Ayleneth's Hatching 73.11.18

[summerrain]

Seven eggs sat in the sand. Two pairs sat close together, while the others seemed scattered about. All were close to the Aurora mother. The first egg began to move.

YukiMine, it is time, spoke she. She called to Mosiliath as well. He should be by her side to welcome their hatchlings into the world.

On my way, Yuki replied silently. Wait for me to get there. Then you can call he others.

Hurry. I will not be able to wait for long.

Minutes later, Yuki was at Ayleneth's side, just as she was when her dragon first Clutched the seven eggs. It was smaller than normal, but an Aurora could only Clutch up to fifteen eggs. "You can call the Weyr now," Yuki said aloud.

My eggs are ready, Ayleneth broadcasted to the Weyr. Come, all who are able!

[darkwanderer]

Miros came stumbling out of his quarters, still pulling up his trousers and pulling on his white tunic. Excitement flowed with him as he clattered down the hall, joined by the other candidates as they made their hurried way towards the egg chamber. The Dragons within the Weyr were humming, their voices vibrating as one to signal the Hatching of the eggs. Miros, having gotten his clothing under control, joined the streams of people moving through the Weyr bowl towards the egg chamber. The humming grew louder as he drew closer. When he emerged onto the hot sands he realised he was the first to arrive. Shakily he went across the sands towards the eggs, keeping a respectful distance. He bowed to the Aurora Queen and stood with his hands behind his back. His mind raced as he waited tensely; would his new found friend make it in time? He kept glancing furtively over his shoulder, expecting to see her come rushing in.

[Void]

She had no idea what that sound was. She had heard nothing like it in her life before. She lay in bed groggily thinking about this newest discovery of many since she came to the Weyr. With a start she realized. Oh my. It's Humming. The eggs! She tumbled out of bed falling on the floor with a thud then scrambled to her feet spinning around in circles trying to get her mind strait. White tunic, yes, right. She grabbed it and dashed down the hall sprinting as she pulled the white tunic on over her cloths. She made it to the Hatching Sands properly dressed. She saw Miros and felt a little less nervous seeing someone she knew up there in front of the whole world. She walked onto the Sands feeling the heat seep through her shoes. Walking out she bowed to the Queen Aurora then went over to stand by Miros. Stuck in the spotlight and her nerves on fire she was able to act quite calm taking it all in stride now that she was here. Internally she was so nervous letting show by random shivers down her spine.

[Nicole]

Elora dropped everything she was doing -- literally, with the book she was reading, and metaphorically, as in her conversation with N'kio -- and took off towards her chambers, not even bothering to say goodbye to the Rider. He'd understand.

And if he didn't, oh well.

Instinct prompted her to grab a hair ribbon as she yanked the white tunic on, dancing into the traditional sandals before sliding back out into the hallway and taking a deep breath. Okay. It's starting. You go this. Even if you don't Impress, there will be other Hatchings.

It didn't mean that a dragon would ever choose her, but Elora decided not to dwell on that.

It was with positive thoughts chanting over and over again in her head that she stepped onto the Sands with her back straight and her chin tucked high. The heat from the Sands didn't bother her as much as the sight of the Eggs on them.

It wasn't like she hadn't snuck out to see them before, but still. They were about to Hatch.

Swallowing once and wishing herself the best of luck, she walked over to the Aurora and bowed. Her interactions with Metanath left her half-tempted to say something to the dragon but her nerves got the better of her and she quietly moved to her place along with everybody else.

Her back remained stiff and her chin remained up. She might be nervous, but Eggs if she was gonna let it show.

[Moo]

They hadn't slept at all that night, too nervous and excited for what the day would bring. They had settled up on the Heights to wait out the morning until they were called.

"Just like old times," said D'gan, draining the last of the klah he swiped from the kitchens earlier.

I do not remember feeling like this, so...so anxious.[/b][/color]

"No?" He smiled, placing the mug beside him. "Perhaps it was just me."

