The Hatching of Gold Isadith and Bronze Gelth's Clutch
PernMUSH, October 1, 2000


The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright. Many thanks go to Belanca for editing and providing this log, and also for providing the egg descs which appear before the beginning.





Hatching Galleries -- Ista Weyr(#1300RDJQaqs)
The galleries provide more than adequate seating for guests who have been 
invited to watch a hatching. There are ten tiers, that arch in a semi-circle 
from the southwest to west side of the black stone cavern. Stairs lead down 
to the entrances, which are visible beyond the large gaping opening leading 
to the Senior Queen's Weyr. You have a view of the Hatching Sands as well as 
a clear view of the ledges up above you.
Scattered among the smaller perches are firelizards, including Firla.
Stairs to the southwest lead out to the Hatching Grounds entrance. Type 
'view' to see the Sands.

The black sand beneath your feet reminds you of standing on a beach at 
midday. Heat from the sands pentrates to your feet, making you 
uncomfortable. This huge cavern arcs over your head in black matte rock, 
while the tiers of the Galleries provide seating for spectators.
A glorious array of eggs lie spread across the heated obsidian-glimmering 
sands of the Istan Hatching grounds. Scattered on the midnight-dark grains 
like jewels across velvet or the bright speckles of stars in the evening 
sky, eggs glimmer in all hues: brightly-colored violets are mounded about by 
sand, mixing with vermilion, viridian, pastel shades with delicate traceries 
of designs. The most prominent of these is the richly gleaming luminescence 
of a solitary golden egg, taking the pride of place among the clutch.
(Type 'view eggs' to see a list of visible eggs.)
Dragons scattered across the dark sand include Isadith.

Lying scattered about the dark sands, you see:
1  Silver Lunar Egg
2  Black Hole Egg
3  Blue Straggler Egg
4  Copernican Folly Egg
5  Solar Glory Egg
6  String of Pearls Egg
7  Coalsack Cloud Egg
8  Muted Spiral Galaxy Egg
9  UV-Spiral Egg
10  Anonymous Satellite Egg
11  Lunar Eclipse Egg
12  Solar Prominence Egg
13  Star Birth Egg
14  Sunspot Egg
15  Sun Star Egg
16  Exploding Singularity Egg
17  Cat's Eye Nebula Egg
18  Galileo's Truth Egg
19  Dual Nebula Egg
20  Star Cluster Egg
21  Aurora Borealis Egg
22  Keyhole Egg
23  Galactic Collision Egg
24  Beginning of Everything Egg
25  Helix Egg
26  Milky Way Egg
27  Comet Egg
28  Hourglass Egg
29  Red Faced Egg
30  Pelican Nebula Egg
31  Asteroid Belt Egg
32  Mars Egg
33  Red Sprite Egg
34  Timekeeper Nebula Egg
35  Whirlpool Egg
36  Nebula Egg
37  Moon Egg
38  Stellar Static Egg
(Type 'view egg <#>' to see that egg and the credits for it.)

Silver Lunar Egg
        A nearly perfect spheroid, not your normal ovoid shaped egg, its 
surface appears almost pebbled. Your eyes can see what your hands would 
confirm, a rough surface, with definite bumps and circular ridges, as if 
this egg had been pressed too long against others of its kind. Small, almost 
crater-like shadows dot the nearly iridescent surace of this pale liquid 
grey egg. Here and there specks of black Istan sand cling to the surface of 
the egg, marring its silvery quality, yet giving it an aura of something 
wonderful, yet alien.
Written by Br'nal, based upon Halley's ode prefacing the Principia, see 
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/kollrstm/quest.htm

Black Hole Egg
        Blacker than coal from the mines of Pern, this egg draws one's 
attention immediately more by its seeming visual absence, a paradox amidst 
its colorful siblings. Perfectly shaped, the egg is smooth as glass, its 
surface unmarred by swirl or any other inconsistency. The longer one looks 
at it, the more unusual it seems--unlike the other eggs around it, its 
smooth, pristine surface does not reflect any light as the surface hardens. 
In fact, it seems to absorb the light surrounding it, as if creating a 
shadow over itself and the closest of the surrounding eggs.
Created by Bryl, inspired by the common man's concept of the black hole.

Blue Straggler Egg
        Like chips of sapphire strewn upon sunlit black velvet, sparks of 
intense blue attract the eye away from the more mundane flecks of yellow, 
red and orange that litter the surface of this egg. When more closely 
examined it becomes obvious there's a loose pattern of clustered white 
specks that surround and fill the spaces near the azure spots. Some are so 
close to the blue they almost seem to touch in streamers of pale, diffuse 
periwinkle. These troublesome blue dots seem out of place amid the more even 
distribution of white, yellow, orange and red speckles on the blue-black 
background of the rest of the shell.
Designed by Cottam, based on the Blue Stragglers in globular cluster 47 
Tucanae, http://www.qni.com/~jnlrich/ista/bluestraggleregg.jpg

Copernican Folly Egg
        Colossal when compared to the rest of the Clutch, this egg is 
resplendent with deep, rich azures and loamy umbers, wisps of startling 
white swirl about the crown and foot of the orbed shape. Radiant and 
effulgent, its markings are blurred, almost as though it spins in place upon 
the Sands, though the close observer might discover a small, red cross, two 
lines intersecting sternly at an upper latitude of the curved dimensions. 
Placed near the center of the Clutch, it vies for importance among its mates 
by virtue of its immensity, the cross's red lines seeming to hold the orb 
balefully and stubbornly in place.
Written by Germaine, inspired by the Copernican theory which holds that the 
Earth is the center of the universe about which all other celestial bodies 
revolve. The concept was embraced as a cornerstone of Catholic Church dogma, 
and Copernicus' first published rival, Galileo, was brought before the 
Catholic Inquisition and made to recant the evidence of his scientific 
inquiry in the late 16th century.

Solar Glory Egg
        From tip to tip, this egg seems to encompass nearly every color 
visible to man. It has settled into a small dip in the sands, and one color 
flows into another from top to bottom--first, dawn-delicate wisps of pink 
and lavender and blue, warming to a bright golden-yellow in the center of 
the egg, gradually darkening into fiery orange and red sunset, and finally 
fading to dusk.
Created by Ptodek.

String of Pearls Egg
        Long and slender, this black egg is almost invisible against the 
volcanic sands of Ista's Hatching Grounds. Trickled along the center line is 
a series of bright white spots, looking much like a careless jeweler dropped 
some of his materials as he travelled, some little, some large.
Written by A'zric, inspired by the image at 
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950713.html

Coalsack Cloud Egg
        A small, rather oval shaped egg that appears to be rather 
unremarkable at first glance. Characterized by a scattering of small 
speckles, the egg is uniform in appearance except for a section located near 
to the bottom. A large dark area blocks out any view of the speckles in that 
section, a hole of dense color in the shell.
Designed by Tamina, inspired by the Coalsack, a dust cloud that blots out a 
section of stars in the Milky Way.

Muted Spiral Galaxy Egg
        This egg is of merely average size and slightly irregular shape, but 
the soft, cloudy markings covering the shell make it hard to miss. Off to 
one side is a bright spot, a dab of near-glowing gold. Amorphous arms of 
bluish mist spiral outward from this off-center centerpoint, here and there 
are bands of darker, greenish markings--curdles in the mist. Small bright 
spots are scattered randomly over the smooth curve of shell, like little 
stars trying to shine through the spiralling cloud.
Written by Keira

UV-Spiral Egg
        Deep violet satin of the sheerest quality spirals across the surface 
of this egg. Its sheen and irridesence attracts all who see it, enticing 
them closer. A faint rippling of its surface and a vision of far off regions 
of dark icy delight rewards those willing to trace the peaks and valleys 
with a sense of wonder. Brilliant flashing points of white bespeckle its 
surface, adding to the impression of a night sky in the northern ranges.
Written by Cottam, inspired by the Triangulum Galaxy-M33, viewed in the 
ultraviolet range, http://www.qni.com/~jnlrich/ista/uv-spiral-egg.jpg.

Anonymous Satellite Egg
        This egg's dull surface mutedly reflects the light in a smooth, 
silvery sheen with ripples of darker grey-brown tracing the delicate 
patterns of distant stony heights and empty, barren seas. It's of middling 
size and roundish, and should one's gaze wander away and back again, its 
patterns seem to shift oddly, with an alien beauty.
Designed by Ptodek, inspired by the image of an undisclosed moon.

Lunar Eclipse Egg
        A puddle of deep red shades out to orange and finally yellow over 
the surface of this egg. Like a sheer overlay of colour, it gives the 
appearance of a mottled egg underneath, the splotches pulling deeper, richer 
colour than the smoother surfaces.
Designed by A'zric, based upon the image found at 
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000726.html

Solar Prominence Egg
        Fire! Flame! Tawny gold and red tongues of heat appear to burst 
forth from this egg's surface, warding off the timid. A full chain of angry 
volcanos wouldn't present such a daunting vista--it's as if invisible lines 
stretch the brilliant filaments from its surface to loop upwards then back. 
As one's vantage point shifts, so flickers the surface of the egg, 
enhancing, perhaps, the viewer's apprehension and discouraging closer 
examination. When one does approach, however, the shell's features dissolve 
into hazy shimmerings of golds and reds, and, were one to touch it, one 
would discover that the egg is only hatching sands warm.
Written by Cottam, inspired by the image of a Solar prominence, 
http://www.qni.com/~jnlrich/ista/solar-prominence-egg.jpg.

Star Birth Egg
        Looking closely, one can tell that the base color of this egg is 
nearly as black as the sand upon which it rests. This darkness is lit in 
relief by the bright flecks of gold, white, and red that dance across the 
shell, changing its appearance from forbidding to festive. The flecks seem 
concentrated near one end, creating a bright spot of inviting color.
Designed by Keira.

Sunspot Egg
        An eye-catching egg first for its rather large size, a blaze of 
bright orange color consumes the exterior of the shell, darkening to a 
sullen umber at the edges of the ovoid shape. A few dark spots of a cool 
grayish shade dot the body egg in an irregular manner.
Written by Tamina, inspired by the sunspots of Sol.

Sun Star Egg
        Eye catching to say the least, this fireball of orange and red 
demands attention despite the equally attractive eggs surrounding it. Its 
lava-like surface features yellow swirls of activity making it look as if it 
was roiling with anticipation of its imminent hatching. A fairly large egg 
compared to its nearer neighbors, its bright flashy colors hurt your eyes if 
you look at it too long. Properly situated, thick side down, pointy side up, 
its seems to stand at attention while demanding attention.
Written by Bryl, inspired by the Sun.

Exploding Singularity Egg
        Within the heart of an endless darkness there is a light, an 
eruption of brilliance and energy that overwhelms the naked eye. Red, white, 
and yellow sweep across this egg's shell, and condense into a singularity 
overflowing with the need to expand. From it shoots arcs of spectral color 
that envelops the surrounding space. Burning through the darkness and 
creating light, the tendrils seeking outwards, even as the pinpoint of light 
tries to pull them back in. But it is all too much to hold in one place, and 
the result is a blossom of color and chaos that rings outwards in a dazzling 
display of the spectrum, frozen in time and space for all to see.
Designed by Fluria

Cat's Eye Nebula Egg
        Red spectra seems to swam and pulsate around a brilliant central 
point on this large egg. Both thick and thin spinner lines of red almost 
seem to move of their own accord, suggesting great speed across an 
unimaginable expanse. At the very edge of the egg, the colour changes 
dramatically to a brilliant green, making the egg even more startling 
against the dark sands.
Created by A'zric, based on the image found at 
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950628.html

Galileo's Truth Egg
        Like a brilliant sun, this egg casts an almost blinding luminescence 
across the Sands, seeming to warm and brighten in turn each of its mates, 
which, as they lay basking in all their color, might to the fanciful eye 
seem to orbit in a complicated system of satellites and planets, stars and 
comets, drawn inexorably to the joyous gravity of this one's fire. A prism 
of color cascades gloriously over its curves, deepening and making more rich 
the hue of the Sands themselves, refracting off the stone of the galleries 
and the ledges, augmenting and outshining the cavern's own glowlights.
Designed by Germaine, inspired by the same events in the credit for the 
Copernican Folly Egg.

Dual Nebula Egg
        Bright green and white spots swirl over a shell of deep, mottled 
blue. The egg is rather large, seeming more so due to the eye-dizzying 
whorls of color. Though the tiny spots are scattered over the whole shell, 
there are several places where they lie closer together. These brighter 
bands seem to form two crossed rings--one perfectly spherical, the other 
stretched into a narrow oval.
Designed by Keira.

Star Cluster Egg
        Resting on the black sands, this egg could almost blend in with the 
obsidian grains but for the tiny flecks of color--red, orange, bright yellow 
that scatter across its shell in a swirling pattern, concentrating into 
bright flashes, a white point here, a red splotch there. By far the most 
impressive area is the gradually intensifying spray of orange-yellow sparks 
that meld into a fiery flash near the center of the egg.
Created by Ptodek

Aurora Borealis Egg
        Glossy and polished, this egg shines like none other. Pale blue like 
the sky as the sun begins to set and before night takes over, it has a 
calming effect on the emotions. One's gaze may begin to move on to the other 
eggs surrounding it, but out of the corner of one's eye one might catch 
sight of other vibrant colors appearing on the shell that were not there a 
moment ago. As one continues to gaze and the light in the cavern shifts, the 
pale blue shell comes alive with color! Pinks, purples, greens and blues 
light up the orb's surface in a display of uncommon brilliance.
Designed by Bryl, inspired by the 'Northern Lights'.

Keyhole Egg
        From a distance, this egg appears to have been splashed with the 
careless brush strokes of a deranged painter, one with a warped sense of 
humor, for a chance splotch of darker grey appears to have a keyhole shape 
amid a larger, circular yellow and tan expanse. But once viewed from a 
closer vantage, the minute details become apparent and the keyhole 
disappears into a black, wispy smoke region with filaments of lighter orange 
and tangerine spreading to the lighter tans and pinpoints of white that 
cover the rest of the egg. A slight rippling of its surface adds a depth 
that makes one hesitant to touch its hardening surface.
Created by Cottam and inspired by the Keyhole Nebula in the Carina Nebula, 
NGC3372 - http://www.qni.com/~jnlrich/ista/keyhole-egg.jpg.

Galactic Collision Egg
        Most of this egg is colored a murky, mottled green. Icy blue and 
misty lavender dots, flecks, and splotches curve irregularly over the shell, 
forming a shape that looks almost like a small child's attempt at drawing a 
stylized heart. Snuggled within the embrace of these wobbling, filmy bluish 
bands are two bright golden marks that almost seem to glow with a life of 
their own.
Written by Keira, based on the image found at: 
http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/97/34/images/9734aw.jpg

Beginning of Everything Egg
        The appearance of this egg seems to be very mixed up, despite its 
predominantly ebon shading. In the exact center of the shell, a brilliant 
white blotch is flecked with myriad other colors, all appearing to be hot 
enough to burn an unwary hand, while sizzling streaks of metallic silver are 
just beginning to make themselves visible on the edges of the orb, flying 
away from the center with unimaginable speed and force. All around this 
mysterious formation, a multitude of chalky white scribbles seem to have 
been randomly jotted, blackboard fashion, some of the characters crossed out 
and replaced by others. Along the perimeter of the egg, the black and white 
hues seem to blend together, merging into a strange, deep red halo that 
rings the egg's shell.
Designed by Yscalda, inspired by the Big Bang Theory, which proposes that 
the universe was once extremely compact, dense, and hot. The scribbles on 
the surface are based on Albert Einstein's field equations for the general 
theory of relativity, while the deep red halo is a symbolism for Edwin 
Hubble's discovery that the light of distant galaxies was universally 
shifted towards the red end of the spectrum, proving that galaxies are 
moving away from each other.

Helix Egg
        A wispy and ethereal ring of red encircles this egg from tip to 
tip--gradually turning darker toward the thickest part. A few strands of red 
reach filmy arms into that dark heart. The effect is suggestive of a rather 
delicate flower, formed by a cloud mass.
Created by Tamina, based on the Helix Nebula.

Milky Way Egg
        More oblong than the rest, this egg is always on its side as if to 
get the most of the sands' intense heat. Mostly charcoal grey on the bottom 
and sides, the oblong side of the egg that faces up sports a large creamy 
looking spot that seems to spiral out from its edges. The spot and its arms 
seem almost fuzzy and indistinct, like a thick webbing covering the egg. A 
splattering of minute little freckles covering the creamy area of the egg 
seems to top it all off.
Written by Bryl, inspired by images of the Milky Way galaxy.

Comet Egg
        All fire and ice, a white-hot streak of energy slices across the 
blue-black shell, spreading, fading, dissipating long streams of milky white 
into blankness behind. The egg is so oddly shaped as to be a curiosity--it's 
one of the smallest in the clutch, proportionally longer and thinner in 
girth, with more sharply pointed ends than most.
Designed by Ptodek.

Hourglass Egg
        Like a feline's-eye gemstone, the shell of this egg appears to 
harbor untold vistas in its depths, rippling in bifold patterns of 
irridescent carnellian smoke rings. Disconcertingly, the rings seem to track 
the viewer's movements, as if a pair of hungry dragon's eyes were following 
in the night. If not for the brilliant turquoise orb in the stable center of 
the overlap, one might understandably be reluctant to approach, but its 
dazzling contrast draws one close enough to see that, indeed, it is only an 
egg.
Designed by Cottam, based on the Hourglass Nebula in Messier object 8, 
http://www.qni.com/~jnlrich/ista/hourglass-egg.jpg.

Red Faced Egg
        This egg is small, possibly the smallest in the clutch, coloured a 
deep, angry red. From some views, it is plain, nothing unusual about it, 
hardly worth notice. In the right lighting, and when Isadith has turned it 
just so, however, it appears that some artist has braved the wrath of the 
gold and painted a person's face upon it. A closer look shows the face to be 
just a collection of shadows and colours on the egg, luck and coincidence 
giving rise to the startling image.
Written by A'zric, inspired by the image found at 
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950722.html

Pelican Nebula Egg
        A confusion of colors blend poorly on this egg, as if pigments had 
been only added together and not stirred, and making it difficult to look at 
directly. White, pimply bumps are randomly scattered across its bewildering 
surface, adding nothing to its attractiveness. The splotches of color seem 
to have missed one area, as you might note, coming closer, leaving a grey 
darkness that looks somewhat like a large avian, but one with a mishappen 
and baggy under beak pouch. Touching its surface reveals that the egg is as 
smooth as ice, but hot as the Hatching Sands it hardens upon.
Designed by Cottam, and based on the Pelican Nebula, 
http://www.qni.com/~jnlrich/ista/pelican_nebula_egg.jpg.

Asteroid Belt Egg
        Though it's on the large side, this egg doesn't stand out much, 
since it can't boast the brilliant colors of the ovoid shapes surrounding 
it. The base shade is a soft purplish-grey, mottled with flecks of deep 
brown, silver-grey, and black, like fragmented bits of rock spinning round 
and round, orbiting the shell in an intricate dance.
Designed by Ptodek.

