The Hatching of Gold Qirith and Bronze Bromith's Clutch
PernMUSH, August 25, 2002

The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

You fly through the entrance to the Hatching Grounds.

<*> Jazeth rumbles a greeting as he perches, Teria sliding off her back
quickly. "Oh, are we too late?" She is practically squeaking, as behind her
Jazeth picks up the hum.

You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles,
cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully.

Caroline turns back to Teria with a wave. "No, the humming only just
started. I haven't even seen an egg move yet."

F'tan perks as well as he hears that particular sound. He sighs a little
then offers. "Igen's duties to Fort and the Harper Hall." before smiling to
Caroline again.

Verceth flies in from the bowl.

Jenufa nods her thanks to F'tan before settling onto a bench, flicking that
encroaching ribbon back once again, then beaming.

"Duties to Ista and her queens," Kassi offers, cheerily, by reflex as she
swings down from Lysseth's neck with her wine skin and sheaf of hides
already in hand. "I'm nay too late for laying wagers, am I? Nay, nay with
the Candidates nay on the Sands yet. What d'you know; we're early for once,
Lyss."

Hanreth flies in from the bowl.

J'nas unstraps himself from Hanreth's neckridges, sliding down his forelimb
to the ground.

Teria grins, wrapping her arms around herself. "Brrrr. Igen's duties." She
positions herself with the people she recognizes, still wet hair dripping
down her back.

Mara leaves Verceth's back, joining the others on the ground.

J'nas drops from Hanreth's neck and calls out a cheerful, "Fort's duties to
all the Weyrs and their queens."

Caroline smiles slightly at F'tan, before nodding greetings to those
arriving, adding a generic "Igen's duties" to everyone. Blinking at Teria,
she asks incredulously. "Did you come *between* with that wet hair?"

Eishith launches from the ledge and into the air.

Mara climbs down from Verceth easily, landing on the ledge and brushing
dirt off her clothes.

F'tan looks at Teria and somewhat frowns, hearing Caroline's question. "Did
you Teria?"

Teria reaches up to twist water out of the partially frozen hair, answers
defensively, "Jazeth dragged me out of my bath. It's not my fault!"

Boomer bursts out of Between and hovers, looking for a landing.

Caroline just rolls her eyes at the Igen brownrider with sopping wet hair.
"And is Jazeth going to take care of you when you become sick?"

Jenufa beams at the arrival of her son, giving him a wave, but not giving
up her seat on her bench for all the weyrs of Pern (hmm...there's a ballad
in there somewhere).

Teria answers cheerfully. "I won't get sick." She leans over to get a
bettre look at the eggs. "I'm willing to bet a mark the first one will be a
brown!"

F'tan shakes his head slightly. "Youngsters..." He whispers.

Caroline laughs. "I'll take that bet. I say the first one to hatch will be
a blue. Tany, do you have a prediction?"

J'nas slices a path toward the Masterharper and takes up a position right
behind her. "Looks like you got the good seats this time."

F'tan crosses his arms over his chest. "I'd say a green." And a smile
lightens his face again.

Mara looks up as she hears that call from Teria. After a moment, she starts
to head toward that area instead, calling, "I say blue, too."

Nisanth flies in from the bowl.

Kassima looks over, her attention caught by the magic words. "I'll see
that," she calls to Teria, "if'n 'tis open to all, since m'thought is that
a green will be first."

Decarath flies in from the bowl.

Catalina slides down Nisanth's shoulder and foreleg.

Nisanth watches Catalina as she slides down his neck and shoulder, warbling
softly at her when she's safely on the ground.

Uriketh flies in from the bowl.

Yashira dismounts Decarath.

Salva swings her leg over Uriketh's neck and slides to the ground.

Teria laughs. "Anyone have a hide to write this down on? I'll go from here
with enough for my new leathers, you'll see!"

Peth flies in from the bowl.

Decarath settles down with a minimal rumble of greeting, folding his wings
in a stately manner. Yashira clambers down from his neck and calls out,
"Telgar's Duties!"

Kassima rummages amongst her hide collection until she finds one blank, and
slides off Lysseth's foreleg to offer it over to Teria. "I've always a
surplus of betting hides at a Hatching," she admits with rueful humor. "And
wine; a Hatching's nay a Hatching without those two things. Yash, Mirielle,
g'deve!"

Peth follows Decarath in, her rider sliding off with ease.

Mirielle slides down off Peth's back and lands neatly on the ground.

Salva dismounts with a wave for those on the ledges. "Hello and Ista's
duties!" she calls.

Yashira snorts as she trots toward Kassima. "Should have known I'd find you
here already. Hey, Mirielle. Hello to you, Teria - how are you? How's U'yn?"

F'tan echoes all the greetings by adding one of his own at each arrival.

Mirielle grins as she finds her way over to Kassima and peers down. "How
can we go about making wagers?"

Mara doesn't seem terribly interested in greetings; she doesn't give any.
She heads over toward Kassima and Teria's area, a little slowly. "I had the
blue."

Beneith flies in from the bowl.

"Good, good," Yashira says. "Put me down for a brown hatching first, would
you? A quarter mark."

Caroline waves to those arriving. "If my blue makes his appearance, I'll
have to commision something new. It's been ages since I've done that.
Perhaps something for my parents for when I finally see them."

Kassima assures Mirielle upon returning to her place, "Oh, very easily.
Tell me what you think will Hatch first, offer a certain number of marks in
wager, and if'n you're right, I have t'pay you. If'n you're wrong, I get
your money. A'course, you could do that with anyone really, nay just me,
but what's the sport in that?" She is, yes, facetious. "Best strategy is
t'be splitting out your bets and such t'reap the maximum amount of profit
with the least amount of risk, but that's harder t'be doing on the day.
Best plotted in advance."

Llano appears in the room suddenly from **between**.

Mirielle laughs goodnaturedly. "What about if I want to wager that a
certain someone is going to Impress? For example, I'm willing to bet on
Mirrari and Marus both."

Teria announces, peering at the scrawl that passes for writing. "Got it...
ANyone else? Bronze and gold are still open."

J'nas edges closer to the bookie, er... rider. "I'll put my money on a
brown hatching first."

Salva wanders over to Teria and peers over her shoulder. "Hmm. Put me down
for a brown as well. Are we betting on who Impresses?"

Mara clarifies, "I've only got a quarter-mark on that one. But I want to
put a whole one on Marus impressing. Can I do that?" Her hands are behind
her back as she speaks, shifting her weight slightly nervously.

Yashira nods to J'nas. "Good man. Good to see you again, J'nas."

Kassima consults her notes. "I'm nay as much for betting on Candidates,
m'self," she says slowly, "but... hmmm. How much, Mirielle? If'n the amount
tempts, I might be taking you up on that."

"And you as well, Yashira," J'nas returns. "I couldn't very well bet
/against/ brown, could I?"

Teria replies ruefully. "Not me. I don't know any of those standing well
enough. Hey." She looks over at F'tan, suddenly curious. "You know if
anyone bet on me, last Hatching?"

Mirielle makes a bit of a face. "Well, I don;t have too much I can spend,
so an eighth mark for each?"

Caroline thinks. "I'm just going to stick with a blue hatching first and
I'll leave mine at one mark. Anything more I can't possibly afford."

F'tan perks. "Huh? What Teria? I can't remember, really." He coughs and
tries to hide the dawning of a smile.

Kassima chews on the inside of her cheek. "That's certes nay much,
but--ach, shells, 'twill take it; there's nay much risk in it either, and
I'd nay bet many marks against Mirrari. Nor against this Marus, since I'm
nay knowing him."

Yashira nods to J'nas with a grin. "Precisely my reasoning, J'nas. I think
it would have won me something at High Reaches' last hatching, if I
remember correctly. And this time? I won't need to pee halfway through."

Teria eyes F'tan. "Uh-HUH."

Salva nods at Teria. "All right. Thanks." She heads for Mirielle and
Kassima this time. "Taking bets on candidates? I'd like to bet on Marus,
too...half a mark."

Mara chuckles. "Everyone's voting on Marus," she comments, checking her
pocket for something or other.

Public announcement: IstaW_Bldr announces "Ista Weyr's hatching will begin
in ten minutes! Come one come all and join the fun! +go ista-cb, se, HG to
get to the Hatching Grounds! The dragons they are a hummin'!"

Mirielle grins at Kassima. "Well, I don't really know him myself, but
Mirrari seems to think well of him, and I'm hoping I'm right."

Kassima grins up at Salva. "I seem t'be taking the Candidate bets by
default, aye. Marus, one-half mark? I'll see that...." She scribbles a
quick note on a hide already filled with similar jots, though many of them
are neater. "Though if'n he has so many betting on him, I suspect I'll end
up in the hole for it. What of you, Yash? Going t'bet on anyone?"

Salva grins at Mara. "I really hope he Impresses. He's the one I know best
of the candidates, except for maybe Natalee. And I haven't seen much of her
recently."

F'tan tilts his head to one side, looking at Teria. "See? You just caught a
cold." Yes, he's changing the subject.

"Don't know anyone except Mirrari," Yashira says, shaking her head. "Third
time's special? I don't know. Maybe a blue for her - put me down for an
eighth of a mark on that."

Teria lists off, "Four for brown, two for blue, two for green - anyone else
betting on first egg hatching?" She frowns at the hide again, voice turning
mock-mournful. "'Twould be so much easier if I knew names. Descriptions are
a pain. 'The person with funny hair'?"

Cevodnioth flies in from the bowl.

T'mren climbs off the dragon, and hops nimbly to his feet.

Chaia climbs off the dragon, and hops nimbly to her feet.

T'mren hops off Cev, helping Chaia down as well. He looks about for anyone
he knows, spotting Salva, and waving towards her.

Kassima writes out a fresh note, repeating the bet to herself under her
breath. "Mirrari, blue, one eighth... Kaylira Impressed on her third time,
so who's t'be saying 'tisn't the charm? Nay me, at least. Speaking of
which, has anyone seen the minx about up here?"

J'nas can't help but get in on that bet. "I'll see Yash's bet on Mirr, but
I'm going to say she leaves with a green."

Caroline shakes her head at all the bets flying around her. "This must be a
taste of what it's like at Bitra." Laughing, she nods at Teria. "I don't
know their names either, this is the first I've been to Ista." She moves a
little closer to F'tan, making some room for others still arriving.

Aisheth flies in from the bowl.

Teria gives F'tan a brief glance - she hasn't missed the evasion. "I don't
have a cold."

P'ter swings his leg over and slides down Aisheth's flank, landing with
ease on the foreleg that Aisheth has places ready. "Thank you Aisheth",
says his rider politely as he jumps down from that vantage point to the
ground, resting one hand on the bronze behind him when he lands.

Mara chuckles. "I'm Mara," she clarifies for the convinence of the people
taking her bet. "Does that help?"

Hicerth flies in from the bowl.

Salva waves at T'mren from where she stands amidst the betting riders.
"Heya, T'mren, Chaia!"

P'ter pulls off his gloves, tucking them into his belt, speaking quietly to
Aisheth while the dragon finds a more comfortable stance. Then he turns and
eyes the large crowd before turning out to look over the sands.

Mirielle smiles at Kassima. "Don't forget, I Impressed on my third time
too." Tilting her head, she looks back at Peth. "I think it's definitely a
lucky number."

T'mren grins, "Hi Salva. Just in time for the fun, eh? Looks like they're
all about to start popping." He squeezes Chaia, and leads her forward.

Hicerth rumbles a cordial greetings to the other dragons around, settling
onto a ledge near some other Igen dragons.

Livia swings her legs over Hicerth's shoulders, sliding down onto a helpful
foreleg before making the rest of the descent to the ground.

F'tan's gaze wanders across the crowd. Spotting T'mren he waves and as
P'ter appears he calls. "Hey P'ter!"

Chaia waves back to Salva, "Wagering lots? It's a good group this time."

Yashira grins at Kassima. "I think we're minx free - shards, you stood
twice before Peth, Mirielle? I didn't know that. Or I forgot, one or the
other."

Teria scratches out something on the hide, adding Mara's name with a
flourish. She waves over at Livia. "Hey!"

Kassima bobs her head amiably to J'nas. "Mirrari on green wouldn't surprise
me," she admits as her charcoal stick marks it down. "So you did, Miri, I'd
nigh forgotten--but really, any number's the lucky number when it results
in Impression. First, second, third, or sixth! Shells, I hope she's nay
getting into trouble. If'n the Weyrleader comes in mussed, remind me t'have
words with her."

Mirielle giggles and nods. "I haven't seen her too much lately, but I
wouldn't be surprised to find her on a Green either. Although, you never
know. Maybe what she needs is a calming influence, say, Brown?"

Salva fights her way out of the masses and over to the Steward. "Yup. I
have half a mark on Marus Impressing, and...well, something on a brown
being first to hatch. I don't recall saying how much. Hmm. Teria?"

Yashira says "Blue," Yashira says sagely."

P'ter spies F'tan, hearing his call. Nearby he spots J'nas. He strides
over, muttering excuse me's and pardon me's and coming through's all the
way across the ledges till he finally arrives. "Packed." He says by way of
introduction.

Teria says "Standard bet is one mark - does that sound right?"

T'mren chuckles, "I didn't bet. This time."

Salva nods and calls back, "Sure. I can spare that. Thanks!"

Livia unfastens her flight helmet, tucking it under an arm as she gives
Teria a wave, heading over her way with a grin, "Hey! Don't tell me you're
taking the bets up here..."

"Care t'put a mark on that?" Kassi asks Mirielle hopefully.

J'nas offers the Fortian Weyrleader a casual salute when he gets closer.
"Care to get in on the betting pool, P'ter?"

From the sands below, Midnight Storm Egg shimmers slightly, rather like the
first hint of thunder before an oncoming storm - it's just the merest hint
of movement in the shadows.

Mirielle shakes her head and sighs wistfully. "I've had to spend some money
on Turnday gifts for family, nothing much, but I won't have anything else
to wager with for a while."

P'ter snorts, "Betting pool? I'm a Bitran. Where is it? Lead the way. Come
on J'nas, who, where, when and with what."

From the sands below, Bromith turns his head just in time to see the
Midnight Storm Egg move, his humms of the impending hatching increase in
volume.

Jazeth cranes his neck, spotting the movement below, and a deafening bugle
splits the air, breaking the humming.

J'nas points at Kassima, "Did you really have to ask?"

F'tan smiles, seeing P'ter trapped by his own Bitran instinct then perks.
"Looks like it's starting..."

From the sands below, Qirith continues to hum but it increases ever so
slightly as the eggs begin to move. Her facetted eyes locked on the clutch
that spreads before her.

Konnevath flies in from the bowl.

Divya clambers down Konnevath's side to the ground, the dragon's sparkling
eyes watching closely.

Teria grins at Livia. "I'm taking the bets on the color of the first
hatchling, yes. You in, Liv?"

T'ao climbs down from Beneith's neck.

P'ter grins, "Tell you what J'nas, I'll wager you 100 marks that there are
impressions within the candle mark."

