Breakout Performance [Hatching!]

[Shoki]

77.07.08
Before sunset
Telgar

Salfinth watched her eggs with a loving gaze. The Purple dragoness had been waiting (rather patiently in her mind) for her eggs to hatch. Nine perfect little eggs waiting to greet the world. Lordeth watched from the edge of the sands, attempting to look casual. The Brown might not be as outwardly excited, but he had been interested as well, as he wanted to make sure that the eggs were well.

Suddenly, Salfinth’s head snapped to one of the eggs on the edge, her gaze intent. She thought she had seen movement. Her gaze could have drilled a hole through stone. Her gaze never faltered, even as seconds, then minutes elapsed. Finally, the egg, visibly moved. The Purple didn’t wait a moment longer, trumpeting her delight with a bulge and starting to hum. Lordeth picked up the hum as well, before it spread out to the other dragons, one by one. Salfinth nearly danced on the sands. She may not be a Queen, but her eggs were hatching and she was positively ecstatic.

As though their mother’s enthusiasm could permeate the shells of the eggs, the group of nine began to start to move. Some faster than others, one not at all, but most sporadically. In two eggs cracks started to form, one of the larger of the group and one in the second smallest. Salfinth tried to stay still but she couldn’t help it, wiggling a little to get a better look at her babies. She wanted to see them hatched out safely and the anticipation was killing her!

[ceridawn]

It was the humming that told Trella that it was time. She ran to the barracks as fast as she could, unwilling to risk being late. Once there, however, she took her time changing. This may be the most important moment of her life and she had no desire to look like a fool during it. 

She went to the stands, taking a moment to straighten herself up one last time, before heading in. She bowed before the mother. the purple may not be a queen, but she most certainly deserved respect for be willing to entrust her children to them.

Her attention then turned completely to the eggs on the sands. Some were moving quite a bit. Trella could not wait to see what would come out of them.

[Kitty]

Today was the day. Tarakuro could feel it. Anticipation and excitement began to build inside him until he could hardly stand it. He had finally forced himself to go and get some food. After all it wouldn't do for him to faint on the sands. He ate his dinner in quick bites, feeling incredibly nervous. Honestly he had little reason to be. People only knew when it was getting close, not the exact date that a hatching would take place. But as he finished his dinner, he headed outside to take a walk. The sun was already making its descent. Perhaps he had been wrong... Well at least he hadn't been running around all day in his candidates robe. That would have been ridiculous. He sighed a little and sat down in the grass. "Happy turnday to me..." He gave a little smile. He wasn't about to let this get him down. It had been a great day anyway, hatching or no. So he would just allow himself to enjoy the remnants of the day.

Tarakuro allowed his eyes to slip closed for a moment. Just then he heard the bugle from the hatching sands. Wait the hatching sands? His eyes flew wide as he looked toward the hatching cavern. No way... He leapt to his feet without hesitation and ran for the barracks. He knew the drill. He couldn't help the huge infectious grin that spread across his face. The hatching was today! What if his lifemate was in this clutch? His eyes were alight with eagerness as he got his candidates robe on and made his way rapidly to the hatching sands, his sandals slapping on the ground. He ran his fingers quickly thorough his hair to calm it and try to get it to lay flat.

Before long he made it to the cavern and made his way within. He grinned broadly to the clutch mother and father before sweeping into a low elaborate bow to the mother. "Greetings... I would like to thank you for the opportunity to stand for your clutch." He smiled warmly before scanning the area. He grinned and waved gently to Trella before taking his place among the boy candidates. Oh yes he was excited.

[Kaya]

"Now you make sure to thank Salfinth," Coralee continued, sweeping Emmeline's hair up. It would be hot on the sands, this would make it better.

"Yes, Aunt Cora," Emmeline acknowledged in an even voice. She was anxious to be out on the Sands but she had to sit through this first. She shifted in the chair in front of the mirror. Leave it to Aunt Cora to be standing right near by when the first wave of the hatching hum washed over the Weyr.