Mars Egg
        One might possibly mistake this egg for a ball of metal that has sat 
too long in a lake, its rusty hulk has a flaky appearance to its surface, 
with an extremely dull finish that reflects no light and looks in dire need 
of a dusting. More round than its companions, the egg has a rough and rocky 
looking shell, suggestive of rugged terrain, and looks as though care will 
be necessary when touching it.
Created by Bryl, inspired by 'the Red Planet'.

Red Sprite Egg
        Another dark-hued egg hides against the dark sands, the base a 
glowing blue colour ranging from white at the edge, shading into the deepest 
blue-black about a third of the way up the egg. A spike of blue shoots up 
one side, fading from blue to red as it approaches the top edge of the egg.
Created by A'zric, based on the image found at 
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951111.html

Timekeeper Nebula Egg
        Dark, rich, brown cloaks the shell of this medium-sized egg, the 
color almost unrelieved except for a series of bright markings in green and 
cream. There is an hourglass shape that looks almost as if it's made of dark 
green wisps of flame which shade to brighter green and cream near the 
center. A smoother, brighter hourglass form is repeated at cross point of 
the larger one, nearly glowing against the dark background.
Written by Keira.

Whirlpool Egg
        A big bright blotch of blue shades one of the tips of this egg, with 
lines of the color circling round and round the body in a whirpooling and 
hypnotic pattern. One blue arm reaches all the way to the opposite tip, 
where it meets a smaller but no less bright splotch.
Written by Tamina, inspired by the Whirpool Galaxy.

Nebula Egg
        The shell of this egg is covered in misty clouds of grey and dusty 
brown, with dirty blotches daubed in varying shades around its surface. Tiny 
points of light, pink and orange and white, peek through the murky shroud, 
heralding the births of stars.
Written by Ptodek

Moon Egg
        At first glance, this egg seems bland and undescriptive. However, as 
one peers closer at it one might realize that its creamy colored shell is 
actually tinged with an unsual shade of green. The surface looks all 
pock-marked, and the viewer might well imagine that it would be almost rough 
to the touch. Were one to maneuver around to get a glimpse of the other side 
of the egg, however, one would realize with astonishment that it really is 
black! In fact, this egg looks like two totally different eggs thrown 
together as one, the only thing providing continuity between the two 
contrasting sides is the egg's rough, pock-marked surface.
Designed by Bryl, inspired by the Moon.

Stellar Static Egg
        The surface of this egg appears from a distance to be a solid, 
silvery-gray, with thin bands of neon green straddling its circumference at 
irregular intervals. As one nears the egg, however, like a pontilist 
painting the uniform curves resolve themselves into distinct burst of 
randomly-placed white and green upon a black background that seem to dance 
and buzz within their assigned orbits. Down near the bottom of the shell, 
where it lies buried in the warming grains of the Istan Sands, however, a 
series of brilliant white shapes suggesting ones and zeros pulse like a 
secret hope, signalling, perhaps, the small and alien life within.
Written by Germaine, in honor of the dedicated scientists and hobbyists of 
the SETI Project around the world who listen patiently into the night with 
the conviction that someday an alien voice will be heard.

-----------------------------


Zorah flits up into the galleries from the entrance below.
Zorah has arrived.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Gelth hums with all his might, his deep 
bronze thrum echoing through the air, << They hatch soon! >>

Public announcement: Germaine announces "The dragons have begun their 
excited (and in some cases, over-enthusiastic ;) hum that signals Ista's 
Hatching is about to commence! Come cheer on your favorite Candidates! Ogle 
at the hatchlings! Loose Marks betting on which color will hatch next! See 
@listmotd for travel directions--there is no +watch on the Sands, and we'd 
love to see you there to help us roleplay this amazing part of Weyr- and 
Pern-life!"

Sloane climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Sloane has arrived.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Isadith's eyes whirl in joyous anticipation 
as she rises up on her haunces and hums deep and rich and low!!! << The Eggs 
Hatch! >>

Keara climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Keara has arrived.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Tiaeth adds his own soft, deep, albeit 
distant hum, the thrumming echoing into his mindvoice. << We will come to 
greet to new ones! >>
.
Dragon> All dragons sense that Cyrath hums, while protectting her (NPC) 
eggs. << They will hatch well, Isadith. You always have a fine clutch. >>

Keara bustles in and settles near the front, chattering away to her Baker 
companions.

From the sands, Isadith rises up on graceful golden haunches, eyes whirling 
with excitement as they regard her lifemate and the eggs that have suddenly 
begun shivering gently on the obsidian sands. Germaine startles, then grins, 
and after stroking Isadith's flank lovingly, strides purposefully from the 
huge cavern. "I'll be right back, Isadith!" The gold interrupts her hum long 
enough to trumpet agreement.

From the sands, Gelth bugles excitedly, leaning forward to watch the eggs 
closely.

E'ryn climbs up some stairs into the seats.
E'ryn has arrived.

Emilly climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Emilly has arrived.

Dragon> All dragons sense that Isadith interrupts her hum just long enough 
to agree with Cyrath, << As do you, lovely Cyrath! >>

From the sands, Germaine heads out towards the entrance.

Chandana climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Chandana has arrived.

Amaryllia climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Amaryllia has arrived.
Emilly climbs up the steps, loosening her jacket and whipping off her scarf. 
"Ahg it's hot here!" she exclaims, and spots Keara, waving to the Telgar 
Baker. "Hallo Master Keara," she calls out cheerfully.

Keara turns and beams at Emilly from among a cluster of Bakers in the front. 
"G'day!"

Aralia has arrived.

Chandana nods to the crowd in general as she hunts for a good seat.

Emilly settles down in an empty space and lays her jacket down, clearly 
saving a seat for someone. "How's things at Telgar?" she asks of the baker, 
smiling cheerfully.

Kash climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Kash has arrived.

Keara calls, "Oh, quite well, quite well - how's the Reaches, and your 
bronzer?"

Amaryllia slips in, scowl upon her face, sitting towards the back with her 
scalplel held in one hand. Oooh, nasty, nasty healer tonight.

Kallrina climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Kallrina has arrived.

Emilly colors a little, but smiles brightly still, "The Reaches are as cold, 
if not colder than Telgar, but well, nonetheless. G'rad is very well indeed 
-- he's been made wingsecond to the weyrling wing!"

"Lovely, lovely," Keara answers. "And you, how're you?"
Kallrina says "Lo all."

Guest5 has arrived.

Chandana finds a good seat, right up front, and sits down. "Hello," she nods 
to Kallrina.

Aralia slides into a seat, glancing around at the others already here and 
then stares off.

From the sands, Gelth sits up from his examination of the eggs, looking up 
to the ledges and the galleries, humming loudly.

Donos climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Donos has arrived.

Kallrina looks all around, excitment sparkling in her eyes.

E'ryn is sitting in one of the better spots of the galleries, having arrived 
before most others. He sits forward eagerly and grins down at the sands and 
waves.

Guest5 is a guest, and is here, Ayup.

E'ryn waves to folk in the galleries he knows.

Donos scampers up the steps, panting excitedly, and looks around for a good 
seat.

Kash sidles into the galleries, picking a spot at the very rear and sitting 
down somewhat self-consciously.

Emilly nods "I'm well thanks Keara -- I miss everyone at Telgar of course -- 
but I'm making new friends and getting settled in. Baking going as well as 
always?"

Kallrina smiles warmly at the little.

Keara asks, "Shall I say hello around for you? And oh, yes, very well. Quite 
as usual."

Chandana leans forward eagerly. "When are they going to hatch?" she asks, 
impatient.

Emilly beams at Keara, "If you would, I'd appreciate that."

E'ryn glances behind him and inspects the eager folk behind him and says 
calmly, "They'll hatch when they hatch and not a moment sooner." He grins 
annoyingly. His face bears a somewhat stern expression -- but then again he 
is in his mid fourties.

Kallrina unconsiously plays with the end of her braid.

Donos elbows his way into a seat in front, between two older boys who appear 
to be less than happy about their new companion. "We were here first!" one 
of them protests, but Donos just shrugs. "There's room," he says, and leans 
forward to watch for activity on the sands.

Keara nods. "But of course! How long has it been since Reaches' hatching? 
Obviously they can't between yet.."

From the sands, The Exploding Singularity Egg gives a slight shiver, then 
subsides immediately, much to Isadith's consternation. The huge gold pauses 
once more in her humming, and just stares, eyes all a-whirl and breathless, 
then rumbles loudly before resuming her hum.

Amaryllia, by the severity of her frown, and the crossing of her hands, is 
on duty, and that's the only reason she's here. At least, that's probably 
what she'd like people to think, if people could know her thoguhts. But they 
can't. She says nothing, to anyone.

Emilly counts on her fingers, "Um ... more than half a turn already," she 
explains, "They're allowed to fly straight, and they've started Between 
training, but aren't flying Between regularly yet. They're starting to drill 
for firestone duty though, so it won't be too much longer before they move 
into the fighting wings."

Chandana plops down next to E'ryn, having recognized an expert on hatchings. 
"Who'd you think'll Impress the gold?" she asks, stuffing a meatroll in her 
mouth.

Keara calls, "Aye," then turns to oh! at the first egg's movement, nudging 
her benchmate.

Emilly's eyes flicker over to the movement on the sands. "I do love 
Hatchings," she murmurs quietly.

Kallrina takes a sweet from her belt pouch and pops it gasping at the first 
movement from the sands.

Public announcement: A'zric announces "The hum at Ista is getting louder, 
the eggs will start ghving up their hatchings in 15 mins! Come one, come all 
to see the newest additions to Pern's Fighting Force! @listmotd for 
directions, there is no +watch, so come RP!"

Persis climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Persis has arrived.

Emilly looks up as Tianshi suddenly flutters in, chittering then wings out 
toward the bowl, she gets to her feet to follow the lizard with a puzzled 
expression on her face.

Shenal climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Shenal has arrived.

Emilly walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Emilly has left.

Nyne climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Nyne has arrived.

Nyne bounces up into the stands, peering out toward the eggs.

From the sands, Germaine comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Fluria comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, A'zric comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Arafel comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Celis comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.

From the sands, Izaura comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Yscalda comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Bryl comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.

From the sands, Ouryn comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.

From the sands, Rebecca comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Tayrock comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Soranda comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Mirielle comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Serris comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Ptodek comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Br'nal comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Cassius comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Kiryn comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.

From the sands, Jesyka comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

From the sands, Tella comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Dendra has arrived.

From the sands, Cenica comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching 
Sands.

Chandana waves to everyone who just came in. "Best seats right here" she 
calls.

Jener climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Jener has arrived.

Persis has disconnected.

From the sands, Lyree comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.

Keara perks up and clutches the arm of the Journeyman next to her. "There 
they -come-!"

Kallrina smiles excitedly, looking around for someone she knows.

"Candidates. Ugh." There's Amaryllia, grumbling already. Hands press into 
her lap, back straightens. No, she will -not- enjoy this. Not a chance.

From the sands, Slowly, some eagerly and some reluctantly, the Candidates 
follow the Istan Weyrleaders onto the Sands. White robed, and mostly silent, 
they gingerly pad across the hot Sands to form a semi-circle about the 
Clutch, and sketch a bow as one to the Dam and Sire, Isadith and Gelth.

Nyne breaks into a wide grin, "Got here just in time! Good timing, good 
timing!" She scrambles for a seat, cramming herself in between a pair of 
chatting blueriders who seem to startled to complain as she wedges them 
apart.

Chandana waves to all her candidate friends, even though they are probably 
paying no attention to her.

Varoni climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Varoni has arrived.

Asiya climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Asiya has arrived.

Elias climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Elias has arrived.

Jener walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Jener has left.

Kallrina says "look at em all"

Jener climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Jener has arrived.

From the sands, Ptodek winces and lets a rush of air out through gritted 
teeth as his bare feet touch the (hot!) sands, but he doesn't complain 
aloud. He just takes his place in the semicircle, nodding wordlessly to the 
candidates on either side of him, and waits.

From the sands, Isadith hums all the more loudly, her triangular head 
glowing as it bobs above her Clutch. With a sudden rumble, she actually 
trumpets joyously to the Candidates arrayed, and slowly backs away from her 
eggs at her lifemate's request, murmured as the Weyrwoman crosses the Sands.

From the sands, Celis trundles onto the sands with the other candidates and 
grabs for the hand of someone, coming up with Ptodeks. She smiles up at the 
old friend, and looks relieved to have him standing next to her. "Here 
goes..." she mumbles to him, trying to match his stride and fall in the 
line.

From the sands, Yscalda steps to a place in the semi-circle of candidates, 
grimacing slightly as the heat immediately hits her. She looks out across 
the clutch, almost subconsciously offering one hand to Arafel and the other 
to the candidate on her opposite side.

Dendra worms and flirts her way through the crowd to find Keara. She shouts 
out a greeting to her fellow Baker.

From the sands, Fluria pauses and gives a little shiver as she steps onto 
the sands. Then a prod from behind her sends her walking forward. Taking a 
deep breath she stands a little more straight and moves out. As she fits 
herself into the loose semi circle she glances left and right. Noting those 
standing near; Ouryn, Kiryn, Tella and Mirielle seem to be the closest. Each 
gets a soft smile and nod, before she turns her eyes onto the eggs. Then the 
heat hits her and she quickly picks up a foot and hops uncomfortably. "I 
forgot how hot it is!" She hisses.

Aralia wriggles in her seat, trying to get a better look over the tops of 
peoples heads.

From the sands, Mirielle stands where she is for a moment, before following 
the other Candidates in a mincing dance towards the eggs. With a cautious 
look around, she moves to stand near Fluria and a couple other Candidates.

Kallrina walks down the seat tiers towards the dark sands.
Kallrina has left.

From the sands, Kallrina walks down from the galleries.

Asiya grins delightedly as she trails behind Varoni into the galleries. With 
a quick grin to Elias, she says, "I've never been to a hatching before. Have 
you?" Seeing a free space opening up in the seating down near the railing, 
she quickly darts over to it, gesturing to Elias to follow.

Guest2 has arrived.

From the sands, Hopping slightly from foot to foot, Ouryn grins at his 
surrounding Candidates; the lad's gaze is on his companions, not the eggs. 
"Dragon's will see they made a mistake, now.." he mutters half to himself.

From the sands, Serris pads in, doing that lovely little hop-skip dance that 
must be done when barefoot, pat=patting over to stand next to Jesyka, giving 
a tenative smile.

Keara hears her name, turning to wave at Dendra. "Come sit with us!" The 
Baker contingent is seated in the front row.

From the sands, Gelth bugles excitedly, bouncing on the edge of the Sands as 
A'zric laughs, coming to stand near his hyper lifemate, he glances to 
Germaine and Isadith giving them a smile.
Elias follows Asiya to some free seats

From the sands, Cassius seems a bit reluctant to pick a side of the 
semicircle, and wanders somewhat into the middle. While many Candidates pair 
off with friends, Cassius stands more or less alone, his eyes racing from 
egg to egg, looking for a familiar pattern.

From the sands, Rebecca moves closer to Ouryn and Fluria as she walks out 
and carefully shifts her feet against the warmth of the sands.

Jener walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Jener has left.

From the sands, Kallrina heads out towards the entrance.

From the sands, Jesyka clamps her lips shut tightly over the exclamation of 
pain that wants to come out when bare feet come in contact with the hot 
black sands that comprise the Hatching Grounds. The trumpeting queen is 
given a wary, somewhat worried grin as the blonde girl takes a place near 
Serris, eyes gone very large. A very, very tentative bit of a smile is given 
to the other Candidate, before she blinks a couple times at Gelth.

Jener climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Jener has arrived.

From the sands, Izaura's hand is still clasped firmly in her sister's as she 
edges into her spot in the semi-circle. Other Candidates are looked at, her 
friend awarded nervous smiles although throughout, she doesn't look towards 
the galleries. Hissing a little without thinking, she finds herself almost 
constantly shifting her weight as her feet complain about the sands' heat.

Elias says "No, this is the first one I've been to also"

Jener walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Jener has left.

Jener climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Jener has arrived.


From the sands, Arafel follows the older girl and with a nervous smile takes 
Yscalda's hand, her other offered to another candidate, helping to complete 
the circle of candidates. Unconciously, she rocks from one foot to the other 
while watching the organize movements of the candidates.

From the sands, Soranda follows the others, her normal dancing step a 
natural here. For once she doesn't have to walk sedately. She keeps an 
anxious eye on the dragons and edges to stand behind Serris.

Kallrina climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Kallrina has arrived.

Faernal climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Faernal has arrived.

From the sands, Tella raises a brow at Ouryn's comment before starting at 
both bugles. Her gaze is drawn towards the parents of the clutch, a 
tightlipped smile on her smile, feet shifting every few moments to adjust to 
the heat of the sand.

From the sands, Kiryn moves out onto the sands, giving a sharp wince as his 
bare feet touch the hot Ista sands. Setting his jaw, the lad continues on 
confidently to take a place near Fluria. Catching a breath, that he might 
have missed in the excitement, he looks toward the two parent dragons and 
draws a longer, deeper breath.

From the sands, Tayrock grimances slightly until his feet become as 
accustomed as they will to the sands.

Dendra takes a seat by Keara and says, "This is so exciting! I know 
Craftmaster Ofira wouldn't agree, but I hope Ptodek finds a lifemate 
tonight."

Amaryllia's nose wrinkles at mention of 'Ptodek', but she makes no move to 
join into the conversation. That would show enjoyment. She finally pulls her 
paisley hat from her head, and rests it in her lap, waiting, with a yawn.

Griere climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Griere has arrived.

Faernal slips through the crowds easily, expression brightening as she 
catches sight of a friend from Ista Hold and makes her way towards the man, 
whispering quickly to him as she takes her seat.

Keara fixes Dendra with a bit of a look. "Well, -I- don't agree either." 
This stern seeming is gone in an instant as she actually spies him on the 
sands and bounces up to yell, "Ptodek, you traitor! Good luck!"

From the sands, This is a familiar scene.. reaching out with one large hand, 
Ouryn takes Celis' smaller fingers in his own, adding another link to the 
hopeful chain of Candidates. "Remember this, three Turns ago?" he leans down 
to whisper to the diminutive lass.

From the sands, Fluria shoots Ouryn a look and reaches to lightly thwap his 
arm. "Oh hush." She says simply. As Rebecca moves closer she gives her a 
smile and nod as well. Once again she picks up a foot and shakes it a touch. 
Then wipes some of the sand from the bottom of her foot on her other leg. "I 
forgot that the sand sticks too..."

From the sands, Silver Lunar Egg begins to shudder as the creature inside 
struggles to be free. First, its a momentary shimmy and then stillness. 
Then, after a few moments rest, it begins to shake in earnest as if from 
repeated blows from the inside. This goes on with little effect for quite 
some time, but then the egg falls still once more.