Kassima wrinkles her nose lightly at Mirielle, but takes the news well
enough; "Turnday gifts have precedence," she allows. "Though if'n you win,
you might have more marks for 'em than ever--P'ter, heyla! Teria's got a
pool going on first color t'Hatch; beat me to it, would you believe, though
I'm willing t'take independant bets as ever. And wagers on who gets what,
it seems. Care t'put down any marks?"

Jay flies in from the bowl.

Divya slides off her lifemate and calls out, "High Reaches' duties! It's
not too late to get into the betting, is it?"

Livia grins faintly, ruffling the back of her head, "I've never been one to
turn down a bet. Put me down for...uh..shells. Green, I guess. Where's
Chayil when I need her fool-proof system?"

J'nas snorts. "I'm not /that/ foolish when it comes to betting. I learned
enough from Raeche to know that," he adds with a wink.

Yashira snorts in P'ter's direction, though she grins a bit.

Teria adds Livia's name. "How much? A mark?"

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

P'ter nods to Kassima, "With you I'll bet a mark on blue, with Teria I'll
put a mark on green. Even bet." He grins.

From the sands below, B'ryce comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the
Hatching Sands.

From the sands below, M'llon comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the
Hatching Sands.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kassima lifts her stylus-holding hand to wave it towards Divya, and calls
after a quick pull from her wineskin, "Never too late, Divya! I'll take
that, P'ter, though I'd nay if'n 'twere reversed. Green's m'thought for
first, too."

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

From the sands below, B'ryce walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

Mirielle chuckles. "Although I'm not going to bet on it, I think Green is
definitely likely to be first. Then again, what else could I say? Peth
*was* first."

Livia considers for a moment, "Better make it two. I need to see about a
new jacket pretty soon." She peers down towards the sands, watching the
little white blobs start making their way out onto the sands.

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

Teria mumbles, "Watch it be bronze and we all lose!"

Mara helps herself to a seat, eventually, without another word to anyone.

P'ter chuckles at Teria's comment. "I don't think I've seen it. Well, maybe
I have. I have a memory like Aisheth, so I'm not likely to remember."

From the sands below, Marus hisses softly through clenched teeth as he
steps out onto the sands, leading Mirrari and Natalee with him. He glances
around at the crowded stands and swallows thickly, unconsciously giving
both girls' hands a tight squeeze.

P'ter says "Okay Kassima. A mark it is. You want it now or is my work
alright?" He hefts the leather tiebag purse from his belt. "Hmm?"

Salva ends up settling down by Uriketh's feet, face lit with excitement.
"Here they come!" She waves at her favorite candidates, despite knowing
they aren't looking at her.

From the sands below, As the Weyrleaders arrive not soon after so too do
the candidates. Forming a loose semi-circle about the twitching clutch
before giving a bow to the dam and sire, Qirith and Bromith. Then to the
Weyrleaders as well, Fluria and M'llon.

Teria points her pen down at the sands. "I've been down there before. Never
been up here."

Divya asks, "Are you taking bets on Jascela, Kassima? I'd like to put a
half-mark on her to Impress green."

From the sands below, Mirrari smiles as she comes out onto the sands and
makes a curtsy to Qirith, Bromith, Fluria, and M'llon taking her place
amidst the other candidates. She squeezes Marus' hand, and grins at Natalee.

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

From the sands below, Lillian steps out onto the sands, her green eyes
slightly wider than normal. Thos eyes glance up at the galleries briefly
before coming back to rest on the sands once more. Giving herself a small
shake, Lillian takes a calming breath before moving to take her place in
semi-circle.

Konnevath joins in the other dragons' humming once the Candidates file out
onto the black Sands.

"I can take you at your word," Kassi assures the Fort Weyrleader, grinning.
"Makes things easier for me anyway, if'n I've fewer actual marks t'have
t'keep track of... oh, there are the Weyrleaders. Does M'llon look mussed?
I can't be telling from here. Jascela? That's J'cot's youngest--well,
barring Jaeleka's, I suppose--'tis nay so? Hmmm... aye, I'll take it, Divya."

From the sands below, Natalee squeezes Marus' hand and grins at Mirrari on
the other side. "Whatever happens..." she says and trails off.

P'ter waves over to Teria, "Hey Teria, can I place a bet with you on green?"

From the sands below, Yakut nods to the girl she'd come up with - the
younger one she'd helped earlier, and begins to watch the eggs with a
level, centered gaze. Whatever happens, happens.

From the sands below, Fluria moves across the sands quickly, but with a
slightly ackward gait, towards Qirith. The Queen does not stop her humming
but turns her head towards her lifemate, leaning down to nuzzle the small
woman. "Yes dear, I know, they're hatching," She coos to the gold.

From the sands below, Jascela walks out onto the sands, stepping quickly
once her bare feet hit the hot sand. She moves to join the other
Candidates. She grins at Talimar and offers one hand to him, then holds her
other out toward Lillian.

From the sands below, Talimar shifts slowly about on the stands sticking
near Jascela and Bianca as he looks out at the galeries then across the
sands swalling nervously.

From the sands below, Belanca stays close to Natalee but doesn't cling.
However, there is safety in numbers right now with Belanca doing her best
to be inconspicuous. The stands? She doesn't glance their way since the
eggs already the lion's share of her attention.

From the sands below, Midnight Storm Egg shivers again, more noticeably
this time. Grains of black sand tumble from the lower surfaces of the
dark-colored shell, like the first light sprinkles of rain in a summer storm.

Teria holds the hide up. "Already got it! - it is P'ter, right?"

From the sands below, Belzior takes his spot between Veliana and a
seamstress candidate. His eyes dart nervously at the eggs that seemed so
much less, dangerous, when they had seen them before.

From the sands below, Brees makes her way down after the last of the
candidates and stops over at one side to stare out at the eggs bouncing
slightly on her toes in her excitement.

P'ter nods, "Yep, it is P'ter. Or Peter, or Pete or HeyYou or sometimes
names not even repeatable."

From the sands below, Marus shifts side to side on his feet nervously,
looking between Natalee and Mirrari. "Shells...I'm not sure if I can do
this..." he confides to them.

From the sands below, Bianca freezes for a moment to look up toward the
galleries, eyes going wide. The movement of other candidates seems to
prompt her along though and she recovers, edging over to stand near
Jascela, Lillian and Talimar. Then and only then does she dare to look at
the eggs, at which she whimpers quietly.

From the sands below, M'llon takes his place beside Fluria, smiling at all
the candidates as they take their bow. Bromith nuzzles Qirith's side in
reassurance even as Qirith nuzzles Fluria.

Caroline glances over at P'ter and can't help but laugh at his list of
names he'll answer to.

From the sands below, Kyrola made sure all the candidates made it out to
the sands, bringing up the rear, her expression calm, but with a gentle
smile as she heads over to the Weyrleaders and stations herself out of the
way, looking up at the ledges, where her own queen hums with the other
dragons. Then, she looks back to the candidates and her reassuring smile
can be seen easily.

Teria chuckles. "H'you. S'good enough for me..." Her attention moves
inevitably to the scene below, after a moment. "Last call."

From the sands below, Slowly the Good Morning Egg opens, a great horizontal
crack forming and a great big sun-kissed brown stepping onto the sands with
unbridled confidence. A huge brassy bugle escapes his throat. A triumph
declared, a song of praise and a challenge set. He stares down each
candidate, looking for someone with just the right mettle to meet him.
Finally his gaze stops at Horvax and the boy lets out a triumphant whoop of
his own. "Dalonith!"

Cielth flies in from the bowl.

From the sands below, Talimar glances to Jascela and nods taking the
offered hand, before offering his other to Bianca. They gotta stick
together here....

From the sands below, Lillian's takes Jascela's hand, giving it a brief
reasuring squeeze before letting go once more. Can't move when necessary if
you're linked after all. Then one of the eggs move and Bianca whimpers.
"Hey, you're here for areason, remember? Do not fear." The words are said
softly, but with the force of conviction.

T'rock unbuckles from above and slides down Cielth's side to the ground below.

Yashira thrusts her fist into the air. "I win!"

Teria cheers! "Look! Brown! Oh, hello, new wardrobe!"

Divya cheers and says, "Brown! First Impression is brown! Hurray!" Not that
she's biased toward that color or anything, you understand.

Caroline sighs softly and looks over at Teria. "I'll send a mark over to
you once we get back to the weyr. I'll to work on these betting skills."
She winks good-naturedly.

P'ter spots Caroline laughing at him, and far from being annoyed he gives
her a wide smile and a nod of the head in greeting. "And of those names
will do."

Salva cheers as uriketh rumbles a welcome to the newly hatched dragon.
"Yes! Brown!"

Livia snaps her fingers, "Shells. I knew I should have bet with Hicerth on
this one. Oh well...I suppose the jacket will have to wait." She digs out
her two marks and passes them over to Teria.

Mara chuckles as she watches down and hears the cheering behind her. "I'll
grab the mark after for you."

From the sands below, Belzior watches as Horvax Impresses, a question on
his brow, as he looks at Mirrari, "Horvax!" He claps for the lad from Gar
Hold.

From the sands below, Brees grins brightly over at the new pair as she
makes her way over to them. "Dalonith, that's a wonderful name." She ushers
them away from the rest of the candidates.

Teria takes the marks, chewing her lip. "Four way sharing - Salva, me.
J'nas and Yashira."

From the sands below, Mirrari blinks, "Did they start to hatch already as
she sees her friend from Gar Impress, "Oh my, Horvax!"

From the sands below, Fluria's hand points out across the egg as the first
dragonet breaches his shell. "Brown!" She says excitedly to M'llon, her
smile already quite wide.

Konnevath bugles proudly as the first hatchling brown is a brown.

From the sands below, Natalee grins at Belanca and turns to Marus,
squeezing his hand. Then: "Horvax?! Next thing you know, Norn'll be
impressing," she whispers (but Nata has no idea what a whisper is) to him.
"If -he- can do it, what are you afraid of?"

From the sands below, Yakut nods, giving the newly Impressed brownrider a
passing smile, before she looks again to the eggs. So much happening at
once, so it's best to stay alert.

Kassima's low whistle at the Hatchling is only marginally disappointed.
"Lost one, won one," she reasons, "and the *next* will be green, Lyss, so
don't sound so disgruntled." The green rustles her wings impatiently, but
keeps humming, even as Kassi digs into her belt-pouch to find a mark to
pass Teria's way.

From the sands below, Marus gives a startled blink, then finds himself
suddenly laughing. "Wow, it's Horvax!" he cries, as if it wasn't obvious.

From the sands below, Jascela grins broadly as the Brown impresses. "Wow.
That was fast. Guess he knew exactly who he wanted."

J'nas grins. "Didn't I say it would be brown?" Hanreth echoes his
lifemate's good humor with a brassy bugle directed to Pern's newest brown.

Mvraeth emits a somewhat proud bugle as the little brown shows his muzzle.
Tany taps his lifemate's flank. "Yes, yes, I was wrong..." He chuckles.

From the sands below, M'llon had missed the impression as he was watching
Fluria but as she points he turns to look, "Oh yes, we can never have too
many browns."

From the sands below, Bianca nods a little bit, taking Talimar's hand and
giving it a quick, fierce squeeze. The first triumphant hatchling's bugle
draws her gaze out toward the eggs, to Horvax, and to the tiny brown.
"So... -fast.-"

Mirielle looks over at P'ter with a smile. "You were of Igen once, yes? I
think I've heard some stories, from a friend of a friend."

Jenufa watches with quiet excitement as the first hatchlings Impress their
lifemates, folding her arms and leaning ever so slightly toward the edge of
the cavern's ledge.

P'ter grunts, "Lost two marks. Ah well." He fishes them out from the pouch,
handing them over, one to each.

From the sands below, Talimar nods in agreement and says, "Yeah I guess."
giving bothe Jascela and Bianca's hands squeezes..

From the sands below, Veliana grimaces as the heat of the Sands seeps
inexorably upward to her feet. She's watching them, not the eggs, when
Horvax's Impression yanks her head up. "Who was that? What happened?"

From the sands below, Midnight Storm Egg actually rolls from its position,
this time, landing sideways and then spinning a bit in the sand. More
grains fly free as it moves, so close to shattering.

From the sands below, Belanca had missed the impression and is left
stareing with unabashed curiousity after the new pair as they depart the
semi-circle. "Who knows what dragons Impress to or because of?" she
comments in a quiet tone.

From the sands below, Marus stares at Natalee in surprise, then begins to
snicker. "Be nice..." he murmurs, squeezing her hand.

P'ter turns to Mirielle, "Igen once? Oh my yes. Igen for a long time. Was a
wingleader there, senior dragonhealer for a long spell too. Transferred
over to Fort now." He smiles, "And I do hope that the tales you have heard
are all really juicy ones that totally exaggerate my behavior."

Mirielle raises an eyebrow coyly at P'ter. "You mean the juicy ones aren't
true? Pity."

"A shardin' good wingleader he was!" Tany exclaims, winking at P'ter.

Teria divvies up the money fairly, though she rarely takes her eyes from
the Sands. A soft, "Wow" issues from her. "It's so much different seeing it
from up here."

From the sands below, Lillian shuffles her feet slightly, though the
excitement of the event makes most of the sting from sands' heat go
un-noticed. Eyes dart here and there, coming to rest occasionally on one or
two of her favorites as the rocking and spinning becomes more pronounced.

"I can second that," comes Catalina's voice, suddenly close to P'ter and
F'tan.

From the sands below, Natalee snickers right back at Marus, but her eyes
are on the egg. "Well, it worked, didn't it? You're not scared anymore?"

From the sands below, Mirrari chuckles and grins at Marus, "But it's true..
I'm so glad for Horvax though. I hope though that he doesn't ask any of the
female weyrlings to wash his new lifemate for him."

P'ter bows to F'tan, "And I'm glad to hear you say it too." He grins
widely, then to Mirielle he says, "Ah well, some of the juicy ones might
well be true. Tell me, which ones have you heard?"

From the sands below, Midnight Storm Egg's dark shell splits now, not with
the thunderous sound one might expect from such an egg, but with softer
crackly sounds, as the being inside begins to free itself.

Kassima pockets P'ter's mark with a quick-flashed grin, then leans forward
to get a better look at the Sands. "Don't think I recognize anyone down
there save Mirrari," she comments to no one in particular. "I have t'say,
'tis much different than the last Ista Hatching I attended; 'twas nigh too
nervous for Kay t'enjoy that one."

P'ter doesn't jump, but he does turn smoothly to offer a warm smile to
Catalina, "Hey, Cat. How are you?"

From the sands below, Marus blinks a bit as he considers those words, then
laughs again. "Well, I guess you're right! Thanks, Nata." He then turns to
Mirrari with a trademark smile. "Aye, especially not you." A wink. As the
egg splits, he jumps.

From the sands below, The Twilight Thunderstorm Egg shakes furiously before
an explosion of dusky shell is tossed about the sands. Oh yes, he's here. A
great big blue tumbles out of his egg, rolling across the hot hand and
finally stopping, upside-down at Norn's feet. He lets out a boisterous
bugle and Norn reaches down to help right the clumsy dragonet. Halfway to
getting the beast right-side up Norn's eyes go wide, "Gobarth?" In his
shock he nearly drops the hefty blue.