It was a well practiced routine by now. Emmeline had been standing since she was thirteen. She knew how this happened. Today was another opportunity, but not that last. She would watch for those she knew to Impress and congratulate them at the dinner afterwards.

"There. Done. Go make me proud," Coralee announced. She moved to get the Candidate robe and wrap it around her niece.

Emmeline was relieved when Coralee left to take up her spot in the Stands. Always the same spot. Her father on the other hand always sat somewhere new, and she could spend the time scanning the crowd for him if she needed something to settle her mind.

The cooling breeze on her exposed neck raised little bumps as Emmeline made her way down to the Sands. Once there the warm air worked to heat her right back up. The heat was what stuck with her memory from Hatching to Hatching. Hot.

She stopped by the Rider and addressed her. "Thanks to you and Salfinth." Emmeline moved onto the even hotter sand and found a place amongst the young women, then she started scanning the crowd for her dad.

[Shoki]

Salfinth eyes darted around as the candidates entered. It was lovely of them to come and she tried to look calm and welcoming. She just couldn’t. She would for one moment before peeking back to the eggs. Then back to the candidates. From his perch, Lordeth was quietly amused at the Purple’s excitement, but he was more than pleased that he got to watch the eggs without interruption. A most pleasant surprise lay in wait though.

One the egg continued to move, growing more cracks in a steady rhythm. A steady pace soon yielded results, first in a myriad of cracks over the entire shell, then in pieces of the mottled shell falling away. Finally with one last effort, the egg tipped forward, the egg shattering and depositing the occupant onto the sands. Now free, the Brown hatchling shook free of the remnants of the egg before peering out into the crowd of candidates. There were so many!

The little Brown lay down on the sands for a moment, obviously tired from his work. His eyes were glued to the candidates though, so he didn’t notice what was behind him. Specifically the other egg that was so eager to hatch.

A hole broke in the smaller egg, letting a lovely little seafoam Green spill onto the sands. She recovered gracefully, but paused to look at herself. This would not do! She was covered in bits of shell and sand. With dexterity she flicked the shell off of her hide, looking at the sand that would dare remain stuck to her. She WOULD get clean. She began painstakingly attending to the offending matter, for now ignoring the concerns of those around her.

[ceridawn]

When Tarakuro waved at her, Trella felt it would only be polite to wave back. Plus he was one of the only candidates she had actually talked with. She dearly hoped they would Impress to hatchlings from the same clutch so she would know at least one person going into weyrling training. While she did not like large numbers of people, she also dislike being alone.

Trella watched excitedly as the first two eggs hatched. It was possible that one of them would be her bond, so she refused to look away from them. If a problem occurred then she would do her best to help. These dragons may all one day be her comrades.

The two that hatched were very amusing. The poor little brown looked exhausted and Trella could already tell that the green was going to be a handful.

[Kitty]

Tarakuro grinned broadly as he watched the candidates file onto the hot sands and take their places to stand in hopes of impressing. Tarakuro knew this was no opportunity to be taken lightly. The candidates were risking life and limb for their chance to find their bonded. But it was worth it entirely. He grinned as Trella waved back and nodded warmly to her. Just then he saw a head of bright golden hair flash briefly. He turned to see her better and couldn’t help the incredibly warm smile that drifted across his lips. But he noticed that she hadn’t given the candidates around her even a quick look, merely gazing into the stands. He gave the softest of huffs but honestly didn’t have time to be offended by it.

Two of the eggs rocked particularly rough before dumping their precious contents upon the sands. Tarakuros gaze softened as he watched the young brown and small green. They were spectacular little beasts to be sure. He couldn’t wait to see the outcome. He doubted the little clean focused Green would choose him, but perhaps the brown was to be his bonded… Then again it was just as likely that his had not made his debut yet. He’d just have to wait and see.