From the sands, Ptodek smiles slightly at Celis and squeezes her hand. He 
tilts his head upward to squint into the galleries for a moment, then turns 
his attention back to the rocking eggs, taking several deep breaths to calm 
himself.

Kallrina GASPS

E'ryn just happened to be looking around when he watches his daughter toddle 
in on chubby baby legs and he furrows his brow. He stands and says "My seat, 
anyone takes it, I stomp them." In a good natured way before making his way 
over to Griere, "Now, what is my little girl doing up here without anyone to 
watch her? You must of escaped in the bustle of the excitement." He reaches 
down to lift Griere up.

From the sands, Arafel gives Isadith a very worried look, checking to see if 
it's her that's caused the large gold to trumpet.

From the sands, Germaine grins to her Weyrleader, glancing proudly over the 
assembled Candidates and the suddenly shivering eggs. "Ahh!" she says to 
A'zric, one hand poised upon her lifemate's warm hide, as the other points 
to the Silver Lunar Egg, "It begins!"

From the sands, Mirielle takes a step backwards when the egg starts to move. 
However, remembering the Healer's advice, she keeps her eyes on it, lest a 
hungry hatchling should errupt.

Dendra grins at Keara and whistles very loudly before yelling, "Get a 
bronze, Ptodek! Then you can be our transport to gathers!"

From the sands, Yscalda eyes the quivering of the silvery egg. "Just a 
little longer," she murmurs, half to herself and half to the candidates on 
either side of her. "Guesses on what color hatches first?"

From the sands, Ouryn simply gapes, standing still long enough to burn the 
soles of his feet. Shards.. he's forgotten what it was truly like out here.

Varoni settles in as things begin, propping his feet up and pouring himself 
a glass of the wine he'd brought. He holds the glass up in salute to the 
Weyrleaders and their lifemates for a moment.

From the sands, Celis doesn't seem to notice the hot sands so much, instead 
she stares out at the eggs, eyes slighly glossy, and a nervous smile on her 
face. Hands squeeze the hands they hold, and she takes a deep breath, 
looking way up to meet the gaze of the man who dwarfs her. A faint nod, then 
back to the eggs her gaze travels. "My favourite one.. First.."

From the sands, Jesyka squeaks in surprise as the silvery egg starts to 
twitch and shake. One hand reaches almost convulsively for Serris, fingers 
seeking a comfort they can at least hold on to, while pale, widened eyes fix 
themselves firmly on the shaking egg.

From the sands, Rebecca spots the egg and watches it carefully, but glancing 
every now and then at the other eggs.

From the sands, The sound of movement brings Cassius' eyes across the sands 
to the silver egg. His eyes close on the unfamiliar egg, his hands clasp 
each other.

From the sands, Tella finally looks from face to face, timidly edging 
towards Ouryn. Once she reaches him, her hand reaches out to take the larger 
lad's. And then Celis's comment draws her attention towards the eggs. "It.. 
moved.."

From the sands, Serris takes Jes's hand in his, giving an equally nervous 
squeeze while his other hand goes to Sora's shoulder, pulling up beside him.

Nyne bites off a hunk of the pastry she clutches in one hand, tucking her 
thin legs up beneath her in order to gain some height, craning her neck to 
add as well. There is some grumbling from behind as the small girl 
stretches, and she twists around to glare briefly before going back to her 
egg-watching.

From the sands, Fluria takes a deep breath and then turns back to Mirie. 
Giving the other girl a gentle smile and reaching bakc to pull her up a 
little bit. "It's okay." She says in a soft voice. A lot more confidant the 
second time through. Though you can see her trembling just a little bit. 
Taking deep breaths every so often.

From the sands, Turning her head back to the sands and the eggs clustered in 
the rough center of candidates, she gasps as one egg shudders, her hand 
squeezing Yscalda's. "It moved! A lot!" she whispers excitedly.

From the sands, Tayrock walks to the other side of Yscalda, his eyes focuses 
on the rocking egg. Smiling he offers up his hand. "Keen, eh?" he asks.

From the sands, Kiryn moves reflexively toward the girl beside him, a bit 
startled as he sees the first egg begin to move in earnest. "Look at it..." 
The youth's tongue protrudes slightly, and slides between his lips. "Wow..."

From the sands, Soranda peers up at Serris for a moment, wide-eyed, and 
attempts a smile, before shifting her gaze back to the rocking egg.

From the sands, Izaura half smothers a yelp as Lallie's hand closes 
convulsively on hers. "Lallie!" she mutters, blinking as her gaze also falls 
on the eggs that looks like hatching first. "Oh shards." is added softly.

From the sands, Silver Lunar Egg once again begins to quake, vibrations 
causing the sand bunched around it to jump and shift. Soon its rocking back 
and forth such that it looks nearly ready to flip end over end, but it never 
makes it so far.

Kymi climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Kymi has arrived.

Asiya leans forward, popping up occasionally to get a better look down at 
the sands. Her eyes shine with excitement as she watches the quaking egg.

Jener walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Jener has left.

Jener climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Jener has arrived.

From the sands, Germaine's eyes move over a small group of Candidates 
beginning to clump up a bit, and she frowns faintly at Tayrock, murmuring 
something to A'zric that probably can't be heard over the many voices on the 
Sands and Ledges, and in the Galleries.

From the sands, Lyree spends a long moment looking up towards the 
dragon-crowded ledges, gaze locked with her own blue lifemate, remembering. 
Then chaos is erupting, and she turns her attention to the task at hand.

From the sands, Celis inhales sharply again, eyes roving over the eggs, 
watching closely. Her toes dig into the sand, and her eyes narrow. "Comon 
little one." she encourages to the as-yet unhatched dragonette.

Alysia has arrived.

Jener walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Jener has left.

Amaryllia mutters something under her breath which could be 'Ouryn', but it 
could not be. It could be a lot of things. Her eyes fall towards a number of 
male candidates, to be sure, arms clenching beneath her hat.

From the sands, Yscalda squeezes Fluria's hand in return and nods. "Aye, it 
did." She looks over her shoulder at Tayrock, chuckling softly. "I can think 
of better words, but aye, 'keen' works." She releases Fluria's hand to allow 
Tay into the group between the two of them.

From the sands, Almost before the other eggs have really started rocking 
yet, the Beginning of Everything egg starts showing cracks, it's occupant 
not willing to wait a heartbeat longer for a lifemate. The egg shatters to 
reveal a brilliant bronze hatchling, issuing forth a tiny bleat of hatchling 
bugle before tromping off in search of the one for him. The search is quick 
and another tinny bugle comes from the hatchling, a louder one from Gelth as 
first Impression is made between the bronze and a young boy from Benden.

Jener climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Jener has arrived.

Chandana's eyes dart back and forth between the egg and the candidates.

From the sands, Mirielle shifts rapidly from foot to foot, perhaps from the 
sands, perhaps in preparation to retreat. However, she keeps her spot, eyes 
riveted on the egg, with one brief glance to Fluria, accompanied by a tiny 
smile.

From the sands, Cenica stands with some of her assistants near their corner 
of the sands, keeping an eye out. She nods towards that first quivering egg 
and grins.

From the sands, Bryl watches eagerly, smiling, as the eggs begin to rock.

From the sands, Ouryn stands simply, long arms slowly swinging back and 
forth with Celis on one side, Tella on the other. "We are still .. so 
innocent, so young even for this. Wonder whats to become of us all?" He 
smiles softly as the first Impression has begun.

From the sands, Cassius puts a foot forward, then rocks onto it. Then, back 
onto his other foot. His eyes drift across the sands and catch a few 
familiar face -- and eggs.

Kymi clasps her hands, sitting on her heels, hoping the candidates will have 
better luck than she did.

Jener walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Jener has left.

From the sands, Fluria turns her eyes back to the egg that shivers and gives 
a little smile. A little nod of agreement to Kiryn's exclamation is given. 
"Isn't it...amazing?" She says, her voice catching slightly. Glancing 
between Mirie and Kiryn, first timers, she smiles and offers each a hand for 
a reasurring squeeze after breaking form Yscalda's hand. "Breathe." She 
reminds them.

Jener climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Jener has arrived.

From the sands, Ptodek shifts feet uncomfortably, grimacing a bit. Out of 
the corner of his eye, he notices the bronze's hatching, and turns his head 
to watch the dragonet and his new lifemate with an inscrutable expression.

Rhi has arrived.

From the sands, Jesyka gasps, catching the Impression of the bronze to that 
boy from Benden. Her fingers twine with Serris', squeezing reflexively. The 
silvery egg is nearly forgotten in her contemplation of the night's first 
Impression.

From the sands, Rebecca looks as other eggs are beginning to hatch, and 
watches carefully.

Dendra says, "Come on Keara, Ptodek will be probably be happier if he can 
find a lifemate on the Sands. Just like I'sai."

Kallrina smiles, a look of wonderment on her face,

From the sands, Arafel takes a half step back as the egg trembles and 
bounces on the sands, her look one of near terror. Then another egg 
shatters, a bronze blur of a hatchling targetting his lifemate with no 
trouble. Wide eye, Ara watches, forgetting her own fears as impression takes 
place.

From the sands, Silver Lunar Egg trembles, each moment appearing more and 
more like will simply explode. But, then, it stops, falling perfectly still. 
A bit of sand trickles down the mound as the egg lays still. Then, though no 
movement had been seen, faint cracks begin to show along the perfect sphere.

From the sands, Serris blinks once in astonishment. "Wow," he mutters 
quietly, feet resuming their little hop dance, sucking in another breath and 
giving Jes's hand another squeeze.

From the sands, A'zric looks to Germaine, beaming, "Bronze first, I think I 
just won two marks from a friend at Bitra."

From the sands, Kiryn gives a gasp, seeing the egg shatter, and the glorious 
little bronze tromp out. "Yeah..." he answers the girl, squeezing back for 
the brief moment her hand finds his. Then, just as quickly, his eyes dart 
toward some of the other rocking eggs, surveying each in turn.
"Well, maybe he won't be. I wouldn't." Kea hollers, "Bronze! Yeah!" And 
cheers again, "Go Ptodek!"

From the sands, Tella points with her free hand towards the first 
impression. "It's good luck, isn't it?" With a sigh, a smile finally settles 
over her face as she gets into the normal sync of things. "Does it really 
matter? We've a while to think of that later, Ory." She turns her gaze back 
to the egg that started it all with its rocking.

From the sands, The Silver Lunar Egg twitches as the cracks along its shell 
become craters, deepening with every shake until finally, the shell 
fragments tumble away leaving a rainbow of blue sitting with utter calm 
amidst the rubble.

From the sands, Celis twines her fingers with those of Ptodek and Ouryn's 
hands, eyes flicking to the next egg to begin twitching. "Bronze.. Now 
blue... Ohh."
E'ryn finally makes it back to his chair, little girl in tow.

From the sands,
                           Thread-Streaked Blue
Like the view from a space capsule as it catapults upward through planetary 
aether, this hatchling's damp hide reflects seamlessly graduated blues 
starting from the placid and unblemished sky-blue of his 
beautifully-proportioned triangular muzzle, to the deep azure of his neck, 
forelegs, and pinions, the ultramarine of his back and belly, the navy 
haunches, the midnight blue of his tail, and finally, a blue so dark it 
seems black at tailtip. His wings, however, oh! his wings! Against a 
backdrop of cerulean blue, silvery helixes course and glitter outward along 
his wingsails, mirroring the image of uncoiled Thread burning its way 
through Pern's atmosphere from deep space with such uncanny perfection that 
another dragon might instinctively begin to flame at the sight of this one's 
wings unfurled!

From the sands, Yscalda lets out a low whistle as the first dragonet appears 
from its egg. "Oh, a bronze! That's a good sign. See, Ara, they won't hurt 
you. Hopefully..." Her last word comes out as almost a whisper, but there's 
no fear at all on the former Boll gardener's face as she watches for the 
next shell to crack.

From the sands, Mirielle wows as the cracks form. No fear now, just 
anticipation of what could come. She watches carefully, trying not to make a 
move that would attract a potentially scary encounter though.

From the sands, Fluria gives Kiryn a smile, then Mirielle and 
then...well...everyone near her. Looking up at Ouryn, around him at Celis, 
to her right at Yscalda. Then she takes a deep breath and lets it out again. 
"OH!" She says as her eyes now fall upon the sands in time to catch the 
blue. "Oh Ouryn! Look at him!" She breathes, drawing herself up a touch.

From the sands, Ouryn grins down at Celis, "Like the dawn over the garden 
pool," he thinks.

From the sands, Rebecca looks at the blue hatchling in amazement, and seems 
to have forgotten the othe candidates as she watches it and the other 
rocking eggs.

From the sands, Jesyka's attention is torn from the bronze by the arrival of 
a blue from that cratered silver egg. Another squeeze is bestowed on Serris' 
poor, defenseless hand. "Oh, he's lovely," she breathes out softly.

Kallrina says "oh lok at that."

From the sands, Tayrock does a slight hot sand dance, gripping Yscalda's 
hand for strength and calmness. His eye's light up at the sight of draonets 
emerging from their shells. Tay smiles at the blue just emerged.

Dendra giggles and says, "But I win marks if he impresses. More if I guessed 
his lifemate's color right."

From the sands, Thread-Streaked Blue just stands there amidst the ruins of 
his shell, blinking his inner eyelids at all those funny white things. Then, 
he tips his head up, up to look at all the pink faces staring down at him 
from the galleries. He flinches and stares back. Finally, he determines that 
there is nothing more to interest him in those things and he cranes his head 
back, then stops to stare at his parents. He gives a soft little creel in 
their direction.

From the sands, Izaura watches the bronze for a long moment, with the 
faintly dazed expression that many wear when they witness an Impression for 
the first time. Still, her gaze is drawn back to eggs rather than the 
hatchling. "Blue!" is said, an exclamation as she sees an egg shatter not so 
very far away.

From the sands, Germaine laughs and nods to the Weyrleader. "You always do, 
don't you?" she says, voice full of barely-contained excitement as she 
catches sight of the Thread-Streaked Blue tumbling to the sand, "Oh! He's 
perfect, Isadith." She grins to Gelth, "Well done!"

Nyne makes a sticky, gasping sound around her pastry, "What strange wings!"

From the sands, Celis inhales sharply. "Oh he's /beautiful/.. Like like.. 
like.." words fail her. "Like." she nods firmly, assuring those around her 
that it is, indeed like something. "Tella, what're those pretty blue 
flowers?"

From the sands, Arafel snaps her eyes from the bronze and boy being lead 
away to fasten on the little blue wonder, calmly resting in the shards of 
his egg. Looking close, she tilts her head to better see the new dragon.

Amaryllia maintains her oppresive visage, stiffling a yawn. The bronze, then 
the blue, are given ready looks, but with some animosity, perhaps: Are you 
going to give me blood tonight? Perhaps.

From the sands, Cassius stands passively on the sands, his usually busy 
mouth silent, as eggs shatter and dragonets burst forth onto the sands. With 
nothing imperiling him, he is content to merely observe.

From the sands, Galileo's Truth Egg gives a little shiver, then a shake, 
sending black grains of sand sliding from its warm, Rukbat-hued curves as it 
wobbles precariously atop its private mound of sand.

From the sands, Tella catches sight of the next hatching, watching it creel 
at the older dragons. "He's so.. cute." Her expression softens a bit, her 
feet coming to a stop in their shifting. Then a squeal comes from her lips 
as she begins to hops up and down again.

Jener has partially disconnected.

Jener has disconnected.

From the sands, Fluria takes a little swallow and a gives a little tremble. 
Then she closes her eyes for the briefest moments. Opening them again and 
looks across at the clutch. Eyes catching the slight shiver of Galileo's 
Truth Egg.

From the sands, Rebecca can't decide which way to look as another eggs seems 
to be about to hatch.

From the sands, Yscalda grins over a Tayrock as her grips her hand tighter. 
"Still think 'keen' is a good word to describe this?" She inclines her head 
towards the newest hatchling, then at the other moving eggs.

From the sands, A'zric whistles lowly, "Impressive looking hatchlings." he 
chuckles at Gelth's rumble, "Egotistical bronze."

Faernal has disconnected.

From the sands, Bits of shell start flying off the Asteroid Belt egg, a 
hazard if it wasn't over so quickly to reveal a vine green hatchling 
bounding and full of ready energy. She scampers off in one direction, 
tumbling on her wings and her feet and her tail, never slowing down from an 
all out run. She plows through a knot of candidates from Fort before making 
another lap of the group and settling on a slightly chubby young lad with 
tight brown curls from Benden Hold.

From the sands, Ptodek's attention is drawn from the bronze by cries of 
"blue!" and he gives Celis a glance, nodding mutely in agreement with her 
comparison. He shuffles his feet a bit, kicking up a small cloud of sand. 
"Sorry," he mutters to the nearest candidates, and keeps his eyes on the 
blue.

From the sands, Black Hole Egg starts moving slowly, noticible only as the 
light changes its reflections off its surface. A slight wobble, and it leans 
to one side.

From the sands, Kiryn's attention turns upon the blue, as it emerges, and he 
takes another deep breath. Apparently, he'd forgotten a few inbetween, and 
was making up for it. "They're all so beautiful," he whispers, probably 
unheard except by those nearby. Then, catching Fluria's glance, he turns to 
see where she's looking. "There it is Fluria..."

From the sands, From trembling eggs, to tumbled hatchling, Ouryn swings his 
gaze. So many directions in which to look, so many occasions blossoming 
around the Sands. The lad nearly does not know where to rest his eyes.

From the sands, Jesyka can barely keep her eyes from that silver-limned blue 
hatchling--but the shake of the golden egg is enough to tear her eyes from 
the previous sight and lock them on the gleaming gold of Galileo's Truth. 
"Look..." she breathes at Serris.

From the sands, Mirielle stands still except for the steady shift of her 
weight from foot to foot. "wow" she whispers as another Impression is made. 
Looking around her, she sees other people just as caught up as she is, and 
smiles back to the eggs.

Kymi blinks. "I know that Benden boy," she breathes.

Kallrina says "tis such a sight,"

From the sands, Tayrock nods to Yscalda. "Yes, I don't think I could find 
another appropriate word for this."

From the sands, Serris grins as he watches the blue, amoung other things 
along the sands, like the big gold egg. "Yeah," he mumbles, eyes darting 
everywhere as fast as they can.

From the sands, Thread-Streaked Blue catches sight of something flapping out 
of the corner of one eye. He whips his head around and stares. It came from 
over there. He finally takes his first, hesitant step. Oh! He stops to peer 
down at his foot wiggling his talons with delight at the new sensation of 
sand beneath this feet. A little trill of delight, then he recalls what he 
was doing. He lifts his head and takes another step, this time not pausing. 
Another step and another and hes actually walking!

From the sands, Tella turns her gaze on the next impression, shouting out 
her congratulations to the lad. She finally looks back to the blue, only to 
be distracted again by Galileo's Truth egg.