From the sands below, 

                     Beguiling Shade and Shadows Brown                     

	Deepest umber, so dark that it might be thought black in certain places -
the crease of his shoulder, the the hollows between his neck ridges -
cloaks this fellow's frame and sweeps across his wings from tip to tip.
It's dark enough that he could seem invisible in the bowl at night, or go
unnoticed in full sun if he positioned himself just so.The inky color
doesn't shroud him completely, however, for the rest of him is covered in
warmer-toned hide that matches the color of the richest soil, or the
softest crushed velvet. He's lanky for a brown, and wiry, with long limbs.
His eyes are, af first glance, no different than those of any other dragon,
so perhaps it's the imagination that makes them seem somehow darker, more
intense, no matter which color dominates. His tail combines the both colors
of his hide, the underside warm brown, the upper shaded much darker, all
the way to the tip.

Divya laughs and says, "Blue this time, and brown! Still no greens yes,
Kassima."

Catalina slides into place near the bronzerider, with Nisanth too busy
crooning and humming to notice what his rider's up to. "Doing well, Pete.
And yourself?"

From the sands below, Belzior stands in shock, still watching the egs, as
now three of them have hatched, and then Norn greets a Blue. "Marus! It's
Norn!" he shouts excitedly to Marus.

Jenufa glances over at J'nas with an enigmatic grin, her gaze quickly
flickering up the neck toward the handsome head of Hanreth, before falling
back downward onto the sands, to the newborn brown.

From the sands below, Natalee really gasps at this one. "Norn?!" she cries,
looking positively shocked. "Norn?!" She claps her hands over her mouth as
she gapes at Marus. "Sure is a strange lot of eggs. First Horvax and then
Norn..." she trails off, shaking her head.

Salva grins broadly as yet another brown tumbles out, and another
Impression occurs, even if it is blue this time. "Good for him! Norn
and...what was it? Gobarth?"

Kassima makes a face at that, rubbing absently at the side of her nose.
"There will be! There's enough Benden blood in this clutch that 'tis surely
bound t'have a slew of fine, strong greens." Biased much?

From the sands below, Mirrari pffts and smiles at Marus, "Oh behave.." she
murmurs and then points out Norns' Impression, "See look, he did Impress.."
the lass chuckles, her feet shifting in the sand and nods to Belzior, "Aye
aye, Gobarth - nice name, eh?"

Teria leans against Jazeth, laughing quietly. "Yes, you were that small
once..." She trails off, applauding the second brown.

From the sands below, Now Bianca begins to notice the temperature of the
sand and drops her chin to stare balefully at it, lifting first one foot
and then the other and then heaving a terribly deep sigh. "I'm going to
-burn- again," she says petulantly to her little cluster of white-robes,
totally missing Norn's Impression and the coming of the brown.

Mirielle shakes her head, smiling. "It was a long time ago, so I really
can't say I remember details. But, besides, I thihnk it's more fun to
create new stories than to recount the old ones."

From the sands below, Jascela grins over at Belzior and Marus. "Wow.
they're all picking so fast tonight." She glances at Talimar briefly before
turning her attention out to the rest of the eggs. She gasps softly as the
next Brown hatches.

From the sands below, Perfect Recipe Egg doesn't shiver or shimmy or shake.
Nothing so delicate for this egg, as it give an experimental jump in place,
loosing the grip of the encasing hot sands. After that it seems it's
occupant rests a spell.

From the sands below, Brees laughs softly as Norn impresses then makes her
way across the sands to him. "Congratulations. I bet hey's hungry, huh?
We've got food right over here." She ushers him off the sands.

From the sands below, "He's still short." mutters Yakut wryly, and then her
eyes dart to the brown so recently burst free. She actually bites her lower
lip as she gazes at the creature, even as she tries to keep an eye on the
other active eggs, and minding her stinging feet.

From the sands below, Marus gulps a bit at that, watching Norn find his own
lifemate. He looks to Mirrari with wide eyes. "If they're choosing someone
like *him*, then I'm hist..." he trails off and shakes his head, realizing
he shouldn't say such things.

P'ter sticks his thumbs in his belt, and his chest out in a typical
Wingleader on parade style. "Living the life of the freezing cold at Fort.
But loving every minute." Then he reconsiders, "Well, not /every/ minute.
The water in the wash pool in the mornings. Cold enough to .. well, its
just cold is all." He smiles.

From the sands below, Talimar looks up to the brown that hatches and simple
says, "Wow, lok at that one."

From the sands below, Fluria shifts on her feet as well, the heat getting
through her boots. But her eyes are on the eggs hatching with rapt
attention. For a moment she glances away to M'llon, reaching to grasp his
hand in one of her own.

From the sands below, Belanca blinks as the blue arrives and blinks again
at the brown who isn't quite so fast to find his lifemate. "Mymy. Norn and
Gobarth." Idle words as she studies the newest brown with interest.

Livia wanders back to Hicerth, sinking down to sit at his foot, watching
the sands below with a curious little grin.

From the sands below, Beguiling Shade and Shadows Brown shakes himself a
moment, sending bits of sand and shell flying toward the other eggs, the
candidates, his dam and sire...whatever. Nearly as dark as night himself,
his first movements may go un-noticed, even if the debris does not. But he
picks his way forward, even so.

Divya looks over toward Teria and asks, "You said it looks so different
from up here? Are you a newly graduated Rider?"

From the sands below, M'llon glances at Fluria as she takes his hand,
lifting both hands he kisses the back of her hand, "I don't know why I am
nervous but I am." He looks back at the candidates and young dragons that
are coming out of their shells.

Catalina smirks, apparently having completed the *original* sentence in her
own happy little mind. "I see. I'll stay with sand, thanks, although it's
good to hear things are going well over there." She leans forward then, to
get a better look at the goings-on down below. "Chaos abounds..."

From the sands below, As the lovely Brown enters the world, Lillian smiles.
The action does much to soften the intensity of her gaze. "Oh he's lovely."
But then she overhears Bianca's comment and laughs softly. "Bianca, don't
you think that perhaps that there are more important things going on right
now?" she jersk her chin towards the Brown.

From the sands below, Kyrola watches the hatchlings with a hint of
reminiscence visible on her face, and her position gives her a good view of
the dragons on their ledges, and amidst her humming up there, Zaith changes
note just for her rider for a few moments. "That, M'llon," she states in
her quiet way, "is because you're weird."

From the sands below, Qirith lets a little rumble enter her hum as she
shifts in place. The queen herself seemingly as excited as her rider with
the tip of her tail twitching. If dragons could fidget...

From the sands below, It takes a long time cracking, the Undersea Shimmer
Egg, but finally the shards are tossed aside and a lovely ocean blue
dragonet goes about righting himself. He seems to take forever to decide
what to do next, just sitting there, silently taking in every detail of the
world around him before even considering the candidates. When finally those
folks in white catch his attention he wanders towards them, taking his
sweet time before he decides that a girl from Boll is just right for him.
"Delibrath. Yes, I'm hungry too!"

From the sands below, Belzior watches with interest, as the dark Brown
begins to move. As he shifts in the hot sands, he tugs on his robe, wishing
it were a bit longer, or that he hadn't grown so much in the last few
sevendays.

From the sands below, "But my -toes-," starts Bianca, voice already picking
up that familiar whine. She does follow Lillian's pointing though, and
whatever else she was going to add to the complaint trails off in favour of
an, "Ohhh."

From the sands below, Natalee nudges Marus and Mirrari. "I liked that egg,"
she whispers, pointing to the Undersea Shimmer Egg. "Almost as much as that
orange one."

Salva arches a brow. "Delibrath. Interesting name." She looks down and
chuckles as she watches Bianca and Lillian.

From the sands below, Fluria leans forward and peers past M'llon to Kyrola,
her lips twitched into an amused smile. "Your point being dear?" She asks
in a merry tone, her head quickly turning back to the sands. "I missed it!"
She says, meaning the newest impression from the Undersea Shimmer Egg.

T'mren nods at Salva, "That's a colorful one, eh? I like it."

Teria turns and smiles at Divya. "I am that. Latest product of Igen Weyr -
I'm Teria, brown Jazeth's rider."

From the sands below, Veliana complains, "It's all happening too fast!"

From the sands below, M'llon murmurs softly so that only the two goldriders
probably can hear, "I am proud of being weird.. it attracts the ladies."

From the sands below, Marus chuckles softly and lookes out at the sands. He
nods to the Prisim Egg. "Remember how jumpy that one was? I wonder who it
will go to?"

From the sands below, Beguiling Shade and Shadows Brown nearly stumbles as
he gets used to this walking-thing, but rights himself, and presses
forward. As he's more comfortable on his feet, he becomes less stumbly -
well, a little, and there's a hint of grace he may one day possess as his
eyes move back and forth across the sea of white-garbed candidates.

From the sands below, Mirrari chuckles lightly and shakes her head, "It was
a nice egg, the orange one is nice too though." She turns to Belzior, "You
okay?" she asks the lad with a smile.

From the sands below, Kyrola can suddenly be seen putting her hand over her
mouth, her eyes twinkling, and those nearest her can hear gleeful snickering.

From the sands below, Jascela looks over at the Weyrleaders and giggles
softly as she overhears their talking. Once the Brown begins moving, her
attention is drawn quickly to him though.

From the sands below, Perfect Recipe Egg tries that jumping thing again,
trying to jerk free of it's restraints. After all, that helped before,
didn't it? More sand is knocked away by that hasty action, but then the
eggs stills, perhaps it's occupant gathers it's self for another effort.

Kassima does a double-take at an overheard name; by her expression,
something's just clicked into place. "Oh," she says to Yashira, "*that's*
U'yn's lady--welladay, he must have good taste, if'n she's a gambler. I
must remember t'tell him I approve. Nay that I imagine he much *cares*, but
y'never know."

From the sands below, Belanca frees her hand for a little to rub it
nervously on her robe, her gaze now flicking between the wandering brown
and the woodish-coloured egg that had appealed to her the moment she saw it.

Divya says, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Divya, brown Konnevath's
rider from High Reaches. From.....too many classes ago to admit it
publically."

P'ter says "Create new stories", to Mirielle. "Well, the creation of
stories certainly can be interesting. Goodness knows they just seem to
follow me around. If ever you get the change ask K'fen about me and a rock
back when he was a Weyrling. Or was he an assistant Weyrling Master." He
taps his head. "Getting old see, memory going."

From the sands below, Belzior still tugs at the bottom of his robe,
actually blushing again at Mirrari's question. "I'm fine," he says,
watching the Brown, and catching glimpses of movement from another egg.

From the sands below, Yakut's expression remains composed, well, alright -
it's tense, and she flicks her gaze between the wandering brown and the
wobbling eggs. "Patient thing." she observes softly of the darkly hued
dragonet.

From the sands below, Talimar watches the brown closely his swalling hard,
giving the candidate on either side of him hand a squeeze.

From the sands below, Brees glances curiously over at the snickering
goldrider as she reeturns then stops watching and waiting for the next
impression with a big grin on her face.

Mirielle grins at P'ter. "Well, you're obviously not too old, that is, if
you still have interest in creating new stories."

From the sands below, The corner of Lillian's mouth now tugs upwards in a
more wry sort of gesture. Yep folks, its all about re-direction. At least
Bianca is distracted from her complaining for the moment. Lillian takes
that moment to wink at JAscela before looking back towrds the Brown. "He's
going to be a big one." Yeah, like she knows whats she's talking about, but
she sounds like she does, that counts, right?

Chaia has, as always, stayed quiet, just watching, letting everything wash
over her to be sorted into memories, later.

From the sands below, Marus looks ready to start pacing. He pauses to let
go of the girls' hands to wipe his sweaty palms off on his robe, then
re-joins them.

From the sands below, The Pink Posey Egg begins to hatch, the rosey shaded
shell delicately cracking until lace-like lines cover the little egg.
Suddenly a tiny green hatching sits amidst the remnant shards of her
previous home. Her beautiful little wings snap open and she bugles daintily
at the white-clad horde. She trots towards a clump of girls, all squealing
excitedly. Then that haughty Bitran blonde steps forward, sure of her
Impression, only to feel the sharp talons of that delightfully sweet little
green. The dragonet almost wears a smile as she makes bloody shreds of the
Bitran's arms before turning to instantly Impress a small dark haired boy.

From the sands below, Bianca settles for simply shifting her weight, giving
Talimar's hand a return squeeze... much more gentle than the one she first
shared. "Can you -tell- how big they're going to be? Just by looking?"

Teria taps Jazeth's hide fondly. "Well met. I hope this brown lasts long
enough I can say that."

F'tan is nearly in tears. Hatching always provokes such emotions to him, or
is it something else?

Yashira winces a little. "Oooh, that has to hurt."

Mirielle sees the mauling of the Bitran girl and shudders, making a face.

Teria turns a startled look downward. "Shards! I hope it's not as bad as
when Joshi..."

Salva claps a hand to her mouth. "Stupid little girl!" She sounds
heartless, but the pained expression on her face says different. "How many
times has she heard the warnings?"

Catalina looks torn between smirking and gasping. Choices, choices... Oh...
Smirk. Yeah. "She had that coming. Stupid girl."

From the sands below, Belzior stops tugging on his robe, awestruck at the
Green, and what happens. "Faranth. I hope she's OK," he says to Veliana.

P'ter points across to where Aisheth stands, attention riveted on the sands
below. "Its all his fault. Or so I maintai... oh Faranth, not again. Whey
don't they keep out of the way."

T'rock looks up his blue dragon and says, "Well, Cie, no one we've searched
has gone off with one yet." He returns his attention to the sands with a
half-handed comment about a jinx.

Divya grins and says, "Green! At last a green! How long did it take,
Kassima?" She blinks at the mauling, and turns her face back toward Teria
to avoid seeing the blood. "Don't let him fly Fall as Ista without serious
training first, and he'll be fine. Konnevath had to learn that the hard
way, the big show-off."

From the sands below, Brees quickly makes her way forward to the boy. "Oh,
yeah, she'll be alright. You just worry about your lifemate, I bet she's
hungry." The greenrider leads the pair off the sands and out of the way.

From the sands below, Fluria's eyes go wide at the ferociousness of the
green and turns to wave at those waiting for such events at the side of the
sands. As they infirmary aids rush to help the Bitran she turns to give
M'llon a wide-eyed look. "I -told- them to be careful. I thought they were
listening," She says in a rather irritated tone, the smile fading somewhat
as she looks back. The Bitran appears to be all right, but she is pulled
back and bandaged for the moment.

From the sands below, Mirrari smiles at the dark brown dragonet, she turns
to mention something something to Belzior and sees that green shredding
that Bitrans' arms, "Oh dear, poor girl... she should have known better.."
she murmurs softly.

From the sands below, Yakut observes with a frown, "She didn't listen, she
had it coming."

From the sands below, Perfect Recipe Egg has been still for a while now it
seems. There might have been a slight tremor or two, but so slight they've
surely passed unnoticed. But the occupant has been encased in this shell
long enough. This time there is no jumping and more of loud crack and an
explosion and shards fly free to reveal it's, now former, occupant!