[Kaya]

Emmeline had glanced over her aunt and grandmother's faces. Still in the same spot, as always. She was through searching just a small section of the crowd when the eggs' emphatic shaking drew her attention. What a scene. Her fingers twitched in want of a pencil. Maybe she'd find some scenes to sketch here. Everyone loved Hatchings after all.

A moderate smile greeted the Brown and the Green soon after. Healthy little ones. As it should be. Two more in the parade of dragons she'd seen on the Sands in her lifetime. Though she knew that anyone in the crowd could be hers, the quiet excitement she felt was certainly more muted than the first Hatchings she'd attended. But if ever a dragon looked her way, that excitement would roar to life and consume her hopes. Contented to know the status of the Brown and the Green, Emmeline started looking over the faces of the others on the Sands. Some she knew, some she didn't. There was Tarakuro, still on the Sands, the both of them. Part of being weyrbrats. One day they'd be Riders. But maybe they'd never shake the label of weyrbrat.

[Shoki]

The as the Green continued on her task of cleaning, and the winded Brown caught his breath, the other eggs continued to move. All but one. Not a single movement had the audience seen from it, nor did it have a crack in its shell. Which made it all the more surprising when it suddenly shattered with a loud CRACK. Unable to stop itself, the hatchling was thrust forward, landing next to his brother. What had appeared was another Brown dragonet, this one almost dark enough to be mistaken for black. The lighter Brown looked surprised, but the other stretched out, looking glad to be free. After a moment, they began, by what seemed to be mutual consent, to play. The darker would nose the lighter, who in turn pretended to be offended and started a chase. Though one was tired and the other less so, the two brown brothers were both having fun.

With very little fanfare, one of the eggs in the middle began to crack. Bits of shell fell away revealing a pale Pink hide. So it was no surprise a moment later when the Pink hatchling fell onto the sands. She tilted her head up for a moment, listening to the humming of the dragons around her, before moving promptly toward the female candidates. She circumvented her brother’s during their play before starting at the end of the line of girls and starting to examine them each in turn.

At the edge of the group of remaining eggs, one was moving faster than the others. Though cracks were stubborn in appearing, it wiggled to and fro with great speed. It remained to be seen when its occupant might appear though.

[ceridawn]

Trella was surprised when the previously unmoving egg suddenly split to reveal a dark hatchling. The little one appeared to be having fun as it promptly started playing with its brown brother. She found herself wondering if it was possible for hatchlings to become too distracted to remember to Impress, She really hoped that it wasn't. At least the two were having fun.

The next little one was a pink who came straight towards Trella and her fellow female candidates. This was the first one to not give too much indication of her personality as she hatched, and also the first one to show much interest in the candidates. Hopefully one of them would get to Impress soon.

There was one egg that was moving around quite a bit. It looked like it might be the next one to hatch. Trella was having a bit of a hard time paying attention to everything that was happening on the Sands.

[Kitty]

Tarakuro allowed his gaze to continuously roam the sands. He was watching over egg, dragonette, and candidate alike, willing this hatching to go well. He watched with a smile as the green lady and brown gentleman continued to remain on the sands, absorbed in their tasks. But just then a loud crack caught his attention. Another dragon tumbled out beside the little brown... His hide... It looked very dark. Was it a black? No not quite that dark... A dark brown then? Interesting. Then another shell was shaken to pieces. He smiled warmly as the darling little pink spilled out onto the sands. He admired her coloration, but he had heard that pinks only chose female riders. He wasn't sure how much truth there was in that, but he doubted his chances with her. But he could admire her anyway.

He glanced around, locking his gaze with that of Emmeline. He smiled warmly and comforting to her. This was to be the hatching. He was sure of it. Then again he had been sure of it at every hatching up to this one too. He glanced over to Trella to see how she was holding on. He gave her a little grin before nodding gently to her with eagerness and excitement.