From the sands, Fluria spots the green hatchlings impression and smiles a 
touch, watching her for by. Taking her eyes from the gold egg in an almost 
glad way. Then they go up to Kiryn and she gives him a lop-sided smile. "I 
saw...you did too? I wasn't imagining it?" She asks, turning to glance in an 
almost surreptitious fashion at it again. Then a shake of her head and she 
looks back to the blue trudging across the sands.

From the sands, Arafel tears her gaze away from the view to look bewildered 
a the other suddenly hatching eggs, her fears coming back. "Oh... there's so 
many hatching at once!" she whispers to Yscalda.

From the sands, Izaura's gaze sweeps over the golden egg, pauses just for a 
moment before shifting to the various hatchlings now on the sands. Warily, 
she'd edged away from that green and now she backs up a step to see the blue 
on the move.

From the sands, Black Hole Egg rolls clean over to it's side, a shadow 
against the equally black sands. With a slight wiggle, as though its 
occupant were attempting to right itself, the egg swings back upright, 
striations just beginning to appear.

From the sands, Soranda remembers to breathe, wiggling her bare toes in the 
sand and watches the hatchlings, slightly open mouthed with awe. She gulps 
and twitches, her gaze shifting to the rolling egg.

Alenia climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Alenia has arrived.

From the sands, Ouryn simply laughs, his own trepidation lost in the joy of 
these newest lifemate pairings. "Look, Celis, how he can walk so quickly!" 
the large lad points to the Thread-streaked blue hatchling.

From the sands, Germaine grins to A'zric once again, ticking off her 
fingers, "A bronze first--that's always good luck--and then the blue hatched 
. . ." The Weyrwoman peers about, looking for the little Thread-Streaked 
Blue amongst the growing chaos of flying egg shards and stumbling 
hatchlings; ahhhh, there!

From the sands, Yscalda just chuckles at Tayrock as she turns back to the 
hatchlings. "If you insist," she mutters before nodding to Arafel without 
taking her eyes from the rocking, shivering eggs and blue hatchling. "Aye, 
and still more to come. One's led off and two more hatch to take its place."

From the sands, Rebecca takes her eyes off the hatchling as he seems to be 
moving away and watches the two eggs which seems to be hatching next.

From the sands, Celis's eyes soften, and she admires the silver decked blue, 
seemingly caught on him for the moment. A movement catches her eye, and she 
is caught, just as much, with the not-little hatchling running around 
over-yonder.

From the sands, Tella jumps slightly at the trill, it catching her attention 
once more. At Ouryn's comment, she nods. "He's a fast little one, isn't he?"

From the sands, A'zric nods to Germaine, "I saw a green flit by as well, I'm 
sure of it."

From the sands, Walking! The blue hatchling draws Cassius' rapt attention. 
His head turns just slowly. He brings his feet back together, running his 
hands against the imperfectly finished robe he wears.

From the sands, Galileo's Truth Egg gives another shimmy, for all the world 
like a drunken sailor on drydock for the first time in sevendays. With an 
equally unsteady gait, it tips back...and then forth...and then tips right 
off of its mound of sand, rolling unsteadily, as if the occupant inside is 
tipping roundabout its shell and throwing its progress off-balance.

From the sands, Jesyka belatedly remembers that breathing is generally 
considered to be a good idea when one is an organism that requires oxygen to 
function. So she breathes. One deep breath, in and out, then another, then 
another. Eyes go to darting all over the place in an attempt to watch 
everything at once.

From the sands, Germaine nods emphatically, her keen eyes still following 
the little blue as it makes its way about the Candidates. A sudden roll of 
the Galileo's Truth Egg catches her eye--and her breath.

From the sands, Ouryn watches Cassius, almost not breathing.. this is nearly 
as exciting as if it were his own lifemate- not that he's meant for one, the 
lad shakes his head quickly.

From the sands, Solar Prominence egg explodes into a flurry of shards, 
leaving a brown hatchling sitting on the sands, a little puzzled on where he 
should be next. Meanwhile an intricate patterning of cracks mars the surface 
of the Aurora Borealis egg, sending up a spray of sand as the egg sinks a 
little lower into the sand before being knocked aside to reveal a turquoise 
hatchling, more interested in examining the sand in exquisite detail before 
looking at anything else. His elder clutchmate, the brown, gives the little 
blue a nudge towards the white robed candidates, sending him into the arms 
of a girl from Nabol before the brown finds his lifemate in a cowering 
Jereson, now J'rson.

From the sands, Tayrock takes the brief moment of levity with Yscalda and 
smiles. "I'll probably think of something better to say once this is over 
with." He returns his attention to the eggs and dragonets.

From the sands, Mirielle looks like she's trying to keep calm, but for the 
twisting back and forth of her hands with each other. Nope, no nervousness 
there.

From the sands, Thread-Streaked Blue places each foot carefully, looking 
hastily between those white things and his own feet, not wanting to trip 
himself, and yet not wanting to lose track of what he thought he had seen. 
Closer and closer he comes to them. Then he pauses surveying the faces, 
managing to look as though hes thinking intently.

From the sands, Kiryn looks back and forth, between the rocking eggs, 
especially the deep black one, and the charging little dragonnets. Wouldn't 
want to miss one coming for him, huh? "No, you weren't imagining it, look... 
It moved again." He smiles to Fluria.

From the sands, Fluria keeps her eyes on the blue for now, wide as they are, 
and slowly begins to tense up. This can be felt as her hands squeezes both 
Mirielle and Kiryn's hands. Then she realizes what she is about and takes a 
breath and lets it out. "Whooo...breath...must breathe." She reminds 
herself. Then Kiryn calls her attention and she looks to the golden egg. "Oh 
my!"

From the sands, Yscalda's eyes are caught briefly by the bold action of the 
golden egg and she sucks in a breath. "Thank Faranth those shells are hard 
now. Aye, Tay, we probably all will," she adds as she glances again to the 
male candidate beside her. "Right now it's just hard enough to remember to 
breathe and get ready to dodge."

Dendra looks down on the sands and calls out encouragement to the blue 
hatchling. "Pick Serris, pick Serris! He can make sure you get the best of 
the Tillek's crabs once you grow up!"

From the sands, Tayrock nods. "Nabol's got one already. Keen," Tay says 
watching the pair move off.

From the sands, Tella is caught up in watching the blue for the moment, 
ignoring the impressions and wriggling of the eggs. She almsot relaxes, only 
to have the heat bother at her feet again. With a cringe, she takes her gaze 
from the blue, looking towards the golden egg.

From the sands, Izaura half smiles as sees another blue and brown hatch and 
Impress. "Lovely." is murmured - something about those Impressions pleased 
her. Still, she fidgets, unable to keep still as her feet protest about the 
heat and ordinary nerves get too much to supress.

From the sands, Black Hole Egg jostles in place, thin lines faintly evident 
streaming up from the base of the egg. Side to side it rocks, further 
weakening the shell.

From the sands, Arafel looks about ready to run, only the constant 
distraction of all the hatching eggs and her preoccupation with trying to 
see all the hatchlings at the same time stopping her. As the little brown 
bounces into a girl, she winces and watches as J'rson impresses. All seems 
well, to Ara's relief. The girl wasn't hurt.

Kallrina has reconnected.

From the sands, Ouryn gives a soft nod, almost a bow, to the little blue 
Hatchling. Its as though the Candidate is bidding the dragonet, 'go on now. 
You know whom to choose. Choose well.'

Kallrina eyes move all pver the sands not knowing where to look.

From the sands, Jesyka is still trying to remember how to breathe, in 
between watching the rolling golden egg with no little consternation, 
watching the silvery blue with no little admiration, and watching the rest 
of the eggs in no little trepidation.

From the sands, Thread-Streaked Blue's eyes focus on one face and he makes a 
sudden forward movement, rushing towards a medium-built young man. He stops, 
spraying sand with the suddenness of it, and looks up into the face.

From the sands, Pops and cracks issue startlingly and suddenly from the 
Black Hole Egg, chips of shell careening off the shells of its mates as a 
dark wet limb emerges, then a shining snout, a glistening tail. With a final 
burst, a coppery form is deposited smartly upon the ebon Sands, spotted with 
little specks and pieces of shell.

From the sands,
                        Celestial Landscape Bronze
Ribbons of copper cascade along the sides of this bronze hatchling as he 
casts off the bits of his shell, appearing as the elliptical orbits of 
planets coursing their way through the vacuum of space turned molten bronze 
by a brilliant sun. His wings curl glistening along his back, two russet 
nebulae hovering over comets, while his head rises straight and true. His 
eyes whirl like sunspots, headknobs rising like twin moons above the light 
burnt sienna of his muzzle. His lower body and haunches are darker bronze, 
almost umber in hue, giving the appearance of an horizon beneath the 
celestial view above. The tail, greenish-bronze in hue, tapers away from his 
body, firmly anchored to earth.

Kymi's eyes widen a little. "A bronze," she breathes.

From the sands, Yscalda keeps a tight grip on Arafel's hand, likely to both 
reassure the other girl and to keep her from darting away. "Oh, the blue's 
found someone!" she exclaims, craning her neck up in an attempt to find the 
chosen candidate.

Kallrina has partially disconnected.

From the sands, Rebecca blinks watching the hatchling, obviously wondering 
if he's found his lifemate. Then she sees the bronze, and gasps.

From the sands, Celis's eyes fall on the Thread-Streaked Blue hatchling 
again, her smile widening for the new-weyrling..

From the sands, "Oh!" Kiryn makes a sudden exclamation, seeing the Black 
Hole egg shatter. Solid a moment ago, and now just a pile of shell-bits, 
with another bronze in it's midst. "THere's another bronze, Fluria!"

From the sands, Serris sucks in another breath, grinning as he watches 
dragons hatch, eyes flitting back and forth. His hand spasms and squeezes 
Jesyka's hand again as he watches.

From the sands, Soranda ooooooos softly under her breath as Impression is 
made, grinning suddenly, and reaches up to brush damp hair from her 
forehead. She cranes to peer around the candidate next to her at the 
hatching bronze.

From the sands, Fluria takes a breath as the blue seems to make his decision 
and leans forward to try and get a glimpse of the chosen candidate. Dampish 
curls bob as she does so and then she jerks back at Kiryn's exclamation. 
"Huh? OH! YES!"

From the sands, Galileo's Truth Egg teeters to a pause at the edge of the 
clutch-mound--perched above the sands with an uneasy anticipation, as if a 
falcon about to stoop.

From the sands, T'rock gulps and falls to his knees. "Ha! Cielth! His name 
is Cielth!" He wipes a tear from his eyes. "Let's get you fed then, kid."

From the sands, Mirielle gasps when Impression is made, and smiles softly. 
"Congratulations" she whispers, watching the little blue's happiness before 
eying the other eggs and the Bronze hatchling.

From the sands, Now the glimmer of bronze drags Ouryn's attentions. "Shards 
and shells, look at that one!" he laughs down to Tella and Celis. "Lovely 
fellow." Still, not meant for a lifemate..

From the sands, Cassius shields his face from the sand sprayed by the 
charging blue, enough so that he misses the hatching of the Black Hole Egg. 
When his eyes are unshielded, more hatchlings on the sands greet him. And, 
on the pairing made by the Blue with Tay.. er.. T'rock.

From the sands, Arafel flinches as another bronze bursts forth, then her 
gaze follows Yscalda's to the little blue, eyes widening as Yscalda's words 
sink in.

From the sands, Germaine holds her breath yet again as the Blue seems to 
choose his lifemate. "I just love Blue's," she murmurs to Isadith. She 
cheers just as loudly as the rest, as T'rock makes his announcement!

From the sands, Tella squeezes Ouryn's hand as she takes in the sight of the 
newest bronze. "Look, there's another one." She hears the name of a dragon. 
Her eyes go towards the new pair, a bright smile falling on her lips. 
"Congratulations!"

Amaryllia makes a face, as she notices T'rock's Impression. "Hmph," is her 
only comment, followed by a shrug.

From the sands, Ouryn gives a great cheer for T'rock! "Hurrah!"

From the sands, Ptodek bits his lips, following the blue with his eyes as he 
makes his choice. Then as the Black Hole Egg deposits its bronze burden onto 
the sands, Ptodek turns his attention from T'rock and Cielth to the new 
hatchling. Sweat drips into one of the candidate's eyes, and he mumbles a 
soft curse and reaches up to wipe his face.

From the sands, Celestial Landscape Bronze takes the briefest of moments to 
examine his new surroundings, before quickly getting himself somewhat 
mobile. His first few steps are firm, though he falters, his determination 
doesn't, and he quickly ges moving again.

From the sands, Cenica spots the blue impression and hurries towards them, 
"T'rock? Why don't you bring Cielth over to the corner and get hims some 
food."

From the sands, A'zric laughs, "I know you both love blues, it confused 
Gelth to no end." he calls out over the Sands, "Congratulations T'rock!"

From the sands, Jesyka yelps in surprise. "Tay--T'rock!" she exclaims in 
surprise and joy, giving Serris' hand a -very- hard squeeze. "Cielth," she 
repeats, beaming happily, previous nerves and panic momentarily forgotten in 
the sight of an Impression. Then the gold egg moves, causing her breath to 
catch in surprise.

From the sands, The splits and cracks on the Pelican Nebula egg soon become 
a talkative green hatchling, crooning and chittering on her egg shards. When 
she realizes this hasnt brought her a lifemate yet, she gets up, and strides 
off to find someone to listen to her on the sands. She passes over a good 
many people before coming to stand in front of a quiet young boy. The green 
creels again, the two are now inseparable as they're led off the Sands.

From the sands, Yscalda obviously didn't have to look too far to find whom 
the blue chose, as the candidate in question was holding her hand. 
"Congrats, Tay! You've a lovely lifemate." She releases his hand with a 
smile, then peers at the bronze which so lately cracked its shell.

From the sands, Izaura's gaze follows the blue as he finds his liifemate. 
"T'rock!" she exclaims, a quick smile lighting her face until she looks back 
to see the bronze.

From the sands, Fluria swivels her head as she hears Tay...T'rock's voice 
announce. Her eyes go wide and she leans forward to get a glimpse. "oh, Oh 
Tay." She says in a quiet voice. A hand, still hold Mirielle's, jerks 
towards her face till it realizes it is held. Then she lowers it again and 
swallows.

From the sands, Celis bounces her tiny self between taller Ptodek and much 
much taller Ouryn, beaming for Tayrock.. no.. T'rock now.. "Congrats!!!" she 
calls out to him, before flicking her attention back to the egggs.

From the sands, Arafel holds her breath then breaks into a glorious grin as 
T'rock impresses. "Oh! So wonderful!" is her muted response to the event.

From the sands, Serris grins. "Go Tay," he calls over, forgetting any 
contraction in his nervousness, just like he doesn't notice any hard squeeze 
on his hand as he watches the dragonets again.

From the sands, Kiryn turns for a moment, noting the commotion to one side, 
and quickly cheers for his drinking buddy. "Yeah Tay! I mean... good job, 
T'rock!" His excitement builds, and suddenly the lad turns back to watch the 
stumbling bronze.

From the sands, Cielth puts his head against T'rock, nuzzling him 
affectionately.

Blue flits up into the galleries from the entrance below.
Blue has arrived.

Nyne shakes her head, "Tay- T'rock is going to have to be careful flying 
Thread, or they'll all flame at HIM." Sniff. She settles in to munch quietly 
for a while.

From the sands, Rebecca sighs. "Well done T'rock" and she urns to look as a 
green impresses too!

From the sands, T'rock stands and leads Cielth. "Come on, let's get that 
food." The pairs moves out of the way from neighboring candidates and 
dragonets.

From the sands, Galileo's Truth Egg teeters a moment more and then--rollin' 
rollin' rollin', keepin' right on rollin' doowwwwwwwwwwnnnn the egg mound, 
just like the Good Fairy descending upon Little Bunny Foo-foo.

From the sands, Tella takes her gaze away from the weyrlings, eyes going 
back to the young bronze. She hisses as her foot becomes burried in the 
sand. She yanks it out, causing a bit of it to fly into the air.

From the sands, Ouryn grins and swings his hands, along with Tella and 
Celis, while watching the bronze idly. "Look at this fellow, not near so 
certain as the blue," comes his wry chuckle.

From the sands, T'rock walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Celestial Landscape Bronze moves quickly towards a group of 
girls, unfurling his still damp wings, both to balance and to preen. He 
noses about the girls with some confusion though, as if they are not quite 
what he's looking for. Now.

From the sands, Celestial Landscape Bronze moves quickly towards a group of 
girls, unfurling his still damp wings, both to balance and to preen. He 
noses about the girls with some confusion though, as if they are not quite 
what he's looking for. Now.

From the sands, Fluria turns to look at Kiryn and gives his hand a squeeze, 
then turns her eyes to Mirielle and does the same. Dropping Mirielle's face 
she reaches for Ouryn's to give it the smallest squeeze. Then she pauses as 
she sees the bronze so close. "Go on...you know what you want." She tells 
him, stepping back slightly and out of the way, her hand loosening on 
Kiryn's.

From the sands, Cielth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Rebecca grins at the bronze "Try those boys over there"

From the sands, Cenica walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

Varoni samples his wine several times as the hatchlings burst forth and 
impress, so quickly, his blue eyes flicking across the sands several times, 
to each dragonet in succession.

From the sands, Coalsack Cloud Egg's movement doesn't start with a wobble 
but with a strong jerk than sends it rolling off the small rise of sand it 
had been atop. The eggs rolls once then stops. After a moment, the egg 
wiggles a little.

From the sands, Isadith lets out an encouraging rumble to her younglings, 
Cielth, and the new brown still making his way across the Sands, then 
trumpets suddenly as the Galileo's Truth egg -rolls-!

From the sands, Arafel eeps as a bronze hatchling comes too close for 
comfort and she dances to avoid his lurching travel.

From the sands, Galileo's Truth Egg bumbles down the egg mound and, with 
surprising force for so unweildy an object, smacks right into Isadith's near 
foreleg!

From the sands, Mirielle sighs slightly, and watches the rocking eggs. With 
a short glance at the Bronze, she smiles, and looks at the other Candidates, 
as if trying to guess which *boy* he'll choose.

From the sands, Jesyka squeezes again, a sideways glance given to the bronze 
for a moment. With a faint shrug, she turns to lock her gaze on the rockin' 
rollin' golden egg, convulsively tightening her grip on Serris' hand once 
again.

From the sands, Sleek and sly, this little green almost manages to leave the 
Moon egg intact as she slips out of it somehow, stepping and crushing the 
now empty shell beneath her talons as she strikes out in quest for a 
lifemate. She pauses to glance over the group, peering down her snout as 
best she can without falling over. Her quest is not to be long as she finds 
her perfect match in a quiet girl from Bitra. Wenra is practically in tears 
as she hugs the green, "Ilianth, it's a perfect name!"

From the sands, Cassius takes an awkward half-step back, stumbling over his 
poorly-made robe. A loud rip cuts through the lad as he catches himself on 
the black sand with both hands.