Mara doesn't say anything at all, nor has she moved particularly much in
the last few minutes. She's silent at even the damage to the Bitran.

From the sands below, Beguiling Shade and Shadows Brown keeps moving, his
staccato steps becoming smoother as he skims along just inside the circle
of candidates. Somewhere, somewhere is His candidate. Tilting his head to
see better, he peers at one, then another. Nope, not /that/ one. Or that
either. A nearly exasperated creel is heard, as his *looking* at people
grows more intense.

Kassima says succinctly of the Bitran, "Wher-brain. They *always* tell 'em
t'dodge, and one *always* thinks they know better. Or so 'tis seeming."
With a shake of her head and a sigh, she looks back towards Divya: "Long
enough! But this one can be safely said t'have... ah... spirit. Or
something like it. Reminds me a bit of Flan's Tyrrath."

From the sands below, Belanca was watching that green impress and she gasps
in both irritation and shock. "Stupid girl!" But the incident is a reminder
that it really isn't totally safe out here and Bela fidgets, nervousness
increased.

Caroline is almost entirely caught up in the hatching, things happening so
fast that she can barely keep up with it and misses much of what goes on
around her. Nevertheless, her gaze does drift to F'tan every now and then,
and now, her hand reaches tentatively to him and she whispers something.

From the sands below, 

                         Massive Adamantine Green                          

	Deep, rich forest-green lines the neckridges of this dragonet, flowing
from there down to her dainty tail tip. The hue is echoed along her wing
spars and sails. The sails themselves however are faded in their shading,
dark even by contrast to the rest of her body. A sturdy frame is covered in
mossy shades that range from peridot accents to deeper casts of emerald
along her underside, with a grassy green tone being predominate over all.
She seems a study in contrast-- raw strength and power, yet still,
feminine, all in one.

From the sands below, Kyrola's snickering shuts off as if a switch had been
thrown. "The stupid fool," she says grimly as she watches those waiting for
such things handle it.

Konnevath rumbles reprovingly at his lifemate. He wasn't showing off!

From the sands below, Marus cringes as he beholds the bloody sight, quickly
turning his eyes away. "Mirr..." he says, shakily, in need of reassurance
once more. Poor lad...this is all so new to one not weyrbred.

From the sands below, M'llon squeezes Fluria's hand and nods, "I know you
told them to be careful. She wasn't listening closely enough I am afraid."
He watches the girl get lead off the sands, shaking his head just a bit.

Salva ooohs softly, looking away from the injured candidate. "Look at that
green. She's lovely."

From the sands below, Jascela pales as she sees the Bitran girl getting
raked by the dragonet. "Oh, no..." She looks away for a few moments until
the girl has been lead out of sight.

From the sands below, Bianca turns a fraction of a step toward the Bitran
girl and her pain and blanches, giving poor Talimar's hand a follow-up,
crushing squish. "Ohhhhhh," she breathes. "-Oh- that must have hurt."
Perceptive as she is, she misses yet another hatching, this time the
arrival of the deeply coloured green.

From the sands below, Belzior takes a step back from the Brown, as it
passes, to make sure he doesn't accidentally touch it. He catches the next
dragonet hatching out into the sands, and tries to keep the Green, and the
Brown, in view.

From the sands below, Talimar looks up as the green hatchs and "oh my, "She
is lovely..." just staring at the green now..

From the sands below, CRACK! The sound echoes from Another Rainbow Egg as
it slams against it's almost-twin, the Fuschia Rainbow Egg. As it happens
cracks give way to shards of eggshell and a brown topples forth from the
former and onto the later. The weight of the young dragon upon the other
egg coupled with the cracks already formed cause the other egg to break
apart moments later. From it emerges a green and the two, after figuring
out whose tail and wings are whose, part company and find their lifemates.
A girl from Red Butte finds her lifemate in the brown and a boy from Nabol
is chosen by the green.

From the sands below, Mirrari ehhs, her face smoothing to a smile, "Marus,
it's all right.. she was an arrogent little chit, you're smarter than
that." she says with confidence.

From the sands below, Lillian lets out a small gasp as the Bitran is
slashed, "Well, you can't say Fluria didn't warn us." There is little
compasion in her voice, more of a 'well what did she expect' sort of tone.
Eyes dart from the rather selective Brown to the newly arrived Green.

From the sands below, Beguiling Shade and Shadows Brown creels again,
peering into one face after another. Then, suddenly, as if he's just been
hit by the single ray of sun in his storm-dark sky, he *stops*, right in
front of a girl with sisal-soft dark hair.

From the sands below, Natalee watches the bloody candidate with a slightly
distasteful and very detached look. However, her attention turns to the
newly hatched green. "Ohhh..." she says softly. "How pretty."

From the sands below, Lillian(Lillian) has impressed !

Mirielle watches the ever-increasing Impressions eagerly, occasionally
glancing back at Peth. "It's interesting to see it from this perspective."

Lysseth alters her hum into a short note of approval, though whether it's
for this newest green or her bloodthirsty sister is difficult to say.
"Pretty enough," Kassi murmurs, eyes drifting down to her betting hide.
"This is more like it. Oh, has that brown chosen?"

From the sands below, Yakut says steadily, "You've seen blood before,
Marus." a pause as she looks at the green. "Big one," she says in surprise.
"Most greens aren't that big." she's distracted then, as she sees the brown
confront Lillian, a smile cracking her solemn demeanor.

From the sands below, Veliana says "I can't see what's going on." She rises
up onto her toes to look about the chaotic Sands, then sinks back down. "Oh
wait, there's a green!"

From the sands below, Cracked Marble Egg shimmies just slightly, as though
a whisper of wind has tickled it into motion. With the marble colors of the
shell it's hard to tell if the egg has actually cracked yet. Again it
shakes, this time more violently, a shiver of frustration. New lines begin
to appear, not just the illusion of cracks but actual fissures in the shell.

Konnevath bugles approvingly again, as the brown chooses a lifemate at last.

From the sands below, Fluria licks her lips and the smile begins to reform.
Taking a deep breath she watches the sands and slides her hand from
M'llon's momentarily. She too ends up wiping a sweaty palm on her shorts
before returning it to the Weyrleader's hands.

From the sands below, Marus smiles and nods, Mirr's and Yakut's words
causing him to suck in another deep breath. "Right, right..." he replies.
Back to near-pacing he goes.

From the sands below, Belzior watches as a Brown and Green impress, and
calls out congratulations to them. He then watches as the selective Brown
chooses, smiling brightly.

From the sands below, Massive Adamantine Green only sits still long enough
to get her barrings. Scattered egg shards lay around her, already
forgotten--She's already won that battle and can't possibly stay sitting
here all day. She rumbles experimentally, and starts to pace around her
surroundings, getting accustomed to this strange new place.

Nisanth adds his brassy bugle to Konnevath's, sitting back on his haunches
with a pleased *whuff*.

Divya sits down on Konnevath's obligingly-extended leg and asks, "What
brings you to an Istan hatching, Teria? Do you know any of the Candidates?"

From the sands below, Belanca's attention is caught by the green and she
stares, almost but not quite missing the brown halting in front of Lillian.
"What's happening? Has he?" Distracted questions as more eggs move and her
gaze darts around the sands.

From the sands below, Kyrola murmurs quietly to M'llon and Fluria, "At
least that girl Enari has someone to keep her company, but she'll probably
have to listen to the other one complaining. Poor kid."

Jenufa ignores the effect all this hollering may have on her voice and
shouts a hearty 'Huzzah' for the newly Impressed and their lifemates!

From the sands below, Sapphire Maze Egg shudders, a faint movement, digging
itself further into the sand, trying to blend with the dark background and
hopefully avoid this whole hatching process for a few more moments.

From the sands below, M'llon nods to Kyrola, smiling just a tiny bit,
"Well, you did say Enari was being drugged? That might make the ordeal
easier."

From the sands below, Lillian finds herself staring into the eyes of the
darkly hued Brown. Then something happens that has never occured before,
Lillian lets out a totally non-prim and proper gasp, her breath caught in
her throat. Tears then spil silently down her cheeks un noticed as emotion
overwhelms the petite girl. "Of course, Xadinth. You've been so very long
in that shell. We shall get you fed /imediately/."

Salva stares at the sands, trying to see who just Impressed, then whistles
and starts to applaud. "Lillian! Good for her! Lillian and Xadinth!"

From the sands below, Belzior nudges Mirrari next to him, but actually
speaks to Marus. "Did you see that?' he asks, pointing at the Sapphire Maze
egg, as it moves. He then cheers to Lillian, and does his best to keep the
Green in view.

J'nas applauds as well. "Xadinth sounds like a fine, strong name. Where is
his lifemate from?"

From the sands below, Jascela looks down at the Brown as he approaches. She
holds her breath as he stops right beside her, then grins broadly as he
Impresses to Lillian. She takes a half step back to give her room.
"Congratulations, Lillian. He's wonderful looking."

From the sands below, Marus gazes around, gasping as Lillian is suddenly
confronted by a brown. "Oh Lilly, congrats!" he calls, then turns once more
to scan the sands. Hunters never let their attentions stray and he furrows
his brow. "Hey...one egg seems to be missing..." he notes, noticing the
Sapphire Maze Eggs 'absence'.

"Xadinth whatnow?" Yashira asks; she was looking in a completely different
direction.

From the sands below, "Oh! Oh!" Fluria turns her attention from listening
to M'llon and Kyrola and simply points across the sands to the newly
impressed brown. The Weyrwoman's cheery smile is rapidly returning though
she does comment, "Hopefully this will teach them for the rest of the
hatching. Though it is happening quickly now."

From the sands below, Xadinth lowers his head then, stepping closer, as if
to head-butt /his/ girl, though he doesn't actually. Eyes whirling red, he
creels again, but it's softer-toned.

Kassima listens for a moment. "Lillian," she repeats. "I do know that name.
Is she the lass who was at the Conference, or... the brown, Yash, 'tis the
name of that brown lad who was wandering about. He's found a lady."

From the sands below, Bianca doesn't miss the Impression made so close to
where she stands, and puzzles for only a moment as the brown finally halts
in front of Lillian. Then, as the dark-haired girl flusters up, she gushes.
"-Ohhh!- Lillian... Lillian! Congratulations!"

From the sands below, Belanca ohs and abruptly grins. "Lillian! Well done!"
The congratulation is probably lost in the clamour of the sands and a few
moments later, she's looking back to the green.

Salva is still clapping as she calls to J'nas, "Lillian was a gardener here
at the Weyr."

From the sands below, Natalee smiles as Lillian impresses. "Missing?" she
says to Marus, following his gaze to the sands.

Yashira swipes a hand under her nose. "Yeah? Huh. Right, then."

From the sands below, Talimar glances over and calls out, "Congratulations
Lillian.." before looking back to the hatchling still moving along the sands.

From the sands below, Mirrari smiles and waves with her free hand,
"Congratulations Lillian!" she calls and then points out the lovely green,
"Now isn't that a lovely one?" She blinks at Marus as well, "Missing?" she
echoes.

From the sands below, With a great shake bits and pieces of the Emerald
Thunder's shell begin to fall away. Soon nothing is left but tatters about
a bronze form. One which rises slowly and spreads his great honey-comb
colored wings. After only a brief pause he moves out across the sands,
tripping and falling into a nose-dive at once boys feet. He staggers back,
uncertain, and as others move in to block him from sight the dragonet gives
an angry cry. Picking himself up the bronze roughly pushes aside the other
boys to the uncertain one and impression is made. Leaving two slightly
bruised and startled candidates gawking.

From the sands below, Marus nods, cobalt eyes scanning the remaining eggs.
"Yeah...the Maze Egg. Can you see...?" His voice trails off as a bronze
suddenly emerges and causes even more chaos. "Uh-oh..."

Teria shakes her head sharply, trying to keep up with events. "No, ma'am."
Ye, right out of weyrlinghood. "I just - Jazeth insisted."

From the sands below, M'llon grins at Fluria and nods, "Lillian will make a
fine rider, I had been hoping she would find her lifemate."

From the sands below, Massive Adamantine Green's next rumble almost seems
to be more of an unhappy snarl. She missing something here... But what?
Then she turns around to see the white things all lined up. She considers
them for but a moment then, lashing out with her tail at the air behind
her, stalks off that way. They might have the answer after all.

From the sands below, Sapphire Maze Egg rocks in place, still firmly buried
in the sand. The packing around it shudders and ripples with the effort,
creating ridges not unlike the ones that decorate it's leathery surface.

From the sands below, Yakut actually grins. "Oh, she's got a /fine/
temper." she observes, arms folding across her chest.

From the sands below, Cracked Marble Egg's shivers turn into a hop,
bouncing free of its depression in the sand and rolling onto its side. The
thin fracture lines about the shell deepen, getting darker and wider,
forming an intricate web about the shell. About the base of the egg the
cracks glisten faintly with fluid as it begins to leak and form a slimy
puddle on the sand.

Mara murmurs something to herself, but it's not loud enough to hear, before
she rises and moves to a different place for no apparent reason.

From the sands below, B'ryce approaches Lillian and Xadinth, pointing
towards a quieter part of the sands, "Come this way, we have some food and
oil over here for him.

From the sands below, Lillian rests one hand lightly on Xadinth head,
stroking it in a soothing matter as she looks up and around for Brees. She
nods distractedly to the others, her yees going in and out of focus.
"Brees, Xadinth is /hungry/ and needs to be fed /now/." She looks intently
around for the Assistant Weyrlingmaster, her voice raising slightly higher
than her normally dulcite tones.

From the sands below, Natalee frowns at the green. "Maybe she's not so
pretty after all," she says after the snarl. "Yeah, I saw, Mars."

From the sands below, Belzior continues his pointing, nervous and excited
at the same time. Fingers flying to point at anything that happens, he
calls out the Bronze's actions, and returns to pointing at the Saphhire
Maze and now the Cracked Marble eggs, and the Green still wandering.

Divya nods to Teria and says, "I attended several hatchings because my
lifemate insists. He likes to watch the eggs hatch, and try to talk with
greens he hasn't met before." She shrugs one shoulder and says, "It's also
a good way to meet people from other areas. And make a litle pocket change,
as long as you bet conservatively."

From the sands below, Lillian follows B'ryce, trying not to run him over in
her haste to see to her lifemate's needs.

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

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

Teria rolls up the betting hide, chuckling. "I needed a look outside the
Weyr, too, yes. Though I am naturally shy and retiring, and often hide."

From the sands below, Jascela sighs wistfully as she watches Lillian and
Xadinth move away. She turns back to look at Talimar and smiles before
looking back at the Green that's lurking on the sands.

Yashira crosses her arms, shooting irritated looks at a bluerider from Fort
who's scowling at her.

From the sands below, Belanca grimaces at the noise from the green but her
interest in the wandering dragonet remains. Still, there are more eggs that
look about to hatch and Bela's attention flits from one moving thing to
another randomly.

From the sands below, Talimar looks up to the stocking green hatchling
giving Jascela and Bianca's hands as she nears.

From the sands below, Mirrari chuckles at the impatient green and then
looks as the bronze shoves a couple of candidates away, "Didn't the
weyrwoman say not to do that as well?" she says with a smile. "At least
they weren't hurt like that Bitran."

