons and their Riders wondered why she had been avoiding the Weyr. Why she had been keeping to herself. They muttered questions of her loyalty. Whispered about those that tried to kill her. And, when they thought she couldn't hear, talked evermore of the curse upon her.

But she was always listening.

And they didn't live with a hundred voices in her head.

Just focus on my voice, Mine. You know how to handle this.

She did. But training had made things harder, sometimes - and everybody was always so loud with their thoughts, now, so worried about the tensions between the Weyrs - and then somebody had tried to kill her, her and her precious Zabrielth.

She was always listening, after that. She had to. It didn't matter that she had retreated to her chambers for most of her day. It didn't matter that there were still guards on her door, though they changed frequently and she never bothered to learn their names. It didn't matter that she spent most of her free time flying with Zabrielth to the very edges of the Weyr, to look at the vast distance of land beyond, for that rare moment of freedom, a second to bask in the silence.

She was listening, and nobody but Rilora even knew she could. (And even then, she wasn't quite sure if Rilora knew the extent of her power - knew how much paranoia had honed it, so that even the quietest of thoughts could be heard if she just focused, even if it left her with a pounding headache afterward.) She knew what every dragon thought. Of each other. Of other Riders. Of their Riders. Of the Weyrs. Of her.

Especially of her. Dark. Lonely. Cursed.

She hoarded the knowledge like gold. If knowledge was power, then she was the most powerful person in the Weyr.

And if fear was a more powerful weapon than love, she wielded far more power than Rilora. Tension between Weyrs with an Azure queen watching over them? Ah, yes, they feared her, even if they weren't willing to admit it.

Let them fear her. One day, it would be her at the top of the Weyr, giving Zabrielth every moment of admiration she deserved.

Remember, we want allies. Young Riders to take under our wing. Not just gossip.

She slipped through the crowd, her clothing remnant of the war gear of old, kohl smeared around her eyes. Those around her moved, not eager to brush against her.

Cursed. As if there was such a thing as curses. As magic.

But magic had power, too.

Khasith. Zhiseth. Stenecoth. Paigeleth. She knew their names. Their thoughts. What they wanted, even as they were telling their Riders.

There had to be somebody she could make a friend of. Somebody she could train. Maybe even somebody she could befriend.

(Not that she needed any friends, besides Zabrielth. Friends were not allies. Friends could turn on you. Had motivations of their own.)

So Artemis smiled, and settled herself in the stands, and watched the tiny new dragonets fall onto the Sand.

[aliceinwonderland]

Bekha cheered with everyone else when the Flame Impressed and giggled at the Citrine. She marveled at the arrival of the black and watched the patient bronze watch over his siblings, brother to the end. But she kept an eye on the little brown mottled hatchling? What was she? She was so cute, she saw her pick up a piece of shell in her mouth and wondered what she was going to do with it.

Her inexperience with dragons showed, but she was still excited and awed, appreciating the opportunity to be here. She was curious to see what the last egg held.

[Kaya]

A sunny little Citrine. How cute. Rilora grinned, watching the dragonet and her new Rider leave the Sands. One egg left. Archith was appropriately focused on the events at hand.

She felt a figure march past and turned to look, the dark eye makeup was rather striking. Artemis. And out of her weyr too. Hm. She watched the other woman find her place in the crowd, regarded her mood, and then decided to at least have a word with her. It had been so long since they'd been out in public together.

She moved slowly, letting the flow of the Hatching and the peering eyes of the crowd direct her path. She slipped next to Artemis without introduction, keeping her gaze on the last egg and the Sands. "I didn't expect you to come," she said with a trace of a smile, voice light. The other woman had keen hearing, she'd probably pick it up. Though her words themselves were not really what mattered so much as simply being there.

[Nicole]

Oh. Rilora.

The Weyrwoman has situated herself beside her, a tiny smile on her face; pretending, as usual, as if the stress of the Weyr did not weight heavily on her tiny shoulders.

"I didn't expect you to come," murmured Rilora, her voice quiet as always.

Of course she hadn't. Nobody had; she could hear the shock when she had appeared from the few dragons as easily as if they had shouted it to her.

Artemis shrugged, tempted not to answer, to appear indifferent and aloof. But one did not ignore the Weyrwoman. "Even I could not miss an event like this. Hatchings are special."

None more special than her own. A tiny smile flickered over Artemis' face at the fond memory of her first meeting with Zabrielth. The Azure sent her warm feelings, a thought cloaked in iridescent blues.

She ought to continue the conversation. Seem polite, even when half of her wanted to return to her Weyr. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

[Kaya]

Rilora accepted the answer, though she held her own reservations about its truthfulness. Or completeness of that matter. But that was Artemis' way. Hold onto information, give out very little. Not ideal as far as leadership communication could go, but if it secured the woman's trust in some way then let her be private. As long as the present circumstances allowed.