From the sands, Kiryn gives a very slight nod, forcing himself to swallow. 
Cautiously, he lets the girl's hand fall from his, and takes a small step 
forward. Nothing much, just enough to put him out where he won't be 
overlooked.

From the sands, Celestial Landscape Bronze moves about as directed, pausing 
to snuffle a few more of the ladies, and one or two lads as well. A 
Candidate with a stained robe gets a careful examination, after he's through 
posing for the girls around him.

From the sands, "At least he's looking in the right place now," Ouryn notes 
as the bronze wanders across the Sands. "But look at this green, and her 
lifemate!" Again the large lad's attentions are cast across the chamber.

From the sands, Tella blinks as she hears the smack. Her eyes travel towards 
it, wincing slightly. She whispers in a low voice to Ouryn, "Think it's 
okay?"

From the sands, Ptodek tosses his head, flipping that stray lock of hair out 
of his eyes, and reaches up again to wipe the sweat off his forehead. He 
then scrubs his damp palms against his robe, shifting uncomfortably as he 
scrunches the fabric in his hands, all the while glancing warily about him.

From the sands, Serris can't seem to decide between grinning, or making an 
'o' shape with his mouth and take really deep breaths, so he alternates 
between the two, eyes on the bronze the whole time.

From the sands, Yscalda smiles at Isadith's trumpet, but her eyes are 
focused solely on the closeness of the bronze. "Such a little flirt 
already," she murmurs, shaking her head in amusement. "Definitely going to 
have all the greens and golds keeping a close eye on him, if only to make 
sure he doesn't get too close."

From the sands, Celis eeks and jerks Ouryn's hand up to point to the egg 
that just smacked right into Isadith's leg, and gasps. "Oh I hope it's 
okay.." she comments, voicing Tella's concern too. "Oh." that last as the 
bronze comes nearby, she steps back a bit, so Ptodek and Ory both can stand 
out.

From the sands, Isadith trumpets again as the Galileo's Truth egg tumbles 
toward her leg. With an amused rumble, the huge Queen gently pats the errant 
egg, nudging it out toward the rest of the Clutch, and the now-broken 
semi-circle of white-robed Candidates.

From the sands, Izaura half smiles again, strained nerves in her expression 
as she watches the bronze look over a few girls before moveing on to the 
boys. "Silly." is whispered before she shushes at Lallie.

From the sands, Fluria relaxes as the bronze passes on and takes a step up. 
Reaching to quickly grab and squeezes Ouryn's hand. Then her eyes jerk to 
the eggs. A frown when she doesn't see the queen egg where it should be, 
then surprise when she notes it by Isadith's leg. "Oh my..." Seems to be a 
popular comment from her tonight.

From the sands, S'ris breaks into a huge grin, for sure, and abandons 
Jesyka's hand to wrap his arms around the bronze. "We'll get you some food 
right away Tuoth," he calls out, much louder than necessary.

From the sands, Coalsack Cloud Egg cracks appear on one end of the egg, the 
first small fractures that are barely visible. The egg continues to jerk 
spasmodically, the movement seemingly concentrated on that one end. The egg 
wobbles a little drunkenly.

From the sands, Galileo's Truth Egg fissures with hundreds of little 
crawlerweb-fine cracks, as if Isadith's nudge were it's last straw.

From the sands, Galileo's Truth Egg seems to give way to the flames that 
describe its facade, as cracks in the shell open the way for bursts of 
shining gold. Fiery shades move about beneath, gleaming with moisture. With 
a mighty explosion the creature inside spreads its wings, breaking through 
the last of the shell to greet the world.

From the sands, Arafel sighs as the bronze moves off toward more appropriate 
targets, then catches the impression of Wenra and Ilianth! "Oh! Good for you 
Wenra!" she calls across to her.

From the sands, Ouryn looks from side to side.. where has the other 
Candidates gone? The large lad seems a little confused, glancing beside him 
to Fluria and Celis.

From the sands,
                           Molten Carnelian Gold
Golden, gamboge wings sweep to either side of this hatchling, their soft 
hide catching the light and reflecting it back to the viewer. Her wingtips 
are a burnt orange, shading into a reddish hue along the sails, and a fiery 
display where the wings join into the ochre of her body. From the 
wingjoints, the ochre flows out and brightens until her hide is the shade of 
Timor as it rises through the atmosphere on the horizon, glowing a soft gold 
in the late autumn. Muscles tighten under that golden hide as the hatchling 
moves, drawing attention to the paler forelegs, with their lemon-tinted 
hide, streaks of saffron peeking through here and there, down to the 
platinum claws that glitter dangerously as they emerge from the sheaths. Her 
head glistens like the golden star, Beauty, in the Clutch constellation, 
headknobs sparkling like yellow diamonds. Lithe and lean is this golden 
hatchling, assuming a graceful demeanor whether on the ground or in flight.

From the sands, Bryl smiles as Celestial Landscape Bronze impresses and she 
steps quickly across the sands to the new pair. "S'ris? Congratulations. We 
have food all ready for him right over here in the corner."

Kallrina says "oh A gold!"

From the sands, Jesyka drops Serris--S'ris--hand quickly, as a yelp of 
surprise and joy escape her lips. "His name is Tuoth?" she gasps, clasping 
her own hands together tightly. The hatching of the gold is totally missed 
in this current rapture.

Kymi inhales sharply and claps her hands to her mouth at the sight of the 
beautiful creature.

From the sands, S'ris nods a few times, a tear streaking down his cheek as 
he walks off, turning his smile to the bronze again. "Yes, let's get food."

From the sands, Rebecca gasps as she sees the gold, forgetting that the 
bonze has finally impressed. "you are beautiful" she whispers.

From the sands, S'ris walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Bryl walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

Dendra breaks into wild cheering as Serris Impresses the bronze. Woooo for 
the Candidate-Baker!

From the sands, Cassius climbs back to his feet with an awkward motion, just 
in time to catch S'ris finding his lifemate. He reaches up into the air to 
wave, then catches himself in time to prevent more than a minor additional 
ripping. But, this is enough to leave his shoulder bare.

From the sands, Fluria swallows as the bronze impresses and the gold hatches 
as she stares. Quickly she steps closer to Kiryn and looks over at him with 
wide eyes. Then back to the dragonets moving over the sands. "This is going 
quicker, it seems, than last time." She says quietly.

From the sands, Mirielle stops to congratulate S'ris, before getting 
absorbed by the Queenlet. Her mouth drops into an 'O', and she forgets to 
shift weight for a moment, resulting in a dancing Candidate a moment later.

Amaryllia's mouth opens wide. Someone looks more than a slight bit 
surprised. "That little--" She cuts off, and closes her mouth. Silence.

From the sands, Extracting itself to roll down a little mound of sand, 
UV-Spiral egg sits at the bottom of a hollow, just for a moment. A dark blue 
snout appears, then in a rush, the rest of the tiny hatchling, a girl from 
healer hall squeaks in delight, "Of course Fellienth, there's always food 
for you!", and the pair are bundled off to the ministrations of the 
weyrlingmaster team.

From the sands, Tuoth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Tella is to busy looking towards the newest impression to 
notice the gold's hatching. Only a gasp from a nearby candidate causes her 
to distractedly look to the gold. Her expression turns to something like awe 
as she gasps at the sight.

From the sands, Celis gasps as the gold breaks out of her shell and steps 
forward again, even with the line. "The gold..." she whispers harshly.. 
"Wow."

From the sands, Cenica walks over from the far end of the Hatching Cavern.

From the sands, Kiryn turns and passes S'ris something of a smile, and 
forces another hard breath. It's then that the amazing show of the hatching 
queen catches his attention, and the lad takes an immediate step back. 
"Fluria... there she is." For the moment, even his own aspirations are 
forgotten.

From the sands, Ouryn grins and reaches back for Celis. "I see," is all the 
lad can think of, for eloquence. And she -is- lovely..

From the sands, Izaura's attention is drawn to the gold by her sister's 
excited words, although it doesn't linger long. "Look out for others too." 
is murmured softly, as she carefully watches the hatchlings.

From the sands, A'zric leans over to murmer something quietly to Germaine at 
the hatching of the tiny queen.

From the sands, Molten Carnelian Gold seems flung onto the sands, 
hatching-damp golden skin quickly becoming dusted with the obsidian grains 
and bits of her egg. Gamely, she struggles upright after taking a moment to 
figure out whether one stands on legs, or on wings. But, evidently an 
irritant past endurance, a shard of shell tickling her nostril causes a 
sneeze--and she tumbles over backwards, head tipped upside-down towards the 
candidates.

From the sands, Fluria reaches up with a free hand and yanks at a curl in 
notable nervousness. Then she whinces as the jerk hurts. Blinking and then 
taking a deep breath and standing tall again. Now she does watch the gold 
and very closely. "Yes, there she is. And lovely as any and every queen 
should be."

From the sands, Jesyka yanks her gaze away from S'ris and Tuoth, a wide 
smile of pride and joy spreading across her face for her friend, now a 
bronzerider. Then it dawns on her--the gold hatched. Aquamarine eyes swivel 
to catch the gleaming carnelian of the gold, and one hand rises to her lips 
unconsciously.

From the sands, Yscalda lets out a little whoop for S'ris and his new 
lifemate and squeezes Arafel's hand again. "See, nobody's been hurt yet." 
Grey eyes scan the grounds again, coming to rest on the lean gold hatchling. 
"Oh, she's a beauty. Almost the same color as her egg." The young woman 
scoots a bit closer to Fluria again to take up the space T'rock's Impression 
caused.

From the sands, Germaine laughs in delight as S'ris and Tuoth are led off by 
the Weyrlingmaster. Leaning toward A'zric once more as he murmurs something, 
she nods, then her eyes dart toward the gold, widening perceptibly, "I 
missed her hatching!"

Aralia has left.

From the sands, Ptodek nods quietly to himself as the bronze finds S'ris. 
Celis's voice draws his attention and he glances at the gold, then turns to 
look down the line of Candidates for someone. "Fluria," he hisses at her, 
gesturing toward the newly hatched queen. "There's your dragon!" He gives 
her a broad wink.

From the sands, Arafel blinks as S'ris passes, Bronze Touth following, and 
gasps. "Oh look! S'ris is a bronze rider now!" She doesn't notice the gold 
moving until her sudden fall backwards. "Is she hurt?" is her instant 
response as inspite of her fear she takes a half step for the little one.

From the sands, Mirielle, watching the little Queen's antics, suddenly lets 
out a teeny giggle when she flips over. Stifling it quickly, she blushes, 
and her head seems to shrink in towards her shoulders a little.

From the sands, An intricate patterning of cracks mars the surface of the 
Sun Star egg, sending up a spray of sand as the egg sinks a little lower 
before being knocked aside to reveal a turquoise hatchling, more interested 
in examining the sand in exquisite detail before looking at anything else. 
Gelth gives the little blue a nudge towards the white robed candidates, 
sending him into the arms of a young man from Ista Sea Hold.

From the sands, Coalsack Cloud Egg pauses again, the egg's rocking slowing 
and then stopping. Until cracks begin appearing in the other end of the egg. 
The cracks widen, giving brief glimpses of the furious movement taking place 
within its heart.

From the sands, Wriggling and hopping finally creates a notable hole in the 
Coalsack Cloud Egg. Slivers and shards are chipped away from the inside 
until a dark wet face sticks out, eyes blinking and whirling. With final, 
gargantuan heave, a brown body follows, rolling onto the sands.

From the sands, Fluria turns a look on Ptodek. "Hush!" She almost snaps, 
coloring visibly. Then her blue eyes jerk back to the queenlet and her black 
sand covered self. "Oh dear...that is going to itch later I'm sure."

From the sands, Tella can't help but chuckle at the gold's tumble, her hand 
coming to her mouth to cover the smile as it turns into a worried frown. She 
takes a step forward before cursing something, stepping back once more.

Alenia has left.

From the sands, Ouryn blinks at Arafel's words, grinning as he espies the 
retreating form of S'ris. "Hurrah!" the lad tosses a cheer after the 
departing lifemates.

From the sands,
                            Russet Belior Brown
Rich, loamy sepia fans out along this hatchling's tail, rising from the 
spade and moving slowly toward his rump. From there, it lightens to a dark 
rouge anglais, matching the hue of the closer of Pern's two satellites, 
Belior, as it circles its primary. Dribbles of black spatter along his 
sides, mixing with the reddish-brown to become russet as it spans down his 
legs and reaches his neck, where it lightens once more to an alizarin 
crimson, as if Belior were suddenly touched by Rukbat's warming rays. His 
wings, rising above the starker landscape of his body, shimmer with a 
greenish-golden brown, wingsails sheer and elegant, speckled with the 
glistening mica of an airless world.

Dendra grins to Keara and says, "I got a quarter-mark on Serris Impressing! 
I got the color of his lifemate wrong, but I was right about him finding a 
lifemate!"

From the sands, Rebecca galnces from the gold to the brown, and then looks 
back again, willing the gold to get herself up.

Keara nods absently, "Good good." She's quiet now, leaned elbows on knees to 
study the hatching.

From the sands, Kiryn takes his turn at offering an encouragement, reaching 
a hand to Fluria's back, and giving her a very light push to step forward. 
"C'mon, Fluria, get out there. Don't be shy now." He breaks into a small 
smile, before looking to the emerging brown.

From the sands, Ptodek clamps a hand over his mouth, though a remnant of his 
laugh still manages to escape. The heat of the sands and the rocking eggs 
prove sufficient to distract him from teasing Fluria, though, and he goes 
back to shifting his feet and watching silently.

From the sands, Yscalda smiles and shakes her head at Arafel. "Nay, I doubt 
she's hurt anything more than her pride. And look at that brown!" She nods 
towards the hatchling that appears from the coalsack egg. "Interesting 
markings on that one."

From the sands, Soranda peers around the twitching candidate next to her to 
get a good look at the newly hatched brown.

From the sands, Celis's eyes stay riveted to the gold, turning her head to 
sweep her gaze across the sands on occaision. "I wonder who she's going to 
pick..."

From the sands, Mirielle looks a little guilty for her giggle still, and 
hurridly turns her attention to the adorable brown that just popped out. 
Smiling encouragingly, she squeezes Fluria's hand.

From the sands, Cassius rights himself and grabs for his robe, pulling it 
together with both hands, ignoring the dragonets blundering about around him 
for a crucial moment or two. Then, self-preservation instinct takes back 
over, and he spins his head about, making sure he's not about to be 
trampled.

Guest2 has disconnected.

From the sands, With a final jerk and shake, the Milky Way egg splits itself 
in two, revealing a tiny hazy brown, almost the colour of driftwood. He 
pulls himself from the remains of his egg and shakes off each limb in turn. 
That done, he strolls almost lazily towards the Candidates, heading directly 
for a short young man from the Tanner Hall. "Oh of course I love you, 
Cowianth!" N'oran yells, flinging his arms about his new lifemate's neck. 
"And I'll never let you go!"

From the sands, Molten Carnelian Gold blinks ruddy-purple eyes a couple of 
times, mouth open as if to catch her breath. A huff, another, and then--legs 
and slimy-bright wings going stiff with outrage--she squalls. Loudly. 
eeEEEEEEeeeEEEEEeeEEEEEEeeeEEEEEE, shriller than the loudest Threadfall 
claxon and more piercingly than an angry firelizard.

From the sands, Izaura turns her gaze to the brown, considering it 
speculatively although her attention does slips to the other hatchlings on 
the sands as well.

Varoni seems faintly amused at the flurry over the hatching of the new 
queen, as well as the impression of the bronze, mildly sipping his wine, 
nose wrinkling at the horrible noise the queen suddenly belts out.

From the sands, Jesyka has turned her gaze firmly to the gold dragon for 
now. Every now and again a glance is shot sideways, lingering briefly when a 
brown appears. That squall from the gold causes her to wince, and she idly 
rubs at one ear in reaction.

Kymi winces at the sound.

From the sands, Arafel nods to Yscalda, almost amused as it becomes evident 
the gold isn't hurt. "Are they supposed to do that?" she whispers to the 
older girl, even while glancing at the newest brown. She jumps again when 
the gold trumpets her outrage.

Kallrina says "she's looking for someone!"

From the sands, Celis winces.. "Well, she's no harper.."

From the sands, Russet Belior Brown lays still for a moment as he works his 
way--finally!--out of the egg. But the stillness doesn't last for long as he 
sneezes and lifts his head. The young dragonet gathers himself up and starts 
for the nearest candidate, his enthusiasm so great that he trips over his 
own feet. Oomph!

From the sands, Ouryn winces, clapping hands to his ears. "Great shards, 
little wherry, stop that!" The large lad grimaces down to the women on 
either side of him, brown hatchling almost getting lost from his attentions.

From the sands, Fluria continues to remain red, but glances at Kiryn 
thoughtfully. Then to Mirielle at her squeeze. She smiles a little and does 
step forward with the push. Her eyes move from her friends to the gold again 
and she just stares for a long moment without any expression. Then she feels 
a little foolish and gives Mirielle's hand a jerk to bring her forward a 
touch too.

From the sands, Tella had just looked away from the gold when she squalled. 
She lifts her free hand to her ear, pressing as if it'd do any good. 
"Sheesh. You'd think she was /really/ hurt.."

"Huh." Gold is given a long piercing look from Amaryllia, who turns her head 
away in disgust. "Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless."

From the sands, Exploding Singularity Egg shivers lightly, the movement so 
faint that it can only be discerned by the bits of sand tumbling from its 
shell like black rain. It gives another slight quake before lying still once 
again.

From the sands, Ptodek claps his hands to his ears, wincing. "Shells!" he 
snaps out, "What..?" He shakes his head as if to clear it, staring at the 
gold.

Nyne claps her hands over her ears, "Sharding..." She scowls as the gold 
threatens to deafen the Weyr. "Pity whoever SHE Impresses. Better keep her 
ears plugged."

From the sands, Lyree escorts still another new pair from the Sands, 
clapping hands over ears as the tiny queen screeches.

From the sands, Ouryn winces a second time, this sympathy for the brown 
dragonet. "Poor fellow, can't even get over his own feet," the Candidate 
blushes to Celis and Tella as he is awkwardly reminded of himself. "My ears 
are -still- ringing!"

From the sands, Yscalda winces visibly at the queen dragonet's creel. "Jays, 
she sounds like a little poor thing." The young woman looks over at Arafel 
again and shrugs. "Some do, some don't. Not really sure what's usual for 
them."

Dendra laughs as the gold dragon makes her terrorizing sound, which 
perfectly matches what Dendra does on pipes. Only louder.

From the sands, Rebecca gasps at the noise, and says softly to her "Find yur 
lifemate quickly then you can eat."

From the sands, Gelth replies with a bugle to the little queen, causing 
A'zric another wince, "Gelth, you're not going to out yell her, dont even 
try."

From the sands, Cenica winces at the noise from the gold, reaching up to put 
a finger against each ear.

From the sands, Kiryn winces slightly, at the sharp cry, but his eyes are on 
the brown now. Swallow, inhale, exhale, that's the way to do it... he just 
has to remember.