From the sands below, Sapphire Maze Egg slowly works its way free of the
sand. Of course, its method for this is a trifle unusual. There is a
frantic rattling side to side for a good few minutes, and then a stop to
rest. Then the frenzied shaking goes on again, as first one side, and then
the other breaks free of the sands around it. It takes another pause to
rest, as though assessing this whole hatching business.

From the sands below, Massive Adamantine Green paces down the line, once
she reaches them. Her tail snaking along behind her, sending the occasional
shower of black sand, from the motion, at some of the candidates when she
passes them--Not that she pays that any heed. She has more important
matters to pay attention too. Whatever they might be.

Mara glances over to Teria, briefly, on her way by and back toward Verceth.

Mirielle smiles down at the green Hatchling. "That behavior looks /so/
familiar," she says, sighing softly.

J'nas watches on with a look of sympathy for the Candidates. "They must be
scared to death of that green."

From the sands below, Marus chuckles a bit. "Listen to the *weyrwoman*?" he
asks, feigning astonishment. "Naw, they're too good for *that*, Mirr!" He
shakes his head, still grinning.

From the sands below, Yakut holds her hand out to block the spray, but
seems almost cheered by the green's 'tude. She's not forgotten the eggs
though, and even as she finds herself enjoying the green's antics, thoughs
combusting eggs are still watched.

From the sands below, Bianca also watches the progress of the large green,
and when her hand is released, she folds her hands in the small of her
back, shifting her weight to the other foot with what might be a hop... or
might be the first preperations to bolt out of harm's way. "She looks very
-intent- on this whole thing."

Divya cups her hands around her mouth and yells, "Jascela! I'm sure that
green is yours! Good luck with her!"

From the sands below, Fluria's expression begins to fluctuate between a
smile and a frown. Her eyes now flickering more rapidly between the
candidates and the eggs. Worry is in her eyes as she takes the briefest
second to look to the side at Kyrola and M'llon.

Jenufa chuckles softly, nodding to J'nas. "I have only seen one or two in
my time as feisty as that one. She's beautiful, though - and huge!"

Mirielle looks at Divya and shakes her head. "I'm guessing it's Mirrari's,
personally."

Mara finally pipes up. "Marus. I think it's Marus'. But I like her, anyway."

From the sands below, The Sun-Dappled Lime Green Egg hops about, wiggling
and cracking and dancing and splitting until a bright green dragonet sits
on a pile of lime green dust. Oh happy day! Look at all these fabulous
creatues! She moseys over to a herd of candidates, totally unaware that her
wings are dragging and a glob of egg goo is trailing from her tail. She
gives each candidate a sniff. Yummy! She turns her eyes on Tori and with a
gleeful head-butt Impression is made. "Oh Lilth, you're wonderful!," Tori
beams, tosing her arms around the brilliant green neck.

From the sands below, Brees bounces slightly as she waits for the next
impression.

Kassima, too, watches the green, but the look on her face is a blend of
droll amusement and affection. "Aye, likely so. But there's much t'be said
for fierce greens. 'Tis nay so?" Lysseth doesn't even dignify that with an
answer.

"I like her," Yashira announces. "She has charm."

P'ter comments, mostly to himself, "A green to put fear in the heart of a
blue that one." - "Or any dragon for that matter."

From the sands below, M'llon returns Fluria's glance with a smile, "It is
going to be okay, no need to looks so anxious, doesn't it always work out?"

From the sands below, Kyrola arches an eyebrow as she looks over at Fluria
after nodding to M'llon's earlier comment distractedly. "Yeah, what he
said," she adds.

Salva grins at the happy green wandering around. "Lilth. Cute." And now
she's once more watching her favorite candidates, and the much fiercer green.

Divya says, "I have to hope otherwise. No offense to Mirrari intended, of
course. But Jascela's been hoping to Impress for a while, and I think she'd
do well with that green."

From the sands below, Talimar raises a hand to shield himself from the
scater of black sand caused by the greens tail.

From the sands below, Belzior watches as the nearby seamstress from Half
Circle Hold Impresses. "Yay Tori!" he shouts, forgetting his pointing
momentarily to clap.

Mirielle grins at Divya. "Well, I'm sure not going to take offense. I guess
we'll both see whom she chooses soon enough."

From the sands below, Mirrari gives Marus' hand a death squeeze and
bounces, "Tori!" she yells happily for her friend from Half Circle, "Oh
Tori, she's wonderful!"

From the sands below, Marus bounces a bit as another recognizable face
impresses, and he nudges Mirrari with an elbow. "Look! She made it!" he
cries, happily.

From the sands below, Massive Adamantine Green doesn't quite seem to be
going slow enough, to be evaluating any of the perspective candidates, but
she must have been. For when she stops short, in a shower of ebon sand,
it's right in front of a slight girl, with silvery white hair in a fancy
braid. She snorts, then looks the girl up and down, before she finally
rumbles her approval for all to see.

From the sands below, Mirrari(Mirrari) has impressed !

Mirielle cheers, standing up to applaud. "I knew it!"

Teria says "Who was that?"

From the sands below, Cracked Marble Egg attempts to hop again, but the
cracked lace of the shell is to frail and instead it seems that just shards
of the egg get to hop away. Large chucks of shell pop out, shards and
sliver chip off and the puddle beneath the egg grows larger. Another
frustrated tremble quiver follows the failed hop, but that seems like just
enough to shake the dragonet free of his confines.

From the sands below, Sapphire Maze Egg spins awkwardly in a quick, tight
circle. When this doesn't produce desired results, it quickly spins in the
other direction. Still na-da. Repeat process twice more and then the egg
sits, clearly fuming at this state of affairs, and planning its next course
of action.

From the sands below, Veliana shifts her weight from foot to foot, green
eyes flicking about the Sands, the eggs, and the dragonets charging about.

From the sands below, Another smile comes across Yakut's features, but
she's juggling her attention span in too many directions. She almost misses
Mirrari's Impression. "Oh, well done!"

From the sands below, 

                        Dauntless Webbed Wood Brown                        

	Large, faceted eyes glance around with the sharpness distinctive to a
hunter searching out its prey. Dark and brilliant, mahogany surrounds the
eyes and follows down along the rest of the body, darkening to a near
midnight black at the tip of his tail. Sunbursts of tan and cream show up
randomly along his broad back. Twisting and swirling down toward the center
of his underside, the klah-brown of his body transforms to the reddish
color of deep clay. Sunlight shines through the taught sails of his large
wings defining the veins, tendons and bones within. Upon closer inspection
the inner workings of the sails connect and twist, the veins converging
with markings, to form the appearance of a crawler's carefully constructed
web. Young muscles trace along the already powerful body, showing hints of
definite strength and agility in time to come.

Yashira blinks a few times. "That was Mirrari, wasn't it? Green? The big,
nasty green?" She chuckles a little. "/That's/ an interesting match."

From the sands below, Jascela turns away as the Adamantine Green passes,
strewing sand. She turns back in time to see Tori impress, followed soon by
Mirrari. She grins broadly at the new pairs.

J'nas nearly falls from the ledge as Mirrari Impresses the big green.
"Congratulations, Mirr!" he shouts at the top of his lungs, regardless of
the fact that she probably can't hear him. Hanreth raises his own voice in
congratulations, matching his lifemate's excitement.

From the sands below, Natalee claps and yells as Mirrari impresses.
"Marus!" she cries, turning to embrace him, since Mirrari appears rather
occupied.

Salva applauds, bouncing up and down. "Mirrari, congrats!"

"Mirrari on green," Kassi observes, faint surprise in her voice. "Huh. I'd
have said she'd ride blue, too--well, good for her; and here are your
marks, Mirielle." She offers over the greenrider's winnings. "Won enough
back t'cover 'em, thankfully!"

From the sands below, Belanca tenses as the green walks past then sighs as
she keeps going. "She'll find someone." is murmured idly as she glances
over to watch the Cracked Marble Egg hatch another brown. Then someone's
well done penetrates and she leans forward to peer round the semi circle.
"Mirrari? Is it... has it...?"

From the sands below, "Sorry, you are right," Fluria says and takes a
breath before letting it out. "Oh, well that is not so bad I suppose," She
notes as the two greens choose their lifemates one after the other.

From the sands below, Forest Floor Egg has until this time been reposing
impassively on the black sand like the proverbial bump on a fallen skybroom
log. But now, something about the heat, the humming, the commotion, and the
spirit curled within the shell causes this egg to shiver, just once.

Divya chuckles and says to Mirielle, "I'm glad we didnt' bet on it. I'd be
a half-mark poorer now." She watches Kassima pass over the other woman's
marks and says, "Congratulations on your winnings!"

From the sands below, Marus is still bouncing when a green suddenly pushes
up to he and Mirrari. He freezes, until he finds the dragonet at his
friend's side. His jaw abruptly drops, and he takes a few steps back,
almost crashing into Natalee. "M-Mirr!" he cries, stunned.

Yashira digs around in her pocket to produce the eighth of a mark and pass
it over to Kassima.

From the sands below, Belzior was so happily watching Tori's Impression,
that he nearly missed Mirrari's. "Mirr! Yay!" he says, losing his eloquence
yet again.

Mirielle smiles at Kassima. "Thanks, but don't forget, there's still
Marus's Impression. If he doesn't, you'll get your eighth back, and I'll
break even."

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

Jenufa is still shouting, 'Huzzaaaaaaah!' - this time for the Telgari girl
and her rather imposing green!

From the sands below, Bianca blinks several times as the greens find their
matches in Tori and Mirrari and settles back comfortably onto two feet,
then shifts to the other with what might actually be excited energy. "-Oh-
look! Tori -and- Mirrari!"

From the sands below, Talimar begins to shift a bit uncofortably on the
sands as he looks out at the hatchlings and eggs, going quiet once again.

Mirielle giggles at Divya. "It's okay, I wouldn't have bet on it, didn't
have enough left to risk losing!"

From the sands below, Mirrari pauses mid-bounce, turning to stare at the
massive green before her. She lets go of Marus' hand, freezing, her hand on
her heart. "Ilaeth!" the name is like a roar on the lass' lips. She blinks
and blushes, "Ilaeth, yes yes, oh dear, food, definately food, need food."
she looks a little dazed.

From the sands below, Brees makes her way over to Mirrari with a huge grin
on her face. Mirrari! Congratulations!Shes beautiful. If youll come with
me, we can get her food and get her all settled.

From the sands below, Jocular Speedster Bronze suddenly explodes in a burst
of speed and frenetic activity. It all but bounds up in the air, at least a
foot off the sands. Once. Twice. Third time's the charm as it comes down
sharply and cracks open nearly in two, right along one sapphire fissure,
leaving a rather dazed and egg-wet bronze dragonet on the sands.

Teria points down at the sands. "I take it that's Marus? Oh, I'll bet a
quarter mark on him, after all."

From the sands below, 

                         Jocular Speedster Bronze                          

	Scarlet slyly insinuates itself into a meld of forge-hot bronze. Whipcord
lean, this bronze has a streamlined profile and rangy conformation
suggesting startling speed in Turns to come. Amber ebbs and flows in lazy
swirls across his shoulders and chest, puffs of sand kicked up into a
swirling storm that crests over fine-hewed wings. Thunder cracks darker
hues along spars, lit here and there with primrose flashes near hidden in
the gale. The fury breaks along sails, the molten patina giving way to
russet tones as they creep along folds. Another crackle of the same pure
amber strikes both headknobs equally, crowning him with twinned golden
spears. His head has an aquiline shape to it; his unusual markings well
balanced as they peter out down his snout. The boiling slag from the
furnace roils frenetically as it slopes toward his tail, obliterating
shadows, the movement's agitating grace plain upon his hide even at rest.

From the sands below, Dauntless Webbed Wood Brown sits on the sand, his
whole body gleaming with eggy wetness and his eyes whirling with hues of
excitement and hunger. Without too much trouble he gets to his feet,
bouncing once to make sure the ground is stable. One at a time he stretches
out his wings, turning his mahogany head to watch the movement. Slowly he
begins to fan his wing back and forth, the air quickly drying the wingsails
of polished wood. He lets out a brassy bugle with delight. This body works
quite well.

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

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

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

Mirielle looks down onto the Sands. "I'm guessing it's either the brown or
the bronze there. Marus'll get one of them."

Salva whistles. "Look at the bronze. Wow." A chuckle. "No, he's not as
handsome as you, Uriketh."

Konnevath returns the brown hatchling's bugle with a loud warble of his own.

From the sands below, Marus watches Mirrari leave, his eyes a little misted
over. "Aw, Belz, did you see that?" he asks, obviously elated for his friend.

From the sands below, Yakut actually jumps a little at the brown's call,
only distracted a moment as she watches the bronze's impressive entrance.
She scoots a bit back, but not -too- far, and keeps her eyes on the chaos
before her.

From the sands below, Jascela watches Mirrari move off toward the corner of
the cavern. She shifts from foot to foot as the heat soaks into her feet.
She ooohs softly as the Bronze hatches. "Oh, he's handsome..."

T'mren smiles, "Ah, a bronze at last."

From the sands below, Jocular Speedster Bronze shakes off his shards and
bounds to his feet. There! Finally! He immediately sets off, needing no
urging. He knows what he has to find! Unfortunately, he hasn't quite gotten
this whole 'legs' thing figured out, unlike his brown clutchsibling, and
immediately trips and plows muzzle first into the sand with an undignified
cry. So much for that idea.

From the sands below, Belzior returns to pointing. There's a Brown, a
Bronze, and lots of eggs that are calling out to be pointed at. His eyes
dart around, watching things continue to move along

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

From the sands below, A web of black cracks spread across the vibrant red
shell of the Trundlebug's Folly Egg, shards falling away like leaves caught
on the wind. A brown leg sticks out of one hole, a tail out another and
finally a head pops out until is looks like the egg had simply sprouted
limbs instead of hatching. Still mostly encased in shell the incredibly
dark brown regards his dilemma for a moment and then forgets it all
together. Hey, we can't all hatch well. He goes about finding a suitable
candidate, shedding more shell with each movement, and soon sandy-haired
Notlon is prying what remains of the shell from the brown's body. "We'll
get you out of there in no time, Huranth."

From the sands below, Kyrola narrows her eyes slightly as the bronze gets
ahead of his own game and takes a tumble, and a warning look is on her face
for any candidates who take an involuntary step forward to try and help him.

From the sands below, Dauntless Webbed Wood Brown notices the throng of
white clad creatures and does his best to hold his wings off the ground as
he makes his way towards the candidates. A little stumbling, a few unsteady
steps and he gets closer to the expectant youths. He pauses to take a long
sniff of the world, becoming alert for something, for someone. He follows
his nose and heads for a close pack of candidates.

From the sands below, Belanca lets out a soft smile, her expression one of
delight as she hears Mirrari call out her lifemate's name. "Good." she says
to herself, before looking back to eggs. "Brown, bronze?!" The bronze is
stared at for a moment before she shrugs. "And another brown!"

From the sands below, Veliana was, for once, looking directly at the egg
that Hatched the most recent bronze. Which is undoubtedly why she claps her
hands to her mouth as the hatchling tumbles. "Oh, look at him!"