Now that I remem...[/b][/color] Mosiliath froze. Wait, wait a minute. I think...[/b][/color]

His eyes widened when he heard Ayleneth's voice. He rose quickly and stood on his haunches, wings spread wide. The eggs, D'gan![/b][/color] he hummed loudly.

Without another word, D'gan climbed atop his dragon, and the two leapt off the Heights. In a few wingbeats, they landed beside Ayleneth and Yuki, all smiles and good moods. Mosiliath took his place beside Ayleneth, folding his wings carefully as he nuzzled the Aurora. He looked over their eggs, counting them carefully.

Seven is a good number,[/b][/color] he whispered to Ayleneth, his tail twitching with excitement.

D'gan moved over to Yuki's side, wrapping a hand gently around her waist. He smiled at the approaching Candidates, feeling both amused and humbled at the same time. He remembered every detail of his own Impression, and now it was happening for these Candidates.

"Apologies for getting here late," he whispered to Yuki. "What a wonderful day for a Hatching."

[phantomofthewolves]

Miska hurried to don the white robe of candidacy and some sandals. A clutch was hatching! Greta was sound asleep as she exited her quarters. She hurried to the sands, making sure not to trip over her feet. She arrived at the sands, gasping for air. She looked around; there were seven eggs and a pair of dragons whose colors astonished her. One looked like the Northern Lights she had heard about, the other was like a tiger.

She bowed quietly to the Aurora Queen and joined several other candidates as they watched the eggs in earnest. Hopefully, she would Impress.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar had climbed up onto the top of the cliff that the Wyerling barracks were cut out of and was sitting next to Viarth and chewing on a sweet roll when the humming started. Down in the Bowl, dragons were taking off and landing, bringing in those who were fortunate enough to be invited to this Hatching. Tapping Viarth, he asked the dragonet to stay put. He didn’t want anything to happen to the dragonet, and the Bowl was far too busy for a glided landing.

Even as K’tar darted along the cliff and raced down the stairs, he saw the Brown watch dragon from Stormy Plains settle into down in the Bowl.

Mine, I want to talk to powerful-friend-Jatheiron!

Later Viarth, he’ll still be here after the Hatching.

K’tar forced himself to run faster, sprinting across the Bowl, dodging incoming dragons with the occasional sideways leap. “Jatheiron!” he called.

Jatheiron turned towards him and started to wave. They slammed into each other with a round of back-slapping, then darted over to and up into the stands. Jatheiron slowed to a walk for climbing up the stairs, so perforce K’tar did likewise.

“So your Dad trusts you to be his official representative and all?” K’tar asked.

“He said that I might as well be here.” Jatheiron paused, considering the row that they were next to, then climbed up a couple more, to an unoccupied one and started down it. “He was planning on coming, then the Warder came in and he and Dad started talking about something, and all of a sudden Dad’s asking if I can represent him here.”

K’tar raised an eyebrow. “Wonder what the Warder had to say?” he mused aloud.

“No idea,” Jatheiron commented, as the two of them flopped into seats in a manner that would have gotten them scolded for bad manners had any of the adults of their mutual acquaintance been there. They turned their attention to the Sands, where Candidates were still arriving. “Is the Tiger the sire of the Clutch?” Jatheiron asked quietly, indicating Mosiliath with a discreet flick of his hand. “Also, where’s Viarth?”

K’tar nodded in response to the first question. For the second, he whispered: “Look up on the cliff across from us.”

Catching sight of the Purple, Jatheiron had to swallow to prevent himself from gaping. “He’s really grown,” he whispered.

K’tar’s response consisted of a grin. He swept the gathering Candidates with a quick gaze, but didn’t see Dandzeal or Chantrea, though both Miros and Svak were there. He resisted the urge to wave, reminding himself that they wouldn't be paying much attention to the stands.

[Kaya]

Lithena loved Hatchings. She loved dragons, she loved people, she loved parties. A Hatching was all three of those things together at once! She nearly bounced with excitement as she trailed ahead of her sister, giddy with the thought of the party to come after. Party! Good food and company to boot. Pity she didn't know any of the Candidates.

