The Hatching of Gold Xemyth and Bronze Zerth's Clutch
PernMUSH, October 12, 2003

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

You soar into the dark tunnel in the north wall of the bowl. Soon you
emerge in the spacious hatching grounds cavern, high above the sands. You
fly down to land gently on on one of the ledges overlooking the sands.

<*> Verenth emerges from the tunnel to the bowl, circling momentarily
before he wings down and lands lightly on on one of the ledges overlooking
the sands.

<*> Wydreth emerges from the tunnel to the bowl, circling momentarily
before he flies down to land gently on on one of the ledges overlooking the
sands.

<*> G'non slides lightly down Wydreth's foreleg to the ground.

<*> "Definitely something to be said for comfort," I'sai agrees with the
Weyrsecond, moving to join her; at Taralyth's sudden swift, pleased warble,
though, he turns enough to wave welcome to Lysseth and her rider, and
Wydreth and the others thereafter.

<*> Sruth emerges from the tunnel to the bowl, circling momentarily before
he wings down and lands lightly on on one of the ledges overlooking the sands.

<*> Konnevath joins the other dragons in humming. His pitch is true---the
only time this miracle ever occurs.

<*> Sria climbs down Sruth's side to the ground, as the dragon rumbles softly.

<*> Wydreth adds his own dragon-tenor to the building hum as G'non touches
ground. "Thought for sure I'd missed it," he comments as he tugs his helmet
off.

<*> Dust-edged wings spread wide, Lysseth circles in to a landing that's as
neat as anyone could please; anyone including her rider, who gives the
green's neck a grateful slap for the gentle descent. "Duties t'High Reaches
and her queens, and everyone and everywhere else," Kassima rattles off as
she slides down as quick as her condition allows, hides and 'skin of
something probably not wine already in hand for once--and Lysseth's
warbling as sweetly to Taralyth before she's even hit the ground, the sound
half-croon at least. "Is, heya! We didn't miss aught? Tell me we didn't."

<*> Verenth continues to hum as his rider dismounts and finds a space to
watch from the ledges.

<*> Taehath emerges from the tunnel to the bowl, circling momentarily
before she wings down and lands lightly on on one of the ledges overlooking
the sands.

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.

Ceres has indeed made herself comfortable, her back against her green.
Dalrianth continues to hum and to greet as others appear while Ceres waves
greetings without speaking.

On the sands, Xemyth starts to hum, the sound rippling across the sands as
her eyes whirl faster.

Taehath touches down quietly, folding her wings in and warbling a shy
greeting.

Nyneve dismounts Taehath.

Giareth emerges from the tunnel to the bowl, circling momentarily before he
backwings to a neat landing on on one of the ledges overlooking the sands.

Divya gives her brown a dirty look and mutters someting along the lines of
'big flirt', but the humming and arrival of other dragons cheers her up
quickly. "Wonderful--his flirting means I got a spot along the front." Then
she remembers her manners and offers 'Reachian duties to the visitng riders
from Telgar and Fort and a friendly wave to the other locals.

Sh'van vaults down Giareth's side to the ground, as the dragon rumbles softly.

"Can't promise no egg cracked, but I can say that I haven't -seen- any
hatchling clamber out there," I'sai returns as best he can, what with all
the humming and such - including Taralyth's, deepening - "Evenin', Sh'van,
making any bets tonight?"

Sria's as careful in dismounting as her dragon is in picking a viewpoint,
and while Sruth adds his own deep note to the hum she glances around - and
down - with a smile.

Sh'van grins impudently to I'sai. "Evening, everyone. I'm Nabolese, not
Bitran. Betting's not in my nature. Much."

Divya scoffs lightly. "At a hatching, bettins is in nearly everyone's
nature. 'Tis why Kassima's so wealthy. And I just might add to her purse
tonight."

On the sands, Ysabel races across the sands, nimbly dodging the eggs as she
heads for Xemyth. "I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm here!" she pants, leaning
against the gold and watching the eggs with wide eyes. "Have they moved yet?"

<HLR> I'sai whistles! Taehath's Turnday.

Kassima's sigh is definitely relieved, as much for the news as for the
perch she's taken upon her dragon's forelimb; Lysseth's settled herself,
and settled in to join the chorus. "Then there's still time for wagers,"
she says with satisfaction. "What will you be placing marks on for first
t'Hatch? Kisai says blue, y'know; but then, she would--Divya, Divya, do
mine ears hear the sweet sound of potential profit?"