[Kaya]

Emmeline shifted on the sands. It was hot. The little beads of sweat welled up on the back of her neck. She felt the nerves from the others on the Sands, the anticipation, the hope and dread that they'd be left standing. Hatchings weren't all that different from one another for those left behind. She felt the pull that this one would be the same. She tried to fight away the hope and the looming disappointment. She looked back up at her aunt. So sure of herself. She had found her brother in the Stands too. He was watching with an easy expression, best she could tell from this distance. He had aged out. Maybe that would happen to her too. Maybe not.

A dark dragonet joined the Sands. It tumbled about with its brother Brown. Not anything unusual for behavior. She wondered what color the Weyr would decide it was. How did they decide with the ambiguous ones? She shifted feet as the heat became uncomfortable. A drop of sweat trickled down the back of her neck.

Then there was a Pink. Pretty. A tempered and fair life partner for someone. Emmeline looked at the other girls around her. Maybe that brunette at the end of the line for the Pink. And for the other dragons, she glanced over at the boys. Maybe that one red head. She caught Tarakuro looking at her. Probably wondering the same - which Candidate the dragons here would chose. She appreciated her smile but the growing nervousness she felt around her ate at her stomach. Before she could gather herself to smile back his looked moved somewhere else. Too fast to really process, life at Hatchings.

[Shoki]

The Pink continued down the line, examining the female candidates one by one. However, after a couple, she turned back to the eggs, her gaze resting on the egg moving so quickly. Her head tilted slightly, as though contemplating. After a moment she moved back to what she had been doing, only with a little more speed.

At the same time, the Green finally completed her cleaning. With a nod of satisfaction she started toward the female candidates. Her gait was such that it was almost as though she was not walking, rather floating across the sands. And unlike the Pink, she went straight to the middle of the throng of female candidates rather than to either end. She started to inspect each one, but was not so restrained in her assessment. If a female candidate was not focusing, or was out of line, a little bat was given to them, via the Green’s tail. Soon enough she found herself in front of Emmeline, and paused. The Green’s tail smoothly moved back and forth as she considered the candidate before her.

The two Brown dragons collapsed onto the sands, their play having worn the pair of them out. After a moment though, the lighter Brown turned to the candidates, and picked himself up. He made a beeline for one particular boy, and promptly impressed. The audience let their applause be heard, congratulating the new rider pair. The remaining Brown observed the event, but did not yet move to the candidates. Instead he rested. It seemed much better that way. All the while the fast moving egg continued moving back and forth, still without a crack in its shell. Ever faster it moved, until it looked as though it might tip over.

The Green paid no attention to the egg, rather to the candidate before her. However, the Pink, turning back and observing the progress of the egg, moved with a purpose in her step until she stopped right in front of her Green sister. Offended, the Green hissed, while the Pink appeared calm. The pair stood watching each other for a time before the Green moved on, with nothing more than an imperious gaze and little snort. The Pink turned to the candidate before her. My dear sister has gone to find her own perfect match. I pray you might come with me Emmeline-love, the sands will be not a good place to be soon. Rioth is confident in this.

As the second dragon impressed the egg that wobbled in the middle of its siblings finally reached its tipping point. With a lurch it fell over, managing to roll right into its neighbor. The impact shattered both eggs, the dragonets inside being deposited in a messy dogpile. The egg that had been moving so quickly was not so surprisingly as Purple, and below him his Sunlance brother was reeling. The Purple though looked wickedly mad. By bad luck the Sunlance was the target of the dragonet’s ire, getting clawed on the back. With a cry, the Sunlance bolted, causing the Purple to fall onto the sands in no better mood.

The Sunlance ran straight to the male candidates, but instead of looking at them, he went right between them, hiding about them. The Purple, still mad, picked himself up, but instead of the Sunlance, the first thing he spotted was his Brown sibling. The dark Brown noted the Purple, but didn’t seem swayed by his appearance. The Purple hissed his displeasure. However, for the moment, neither one moved.


---

All line art belongs to VenusRain of DA for hatchlings in this hatching.