From the sands, Izaura winces at that squall, the noise inevitably drawing 
her gaze back to the gold. "Silly." she mutters, rubbing her ears gently 
after the sound stops.

From the sands, Soranda stumbles backwards at the sudden loud bugling of the 
gold hatchling, her fingers flying instinctively to her ears.

From the sands, Br'nal smiles at Cenica, "No one ever said this is a quiet 
job."

From the sands, Blue Straggler Egg begins its gentle rockings. The first 
movements are so small that barely a grain of sand is knocked out fo place. 
But tempo soon increases, as the long contained occupant struggles to get 
out. The egg dances around in the black sand, shivering violently coming to 
a rest, still for the moment.

From the sands, Tella chuckles at Ouryn's blush before shaking out her own 
bit of ringing in her ears. "Well, they're sure related. Both tumbled over."

From the sands, Mirielle shivers from the sound, and watches the brown with 
even more concentration, sparing only quick glances at the Gold and the 
other rocking eggs.

From the sands, With an explosion of shell, the end of the Timekeeper Nebula 
egg flies off and a green missile emerges, apparently trying to get airborne 
immediately. Weak wings flap wildly and wet legs pump as the green dragonet 
struggles towards the air, only to land again on one unfortunate candidate, 
Amdan, who fails to dodge fast enough. Candidate and dragonet both scream in 
shock, the green launching into the air again to land by Nollia, who kneels. 
"Sarith, are you alright?" she breathes, locking gazes with the dragonet. 
Meanwhile, two journeyman Healers rush out and carry the dazed and bleeding 
Amdan from the sands.

From the sands, Isadith rumbles in amusement, hailing the gold hatchling's 
screech with a liquid-toned caroling, at once cajoling and reproachful.

From the sands, Celis takes a deep breath, as if the squealing caused her to 
loose her breath for a moment. Her eyes fall to the brown, which is much 
closer and it's not like she has a real chance at the gold anyway.

From the sands, Russet Belior Brown just about to give his own squall is 
distracted by the noise from the gold. His attention is riveted on the 
fascinating young queen. The little brown gets himself to his feet and 
changes direction, charging right for the gold.

From the sands, Jesyka swallows hard, still rubbing at her ear. Another 
flicker of her eyes goes to the brown, but the vast majority of her 
attention is firmly on the golden hatchling.

Amaryllia half-stands as she notices the mauling, lips parting in 
bloodthirsty delight, but as two of her craftmembers tend instead of her, 
she sits back down, satisfied. No public appearances tonight.

From the sands, Ouryn laughs richly, his mirth quickly turning to dismay 
over the collision of the green dragonet and Amdan. "Shells!" he breathes. 
And now the brown! "What are you doing! Come over this way, dimglow!" the 
lad shouts good-naturedly.

From the sands, Cassius's hands come to his ears to fast he allows his robe 
to flop open again. Then, he grabs for the robe, and somehow ends up 
stumbling forward. Not far, however, before he's back standing on both feet. 
Checking out the surrounding action, he follows the brown's charge towards 
the Gold with detached surprise.

From the sands, Arafel frowns and shakes her head at the irritated gold then 
turns to look at her favorite egg begins to dance, a little sigh of regret 
coming to her lips. "It won't last much longer." she murmers nodding for 
Yscalda towards the blue straggler egg.

From the sands, Molten Carnelian Gold somehow manages to continue her 
high-volume shrilling as she thrashes about to get herself upright--not that 
way, there's a wing in that direction...not that way, either, there's a wing 
in that direction, too....Well. Her squalling stops a moment (a moment only) 
as she, with great concentration, shifts her weight and her tail 
up--up--over her head--and then /down/. Flumph, head and long neck now 
straddled beneath her forelimbs. EEeEEEEEeeeEEEEEeeeee! Why can't she 
/see/?! Cautiously, she opens her first-lids. Hmm. Oh, and--EEEeeeEEEEEE!

From the sands, Rebecca grimaces as she spots the other candidate being 
injured and then has to visibly restrain herself as the brown rushes for the 
gold.

From the sands, Tella blinks as the brown, once again, catches her 
attention. "Think he'll be a heartbreaker?" A brow raises as she watches the 
hatchling charge. A shiver runs down her spine as the gold continues.

From the sands, "And there he goes..." giggles Celis, watching the brown 
take off for the gold. "Gee. You'd think they were doing the rivalry thing 
already. "Faugh!! Why's she squealing?" Celis squeaks out, jerking her hands 
free to stuff fingers in her ears.

From the sands, Molten Carnelian Gold jerks back at the brown lump charging 
towards her. Opening her mouth wider, she bawls right in her clutchmate's 
onrushing face. EEEEEEEEEE!

Kallrina wonders who the gold is looling for.

From the sands, Fluria watches the sands carefully and when the brown 
charges the gold she gasps. "Hey! Can they do that?" What a silly question. 
"No, find your lifemate..." She urges, though the brown likely can't hear 
her. Then her eyes flirt to the Molten Carnelian Gold. "Move and watch 
out...Oh do move...open your eyes and move." She says quietly.

Kymi shakes her head. "The gold's hopeless."

Aralia has arrived.

From the sands, Exploding Singularity Egg errupts in another wave of 
vibrations, twitching sporadically as tiny cracks begin to appear about its 
surface. Fine lines spread over the shell in a web until the trembling 
ceases.

From the sands, Mirielle closes her own eyes, unwilling to watch the 
seemingly imminent collision.

From the sands, Ptodek takes a deep breath and lets it out with a sigh, 
wincing at the heat and plucking at the bottom of his robe to fan air across 
his legs.

From the sands, Jesyka yelps with surprise, and manages somehow to restrain 
herself from trying to keep the brown away from the gold. That would just be 
suicide, after all..."Oh, dear," she gasps, staring at the confrontation, 
frozen to the scorching Sands.

From the sands, Solar Glory egg twitches, stills, twitches, stills.. A 
pulsating, as if the creature inside grows tired while hammering upon its 
egg. Finally a talon pushes through, moments pass, then a pale pale blue 
leg, more moments and eventually all of a tiny sickly looking blue emerges 
onto the sands. Against all advice, Ulgan races to the little hatchling, 
skidding to his knees and exclaiming, now as Ul'an, "Are you sure you're 
alright Ilianth!?"

From the sands, Yscalda winces again as she scans the semi-circle of other 
candidates. "Amdan got hurt," she murmurs with a frown before her eyes widen 
at the dash of brown towards gold. "Hope he slows down before he collides 
with her. Aye, Ara, won't be long." She ducks her head as the gold bawls at 
her clutchsib. "Now that's one way to stop him. I'd run from that noise 
too."

Varoni smirks. "Faranth help us... gracious, I think they bake their brains 
a bit too much down here..."

Kallrina says "SHARDS. what is going on down there?"

From the sands, Ouryn almost looks like he wants to crouch, knees buckling 
under the screeching wails. "Oh, great shards, make it stop! Please!" he 
begs of his fellow Candidates. "And get that fool brown away from the gold!"

From the sands, Izaura frees her hand from Lallie, allowing both sisters to 
press palms over their ears in a frail defence against the noise. Her 
expression wavers between amusement laced with a touch of nervous hysteria 
and annoyance, and the firmly turns her gaze to the other eggs and 
hatchlings.

From the sands, Fluria lifts one foot and then another as the heat once more 
registers. Glancing down and then back up as she gives each a shake, trying 
to dislodge the sand there. "Screaming in their face...never thought of 
that.

From the sands, Arafel catches sight of the healers rushing onto the sands 
and sees their bleeding target. "Oh! Amdan's hurt!" she gasps.

From the sands, Russet Belior Brown manages to /just/ avoid trampeling the 
young gold, but he does send a little spray of sand in her direction. The 
dragonet hovers near to the other hatchling and stretches out his little 
head toward the other hatchling.

From the sands, Kiryn watches the scene unfolding, and seems a bit 
surprised. "Would you look at them... and listen to her." He reaches up to 
cover his ear, warding off one of those high-pitched screeches. "C'mon, 
little brown, this way."

From the sands, Tella shifts her feet once more, using Ouryn's hand as 
support. "I hope they don't hurt eachother. That's /not/ good." She blinks 
when the brown adds his own cry into the mix.

From the sands, Cassius noticibly winces as the gold and brown dragonets 
nearly collide. For the first time on the sands, he speaks. "Oh, what are 
they *doing* over there?!"

From the sands, Soranda bites her lip anxiously as she spies the healers 
hurrying onto the sands, her eyes darting between the wounded Amden and the 
hatchlings.

From the sands, Mirielle opens one eye when she doesn't hear a crash. "Is it 
.. okay?" she asks of Fluria, still not wanting to look, remembering that 
hatchling talons are sharp and could conceivably be used against a screamer.

Dendra is no longer amused by the gold's creeling. "Shells, I'm glad the 
brown didn't make contact..but I hope she finds her lifemate soon!

From the sands, Blue Straggler Egg resumes its rocking, but not nearly as 
gentle as before. It rocks back and forth to an inner beat, almost slamming 
into it neighboors as the sands that have supported it give way and it 
tumbles to its side. It contiues to rock, the hatchling inside realing 
against the thin shell wall.

From the sands, Fluria looks relieved as the brown stops and relaxes with a 
little giggle. "Well, now that was certainly interesting." Loosening her 
hands and finally freeing them from any holding. Bringing one hand up she 
wipes the sweat beading on her brow and glances at Kiryn with a grin.

From the sands, Molten Carnelian Gold swings her head around to follow her 
brown clutchsib's running flyby and accidentally bumps noses with him in her 
awkwardness. EEEEEeeeEEEEee! COOTIES! Squalling, she galvanizes her limbs 
beneath her and dashes towards a line of candidates, helter-skelter.

From the sands, Ouryn nods emphatically, "Can't they find their lifemates? 
Theres bound to be someone right for them.." the lad searches over the 
remaining Candidates, sea-green gaze falling on several likely, wonderful 
folk he's come to know. "Stop dancing and pick someone!" comes his sharp, 
but grinning, retort.

From the sands, Germaine just closes her eyes, not wanting to see the 
collision of brown and gold as she leans against her lifemate.

From the sands, Jesyka sucks in a deep breath, cringing at the 
almost-collision that sprays sand all over the little golden hatchling. 
"Shells, that was close," she breathes, before the squalling golden 
hatchling starts heading toward the Candidates--which has the effect of 
causing Jes to gasp again.

Kallrina covers her eyes. "Tell me when its over

From the sands, Arafel sees Amdan is still moving, hand clasped to a wound 
and sighs. She looks about the mayhem of the hatchign eggs, stopping to 
watch the arresting flash of molten red gold.

From the sands, Fluria looks back to see the golden queen dash and tenses. 
Ready to jump out of her way should she come near. "Watch out." She calls to 
her fellows who might not be paying attention. "Look out little one! Don't 
run into anyone!" That is directed to the queen.

From the sands, Izaura uhs softlys, backing up a step or three as the gold 
heads towards the Candidates. Her gaze flicks between gold and eggs, 
nervously unsure of where she should look for safety's sake.

From the sands, Yscalda sighs and squeezes Arafel's hand again. "He'll be 
okay. The healers know what to do. Oh bloody shells, look out!" She backs up 
a step as the gold hatchling comes dashing towards the candidates.

From the sands, Tella turns her gaze on the dashing queen, eyes wide. "She's 
comming.." Her posture tenses, ready to hop out of the way.

From the sands, Rebecca watches both the Gold and he Brown with concern, not 
showing fear as she is too wrapped up in what is happening.

From the sands, Celis ohdears. "She's charging right this way!" and 
nervousness crosses her face again, before a passing dragonette steps 
nearby.

From the sands, Cracks mottle the smooth surface of Sunspot egg, as the 
hatchling inside causes things to finally get a move on. Bits fall off, here 
and there, revealing a mottled green-grey hatchling inside. She peeps a 
snout out a hole near the bottom and then pops out entirely, landing snout 
first into the hot sands. She takes a moment to compose herself and toddles 
off with purpose, soon finding her lifemate in a stocky boy from Cracked 
Rock Hold.

Dendra calls out to the unmusical gold, "Pick Arafel! She's a great cook and 
will keep you well-fed your whole life long!"

From the sands, Ptodek scoots out of the gold hatchling's way, moving so 
suddenly that he stumbles, nearly tripping over his own long limbs. He 
manages to catch his balance before he tumbles to the sand, though it's a 
near thing.

Kallrina peeks through her hands and closes her eyes again as the gold 
charges.

From the sands, Ouryn , for one, looks like he wants to hide in the stands, 
away from screeching golds and tumbling browns. "Oh, Faranth, I think we 
should.. get out of her way!" he fumbles.

Kymi shakes her head and mutters, "Tone deaf."

From the sands, Arafel flinches as the little golden girl's direction aims 
for the knot of female candidates. She starts looking for a clear path to 
run, just in case.

From the sands, Soranda eeps once as the gold comes headlong across the 
sands and tenses to move.

From the sands, Kiryn nods his agreement with Ouryn, and begins to edge 
sideways. Not away, as that would put him out of reach, but a little out of 
the screeching gold's path, while his eyes flick, searching the few eggs 
that remain on the periphery of his vision.

From the sands, Russet Belior Brown is so startled by the nose bumping that 
he sits back hard on his haunches. Watching the gold head toward the line of 
candidates, the brown waits a few moments before following after her. It 
she's got the idea to do it, it's good enough for him! He ends up near to 
one dark-haired candidate...

From the sands, Molten Carnelian Gold /tries/ to slow down, but, having 
gotten her limbs moving, it's a bit of a challenge to be told to stop them 
just after. Trailing wings wide, the little queen gets all tangled-about in 
her own unsteady knees and stumbles directly between the robed legs of a 
candidate--even more tangled up now, if possible, in hearts and minds as 
well as legs and robes.

D'orn climbs up some stairs into the seats.
D'orn has arrived.

From the sands, Suddenly, a decidedly shapely draconic claw bursts through 
the shell of this once calm and solid egg. A haunch, and then a wingtip 
follow, and then another legs punches out. Finally, with much twisting, the 
shell cracks neatly into a number of large pieces with a damp green creature 
sitting among them.

From the sands, Celis finds herself fixed to the spot, staring right at the 
charging gold. Her feet unwilling to move, she finds herself... stuck. A 
gasping breath drawn, she just stares. What more can one do? After a moments 
thought, she realizies that those dragonettes claws are /sharp/ and that she 
should get /out/ of the way.

From the sands, Mirielle stands still, watching, but waiting for that last 
moment before moving.

From the sands, Cassius clutches at his robe and takes a step forward, 
climbing to his toes to try and see where the gold found her mate.

From the sands,
                          Comet's Trail Hatchling
Her tiny, compact form seems barely able to contain the startling and 
palpable energy of this green as she springs forth from her shell with an 
air of determination. The brilliant, enamel glossiness of her black-green 
hide alone would make her stand out, but even more noticeable is the white 
blaze that explodes across her muzzle, flowing gently back along between her 
eyes, thinning out as it reaches her headnobs and the crest of her head, and 
then slipping off her neck to fade away under her right pinion. Delicate 
wing membranes are veined with faint copies of her muzzle's comet that fade 
into shimmering obscurity just before they tumble off the edge of the sail. 
The cant of her head seems to dare the spectator -not- to pay attention to 
her as she sets off purposefully across the Sands.

Kallrina walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Kallrina has left.

From the sands, Bryl walks over from the far end of the Hatching Cavern.

Kymi holds her breath.

From the sands, Ptodek lurches sideways, suddenly losing all equilibrium, a 
confused and startled expression on his face. "N-not me," he croaks, "not.. 
me? Semeth? You.. /me/?" Confusion and fear melt from his face, turning to 
joy, and his eyes begin to shine with some inner light as he regains his 
balance and reaches out a wondering hand to rest atop the brown's head.

From the sands, Rebecca stands very still hoping that stillness will protect 
her from the dragonets.

Kallrina climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Kallrina has arrived.

Amaryllia half attempts to stand, then sits back down again. No, she won't 
bother---"Ptodek? Oh, joy."

From the sands, Cenica starts forward as her eyes catch an Impression, 
"P'tod? Let's get Semeth some food, shall we?" She gestures towards the 
corner of the sand where the other new weyrlings are gathered.

From the sands, A shiver here, a shake there, and the Keyhole egg gives it's 
close watchers quite the show of getting ready to hatch before a hefty brute 
of a blue finally explodes out of the egg in a shower of shards. He snaps at 
a shard sticking out of the ground, tasting it to see if this could be what 
he craves. He gives a pathetic little bugle as he changes his mind about the 
edibility of egg shards and is off to find his lifemate. Soon enough, Eliana 
is helping him get sand out of his mouth, "His name is Janrath!" she calls 
out before telling the blue, "Meat will taste much better, I promise!"

From the sands, Germaine just grins as P'tod's words reach her across the 
Sands, and she shares a glance with A'zric that is at once proud and 
satisfied.

Wyndhra has arrived.

Dendra jumps up and down, cheering for Ptodek. "Wooo,wooo,wooo,wooo! You did 
it!"

From the sands, Fluria goes wide eyed as the gold catches her even though 
she made to move. Blinking as she falls slightly. Then she turns and blinks 
at her. "Qirith....Oh...Oh Qirith...Yes...food...Are you all right?" She 
asks, her breath short and catching, blue eyes wide. "Oh Qirith." She smiles 
now and reaches a hand out to help gather up the queen.

Nyne casts a quick glance back at Amaryllia, as though to try and decipher 
whether or not that was a good 'oh joy' or a bad 'oh joy'. The healer is not 
QUITE as fascinating as the hatchlings today, however, and she is unable to 
keep her eyes away from the sands for long.

Keara jumps up and screeches for Ptodek.. then, with a glance at Dendra, 
sits down and looks stern and disappointed.

Kymi releases her breath.

From the sands, Mirielle watches the Impressions carefully, offering smiles 
to the lucky Candi..no, Weyrlings. Then, wish a swift gasp, all her 
attention belongs to the new Green.

From the sands, Galactic Collision Egg begins, finally, to rock slightly, 
aided by a swipe from the tail of a passing hatchling. But the rocking 
continues under it's own steam, tiny cracks forming here and there around 
the ovoid.

From the sands, The sapphire spots that bedeck the Blue Straggler egg 
abruptly seem to ripple and move across the orb's brittle surface, becoming 
darker, then seeming to swirl chaotically as striations suddenly bloom 
across its face. A glistening talon appears tearing with frantic jabs and 
swipes, fragments of shell falling away until the midnight-hued inhabitant 
tumbles onto the sands.

From the sands, A'zric nods with a grin to Germaine, no words needed between 
them. Fluria's voice catching his attention and his turns his head sharply, 
"Fluria.."

From the sands, Bryl grins at the impressing gold hatchling and her new 
lifemate. She hurries over to them. "Fluria! Congratulations! We have food 
all ready for Qirith right over here in the corner."