"Well enough." Things were going well enough, considering. She eyed the Bronze below. Dragons would chose as they will, to be certain. Choose well. I needn't more problems, Rilora thought. "Healthy dragons, all." She said with approval. "And yourself?"

[Nicole]

"Well enough. Healthy dragons, all," said Rilora, approval in her voice. "And yourself?"

Her head felt like it was on fire. The dragonets were loud, unused to speaking to others yet, screaming lovingly into her brain. But yes, they were healthy. Healthy dragons made a strong Weyr. They needed a strong Weyr, now more than ever, it seemed.

Talking to Rilora always felt... strange. On one hand, she had trusted the Weyrwoman with her secret, and Rilora had kept it. (Though, no doubt, she would exploit it when the time came.) And though she eyed Zabrielth warily, she had never actively spoken ill of her, at least to Artemis' rather extensive knowledge. But Zabrielth was a Queen, and Artemis was smart and cunning and deserved a Weyr of her own.

Friend or competition? Future ally or the woman she would one day usurp?

Artemis didn't know.

So she put on a small smile, though she knew it didn't quite reach her eyes - tired eyes, too many late nights; she could only sleep now if Zabrielth was beside her, if Artemis used her legs as a pillow as Zabrielth had ones used hers - and kept her gaze on the Sands below. "It is a good a Hatching as any."

The Bronze was wobbling towards the girl with the torn-apart legs. She liked that girl. Liked the fire in her eyes.

"It will be interesting to see how it ends."

[Kitty]

MINE MINE MINE MINE WHERE ARE YOU? We're late for the hatching! MINE! Get to the sands! Did you not here Architch? WE'RE MISSING IT!  Lizeth's usually gentle and playfully bubbling voice was incredibly loud in poor T'lok's head. T'lok found himself in the Weyrbowl just sitting in the sun for the moment, taking in the day. He didn't have any drills at the moment, an last thing he knew, Lizeth was napping, so he took some time to himself. But now the young White's voice rang out loud and insistent in his mind. He cringed a little bit, but jumped up. He had heard Archith's summon, but it was another social gathering... Too many people for his liking... But he did suppose he should attend... It was good to see the new little ones after all...

He sighed a little and grumbled to himself. "Shards and shells little dragon... Ah heard yah... And Ah'm goin' ok? Yeh happy?" He growled a little to himself as he mumbled softly to himself, knowing the thoughts would be loud and clear to his little lifemate. Quite.  She chirped happily as she flew toward the ledges where the other dragons gathered. Lizeth took a spot near the edges and craned around to see the action on the sands. She warbled her own soft greeting to the hatchlings, both those on the sands and those that had already found their beloveds. The tiny white gently welcomed the babies to the world in her own sweet way. She cast an apologetic look to the parents, even though she doubted they would mind her tardiness too much, they had quite a bit more on their plates after all. Soon enough after, she returned her attention to the three on the sands and unhatched egg, watching curiously.

T'lok grumbled softly to himself as he picked up his hat and hurried to the sands. Lizeth wouldn't forgive him quickly if he was much later than she... He sighed as he walked quickly into the stands, making eyes at his beloved dragon and shaking his head in amusement. He glanced around him to see who was around. He noticed R'le but didn't make for him, preferring to keep this place near the edges of the crowd. As harsh as an exterior he showed, he did have interest in the baby things and what they would bring to the Weyr... He eyed the pairs at the feeding barrels and nodded with approval. 9 dragonets... 9 new riders... This would bode well for the Weyr... He hoped.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kita grinned broadly as she quietly fed her beloved Paigleth. Her eyes shone as she stroked the baby dragon and cut up pieces of meat with her belt knife. She fed them to her carefully and slowly, remembering something about not feeding the dragonet too fast, or not letting her eat too fast, or whatever they had learned in their candidate lessons preparing them for this day... In all reality, those lessons went out of her head now for the most part. Her mind and thoughts were only filled with the beautiful little dragon before her. Paigleth nuzzled her in silence eating the meat offered her, not taking any more or less than offered.

Kita's attention was drawn back to the sands quietly and she furrowed her brows a little as she saw one of the candidates that she would venture to call friend. Ayrenn... She had been searched right about the same time as the girl and she found an adoration for her, even if they hadn't had many meaningful interactions. Just the hello here and there and maybe a sparse few hang out times if only brief. She felt her breath catch slightly to see her still alone. She didn't want to impress without her! Kita felt the sting of tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but Paigleth butted her hand lovingly in reminder. Still she remained quiet, but Kita got the message. She grinned and rubbed the top of Paigleth's head before looking out to Ayrenn again. "Stand strong my friend... Stand strong." She murmured softly, knowing she couldn't hear her, but hoping she felt her support in some way.