Name: Iloseth
Color: Brown
Personality: Iloseth is a reliable dragon. When he settles into a routine, he displays consistent results, enough that you can set your watch by them. Likewise when someone asks something of Iloseth, if he says he can do it, he will. Despite this reliability, this Brown is neither serious nor stuffy. He loves jokes, and is altogether more casual then one would expect, especially around Telgar. When he finds a dragon who is unhappy, he will try to cheer them up, going far for his friends.
Hex: 795f05
Adult Length: 31 feet
Impresses: ADOPTABLE



Name: Rioth
Color: Pink
Personality: Rioth is a lovely Pink with the ability to see the big picture. She is not content to think about what will do her good, and she is often found deep in thought about her wing, her Weyr, and all of Pern. She doesn’t shy from problems, and she is secure enough in herself to be aware of problems she can’t solve without ignoring them or being driven to despair. Most of her physical abilities rest squarely in the range of average for her color. This does mean she tends to neglect those things that other can do just as well in favor of what her real strengths are. A kind or stern word, she will learn to use both. She isn’t afraid to listen either. For Rioth, it’s all about balance.
Hex: f3b0be
Adult Length: 27 feet
Impresses: Emmeline

[Kaya]

Emmeline looked away from the people to consider the dragonets. They were closer now. She kept from hope. It was a temptation that lead to disappointment. She would observe and accept her fate without commentary. She would wonder for the others, there the personal hopes were kept away. It didn't so much matter to her if that brunette at the end of the line Impressed, but she hoped for her anyway. Wondered which dragonet would be hers. And knew she could offer comfort from her own experience if the other girl failed to Impress. It was easier than letting her thoughts rest on her own life.

Rationalizations aside, a Green floated into the middle of the girls. Emmeline turned her eyes to watch. She was not sparing with that tail of hers. No great cries of pain followed it. Nonetheless it still looked unpleasant to be slapped with that little whip of a tail. She moved without effort. The rhythmic motion look Emmeline's attention. Her throat tightened when the young dragon stopped in front of her. A consideration. She stuttered in a breath. Her mom rode a Green. They were reliable and swift. And this one might be a bit of a moody handful with an often dissatisfied temper, but perhaps her ability to let such comments go would make them a pair.

As if appearing from between, a Pink pushed her way into the scene. Into the Green's space. Emmeline's wonderstruck gaze shifted into a frown. Hissing. Please. Resolve this peaceably. Emmeline prayed. She'd been around. She knew these confrontations could get ugly. The Pink didn't react to the Green's challenge. She stood there, unflinching, unwilling to push forward or back down. Emmeline felt the Green's irritation. How could it not be there? She sighed with relief when the Green relented. Not to be hers then. And the imagined life adragonback with that Green faded into the place where unrealized possibilities go to rest.

But she heard a voice. A loud and certain voice. Her mouth fell open and stuck that way. Today? Today. It happened. She Impressed. Emmeline wobbled back, catching herself with a well placed foot.

"Me? You want me?" Emmeline swayed, still unsteady. She felt a hand from the Candidate next to her prop up her arm near her elbow.

"There. Don't fall now," she encouraged. Emmeline wouldn't have recognized her best friend in this moment. She was blind to the voice and face that helped her. All that demanded to be addressed was this Pink dragonet. Her Pink dragonet. Rioth.

"Rioth?"

Yes. Let's get you off these Sands. You to sit. Me to eat. And soon.

There was probably an upset yell drowned in the general noise of the crowd when the still Candidate girl helped the new weyrling Emmeline off the Sands. Her head was still spinning and the moment she had let go, Emmeline had nearly fallen. Again. She'd be back to face the dragonets. But she had to help these two. It had to be. That's why she was standing near them.

Emmeline was blindly led to the edge to be received by other waiting hands and guided to a seat on something decidedly not a chair. "Congrats," she heard the faceless voice say before blurring away in the distance.

"Rioth?"

Yes?

"Nothing."