From the sands below, Forest Floor Egg abruptly rocks back and forth
violently, flattening the little mound of sand that had held it so snugly
for these past sevendays. It pauses for a long moment, giving the
impression that is has ceased its effort for the time being - then with
almost startling energy, it begins anew, the black grains of sand
scratching noisily against the shell.

From the sands below, Bianca, done being mistress of the obvious for a
moment, gazes back out to the now half-hatched eggs. "Oh, Talimar, have you
-ever- seen -anything- like this?" Poor Talimar.. her victim for the Stand.
Him and Jascela, who isn't forgotten in the excitement. "Is it -always-
like this?"

Chaia murmurs to T'mren, "I think sometimes you only care about the
bronzes." But the verbal jab is an affectionate one.

F'tan just oohs at the newborn bronze then frowns, eyes loosing focus for
one moment. Turning to Mvraeth he sighs. "Are you sure?" Mvraeth rumbles.
"Now?" He sighs and stands up, wiping his pants. "I'm needed back at the
Weyr. I'm sorry all." To Caroline he asks, extending one hand. "If you want
me to bring you back too?"

From the sands below, Jocular Speedster Bronze gets wings sorted from limbs
sorted from tail, and unsteadily reaches his feet once more. Much better!
Proud of his accomplishments, he starts again across the sands. Moving
slowly at first, then picking up speed, he starts racing towards the white
robed figures, having to dodge and egg. This very nearly causes another
spill, and back claws dig sharply into the sand, sending up a fine spray of
the stuff around him and around the Dauntless Webbed Wood Brown. And
candidates. Ooops!

From the sands below, "Going faster now," Fluria comments almost idley, her
eyes jumping back and forth across the sands.

From the sands below, Talimar shakes his head as he continues to shift
slowly, "I have bener seen anything like this.

Teria says sincerely, "That is a beautiful bronze. If he can unbury himself
from the sand - ah, there he goes." She glances at F'tan, awwws. "You have
to go?"

From the sands below, Jascela glances over at Bianca and nods. "Usually,
yeah. Exciting, isn't it?"

Salva grins as the bronze goes sprawling. "Hope the candidates are ready to
run, that one's a klutz."

Caroline turns to look at Tany, and with a final glance back at the sands,
nods and rises from her seat.

Divya says, "Goodbye, F'tan. It was nice seeing you again."

From the sands below, Marus coughs as he finds himself hit with a bit of
sand, lifting an arm to shield himself with. "Irk..." he murmurs, halfway
shielding Natalee, protectively.

Teria offers, "If you want to stay, Jazeth can bring you back after."

From the sands below, The Torretial Typhoon Egg splits in two and soon a
peridot green is airing her jade wing sails. She'll look much better when
she dries. Well there's no reason not to shop and dry at the same time. She
flaps idly and ambles about the candidates searching for just the right one
and oblivious to her wing catching a boy on the leg and a girl's long hair.
She nearly topples another candidate as the wing gets caught in his robe.
She turns hissing with displeasure, trying to retract her wing and only
making a messing of things. Soon the boy is bloody, the robe in shreds and
the two happily lifemates. "I didn't hurt you, did I Faelith?" Andor fusses
as they make their way from the sands.

F'tan nods to Caroline then offers Divya a smile. "It was seeing you too,
Divya."

From the sands below, Dauntless Webbed Wood Brown lets out a surprised
squawk as he's pelted with sand, instinctively bringing his wings up to
cover his face and ruby eyes. He attempts to make a quick move away from
the spray but his new legs aren't quite ready for that sort of action. As
he sidesteps he catches a wing under his foot and soon he's falling snout
first into the sand. He lets out a creel of indignation and pain, lying in
a confused pile of wing and limbs.

From the sands below, Natalee hides behind Marus, at the same time giving
him a little shove forward. "Go on," she says with a grin. "I don't think
he wants me."

F'tan carefully climbs into place between Mvraeth's neckridges. His
lifemate croons gently as he makes himself secure.

Caroline waves to everyone as she departs.

Caroline climbs up onto Mvraeth, with the help of F'tan and a carefully
extended foreleg.

From the sands below, Belzior watches as the dragonets move around,
pointing at the stumble of the Bronze, and as the Green Impresses. He
smiles to Marus, who is now beside him, and to Veliana on his other side.
Pointing continues.

Mvraeth launches from the ledge and into the air.

From the sands below, Marus stumbles, refusing to move. "No way!" he
protests, stepping back to say with her. "Fluria said not to go anywhere
unless a dragonet calls for you..." His cobalt eyes are wide. He's not
going *anywhere*, oh no.

From the sands below, Jocular Speedster Bronze snorts at his brown
clutchsibling. He *knew* that 'collected' routine was just an act. He takes
a moment to look at the candidates he sprayed with sand, and then is off
again, an awkward bronze streaks, all limbs, wings and tail.

From the sands below, Belanca winces as the brown suffers the antics of his
clutchsib and gives the bronze a sharply wary look. And she edges backward.
Better not to be within reach unecessarily.

From the sands below, Chrystalline Prism Egg begins to shiver slightly in
its sandy mound. But wait! That's not all. Soon it is rocking with energy
back and forth the movement escalating quickly into sharp and excited
movements that come to a peak in a little hop. A hop that sends the egg
onto it's side where it stills for a minute.

From the sands below, Forest Floor Egg rattles back and forth, like trees
blowing in the wind of a spring storm, finally curving into a spin before
it falls against one of the other eggs. Another rock, and it begins a slow,
ominous roll in another direction, a long, jagged crack forming along its
diameter. Finally, something explodes from within, and a small, open circle
appears near the egg's apex, with a tiny muzzle poking out. Encouraged by
the sounds that suddenly burst through onto it, the creature inside quivers
furiously until he sits, dripping goo, between two nearly intact halves of
what was once a Forest Floor Egg.

From the sands below, Dauntless Webbed Wood Brown carefully tries to unfold
himself, managing to free one wing which flaps in agitation as he tries to
untangle the rest of his body. Repeatedly he tries to pull the other wing
free but it's pinned under his foot. He tries lifting the foot and putting
it back down, but he can't seem to clear it of his wing, nor does he
attempt to remove the wing while is foot is up. The growing hunger and
distress show vividly in his eyes and he lets out another creel, looking
towards one of those white things for help.

From the sands below, A'rus(Marus) has impressed !

"No, Decarath, you didn't bumble. You're right," Yashira says, glancing up
with a grin at the big brown.

From the sands below, 

                           Brooding Amber Brown                            

	Dark amber in color with a heavy tone of aged gold blended into his hide,
he is smaller than expected for a brown, just barely bigger than the
largest of the blues. His hides' color may not be eye-catching, but there
is a certain vibrancy in its rich tones. From tail end to nose-tip he's one
smoothly uniform color, save for a darkening of the amber-gold around his
shoulders and chest into a deep shade of sienna tinged with a cinnamon
color. The unbroken sweep of color over his hide reveals a subtle play of
strong muscles in his haunches and shoulders when he moves about, oddly
graceful even when on land. The brown body's tint is offset more by his
wing sails, which distinctly are a much lighter tone than all the rest of
him - almost the color of a tigers eye stone. The play of light through the
outstretched wing and its sails shows delicate veins and the structure of
the minute bones composing the wings' form. He is deceptive in form - small
and compactly built, but seemingly like a tightly wound spring about to be
sprung.

Mirielle cheers again, winking at Kassima. "Wow. My luck was with me today."

From the sands below, "Told you," Natalee says smugly to Marus, though he's
probably a bit busy now. She steps away from him to give him more room.

From the sands below, One after the other three eggs hatch, the Shades of
Turquoise first followed closely by the Snake Scale egg and thirdly by the
black granite egg. The first yields a brown, the second a green and the
third a blue. All race across the sand moments after hatching, nearly
colliding with another in their pursuit for their lifemates. In the end
they all find them. The brown to a Keroon lass, the green another Keroon
lass and yet another Keroonian finds his lifemate in the blue!

"Win some, lose some," says Kassima, philosophically, as she passes out the
lost marks. "Figured when so many were betting on him that he'd probably
Impress--and a fine brown, too, so good for the lad!"

Salva is hopping from side to side, cheering and applauding wildly. "Marus!
Oh, good for you, Marus!" She grins at Kassima as she bounces over to
collect her winnings.

From the sands below, Jocular Speedster Bronze is beginning to get
frustrated. He tears back and forth before the candidates, sand flying,
hind legs scrambling awkwardly in his haste. Newly hatched and newly
impressed alike are ignored for the sake of this urgency. The right one is
here, he can feel it! But exactly *where* is the question. He hurdles an
egg shard in his way, landing with an ungainly thump on the opposite side,
spraying up sand on a small lass from the Southern Continent. She's
definitely Not the Right One! Wings help propel him gawkily along, only
increasing his speed and anxious searching.

From the sands below, Belanca blinks as a dragonet looks in Marus's
direction and with a slight smile, sidles up to Natalee again. "The ranks
are thinning." is said softly as she watches two mroe blues and another
green hatch and Impress.

Mara comes back over toward Kassima as well, chuckling. "Next time don't
take a bet everyone wants you to?"

From the sands below, Fluria widens her eyes as one thing after another
after another flashes by. Taking in a breath she lets it out again with the
barest glance out the corner of her eyes, then back to the sands. "My oh
my," She murmers.

Mirielle smiles before looking back, startled, at Peth. "No, dear, I guess
he's not as handsome as Decarath."

From the sands below, Yakut watches the dragonets make their selections,
her arms still hugging herself.

Yashira glances over at Mirielle, eyebrows raising a little with puzzlement.

From the sands below, Belzior watches nervously, pointing at the Bronze
again, along with several eggs that seem to be moving. He watches the Brown
come right up near him, and stops pointing.

Kassima points out with a wry smile as she hands the marks over, "But if'n
he'd nay Impressed, I'd have won from you all; it seemed worth it--and if'n
naught else, I can point t'this next time people refuse t'wager with me
because I always win. Pshhh."

From the sands below, Chrystalline Prism Egg begins to move again. In fact
it starts and it doesn't stop this time. A wiggling and a shaking and
sending itself rolling. Merrily does it go down from it's minute mound and
across the sands. Finally it does stop it's rolling rather near to a
cluster of candidates. And there it sits and there it shimmies, cracks
beginning to form across the surface.

J'nas shoots a warning look at Hanreth and shushes him.

From the sands below, Veliana backs out of the Speedster's path, arms
wrapped - for the moment - around her middle. "Not me, not me..." With a
sudden pant her arms shake free. "It's too hot!"

From the sands below, A'rus is still arguing with Natalee when something
seems to bite him. He clutches at his hand, then turns to stare at the
helpless brown before him. After a moment, he drops to his knees and helps
to right the poor creature, tears streaming forward from his now-softened
cobalt eyes. "A-Araneidth!" he cries, voice filled with love and
overflowing with emotion. "Oh, Araneidth, I've waited for you for so long!
Yes, we'll stop that hunger. I promise!"

From the sands below, Jascela grins broadly at A'rus as he Impresses.
"Congratulations Mars! He's beautiful looking." She looks out at the next
Brown who's hatched, watching intently.

Mirielle shrugs at Yashira. "She's had a thing for him for a while."

From the sands below, Brees has a grin plastered across her face by this
point. Congratulations! Hes so pretty. Andsuch a nice name. And so hungry,
Id assume. Foods off this way, if youll follow me. Sheleads the new pair
off to the side.

From the sands below, Bianca raise a hand to actually point at Marus, which
wavers, then directs itself to the newly hatched brown, and she spends a
considerable amount of time looking back and forth, forth and back between
them before sending a look down the ranks at the zippy little bronze.
"-Ohhhhhhh.-" That's all she can manage.

From the sands below, M'llon shifts his feet as he watches the candidates
and the remaining eggs and dragons, actually becoming more calm even as
Fluria becomes less so.

From the sands below, B'zior(Belzior) has impressed !

Mara laughs. "Well, that's true enough, I suppose. You don't lose often,
then?"

From the sands below, Kiasth has had Enough. He's just wasting perfectly
good energy tearing around like a wherry. With a snort he plops down into
the dark sands. He's already found his mate, and eyes shade to heart's own
blue as he picks out ones that match his own, under a short mop of auburn
in the crowd of white. Sweet croons urge Belzior - now B'zior - to, yes,
stop pointing and come forward to claim him, and hurry up about it already!

From the sands below, A'rus walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

Salva tucks her marks away, just in time to see Belzior Impress. "And
Belzior! Hurrah!"

From the sands below, "Yes!" Yakut' sounds absolutely triumphant when she
sees Belzior Impress the bronze.

From the sands below, The Rukbat's Fire Egg falls apart in great chunks and
the gleaming bronze it once contained sniffs at the remains mournfully. He
looks up at his great gold dam and trots towards her, immediately aware
that gold is his very favorite color in the whole wide world. But with a
silent word she turns him aside and he's forced to pick one of those white
things instead. He heads towards on young man, but as he nears him the boy
faints and falls to the sand. The little bronze wuffles at him, momentarily
disturbed. Oh well, on to the next. This time he finds someone who is a bit
sturdier. Lorandir grins brightly, "No, Vaedath, I don't think you killed
him," he tells the bronzeling was they glance over at the unconcious lad.

From the sands below, Natalee looks at Belanca. "Seems like my wellspring
of support has disappeared," she says with a smile. "Impressed, the whole
lot of them."

From the sands below, Brooding Amber Brown blinks once slowly, as if
testing the sensation of the hot, dry air against the sensitive membranes
of his red-whirling eyes. The sands, the spectators on high, and his fellow
dragonets all blur into a brightly colored mush for the first few moments
of his life, and he creels in hunger and confusion. At last, the many
lenses snap into focus, falling on...what is this? Another dragon, across
the sands, tottering with his lifemate toward a corner. The little brown
stretches first one wet wing, then the other, then sets off on his journey
to join his brown brother across the sands.

From the sands below, Jascela looks over at Natalee and Belanca. "Come over
here with me and Talimar?"

From the sands below, Chrystalline Prism Egg rocks and it rolls some more.
Almost there! The cracking sound now accompanying the lines that race
across the surface of the egg. Just another moment and there will be a
dragonet bursting forth. Just you wait and see.

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

Kassima replies rather ruefully, "More oft than I'd like--but then, 'ever'
is more oft than I'd like. Oft enough! But m'luck with such things is
sometimes good, and I've made enough marks from wagering that I can afford
a losing streak now and again."

From the sands below, Yakut shoots a look at the others, and then oh - the
frenetic activity of the Crystalline Prism Egg distracts her.

From the sands below, Talimar shifts back over to Jascela as he continues
to wathc the hatchling silently verviously..

From the sands below, Natalee nods at Jascela. "Safety in numbers," she
says with another giggle, and holds out her hand for Belanca.

From the sands below, Belanca blinks and blinks again as the bronze halts
in front of Belzior. "Well, well, well." she murmurs and, hearing Natalee,
smiles reassuringly and reache sout to give the other Candidate's hand a
squeeze. "I'm here." Glanceing towards Jascela and Talimar, she lifts an
eyebrow at Natalee in silent querying.