Rilora watched with a quiet joy as her sister pranced ahead of her as they walked to the stands. Archith and Hrith had found places for themselves already and as bubbly as Lithena was that day, it was probably best that she walk. She would scarcely hold still during the Hatching. Best to get some of the wiggles out now. She was still so much like a kid for being as grown as Rilora knew. Different from the energetic girl in her youngest days, and yet still the same.

Archith, send Ayleneth our warm wishes,

Our best to you and your young ones this day, Archith told the proud pair on the Sands.

The Weyrwoman and her Gold were glad for the addition to their Weyr. From the looks of it the dragonets would be strong and sturdy. It was to be a fine day.

Lithena and Rilora found their seats and Lithena took right away to pointing at all the eggs and each Candidate, shouting wild predictions about their futures. Something about one of those Candidates down there struck her as familiar but she didn't know him, so she shrugged it off as nothing. She knew lots of people. He probably just reminded her of someone else.

[summerrain]

Kokoro heard the call, and had dressed quickly. Unlike many of the others, she had been tending the fields early that morning, and had finished with just enough time to bathe and change before the call came out. She slipped her feet into the sandals, then made her way to the Sands.

This Hatching was special for Rainbow Mists. The first ever Aurora had Clutched, and her eggs Hatching right here in this Weyr. Auroras didn't usually stay too long before having to go back to their northern Weyr.

Kokoro entered the cavern, bowed to the Aurora in question, and then took a place by the other Candidates. Oh, this would be fun!

________

Yuki turned as the arm wrapped itself around the waist of the long dark blue skirt she'd donned for the occasion. "D'gan, you sure took your time," she joked. She had become more friendly since her arival at the Weyr, and Ayleneth saw that as a good thing. Yuki leaned her head on D'gan's shoulder, and Ayleneth nuzzled Mosiliath, then twined her tail around his.

Ayleneth was about to respond to the Weyrwoman and the Gold dragoness when the first of the eggs started shaking. Two nearby began moving slightly as well. The first to breach the eggshell was a foreleg shimmering with blue and green. Ayleneth nudged the egg, shifting the weight slightly. Another leg breached the shell, swirling with greens and blues. The shell suddenly shattered, leaving a stunned Aurora in it's place.

As if they'd been waiting for a signal, many of the other eggs started moving. The humming got louder with the moving of the first egg, and even more so with the appearance of the first Hatchling.

[phantomofthewolves]

Miska stood and watched as the first egg broke to reveal an Aurora. An Aurora? On the first egg? she thought. She was just as confused as the other candidates and the spectators in the stands. How can that be? How can an Aurora clutch another Aurora in the first clutch when the father is a Tiger? She kept her eyes on the dragonet as it wondered around, searching for it's Bonded.

Her heart felt a small amount of pain, as the dragonet's hide was covered in shades of blue, green and other colors. It reminded her of her family; her mother a greenrider, her late father a bluerider, her brother a blue handler, and her twin sister another greenrider. She was a bit jealous of her twin sister, Impressing on her first try. But, she left that behind when she transferred to Rainbow Mists Weyr. Now, this could be her time to Impress a dragon of her own.

[Void]

Svak was pretty sure her feet were cemented to the ground. She was watching the eggs with such an intense gaze she wouldn't have been able to move if a Thread spore hurled at her. The eggs were moving. Light seemed to be everywhere reflecting off the luminous shells and making the sand seem to glow with so many colors. That was before the first egg hatched. When the first shell finally revealed what it had held she stared at the little Aurora her colors seeming to move on their own in the light.

[Nicole]

Every once of pretending she had faded away when the Aurora stepped out of her shell.

Elora had anticipated -- or tried to -- what would happen, but she hadn't expected an Aurora to hatch. They were one of the dragon colors she hadn't even bothered reading about when she had gotten antsy about the Eggs a few weeks back; they were always at Ice Stone. They never came anywhere else. The fact that the Aurora had even laid her Eggs here was surprising to her, but the fact that one Hatched here...