From the sands, Rebecca sighs with relief. "Good for you P'tod and Fluria" 
She then notices another green hatchling.

From the sands, Semeth shoves his head firmly into Ptodek's hands, a 
high-pitched, loving croon erupting from his throat.

From the sands, Tella blinks as she hears another name. She turns her head 
towards Ptod... P'tod and his brown. A soft smile crosses her lips as she 
mouths her congratulations. Looking towards the gold, she finally sees who 
the newest weyrwoman will be. "Fluria?" To Ouryn, "Look.. Fluria impressed 
the gold!" The last word is almost squeaked out.

From the sands,
                             Starry Night Blue
A mournful cry escapes this blue-black dragonet as the only world he knows 
crumbles away to leave only one frightful and unfamiliar. He closes his eyes 
tightly, those eyes that have never seen the barest part of the world, and 
seems to wish himself back into his egg. His hide is mostly a deep, midnight 
blue, like the darkest night's sky, with rolling clouds of ultramarine 
gusting across his back and belly. Like an odd sort of runnerhoof imprint, 
or Timor in the first night of its waxing phase, a slim crescent, 
golden-orange in all its glory, curves protectively around his right eye 
while a second moon, almost full, balances on his opposite wing. Eleven 
stars live in this fantasy sky, boiling bright points of white marring the 
darkness. They resemble a cluster of stars that might be familiar to those 
of the western coast... a sailing ship paused on a wave's crest. The blue 
dragonet then opens his eyes, looking quite surprised, as if he had 
concentrated so hard that what he had been wishing for slipped his mind. He 
sets off at a stumble across the Sands, tail held high in the air, 
forgetting the egg he leaves behind.

From the sands, Mirielle ohs at Fluria, and drops the hand quickly. 
"Congrats!"

From the sands, Yscalda smiles at Fluria in congratulations, then nods to 
P'tod as well. "A lovely pairing for both of them," the candidate comments 
as she moves closer to Arafel so the new pairs can get through the 
semi-circle easier.

From the sands, Jesyka watches Fluria Impress...and falls silent. There are 
no more words from this Candidate.

From the sands, Ouryn gapes as P'tod and Fluria Impress, before his very 
eyes! His previous Candidate-friends.. Impressed. "Shards.." is all he can 
mumble.

From the sands, Starting slowly, but quickly gathering speed, the Hourglass 
egg spins in place, finally shattering and half shooting its green hatchling 
across the sands, landing her into the Nebula egg, giving it that final push 
into giving up it's blue hatchling. The green creels plaintively at her 
brother before turning her creels to the white robes, the blue trailing 
along after her. The two impress to a pair standing next to each other, the 
green to a boy from Boll and the blue to his younger brother. They call out 
names in unison, half laughing as they do, "Todith!", "Nevaleth!", the 
quartet making a motley procession to the weyrlingmaster team.

From the sands, Comet's Trail Hatchling stumbles to her feet, testing them. 
She stretches an emerald wing, tilting her whirling eyes to inspect the 
fine, quickly drying membranes. As if decidedly pleased with herself, she 
turn her attention to the emmense world that now surrounds her. And those 
wiggling white things... what are they? She moves foreward with rocky, 
fearless steps.

From the sands, Arafel dances out of the red gold dragonette's way, to only 
see the little following brown impress Ptodek when she looks away a moment.

From the sands, Qirith hiccoughs to a stop, pressing her head into Fluria's 
midrift--though her headknobs are bound to poke uncomfortably, and she's 
still slimy with black sand besides.

From the sands, Cassius is wise enough not to wave his arms this time, but 
emits a simple yelp, "Yes!", at the dual impressions, resuming his feet on 
the dark sands with a wide smile.

From the sands, Cenica walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Kiryn spins back, catching sight of P'tod first, who he 
casts a winning grin, and then Fluria. "Oh! Fluria, good job! I knew you'd 
do it!" The lad looks almost as excited as the girl... Well, maybe not 
quite, but he sure looks happy for her.

From the sands, Celis steps back, then again.. "P'tod.. Fluria.." she smiles 
widely, the reaches out to take Ouryn's hand again.. "Brown and gold.."

From the sands, P'tod looks up at Cenica, nodding rapidly. "Food.. he's 
hungry, yes.. Semeth, come on, we'll get you fed!"

Amaryllia pauses, as if considering the Impression of the Queen, and 
actually thinking about it. "Interesting."

From the sands, P'tod walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Fluria nods to Qirith and smiles. "I know, it is all right 
sweets. Come, stand. We will get you fed. Don't worry....Qirith..." She 
says, smiling at her lifemate and moving after Bryl.

From the sands, Starry Night Blue sets out across the sands with a happily 
little whistle. White thingies over there, other dragonets over here...wait 
a second! He stares in wide-eyes wonder at the two largest things on the 
sand...his dam and sire. He fixes his eyes on a wonderously large and shiny 
Gelth. He just looks up...and up...and up...until he plops to a seat on the 
land, almost falling over backwards in his attempt to look at -all- of his 
bronze sire.

From the sands, Soranda clasps her hands in delight as Fluria and the gold 
hatchling find each other, then catches sight of the little blue just 
stepping from his shell.

From the sands, Br'nal gives Fluria a thumbs-up as she moves past with her 
new lifemate.

From the sands, Fluria walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Ouryn grins and grasps Celis' hand as tightly as the lass 
holds his. "Brown and gold, lovely as they can be," he smiles.

From the sands, Bryl walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

Kallrina has disconnected.

From the sands, Qirith walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Gelth bugles excitedly, greeting the youngest queen of Ista.

From the sands, Ouryn adds his own cheer to Gelth's bugle.

Dendra claps and cheers for the departing new queen and her lifemate.

From the sands, Galactic Collision Egg is unlucky enough to wobble into the 
path of another clumsy hatchling. The green's startled leap away imparts 
some spin, a change of direction, and a new collection of widening cracks to 
the shell.

Kallrina has connected.

From the sands, Arafel turns back and just catches Fluria impressing the 
little gold. "Oh Fluria! Good for you!" she calls as the pair are led away. 
The note of relief in her voice is apparent to all.

From the sands, Izaura sees the gold tumble up to Fluria and for a moment, 
shes as entranced as any impressionee. "Fluria! Oh shards. Qirith. So 
perfect." Words said without thinking - a very delighted smile on her face 
before it fades and she turns back to the rest of the clutch.

From the sands, Semeth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Comet's Trail Hatchling catches a verdent wingtip under an 
uncoordinated foot. She spills forward into the sands. She blinks with 
surprise while laying with her head on the ground and her rump in the air. 
Hints of angry red show in her eyes and she right herself with frustration, 
snout coated with bits of sparkling sand.

From the sands, The cracks and holes on the Lunar Eclipse egg evolve into a 
noisy green hatchling, squalling on her egg shards. When she realizes this 
isn't doing much good, she gets up, shakes herself off and strides off to 
find someone useful on the sands. She passes over a good many people before 
coming to stand in front of a quiet young boy named Edroic. The green creels 
again, E'dric murmuring, not quite loud enough for the name to carry even on 
the Sands themselves. The two are as one as they're led off the Sands.

From the sands, Tella nods, a soft smile coming to her lips. She murmurs 
something along the lines of 'I knew it' before turning her gaze on the two 
hatchlings walking the sands. A giggle emerges from her as she sees the 
blue, shaking her head at it. And then she looks to the green, her breath 
catching in her throat.

From the sands, Ouryn has disconnected.

From the sands, Rebecca frowns and concentrates as all the eggs seem to be 
hatching at once, and she watches the hatchlings carefuly.

From the sands, Kiryn manages to calm himself down, gaze lingering on Fluria 
as she departs with the new queen, before turning back on the sands and the 
dragonnets running back and forth.

From the sands, From behind a little mound of sand, a streak of dark blue 
flashes out and into the candidates, leaving his Star Cluster egg in tatters 
behind him. Barely a blink of an eye and he's assessed and rejected half a 
dozen candidates before jumping up and down in front of a quiet boy from 
Benden Hold, the young lad's face one of shock and soon overwhelming 
affection. They're lead from the Sands, the blue bouncing around his 
lifemate.

Dendra mutters to Keara, "I... Master... be... to lose a... apprentice,... 
he'll be..."

From the sands, Arafel squeezes Yscalda's hand. "That was close." she 
murmers and grins. But more movement on the sands drag her attention away to 
watch as more impressions take place with ever increasing speed.

Keara rolls her eyes. "Bakering is much more fulfilling than ridering," she 
snaps. "You don't get killed baking. Anyway, how would you know?"

From the sands, Starry Night Blue shakes his head at such huge 
things...nope, nope...needs something more his size. So off again across the 
Sands, heading away from Gelth and towards a group of white thingies. This 
is about the right size...and such a nice color too. He whistles as a tiny 
white thingies catches his eye, then a dark haired one, then a light haired 
one. So many choices! But one is right....

From the sands, "Faranth, but this is a noisy bunch of hatchlings," Yscalda 
exclaims as she watches one of the greens Impress to E'dric. "You'd think we 
were in the nursery instead of on the Sands." She returns the sqeeze Arafel 
gives her hand with a nod. "Aye, almost too close."

Mikel flits up into the galleries from the entrance below.
Mikel has arrived.

From the sands, Settled together into a cozy dip in the sand, the Comet egg 
and the Stellar Static egg start shivering together until two green heads 
peep out from the little sand pit, as alike as day and night. One is as pale 
a green as ever was seen, the other, so dark as to look as dark as night in 
the jungle. They both toddle out of the sand, sending it flying in their 
wake, one in one direction, the other right the opposite way. The pale green 
hatchling turns her loving gaze up to a slight girl from Ruatha, the dark 
hatchling Impressing to a tall dark muscular boy from the minecraft.

From the sands, Cenica walks over from the far end of the Hatching Cavern.

From the sands, Ouryn has connected.

From the sands, Jesyka has returned to fidgeting with the end of her braid, 
still watching the crowd of hatchlings somewhat anxiously.

From the sands, Comet's Trail Hatchling shakes her head in an attempt to 
clear her face of sand. Her wings flail as she moves, as though opperating 
seperately from the rest of her body and trying desperately to keep her 
upright. As she shakes and twists her eye catches something. Something that 
makes her pause. Forgeting the sand, she stumbles merrily over to one of 
those white clad things.

Dendra turns dead serious and says, "Because at one point I'd have committed 
nearly any crime to be in his shoes right now. I'm very happy baking now, 
but I know what it's like to want a lifemate that badly. And I'm happy he 
got one."

From the sands, Germaine watches the young green take an awkward tumble, and 
just tsks, giving the small hatchling a worried look.

Keara just shrugs and goes back to watching.

From the sands, Celis glances over at Yscalda, having caught her words by a 
wierd moment of accoustics, and grins. "It /is/, though!" and she laughs. 
squeezing Ouryn's hand, glancing up at him for reassurance, before turning 
back to the hatchlings and eggs.

From the sands, Rebecca watches the green and blue hatchling as they get 
closer, gently shifting on her feet.

From the sands, The top seems to split open, right off the Anonymous 
Satellite egg letting the mottled chesnut and tan hatchling poke his head 
out. He stretches lazily, uncertain if he should move further now that his 
head is free. After some thought, he stretches out his limbs, shattering the 
remains of the egg. He meanders over to a small knot of candidates, even his 
starving belly not enticing this hatchling to move any faster than a slow 
mosey. He plunks down in front of his chosen, lounging as he chooses to 
spend his life with Illiad, now I'lad from the Weyr itself.

From the sands, Galactic Collision Egg comes to a stop, cradled in a 
somewhat deeper pit of black sand. Still, it continues to rock and wobble 
energetically in that dip, digging it a bit deeper. The hatchling inside 
seems to be making a concerted effort to get out now, and the wobbles gain a 
certain rhythm.

From the sands, Cassius frowns, "They seem to fall over rather a lot, don't 
they?" he asks no-one in particular.

From the sands, Tella chuckles softly at the green and her flailing greens. 
"She's so adorable.." And then back to the blue, "As is him. He'll be an 
interesting one."

From the sands, Mirielle watches the hatchlings intently, as if silently 
willing something to happen. But no, it doesn't seem to.

From the sands, Jesyka winces in spite of herself as the green takes a 
tumble. "Ow," she comments to herself, while still worrying the end of her 
braid.

From the sands, Starry Night Blue squeals in delight! Yes..this one is the 
one! A -perfect- sized white thingie! How did she know how to be just the 
right size?!? He rushes towards his match.

From the sands, Ouryn still watches as new friends and old meet their 
lifemates upon the burning Sands of Ista. Each one recieves a smile, each a 
note of congratulations, as the large lad keeps tight to Celis' hand. 
"Wonder which is yours," he whispers down to the lass.

From the sands, Yscalda can't help but chuckle at Celis' comment, and she 
bobs her head in agreement. "Good point. The last clutch didn't seem this 
vocal, though."

From the sands, Arafel watches the little green head across the sands then 
glances back to a wayward blue that's blundering through the piles of shards 
on it's way to the 'One'.

From the sands, Copernican Folly egg shakes, and then splits down the 
middle, revealing a pale blue dragonet. He sits still for a moment, and then 
trumpets as loudly as he can, knocking himself over backwards. One young man 
rushes over to help him, but the blue gathers his feet under himself, and 
pushes the candidate aside, in search of the perfect lifemate. Coming across 
a group of three girls, he sniffs them each in turn, and finally settles on 
Binia, the youngest. As he rests his head in her cupped hands, she exclaims 
"Woleth, you are the most wonderous of all!"

From the sands, Celis suddenly tumbles forward, dropping Ouryns hand. 
"Sidrith!!" she calls out, tears suddenly flowing freely.

From the sands, The shell of the Galactic Collision egg pulsates with the 
movement of its occupant. Fragments and pieces bulge as they separate from 
the membrane within, and a shining wet dragonet spills out; a bundle of 
bronze on the dark sands.

From the sands, Cenica breaks into a smile and approaches Celis and her new 
lifemate, "Celis, can you and Sidrith follow me over to the corner over 
here?"

Kallrina says "Who's left to impress?"

From the sands, Kiryn looks hurriedly between the darting greens, the blue, 
and the chestnut brown. So many little creatures, it's a wonder they don't 
all run into each other. His head then turns sharply, to note Celis, and the 
youth beams over at her, before turning to note the newly-arrived bronze.

From the sands,
                             Oort Cloud Bronze
From the depths of darkness, he comes, drawn from his shell by the singular 
mind that he knows is his match. Even at this young age, he shows strength, 
determination, and unwavering motion in the purposeful gait of his 
well-proportioned haunch and power of his heavily-muscled chest. His bronze 
hide is shadowed; deepest sepia spreads over lithesome neck and withers, 
darkness trailing across his back and belly almost uniformly unrelieved but 
for a luminescent streak, starting at the head and stretching out from his 
bronzed muzzle, until the light seems to race along his dorsal side from 
pinion-anchor to tail. He is large, even for a bronze, and his strong legs 
and muscles propel him forward with infinite grace. His drying wingsails are 
nearly transparent, the merest fiery hints of bronze licking his pinions and 
giving him form. While his clutchmates may wobble and stumble their way 
toward their lifemates, this dark bronze dragonet is an arrow, aimed true 
and sure at his chosen lifemate.

Nyne lets ut a whoop, the first one this hatching. "Celis! Celis! Now she 
can really fly, no firelizards or slings, and she and Sidrith can BOTH flame 
threads!"

From the sands, Germaine has reconnected.

From the sands, Tella's chuckle catches in her throat. Tears form in her 
eyes as she falls to her knees, releasing Ouryn's hand to wrap her arms 
around the small green. "Oh, Ysyth! Of course you're.." A giggle comes to 
her lips. "Hunger? Well, we'll just get you some food then."

From the sands, Germaine has partially disconnected.

From the sands, With gathering speed, Helix egg rocks in it's little 
depression of sand. Soon it tumbles forth, spilling out a royal blue 
hatchling, tail over headknobs, sumersaulting and rolling in a ball over to 
a knot of candidates. He disentangles feet from wings, crooning up at the 
dark skinned girl laughing at him. Ruada kneels, still laughing, "Oh 
Actinath!"

From the sands, Celis trips on her own legs, trying to stumble forward with 
Sidrith, "Oh yes yes yes! Food, oh, dearly loved one, come this way.."

Amaryllia looks almost...excited as her eyes fall upon Celis and her blue, 
and her lips pull into the vaguest of smiles. "It's about time," she 
grumbles, rolling her eyes, "And Tella, too? Huh."

From the sands, Ouryn gives a great cry for Tella! "Hurrah, lass!" he cheers 
the new greenrider.

From the sands, Rebecca sighs with relief as another dragonnet meets its 
lifemate, she looks around, there are far fewer eggs now. "Perhaps I will 
get through this safely" she whispers.

From the sands, Celis walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Cenica walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Arafel claps a loose hand to her mouth almost bouncing as 
Celis impresses. "Wonderful!"

From the sands, Sidrith walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Germaine has reconnected.

From the sands, Bryl walks over from the far end of the Hatching Cavern.
Dendra jumps up and claps for Tella and whoops loudly for the new Rider.

From the sands, Mirielle slides over closer to Ouryn as more Candidates 
Impress. Mumbling congratulations to the two newest riders, she smiles 
timidly at the rapidly decreasing number of eggs.

From the sands, Bryl smiles brightly at Tella as she approaches her and the 
green hatchling. "Wonderful! Lets just move over to the corner and get her 
some food."

From the sands, Yscalda gazes around with a smile as two of the people she's 
Stood with twice find their lifemates. "Oh, how wonderful for Celis and 
Tella!" she murmurs as her attention returns to the rapidly dwindling number 
of eggs. "And good lifemates for them both, too."

From the sands, Mars egg has been rocking back and forth for some time, and 
now, with a convulsive heave, rolls right over. With a loud crack, the top 
comes off, and four little green feet poke out, waving pathetically in the 
air. There is a scramble and a flurry of damp green hide and wings, and a 
small dragonet is heading across the sands like a watchwher that has sighted 
food. She almost stumbles into one young woman, before the pair lock gazes 
and the girl from bakercraft cries out "Oh Pinith! Be careful!"

From the sands, Oort Cloud Bronze gives himself a thorough shaking, sending 
sand and membrane and eggshell fragments flying. There's still a couple 
flecks stuck to his back, but he seems blissfully unaware of this. He stands 
amid the ruins of his shell, and calmly surveys the chaos he's entered.

From the sands, Tella rises to her feet, arms still about the young green. 
Through tearfilled eyes, she looks to Bryl. "Oh.. of course. Come this way, 
dear," is murmured to her green.

Wyndhra has disconnected.

From the sands, Tella walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Cassius waits for a pause in the action, then grabs the ends 
of his busted robe and pulls them together, trying to tie them into a neat 
knot. He doesn't manage a neat one, but he gets a messy one done. One that 
keeps him decent. That accomplished, he spins around to check out the 
shattered eggs, the few hatchlings still on the sands, and his remaining 
fellow Candidates. "Where did Celis go?!" he asks.. but nobody is that close 
to answer. He takes a few quick steps towards Ouryn and asks, "Where'd she 
go?"