From the sands below, B'zior returns to pointing, only to stop again, and
look around the sands. He darts across the sands, stumbling a bit, himself,
and crawls the last foot or so, stopping next to the Bronze. "Kiasth! I'm
here," he calls out, just as he stops. He gets up onto his knees, to hug
the dragonet.

Yashira's forehead wrinkles, and she laughs. "I broke even, and that's all."

From the sands below, Brees just gets back from leading A'rus over when
she's off to B'zior and Kiasth. "I knew you could do it. Congratulations.
If you'll just come off here with me, we've got plenty to eat. I bet he's
hungry."

From the sands below, As the Withering Rose egg unfolds it reveals a
turquoise colored dragonet. He takes one look at the crowd and hides his
little head under a frail blue wing. What is that -huge- gold thing anyway?
Timidly he peers out at the candidates and lets out a miserable warble. So
many to chose from! And he'll have to walk all the way over there! By
himself! He scans the candidates once again and Autegorn races forward as
Impression is made. "Don't worry, Craventh," he calls out the the terrified
blue.

From the sands below, "And Belzior!" It does dawn on Bianca that the ranks
are thinning, particularly as the invitation is voiced for the remains of
that other group to merge. "Oh," She adds, more quietly. "Yes, -do- come
stand over here."

From the sands below, Yakut does look over at the other Candidates now,
lips pursing. Then she turns away from them, and looks out over the eggs
and the dragonets determinedly.

Yashira grins a little at Craventh. "Turquoise, like Phoukath - not nearly
as fetching, though, without the silver."

From the sands below, Butterscotch and Caramel Sundae Egg twitches once or
twice, or that may simply be the shifting of the light, as if a bit of the
caramel on its shell slid on a bit of melting ice cream.

From the sands below, Kiasth croons, stretching his neck to rest on His
Boy's shoulder, quiet for a brief moment before becoming a ball of energy
once more. The bronze draws back, bouncing in place, looking up adoringly
at his new partner.

From the sands below, Natalee nods at Belanca and moves over near Bianca
and Jascela. "Anyone have a free hand?" she says with a slightly nervous
smile.

From the sands below, B'zior nods to Brees, and stands, "Yeah. We'll go
where Brees tells us. There's food there. He then follows Brees.

From the sands below, Veliana cheers as B'zior's claimed right next to her.
Hard to miss something like /that/. "Congratulations - his name's Kiasth?"

Mirielle sighs and looks over. "I have to head back to the Weyr for duties.
It's been fun, and be sure to let me know if Jascela should Impress."

From the sands below, Jascela holds her hand out toward Natalee. Her other
hand holds Talimar's and he's holding onto Bianca's hand.

Mirielle grabs the dangling straps, and climbs up onto Peth's back.

From the sands below, Brooding Amber Brown plunges energetically into the
white-garbed crowd, ignoring the expressions of hopeful delight he gets as
he heads straight for a cluster of candidates near a large heap of sand.
But he creels in anger, anxious to join his companion on the other side,
and the candidates part to let him pass. He sees his brother curled close
to another, one also clad in white, and he realizes what he must do. He
turns back toward the crowd he has just rent in two, his eyes scanning
confidently for something...or someone.

From the sands below, B'zior walks down to the far end of the Cavern.

From the sands below, Bianca offers Natalee her free hand. Then considers a
moment, and adds, "-You- should come over here too, Yakut. And Veliana.
And... oh, he's -moving- again."

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

From the sands below, Kyrola watches the hatching in relative silence, a
faint smile on her face as she spots another bronze impressing, then her
eyes fall on the brown.

From the sands below, Talimar bites his lip lighlty as he watches the brown
move along towards teh group of candidates.

From the sands below, Belanca keeps a firm hold of Natalee's hand as they
new quintet all links up. Then it's back to look at the sands and her gaze
seeks out the wandering brown... and the lovely woodish egg that still
hasn't hatched yet.

From the sands below, Yakut arching a brow at Bianca, Yakut's expression
softens, and she carefully makes her way to the others, keeping an eye on
those wandering dragonets and explosive eggs.

Divya waves goodbye to Mirielle as she mounts up, then returns her
attention to the Sands.

Peth launches from the ledge and into the air.

From the sands below, The Smoking Mountain's Pearl Egg errupts. A hole
emerges in the top of the egg and soon goo is being forced out of it.
Following the goo is a dark green snout. The hole widens and soon most of
the dragonet is on the sand her eyes glowing red with frustration and
hunger. In a fury she pulls herself free of the shell, racing towards the
candidates at remarkable speed. A wing gets caught beneath her foot and she
trips, rolling forward and taking out two astounded candidates in the
process. Why don't these stupid creature get out of my way! Like that one.
She's smart. She moved! "Spyth!," Alonia beams, racing to help the dragon
from the pile of candidate.

From the sands below, Chrystalline Prism Egg is done with this shell thing.
The cracks are in place and with a mighty explosion the former captive
leaps free. A glimpse of blue hide revealed and then more as egg shells
come loose from the dragonet.

From the sands below, Natalee grins at the brown as she takes Bianca's
hand. "Thanks for the ribbon," she whispers. Now sandwiched neatly between
Bianca and Belanca, she looks out over the sands again.

From the sands below, 

                    Immense and Graceless Sapphire Blue                    

	Water and sky meld in a brilliant blue, a sure blue. Shadows of velvet and
cobalt darkens his belly and his wingsails and neckridges are highlighted
with shimmering aquamarine as if the clear sky was permanently reflected
there. He is so large and heavily muscled that he easily rivals smaller
browns. His chest is wide and his cerulean hide seems to stretch over the
bulging strength of his shoulders. It seems that intense azure can barely
contain his marvelous bulk. Despite his immense size he is well
proportioned and his movement is extraordinary. Every shifting muscle is
visible beneath the endless blue. Somehow he is both graceful and awkward,
moving with the free beauty of a toned form and yet dangerously unaware of
his surroundings. With his stunning sapphire color and enormous bulk it
seems as though the very force of the sky and the sea have merged in him.

From the sands below, Immense and Graceless Sapphire Blue leaps mightily
from his egg and for a moment all is well till he comes down to the sand.
No egg to shield him this time that tender muzzle and chin go right into
the black stuff. His wings flutter up and back along with his arms and for
a moment he lays there, apparently stunned. Arrooooo? He manages with a
blink of the first layer of lids.

From the sands below, Jascela winces as she sees the newly hatched Blue go
snout-first into the sand. "Ow. That looks like it hurt."

Yashira blinks. "A lot of face-fallers in this clutch," she remarks.

From the sands below, As the hatching continue another egg releases it's
occupant. A scraggly brown bursts from the Cloud Swept Dreams egg and right
onto it's nose. For a moment it struggles, trying to get to its feet, then
with a sudden surge of strength it is there. Barreling towards the ring of
candidates the dragonet doesn't seem of all sure of his legs and in the end
they confuse, he stumbles, and falls right into a boy from Crom. As the two
topple the lad shouts the dragonets name. Another pair is made.

From the sands below, Talimar winces as well as the little dragon takes a
nose dive though he does not release bianca, nor Jascela's hands..

From the sands below, Fluria's worry seems to have vanishes and her smile
is once again easy and relaxed. As Qirith croons to the dragonets upon the
sands the Weyrwoman leans back against the gold. Relaxed, right, then why
is her hand twiddling with a string dangling from the hem of her shirt?

From the sands below, Yakut winces on behalf of the little blue. "Yeh." she
says, standing more closely to the others now, though she does not hold
hands. They're tightened into anxious fists.

From the sands below, "I just hope it's a -lucky- ribbon," Bianca murmurs
to Natalee. She again squeezes both hands though as the blue emerges and
tumbles ingraciously, nose wrinkling slightly. "The poor thing. He's
-pretty- though.. they just keep -getting- better looking."

From the sands below, Brooding Amber Brown flicks some mucus from his
wings, spattering the robes of some candidates nearby. He peruses face
after face as he totters along, the incandescent red of his eyes glowing
more fiercely with each examined and rejected being he passes. Then he eyes
a girl who stands above the rest, her skin - nearly as brown as the soft
hue of his wings - and her golden halo of curls catching his gaze and
holding it. With renewed purpose, he strides toward her. Yes. This one is
the best of all.

From the sands below, Veliana heads over toward Bianca, but stops about two
arm's lengths from the other. "I can't hardly believe it. Did you see
B'zior? Is that another blue?"

From the sands below, Yakut(Yakut) has impressed !

From the sands below, With a great hop the Painted Sea Egg leaves its mound
and begins rolling across the sand. When it comes to a stop the many cracks
along the surface finally give way to the green inside. Squeeling her
protestation of the treatment from her former home she staggers, dizzy,
across the sands and finally bumps into a girl from Ista Hold. The girl
doesn't even notice that her feet and legs have been scraped and scratched
by the newly hatched dragonet as the pair totters off the sands.

From the sands below, Natalee laughs at Bianca. "I hope so, too," she
grins. "Yes, he is nice."

From the sands below, Jascela smiles at Veliana and nods. "Yeah. He's a
/big/ one too!" She looks back out at the Blue, missing seeing the Brown
impress.

Konnevath rumbles proudly as another brown finds a lifemate. One would
think this was /his/ clutch, if the big bronze down there on the Sands
wasn't living proof otherwise.

From the sands below, Belanca oohs as the wandering brown finds a target.
"Look, Nata -- he's found someone!" And she fidgets, waiting to hear a name
to know for sure.

Salva has stopped cheering now, due to a sore throat. She does applaud each
Impression, though with a little less enthusiasm than she did before.
"Yakut, good for you!"

From the sands below, Yakut drops to her knees, just stunned. "Me?" she
says in the smallest voice. "You want me?" and then, shockingly enough,
Yakut bursts into tears! Sobbing, she throws her arms around the brown, and
manages in a choked, happy, sobby, wondering voice, "I'll help you, I'll
help you - we'll get you food right away!" she lifts up onto one knee,
prepared to help her life-mate out, tears streaming down her cheeks,
expression beatific.

From the sands below, Butterscotch and Caramel Sundae Egg begins melting
even more, or so it seems. In fact, there's a plop of butterscotch sliding
down the shell... or is that a bit of the shell itself? Upon closer
inspection, a network of cracks can be seen on the shell of this egg, very
finely detailed, but widening.

From the sands below, Immense and Graceless Sapphire Blue gets to his feet
and shakes his head back and forth quickly. Then, then, he squares his
broad shoulders and walks forward on unsteady legs. It would normally be a
strut but he -is- a dragonet and so it ends up wobbling back and forth. Or
maybe it's because of his head dive?

From the sands below, With a great clashing of eggshells the Planetary
Storm and Sunset Sky Egg colide. The cracks that had already developed
splintering and sending a bronze and a brown tumbling to the black sands.
As they right themselves the two give one another startled looks and then
bolt in opposite directions. Across the sands the cry of a boy from South
Boll is heard as the bronze finds him while at the same time, on the
opposite side of the sands, a girls voice rings triumphant as the brown
finds her.

From the sands below, Yakut says "Come along, my Ozrith, and we'll get you
some food!"

From the sands below, Ozrith presses against his new, beloved lifemate,
short, brown tail lashing out to encircle her calf, eyes locked onto hers
as if letting them go would be unthinkable. He creels in hunger and
adoration as he follows her toward one corner.

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

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

From the sands below, Bianca's now somewhat critical study of the blue is
cut short abruptly by Yakut's pronouncement, and she turns to gape around
some girls at the former hunter. "-Yakut?- Oh. Oh -my.-
Congratulations...?" And then she's gone, leaving Bianca to blink several
times.

From the sands below, Brees grins over at Yakut. "Congratulations. There is
food over here if you will follow me." She leads the new pair off towards
the cornere.

From the sands below, The Fathomless Depths Egg has been shuddering for
awhile. And only now does a tiny blue muzzle break through, followed by a
foot and then the rest of the body. Slowly and uncertainly he picks his
skittish way across the sands, bolting at sudden movements and sounds until
he bolts right into a girl from the Minecraft and impression is made.

From the sands below, Immense and Graceless Sapphire Blue stops in his
tracks and looks down at his feet as if suddenly noticing them for the
first time. There is a long moment of consideration and then he begins to
rock back and forth without taking a step. His rear end going up into the
air as he rocks back and then chest puffing out as he moves forward. With a
delighted creel he leaps forward and lands with a large spray of sand at
nearby candidates feet. Turning to them he suddenly notices and those wings
flair up as he gives a mighty bugle! AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooonnrrr!

Salva covers her ears. "Enthusiastic fellow, that one is." she remarks mildly.

From the sands below, Natalee jumps back at the cry, then starts laughing.
"Oh, that one...that one's going to be trouble."

From the sands below, Belanca grins as she hears Yakut. "Good!" she repeats
to herself before looking back out to the sands and frowning. "Six... no,
seven eggs left. And a blue." Her tone is resigned almost. "The blue! Has
he?" She leans forward to peer round the semi-circle to see who has been
targeted by the Arooonring Blue.

From the sands below, Jascela glances briefly over at Yakut and her new
lifemate as the Hunter makes her exclamation. Then she's back watching the
blue. She giggles as she watches him discovering his feet, then wings. "Oh,
boy. He sure seems excited now."

From the sands below, Butterscotch and Caramel Sundae Egg is quickly
disintegrating as more flakes start coming off of it, and this time, a
talon can be seen, trying to claw its way out. Then, apparently the
dragonet within has got tired of this piddling stuff, for suddenly, the egg
/shatters/, casting shards everywhere, and the dragonet within can already
be seen, triumphant, wet and floppy wings already flared, and she bugles
loudly.

From the sands below, Bianca shakes her head again for a moment or two
before peering over toward the little blue. "He -is- going to be trouble,"
she agrees. "He's -loud- at the very least. -Very- loud."

From the sands below, 

                         Simmering Efulgence Gold                          

	Vibrant and warm, fiery hues demand attention in a blazing dominance on
this dragonet, the youngest Ista Weyr queen. No one color can hold singular
attention for long, all too soon a flash of amber or glimmer of fire-heated
copper shines besides it. These colors mold and shift about in random
tongues of tone, giving the impression of an inferno held within her hide.
A violent eruption of yellow here, softened by a wispy and almost black
topaz there. Across her large body is a medley of smoldering embers, of
color flushed with the white-hot heat of life. Wide and majestic, her wings
continue with the theme. For across the sails are dark shadows of burnt
umber and yellow ochre that blossom from the translucent hide like so much
smoke. The colors curl about the sails in lightening and thickening
patterns. And only one thing separates wingspars from the sails, a darker
and almost aged gold that mingles with the smoky hue.

Salva falls silent, eyes on the newly hatched gold. After a long pause she
quietly states, "She's magnificent."

Teria blinks in startlement, sitting back. "A queen! There was a gold egg
in there?"

From the sands below, "I -thought- so," Fluria says and lightly bats the
back of her hand against Qirith's side. The Queen dam merely looks down and
gives a small warble of curiousity. "Sneaky, sneaky dam," The Weyrwoman
muses with a smile.