Would whoever Impressed her have to go to Ice Stone Weyr because she was an Aurora or would they finally live outside of that Weyr?

And more importantly, who would Impress her? Because the beautiful colors rippling through her hide were making it really easy to be distracted from the other Eggs.

Focus. Don't oogle her. It's - I mean, she's pretty, but - gah.

Elora forced her gaze away from the Hatching and looked at the other eggs, her eyes dancing back every few seconds to the little Aurora.

[Eirena]

Dagoniat was out helping in the runner stables, far away from the Weyrproper. He was mucking them out for the stablemaster, doing his various Candidate duties, mixed in with the fact that he had been a weyrbrat all his life and didn't have a craft to spend his regular hours on. Besides, so many other Candidates complained about this chore, even though it was necessary to be done. Sure there were other apprentices of beastcraft that could work with the runners, but their time was better spent than cleaning stalls.

He paused in his duty when he heard the call, however. He had known the eggs were relatively close to hatching, but he wouldn't have gone so far away if he had known that they would be hatching any moment! He turned to the nearest beastcrafting journeyman and handed him the rake, "I'm sorry, I am needed at the Weyr," he said politely. "I will help finish after if the task still needs doing," he offered, but the journeyman seemed to understand well enough what was going on and simply nodded his head with a smile.

Hatchings were important to everyone at the Weyr. Even the runners and their handlers. Dag ran from the stables to the Candidate Barracks, his home since leaving the creche. Yes the clutchmother was calling, but he couldn't present himself all covered in runner muck and without the proper hatching garb. He'd be turned off the Sands.

As quickly as he was able, he scrubbed all the areas that needed scrubbing, then changed his clothes and pulled on his white Candidate's Robe over the new clean clothes. Feeling much more appropriately dressed, Dagoniat made his way to the Hatching Sands, where the clutchparents were watching their eggs. Six now, and one aurora hatchling already out of her shell. Well that was appropriate, wasn't it? tigers were much larger than auroras, and were kings. They were bound to sire well.

Dag offered the mother and father a bow, then took his place on the Sands and looked to the eggs. The Aurora wouldn't be interested in him. However there were six other eggs that might hold a dragon that was.

[Moo]

With unmitigated delight, Mosiliath hummed and purred and chirped at the sight of their firstborn, not caring in the slightest if his actions betrayed his kingly rank. These were his hatchlings as well! How could he not be excited? And an Aurora for the first to Hatch -- even he was surprised. But who would Impress who?

Tearing his eyes away from the tiny dragon, he examined the line of Candidates closely. So, these were to be the ones who could Impress his children. His eyes spun a mix of emotions, worry and awe intermingling; would these Candidates be fit to raise them?

Catching wind of his dragon's qualms, D'gan glanced over at the Tiger. Mosiliath, it will be fine. Trust them. You found me, remember? This clutch shall do the same.

Mosiliath raised his head high. Oh, and once it was me comforting you. But you are right, Mine. I should not worry so.[/b][/color]

He smiled, if a bit solemnly. I think that is what it means to be a parent.

The Tiger's mind turned quiet after that, but he continued to hum alongside Ayleneth, pleased by her nuzzles and intertwined tail. With care, he opened a wing and draped it over his Aurora in an embrace.

Satisfied that Mosiliath was placated, D'gan turned his attentions back to Yuki and the Sands. With a warm smile, he kissed the top of her head, though his eyes were focused on the newly-hatched Aurora. "The first day Mosiliath and I came here, there was a Hatching," he spoke in a low voice, not wanting to talk too loudly and interrupt the moment. "It is strange to think we are at one of our own now."

[darkwanderer]

Miros gazed at the beautiful little Aurora Dragonet just clambering from it's shell. An Aurora first to hatch! This was a very good omen indeed! The Dragonet's hide shone with its own iridescent light, swirling greens blue and purples playing across the skin. Miros glanced left and right at the other candidates, eager to see who would be lucky enough to Impress such a beauty.