[Kitty]

Tarakuro found himself growing more and more eager with every hatched egg. He fought to keep himself under control, and not to allow the excitement to overtake him. He watched as the dragonets played, cleaned, and surveyed. It seemed the dragon babies were sizing them up just as much as they were sizing the babies up! It was to happen that each dragonet would pick one of the people upon the sands… Or at least one would hope. If they didn’t find their bonded here… Then… It was too horrid for Tarakuro to consider. But he would keep these thoughts far from his mind at this hatching. One needed to have an open and happy mind to put the little ones at ease and help them to make their choice, or find the one they were destined to be united with. Mental chaos was dangerous to hatchlings, so he’d been told. Well soon enough he noticed the rather rough rocking of another egg and he grinned with anticipation to see just what the energetic egg held. But no cracks told of its imminent hatching. The Brown brothers soon flopped down in exhaustion before the lighter Brown rose and found it’s lifemate in one of his fellow male candidates. He nodded to the boy with a light grin before watching him walk off with the dragonet. One down… Tarakuro wouldn’t allow his spirits to be diminished and continued to watch the proceedings.

Before long that pretty Green had finished her cleanings and moved off to survey the girls. Tarakuro chuckled a little, but winced as she whipped a couple of them with that tail. He grinned slightly. This green… She would be hard to handle he was sure. Someone had their work cut out for them. Yet just then the little Pink, who had just been content checking out the female candidates in a gentle manner, soon walked over and stopped at the very candidate that the Green had showed interest in. He allowed his gaze to move to the candidate and his eyebrows rose in concern. It was Emmeline…

Tarakuro’s muscles bunched as if he were about to run over to help her should things turn hostile… And with the hissing of the Green, it looked possible. He gritted his teeth slightly, merely forcing himself to keep his place for now and watch what happened. He was thankful for the cool demeanor of the Pink dragonet as she stared at her Green sister. Soon enough the green stalked off imperiously before the Pink turned whirling eyes upon Emmeline! His eyes flew wide as he watched the impression between dragon and his dear Emmeline. His heart leapt into his throat and he had to fight hard to keep himself from whooping with joy and scaring the other dragonets. He had to keep himself calm for them and their choosing process. But he beamed wildly for her, trying to catch her eye as she left. But she looked… Woozy and woah! He surged forward a step as she almost fell, but was caught by a fellow female candidate. He frowned but forced himself back to wait as she was aided off the sands with her new lifemate amidst the wild applause for the new pairing. He nodded in approval. It would be a good match… But soon enough she was gone with her lifemate. His gaze turned to Trella who still remained on the sands with him and he nodded gently to her in encouragement and happiness before returning his gaze to the dragonets and eggs.

Just then that wildly rocking egg suddenly fell over and smashed into another egg sending two adorably colored dragons spraying sand and goo everywhere! His eyebrows shot up and he fought back a chuckle. Yet just then it was clear that this was no laughing matter… The small Purple suddenly attacked its Sunlance sibling! Tarakuro’s eyes flew wide at the sudden show of hostility from the little Purple. Not right! Weren’t Purples usually friendly and hyperactive? Well he supposed that hyperactive didn’t always mean friendly, but the Purple seemed to have no limit of energy… Negative energy… But he watched as the frightened Sunlance ran right into the middle of his group. Tarakuro slid inconspicuously over to guard and hide the little Sunlance, his heart going out to it. The poor guy… Attacked simply for being in the Purple’s crosshairs? Not fair to be sure. But thankfully it seemed that the Purple had moved on. Tarakuro half turned to check on the little Sunlance. Apart from a scratch down his back and a terrified demeanor, the baby didn’t seem to be much worse for wear. He hoped the little one would find its lifemate soon. If nothing else, it would get the frightened little one off the sands.

He soon looked back to the trouble that the little Purple was likely causing on the sands. He was amused to find the little dragonet facing off with the dark Brown brother… Yea… That was going to go over well. Tarakuro couldn’t help but feel nervous for both dragon babies, but he doubted that the feisty little Purple was going to do much harm to his Brown brother. Although he hoped it wouldn’t come down to a serious scuffle. Yet another handful to be found on the sands today.