From the sands, Ysyth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

Keara snarls softly, "There's another," and settles back on her bench.

From the sands, Bryl walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

Rhi has disconnected.

From the sands, Germaine has partially disconnected.

From the sands, Grinning towards Mirielle, Ouryn gestures to the lass. And 
with the approach of Cassius, "Shells! You missed it? She Impressed, man! A 
blue!" he cries as though he could not be any prouder of his dear friend.

From the sands, A couple little cracks start to form and then suddenly 
Whirlpool egg cracks right in two, leaving the solid sized blue huddled on 
his shards. He glances around in obvious surprise before carefully and 
meticulously picking himself up and delicately choosing his careful path 
towards the candidates. He pauses, deliberating a moment before turning 
jeweled eyes upon a bulky smith, the two forever as one.

From the sands, Kiryn continues to stare at the bronze, just as oblivious to 
the other girl's impression as the beast is to the shards stuck to his back. 
Forcing himself to take long breaths, he stands and watches, waiting, 
muscles tense.

From the sands, Soranda claps her hand as Celis Impresses and grins at 
Oryn's call. Her attention shifts quickly back to the hatching bronze.

From the sands, Arafel takes time to scan for unhatched eggs and smiles as 
there's very few left. She takes a long look at Tella dn Ysyth walking off 
the sands together then sighs, collecting herself. It's almost over!

From the sands, Cassius slaps his face, "Shards, I missed it all, Ouryn. All 
over this foolish robe and."

From the sands, Quietly, under the cover of the excitement and hoopla of his 
clutchmates hatching, the Star Birth egg slowly disintegrates. Bit by bit, a 
large sized brown, easily the size of his bronze clutchmates emerges, trying 
to keep to the shadows and out of the limelight. A quiet little candidate 
from Fort, one of the youngest of the class stands apart also, and soon the 
pair are one forever.

From the sands, Germaine has reconnected.

From the sands, Cassius catches his breath and continues to rant to Ouryn 
about missing everything going on. And, because he's not paying close 
attention, he manages to miss even more. Like those hatchlings on the sands.

From the sands, Oort Cloud Bronze seems remarkably calm, and his gaze 
travels over each Candidate in turn, as though weighing. Turning slowly and 
carefully, that thoughtful regard takes in sire, and dam, their riders, and 
finally traces over the galleries and ledges. His wings are out, flapping 
slowly to dry.

From the sands, Jesyka is standing by herself, watching the rest of the 
Impressions while she worries the tail of her braid.

From the sands, Standing alongside Mirielle and Cassius, the large lad 
watches the bronze hatchling. "Look how handsome that fellow is," he goes so 
far as to point. "Mayhap he belongs to you!" Ory laughs good-naturedly to 
Cassius.

From the sands, Arafel smiles fondly as the little lad and a brown find 
eachother, forever. A quick look at the bronze that's coming near causes her 
to get a wary look again.

From the sands, Bryl walks over from the far end of the Hatching Cavern.

From the sands, A trio of eggs sit all snuggled up together in a hollow of 
sand, none of them having shown any signs of life up until this point. First 
the Muted Spiral Galaxy egg starts to rock, followed by Cat's Eye Nebula egg 
and soon thereafter Red Faced egg, as if the three hatchlings were already 
co-ordinating efforts even before breaking shell. Then, in a blinding flurry 
of shells and green hide, a trio of hatchlings toddle out into the fresh new 
world before them. All three are fundamentally deep forest green, one with 
highlights of pale along her wingsails, one with shadings of dappled yellow, 
like sunlight through forest leaves and the last, dark as night amongst the 
trees. Like one they advance, soon finding lifemates in a trio of gossipy 
girls, giggles and squeals of delight ringing out over the sands.

From the sands, Mirielle seems to resign herself to something, and smiles at 
Ouryn, trying to tear her attention away from the few eggs and hatchlings 
left.

From the sands, Yscalda smiles sympathetically to Arafel as she feels the 
other's nervousness through their clasped hands. "It'll be okay. The bronze 
will want one of the males." The candidate inclines her head towards the 
knot of boys a few spans away. "It's the other colors you'll beed to worry 
about, like those greens. Except it looks like they've found their lifemates 
already."

Torssa climbs up some stairs into the seats.
Torssa has arrived.

Areti flits up into the galleries from the entrance below.
Areti has arrived.

From the sands, Buried deep within the hot sands, Red Sprite egg starts to 
shiver, causing a mini localized earthquake. Moments pass and the earthquake 
becomes a volcano, spitting forth a ruddy brown hatchling instead of lava. 
He lands practically on top of a dark skinned boy from Ista Hold, the two 
forever together now.

From the sands, Kiryn's eyes and body alike turn to follow the bronze's 
progress, and his breaths come slow, controlled. Still, his hands betray the 
lad's frayed nerves, each clenching and unclenching in turn.

From the sands, Oort Cloud Bronze now turns that calm attention to himself, 
inspecing legs, and wings, and tail, as though they were another creature 
entirely. Those bits of shell are noticed, and removes with a couple of 
tongue flicks. Satisfied, he returns his attention to the remaining 
candidates, this time looking around quickly, as though to locate the one 
he'd already decided on.
From the sands, Germaine has partially disconnected.

From the sands, Cassius nudges Ouryn, "As likely that as for any other of 
us. Just, don't let me lose my robe, okay?" His eyes fix on that bronze now, 
as if the possibility it MIGHT be for him enters his head for the first 
time.

From the sands, Arafel turns to Yscalda. "I think it's going to be 
allright." she replies, nodding in agreement, then with a thankful squeeze 
looks back to the sands and the slowing maelstrom of activity, able to pick 
out every moving object with ease.

From the sands, Hardly noticeable against the backdrop of the egg, the 
cracks on the Dual Nebula egg finally split open, spilling a bewildered blue 
onto the sands. He sits, blinking at the world in general until Isadith 
stretches out his neck to give the little guy a helpful shove towards the 
candidates. A little push was all he needed and the blue tumbles his way 
forward into the arms and life of Terian. "Roghbeth! I know you're hungry."

From the sands, Ouryn laughs, "As you like!" the Candidate lad nudges 
Cassius. "Well, luck to ye." And his eyes trail to the gleaming bronze, 
rather neat and calculating, he thinks. Just as a dragon ought to be.

From the sands, Jesyka is still quiet, and still watching. She braids the 
end of her plait up, then unravels it, then rebraids it.

From the sands, Rebecca watches the bronze warily.

From the sands, Oort Cloud Bronze starts forward now, towards the selected 
lad, somewhat isolated. His manner is firm, and untouched by the uncertainty 
and clumsiness some of the others have displayed. He marches up to the short 
lad with sandy hair, and the oddly-designed white thing.

From the sands, Mirielle looks down at her shifting feet, as if marveling 
that the sand can still be *this* hot. "Is it over yet?" she asks of Ouryn, 
looking out at the sea of Shards.

From the sands, Arafel watches the closest hatchling, a little bronze that's 
moving so purposefully /not/ towards her. She tries to see which of three 
boys he could be aiming for, craning her neck to watch.

From the sands, Noting the nervous tension of Jesyka, Ouryn tries to give 
the lass a smile. "Easy now, what if your lifemate comes up to you?" he 
jokes. "I know how you feel.." Sighing towards the eggs, the lad gives a 
chuckle.

From the sands, Jesyka turns her gaze toward Ouryn, and gives the larger 
Candidate a barely perceptible shake of her head while still worrying her 
braid.

Wyndhra has connected.

From the sands, Yscalda also watches the bronze, the curious expression on 
her face as she turns to each of the male candidate left indicating her 
feelings at the moment. "Who's he wanting?" she queries of the candidates 
closest to her. "Can you tell?"

From the sands, Soranda shifts her feet in the sand and peers from where she 
stands behind another girl, a flash of smile at Ouryn's comments, her 
attention on the bronze hatchling.

From the sands, C'sus's expression breaks from admitting a possibility to 
embracing a necessity as he shouts, "Vaolth, of course you're hungry!" His 
robe is forgotten, and as his arms raise in excitement, a loud rip opens the 
left side. Self-consciousness is forgotten as he lunges for the bronze.

Donos has disconnected.

From the sands, Rebecca watches the bronze and the grins at C'sus. "Oh 
good!"

From the sands, Bryl smiles as she approaches the hatching and newly 
impressed rider. "Congratulations C'sus! Lets get him some food over here in 
the corner."

From the sands, Arafel shakes her head to Yscalda. "No.. I can't see." she 
replies... then bounces as the crowd clears enough. "Cassius! It was 
Cassius! Well done, Cas... uh, C'sus!" she calls.

Amaryllia's mouth opens, and she stares. Cassius--No, not anymore, C'sus is 
given a long measuring look. "Dear shards."

From the sands, Quietly, without much fanfare, the final egg gives up its 
hatchling. Shudders and cracks show to be the work of a quiet little green 
from String of Pearls egg. She trundles off taking her time in finding her 
lifemate in a gregarious boy from harper hall. The green creels again, the 
two now inseparable as they're led off the Sands, leaving shell shards in 
their wake.

From the sands, C'sus follows Bryl closely, his rope flapping open as he 
leaves the sands with his lifemate.

From the sands, C'sus walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Ouryn grins towards Arafel and C'sus, and adds his own 
congradulations.

From the sands, Vaolth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Jesyka watches C'sus leave, before sighing. "All gone," she 
comments to Ouryn.

From the sands, Kiryn watches C'sus depart, heaving a little sigh of his 
own.

Kymi has left.

Dendra stands up and cheers for Cassius and his bronze lifemate!

From the sands, Yscalda breaks into a smile as the bronze chooses Cassius. 
Or C'sus, now. "That'll get that kitchen girl's interest!" she calls with a 
mischievous grin. "Cass, a bronzerider..." She looks back at the clutch, 
only to realize there's nothing left but shards where all those eggs stood. 
"Well, that's that, I guess."

From the sands, Mirielle lets out a soft sigh, betraying all her pent up 
feelings with it. "Oh well," she comments to Ouryn, trying to sound 
relieved.

Torssa walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Torssa has left.

Keara has left.

From the sands, Rebecca smiles and looks at herself "And I'm in one piece 
still."

From the sands, Germaine has disconnected.

Wyndhra has left.

From the sands, A'zric watches the last of the weyrlings leave the sands, 
looking around to confirm before calling out to the disappointed folks. 
"Gather round please, before you vanish off into the woodwork of Ista."

Amaryllia has reconnected.

Amaryllia has partially disconnected.

From the sands, Br'nal walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Bryl has reconnected.

From the sands, Arafel looks about the sands... and sure enough, there's no 
more whole eggs or hatchlings. "It worked!" is her quiet cry of triumph. She 
then notices the dejected looks of her fellow ex-candidates. "Oh.. Ouryn... 
and everyone. I'm so sorry." she sighs.

From the sands, Soranda watches C'sus leave with his new lifemate and 
breathes a sigh of relief. She steps with the others towards the weyrleader.

From the sands, Ouryn nods and strides towards the Weyrleader, curious.

From the sands, Rebecca walks over to the weyrleader.

From the sands, Bryl walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands, Jesyka pads over to the weyrleader, dropping the tail of her 
braid in the process.

From the sands, Izaura blinks suddenly, realising there is indeed nothing 
but shards left on the sands where there was, only a short time ago, a full 
clutch of eggs. Half turning to Lallie, she abruptly finds herself in the 
role of comforter as she draws her now tearful sister closer to B'rel.

Amaryllia has reconnected.

Asiya sighs softly as the last hatchling impresses, murmuring softly to 
herself, "An adventure, truly."

From the sands, Mirielle gathers her thoughts, and trots over to A'zric.

From the sands, Yscalda nods to the Weyrleader and drops Arafel's hand to 
walk over to A'zric. "It's not your fault, Ara," she comments over her 
shoulder to the other girl. "The hatchlings choose where they will, and 
nobody can tell who will Impress."

From the sands, Arafel takes a shard from a pile on the sands then follows 
the rest of the candidates over to the leaders.

Amaryllia pauses, head shaking, standing. "Ouryn," she says, thoughtfully, 
then turns away. Back to the infirmary.

Amaryllia walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Amaryllia has left.

D'orn walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
D'orn has left.

Elias says "well, I guess its over and I should be getting back to Healer 
Hall"

From the sands, Kiryn stands where he is, for a long while, before wandering 
to join the others, head hanging.

Faern has left.

Varoni glances over to Elias and Asiya. "Not staying for the feast?" he 
queries.

From the sands, Germaine has connected.

Nyne shrugs, show's over. SHe hops cheerfully down from her spot, to leave 
the stands.

Nyne walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Nyne has left.

Elias says "hmm, maybe I'll stay for just a while"

Elias smiles

Mikel has left.

Sloane walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Sloane has left.

Kallrina makes as if to step onto the hot sands, but freezes in place when 
the Neith rumbles warningly at her.

Kallrina walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Kallrina has left.

Elias walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Elias has left.

Asiya says to Varoni, the dreamy quality of the moment before fading out of 
her piping tone, "Am I ever."

Kash has left.

Varoni smiles. "I'll make sure someone ferries you kids home. Go enjoy the 
feast. Don't barf on the Weyrleaders."

From the sands, Soranda nods, quietly echoing her agreement with Yscalda's 
sentiments.

Blue has left.

From the sands, A'zric waits until most if not all have gathered close 
enough to hear him without yelling, "I want to thank all of you for 
honouring Ista's sands with your presence. Yes, it is an honour to Stand, 
even though now some of you might be feeling very disappointed, some of you 
might be feeling relief, but all of you should be proud. I know it is a 
cliche to say that your lifemate was not on the Sands this evening, but it 
is true. Please, I beg of you, wait to make any decisions for a few days. 
Relax, be our guest for a little while." he glances to his Weyrwoman, busy 
for the moment, "I know Germaine will want to speak with each of you 
tomorrow."

Asiya nods her head quickly with a "Yes, sir!" before scampering down from 
her seat and out from the galleries.

Asiya walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Asiya has left.

From the sands, Rebecca nods "Thank you"

Donos has connected.

From the sands, Yscalda nods to the Weyrleader, glancing around at the other 
candidates. "Yes, sir. There's a few people I want to talk to before I 
decide anything, so I'll definitely be staying for at least a few days."

Alysia has left.

From the sands, Jesyka nods, expression gone blankly opaque for the time 
being. One last glance goes out to the sands, before she nods once more.

From the sands, Ouryn grins ruefully, and shrugs his shoulders. He's heard 
this before, and perchance will hear this again. "Thank you, sir," he bows 
with solemnity.

Dendra walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Dendra has left.

Aralia has disconnected.

From the sands, A'zric adds a little quieter, "I Stood twice, some of those 
weyrlings have Stood two or three times. This is not an end."

From the sands, Izaura listens quietly, her hands full as she hugs Lallie 
gently, brushing away her sister's tears that are as much from stress as 
from the disappointment. "Thank you." she echos, quietly, her expression 
suddenly tired with a mixture of relief and disapointment in her eyes.

Aralia has connected.

From the sands, Arafel steps forwards and bows to the two leaders. "I thank 
you for a most educational experience. May the weyr prosper and always have 
clear skies." is her polite reply.

From the sands, Kiryn looks rather, well, neutral. He stands there, just 
nodding along to the assorted comments, before taking a step back. "I should 
probably go pack." Hmm, somebody's mind seems made up already.

From the sands, Soranda follows Arafel, stepping up behind her. "I feel the 
same way, sir. Ma'am. Thank you for letting me be here."

Shenal has disconnected.

From the sands, Arafel steps back and blinks. "I'm hungry!?" she blurts to 
Yscalda. "Food... yes. And I can get out of this drafty thing." She then 
thinks to look to the stands for her father, but the rapidly exiting crowd 
makes finding him impossible.

From the sands, Yscalda adds her 'thank you' to that of the other 
candidates, inclining her head politely to the Weyrleader before grinning at 
Arafel. "Food definitely sounds like a good idea. Shall we go to the feast? 
Whatever the cooks were making earlier smelled delicious."

From the sands, Germaine nods to the small group of Assistant 
Weyrlingmasters before turning back to the remaining Candidates. She smiles 
faintly, wryly, after meeting A'zric's glance, "I'd like to speak with each 
of you before you make a final decision as to where to go from here." She 
taps one of her forearms with the fingertips of one hand, "Within the next 
two days."

From the sands, Ears catching on the offer of feast, Ouryn nods his assent 
towards Yscalda. "Indeed!" he laughs, patting his belly.

Griere has left.

From the sands, Jesyka nods soberly at Germaine, before the faintest 
intimation of a smile quirks her lips. "Thank you, Weyrwoman," she says 
formally. "You've been nothing but kind during my stay here."

Areti wings aloft and pops *between*.
Areti has left.

From the sands, Arafel,grinning, holds Yscalda's hand and almost misses the 
weyrwoman's comment. She nods and makes a note to herself..

From the sands, Ouryn nods and meets the Weyrwoman's eyes with a nod, before 
turning on his heel to depart the Sands.

From the sands, Yscalda just shakes her head in amusement at Ouryn, then 
turns to Germaine. "Thank you for the honor of being a candidate again. I 
forgot how much I missed this place and all the people."

From the sands, Germaine smiles to Jesyka, her expression warming 
considerably, "Please come to my weyr tomorrow, Jesyka. I'll expect you in 
the evening, just following the 17th candlemark." At Yscalda's words, the 
Weyrwoman smiles faintly.

From the sands, Izaura nods as well, with a half hearted smile. "Thank you, 
Weyrwoman." she says softly, before turning to take her sister off the 
sands.

From the sands, Kiryn offers a polite bow, and turns to go without a further 
word.

From the sands, Jesyka's brows knit a bit, as she catalogues the time and 
date, and nods. "I'll be there, Weyrwoman, ma'am," she says, with a smile, 
before turning to follow the others off the Sands.

From the sands, Ouryn heads out towards the entrance.

From the sands, Kiryn heads out towards the entrance.

Varoni walks down the stairs towards the entrance.
Varoni has left.

From the sands, Jesyka heads out towards the entrance.

From the sands, Izaura heads out towards the entrance.

From the sands, Arafel starts to pull Yscalda for the bowl. "Come on.. I'm 
starving!"

From the sands, Arafel heads out towards the entrance.

From the sands, Soranda waves at the weyrleaders and grins, trotting off to 
find the crowd of Fort Weyr-ians that she *knows* is there.

From the sands, Germaine nods curtly, then lets her eyes stray across the 
sands at the departing Candidates for a long moment. Turning toward A'zric 
once more, she lifts a brow, "Shall we?"

From the sands, Yscalda gives the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader a respectful 
inclining of her head, followed by one to their lifemates. When Arafel 
begins to pull her towards the bowl, the girl laughs and follows quickly.

From the sands, Yscalda heads out towards the entrance.