Hanreth bellows a welcome as the new queen puts in her appearance. J'nas
winces at his lifemates volume. "I had no idea there was a gold in this
clutch."

Livia rubs a hand over her stubbly hair, commenting bemusedly to herself,
"Well, I'll be..." She glances up at her humming lifemate, and gives a
little shake of her head.

From the sands below, M'llon turns to smile at Fluria, "Bromith wouldn't
tell me either but he is smugly saying now that he knew all along as well."

Divya swears "By Faranth's golden egg, he's loud! I hope his lifemate is a
trifle hard of hearing, or else he/she will be more so later!"

From the sands below, Belancas breath catches in her throat for a moment.
"A gold! I didn't know... no one said..." She trails off, shaking her head
in surprise. Worrying at her lower lip again, she looks for the blue.

Kassima flicks a glance towards the gold, but she, like her dragon, is
rather more interested in the blue: "He's going t'end up with a deaf
lifemate if'n he doesn't watch it," she comments, not without amusement.

From the sands below, Bianca is, of course, rather loud herself, and gets
even more so as yet another egg hatches. The crumbling of the butterscotch
shell gets a comment.. and such a comment it is. "The -snot- egg hatched a
..... -gold?-"

Konnevath ignores his lifemate to send a croon down to the baby queen.

From the sands below, Kyrola just laughs merrily. "Well, at least they
didn't /lie/ and tell you the queen was in another egg this time," she says
to the Weyrleaders, her knowing look mostly on Fluria.

From the sands below, Jascela giggles at Bianca and nods. "Yeah. HE's gonna
be a a handful for whoever he picks." She gasps in surprise as she spies
the Gold. "Oh... She's gorgeous." She giggles at Bianca and nods. "She
doesn't look snot-colored to me."

From the sands below, Natalee smiles at the gold and the blue very softly,
still clutching her fellow candidates with both hands.

From the sands below, Fluria gives a laugh herself and nods to Kyrola, "Too
true. Too true," She says with a smile.

Teria chuckles. "Jazeth is convinced he can be louder. But I'm not letting
him try."

From the sands below, Veliana has time to spin on her toes and eyes the
galleries, since the press of hatchings has slowed. "Lot of people," she
tells no one in particular as she turns back, having completely missed the
gold's entrance.

From the sands below, Immense and Graceless Sapphire Blue turns his head
about as all the attention turns upon his golden clutchsib. With much
exuberance and not even a glimmer of understanding as to why -she- may be
special he bounds towards her. His movements more leaps and jumps than
actual walking. And it's that wobbly strut when he does.

From the sands below, Simmering Efulgence Gold fans her wings a few times
to dry them, staying in place for a few moments. Then, she tries to take a
step or two, but her dramatic entrance has tired her out for the nonce, and
only after getting away from the remains of her shell, she flops to the
sands, letting out a soft sound that's almost like a sigh. Yet... she
doesn't give up. With a determined grunt, she pushes herself upright again
and forges on, her eyes fixing on the candidates and automatically
excluding the ones with the wrong dangly bits.

From the sands below, Only a few eggs left and the impressions are
happening faster now. As the Swirling Cold Darkness and Seacrafter's
delight eggs split open sending a green and a blue rocketing across the
sands in search of lifemates. The green finds hers in a girl with golden
hair from Tillek while the blue also finds a girl with light colored locks
who hails from High Reaches Hold.

From the sands below, Giving a final shudder, reluctant till now to release
it's burden, the Rippling Desert Sands Egg finally releases it's captive.
With a cry of protest the blue pulls himself from the egg and trails bits
of it all the way to his lifemate. A boy who is so shocked for a long
moment he stands silent and gaping before calling out the dragonets name.

From the sands below, Belanca looks to the eggs again. "Six - five - four -
three!" she says softly, rubbing her free hand on her robe in a nervous
gesture. Cautious, she glances at the gold then turns slightly to watch the
blue.

From the sands below, Jascela glances around at the other Candidates left
for a moment before looking back out at the clutch. "Seems like someone had
a rough time being hatched."

From the sands below, Bianca starts to fidget now, giving Talimar's hand a
squeeze, and then Natalee's, and then Talimar's again. "-Almost- out of
eggs," she breathes. "And almost out of -dragons- and they -do- keep
getting prettier."

From the sands below, Immense and Graceless Sapphire Blue gives one more
leap and lands bold and triumphant besides the gold! His wings fold against
his sides as his chest, massive as it is, seems to puff out before him. His
facetted eyes, tinnged with the red of hunger, observe the gold for a
moment. That is before leaning in for closer examination. No! This is -not-
what he wants, not what he seeks. She's too...gold and he turns and -leaps-
away again. It only takes a few before he is in front of the candidates.
And begins to peruse. No no, not this one, shove that one out of the way
almost absently, not even noticing, wack this one in the shin with a swish
of his tail.

"Friendly fellow." Salva grins, watching the blue beat up on the candidates.

T'mren snickers, "Very."

From the sands below, Simmering Efulgence Gold passes by a couple of those
boys, since they're not what she's seeking. Her tail lashes with patient
inquiry, almost ticking off each potential lifemate. Her manner is almost
gentle, and she seems to be making a visible effort not to spend too long
in front of any given female candidate, so as not to hurt their feelings.
If she's aware of the blue bouncing around and such, she pays him no mind,
her own search more important for now.

Divya laughs at the antics of the bouncing baby blue. Now that he's less
loud, she finds him amusing. "Teria, who do you think he'll Impress to?"

From the sands below, Jascela watches the blue warily. She releases
Talimar's hand as the dragonet approaches. "Careful of him... He doesn't
look particularly careful about who gets in his way."

From the sands below, Natalee scoots slightly away and looks around the
sands. She smiles again at the gold, almost laughing, and squeezes her hands.

From the sands below, Bianca starts to look nervous again as the little
blue dragon comes closer, moving as he does, and takes half a step
backwards. "He's -pretty- but he's... he's... he's you'd think he'd be
-tired- after hatching."

From the sands below, Talimar scoots away from the ladies a bit, not
wanting to get in the way of that gold...

Teria turns her hands up. "I'm not sure of names, but the one backing up
*now*, I think. The woman near the blue."

From the sands below, Belanca edges back now, seeing the lack of care the
blue is taking as he hunts through the ranks. "A lot of energy there." is
said in agreement with the others, her hand squeezing Nata's back nervously.

From the sands below, Immense and Graceless Sapphire Blue sees them! Or so
it seems because suddenly his wobbling strut turns into a run and then a
sudden leap. Only problem is mid-way through he realizes that he did, yes,
under-estimate the distance. As he wiggles mid-air, he turns slightly and
his wings fold against his back. And so it is that he crashes into his
chosen one, but without the danger of those talons...just his bulk. Yet it
doesn't seem to -bother- him as he swivels his head around and practically
wraps his body around the chosen one with the warm brown eyes, bugling once
more. ARrrrrrRRrrrrrrrrroOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooonrrr!

From the sands below, Jascela(Jascela) has impressed !

Teria laughs aloud. "I'd've lost /that/ bet, sure enough."

Salva yelps as the blue leaps towards one of the candidates, can't quite
see who..."He's going to squash whoever that is!" And now the blue shifts
so she can see. "Jas! Well, good for her. Is she still in one piece? And
can she get him to shush already?"

From the sands below, Brees beams wiping a tear from her eye as she starts
fop jascela Kaylira=:hugs!! I have to go. Congratulations 'cela!

From the sands below, Jascela goes down as the Blue bowls her over.
Somewhere from the bottom of the pile her voice is just audible, "Of course
I'll go feed you, Tansith.... As soon as you'll get off me."

From the sands below, Belanca squeaks, hopping from one foot to the other.
By this point, her feet are distinctly uncomfortable! "Is it, did he chose,
was it?" Breathless, she waits for the announcement of a name to confirm
it, a sidelong glance directed tentatively at the gold as she waits.
"Jascela!"

From the sands below, Simmering Efulgence Gold pauses in her search, and
this time, her tail is still, her wings half-flared, her eyes seizing upon
one candidate in particular. That one is edging back... no! With an almost
fearful creel, she plunges forward, heedless of her own dignity. She
mustn't lose her chosen lifemate!

Divya grins and says, "I did lose that bet! I thought she'd impress green.
Oh well, it's a half-mark well spent." She digs in her belt-pouch and
tosses the coin to Kassima.

Jay flies in from the bowl.

T'rock grabs ahold of the straps and vaults up to settle between Cielth's
neckridges and promptly disappears from view.

Cielth launches from the ledge and into the air.

From the sands below, Belanca(Belanca) has impressed !

From the sands below, Tansith stares down at Jascela for a moment and gives
a snort before canting his head to the side. For a moment he doesn't seem
to understand but he does take a step back at last and that is just what
Jascela likely needs to stand up.

From the sands below, B'ryce smiles and heads over to Jascela and Tansith,
"Go right over there where there is some food for him."

Kassima snaps her fingers to point down towards the Sands. "That's Jascela!
And that's a *blue*, and that means I've nay lost everything!" She reaches
to snag the mark neatly from the air, tucking it into her belt pouch; with
a grin to Divya, she points out, "The good thing about betting on
Impressions, I've found, is that when you bet against or just get the color
wrong... even if'n you lose, 'tis still a win. At least for the Candidate!"

From the sands below, Jascela stands up and brushes the worst of the sand
off of her before nodding to B'ryce and leading Tansith toward the far end
of the sands.

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

Jenufa cheers for the lass who has just Impressed the gold, at last
dragging herself to her feet and approaching the edge of the ledge. She
steadies herself on the forelimb of someone's lifemate while leaning toward
dropoff, her face bright with enthusiasm.

From the sands below, Fluria sucks in a breath as the Blue barrels into
Jascela and misses the gold's choice entirely in the process. When her eyes
flitter back they widen and then grow thoughtful.

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

From the sands below, Natalee smiles at Jascela as she impresses.
"Congrats!" she calls, even though she's probably too busy to hear her. She
watches the gold and has a smile for Bianca, before looking around the sands.

From the sands below, Bianca skitters back another step as the blue
launches himself, then laughs in that tittering way of hers as he ends up
on, or around, Jascela. "-Congratulations!-" she gushes. And then the gold
is Impressed, and a second equally breathy phrase. "And Belanca! Oh. Oh!"
Natalee's hand gets a vicious, tight squeeze.

From the sands below, At last the final egg gives way. As the others before
it did the Skybroom Puzzle Egg seems to unfold much like it's puzzling
surface and reveals a slightly pudgy green. As she totters across the sand
her vocal cries begin, rising in pitch as the search goes on and on.
Finally it comes to a crescendo just before a girl with black hair, from
Benden, steps forward and the green launches herself forwards. Impression
is made with no injury to the girl herself.

From the sands below, Belanca glances away from Jascela and her gaze
collides with whirling ones set in a golden head. Cornflower blue, her eyes
widen and she abruptly goes down on one knee, arms flung around her brand
new lifemate's shoulders. Cheeks flushed, limbs shaking, she manages only
one word, repeated over and over as the moment grabs her: "Vianneth!
Vianneth!"

Salva sighs happily as the gold chases after Belanca, and the last egg
hatches without anything going wrong.

From the sands below, B'ryce smiles as he approaches Belanca and Vianneth,
"Right over there is some meat and while probably not quiet now, it is more
private."

Teria squints. "Now who is that? Anyone know her name?"

Salva furrows her brow. "Belanca, I believe. I've only met her once, very
briefly."

From the sands below, Veliana hops backwards as the last Impressions are
made. "Is that it? Was that all of them?"

From the sands below, Natalee squeezes Bianca's hand back and reaches out
to hug her. "I guess it's over," she says, looking at the empty sands.

From the sands below, Kyrola lifts one brow as she directs her gaze from
the blue to the gold, and it remains aloft. She says nothing, but looks
over at Fluria in inquiry.

From the sands below, Fluria glances at M'llon as the last eggs hatched and
the dragonet inside finds his lifemate. Now the smile fades into something
akin to understanding. Slowly those blue eyes trail back to the remaining
candidates and while she -is- smiling, it is muted. Reaching for M'llon's
hand she begins to walk forwards towards the remaining cluster of people on
the sands.

"And there's the end to another one," Kassi says with audible satisfaction.
"Nay bad, nay bad 'tall, even if'n it did seem a bit light on the greens.
We'd best get back, methinks... I'll have Kay's hide later for nay coming
up t'socialize."

From the sands below, M'llon lets his breath out in a soft sigh as the last
of the weyrlings get lead over to the corner, walking forward with Fluria
his expression closely matching hers.

From the sands below, Talimar sighs softly to himself still shifting back
and forth on the sands lookind down to the ground again.

From the sands below, Belanca's moment passes and hunger bites. Hearing
B'ryce from some distant place she manages an incoherent aknowledgement.
"This way. Hungry, shard it... food..." With whihc, she leads Vianneth
where's she's instructed.

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

From the sands below, It slowly sinks in that there are no more eggs, and
no more hatchlings, and nothing but sand, and shells, and candidates, and..
whatnot. Bianca blinks quickly then, glancing to Natalee, and then to
Talimar, and then she breathes an -almost- hysterical, "-I'm- bad luck!"

From the sands below, Vianneth sighs once more and almost curls around her
lifemate possessively, soaking up Belanca's presence, although she does
sort of move slightly impatiently.

Teria releases a deep breath. "Well. Good luck to them."

Salva stretches, winces at Bianca's statement, and decides leaving now
would be a good idea. "I'm off. Farewell, all of you."

Yashira's forehead wrinkles up. "Suppose it's time to get back, yes."

Catalina quietly makes her way to Nisanth's neck, with a final glance back
to the emptying Sands.

Catalina vaults up to Nisanth's neck as the brown rumbles softly.

Nisanth watches Catalina as she vaults to his neck, swiveling it around to
croon at her once she's safely mounted.

Salva grasps Uriketh's straps and swings up onto his neck.

Nisanth launches from the ledge and into the air.

Teria raises a hand. "Clear skies - and Yashira? My best to Ursa!"

Divya nods and says, "Kassi's right. What matters is that Jascela found a
lifemate, not that I got he color wrong. Goodbye, everyone!"

Uriketh launches from the ledge and into the air.

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

From the sands below, Natalee laughs at Bianca's outburst. "It's all right.
I mean, the whole candidacy, you were hiding from the sun and plotting to
run away from the weyr." She reaches for her arm.

"Clear skies - and my best to U'yn," Yashira says to Teria, waving. "Good
to see you again."

From the sands below, "No...no you're not Bianca," Fluria speaks up as she
comes to a stop. "None of you are and I would hate for you to go away
thinking that." She quiets a moment and seems to consider, "I know how you
are feeling right now. I was in the exact same place many turns ago when I
first stood. It is -not- the end you think it is..."

Teria uses a wing as a step, swinging herself up onto Jazeth's broad back.

Boomer launches into the air, then blinks Between.

You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly.
You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower
neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered
foreleg.

<*> Yashira climbs up onto Decarath's back.

<*> Jazeth launches from the ledge and into the air.

<*> Lysseth spreads her wings to their full extent, bringing them down with
a rush of wind as she leaps nimbly into the air.

You launch yourself from the ledge and into the air.