Ceres shakes a finger at Divya, "I will have you know I have never made nor
lost even an eighth of a mark froma hatching."

G'non squints down at the sands. "Brown first," he says. "Brown, or maybe
blue. No, definitely brown."

<HLR> Nyneve says, "Wow, you're right! Neato!"

Verenth hums some more, the sound becoming more ergant.

On the sands, S'din steps onto the hot sands, leading the fine group of
'Reaches Candidates. He moves to one side of the entranceway and watches
the procession toward the dam and sire of this clutch.

Nyneve pats Taehath's snout as the green begins to hum; she keeps close to
her dragon, glancing about herself with a wary expression.

On the sands, Callyndra walks onto the sands appearing calm. At first. Her
head and shoulders up and straight. She moves with a seeming confidence,
the candidate next to her Kalronk, follows her example as best he can since
he's among the younger candidates. The fact she's as nervous as anyone else
down here is given away from the way she plucks at the robe she's wearing.

There is more urgancy to the humming as the eggs rock harder and as the
first Candidates enter the sands.

Giareth rumbles greetings to the others in and amongst his humming.

Divya isn't cowed by the Weyrsecond's finger. "I said /nearly/ everyone's
nature. You must be in the group that can resist temptation. But I'm not."
She happily digs in her belt-pouch and pulls out a quarter-mark. "Kassima,
I'll bet that Dysan Impresses. I'm sure that C'san's grandson will find his
lifemate on the Sands today."

On the sands, Dysan walks resolutely onto the sands. He holds the shoulder
of a boy about his age, from Crom, though it's hard to tell who is
supporting whom.

On the sands, Jorea steps onto the stands, looking nervous. She pauses on
the edge of the sands, her eyes scooting across the eggs and, off course,
the golden queen. She takes a few more steps onto the sands, to allow those
coming in behind her to enter the sands. She bows in the direction of the
queen and the sire of the clutch, then curtsies, before moving with her
partner, another young woman, to a position a respectful distance from the
eggs with many of the other candidates.

Konnevath continues to hum, for once not flirting with the pretty ladies up
on the ledges.

I'sai widens pale eyes, "'Much'. Well, if you say so - we'll see what you
make out of it, or don't. How's X'tan holding up? Didn't see him when I was
by the other day." Divya gets a momentary flash of grin, but he's
distracted by Sria, and he beckons her way too. "Not down there with the
eggs? Thinking one'll head up here," as if, "and going to head it off?"

D'va scans the ledges and arriving dragon pairs and makes his way through a
few, saying 'hello' to the riders he knows, and makes his way to where his
daughter is. "Can't wait to give away your marks, hmm?"

On the sands, Callyndra and Kalronk stop to bow to the dragons then turn to
face the clutch of eggs, moving to allow the rest of the candidates to form
the permieter around th eeggs.

On the sands, Lamorna enters from the Weyrleader's ledges and promply
starts the dance of the hot sands, as the heat enters her sandles. Still
she remembers to bow to both the dam and the sire of the cluch.
Straightening up, she practicly drags her partner over to where Dysan is
standing and makes room for them in the halk circle.

On the sands, Center of the Universe Egg rocks frantically from side to
side, rather than opening. It rolls backwards into two of its fellows,
Guard's Helm Egg and Mystic Symbols Egg, with a loud cracking sound. The
knock seems to be the catalyst for all of them, the three open
simultaneously. The trio of greens heads for three lower cavern children
who are holding hands. From eggs close together, they make Impressions to
three boys who are close together.

Verenth abruptly begins to quiet to a lower level of humming as the first
greens - 3 of them at once! - appear.

G'non says "...and now we know why I'll never get rich betting on Hatchings."

"Count it as a mark of m'good mood, Divya," Kassi calls across the
intervening space, "and of m'wish t'be celebrating one of m'last days for
traveling and all, that 'twill take that bet despite nay knowing the
lad--or his grandsire, truthfully. Don't suppose you'd put side-marks on
the color?" Then, "And you still haven't answered m'question, Is. *Surely*
you're nay going t'refrain from betting when 'tis Taralyth's own
grandchildren? --Oh, shards," for the Hatching of the greens has
forestalled the chance for marks; but she smiles, despite herself. "Pretty
lasses... aye, beast, 'twere right, 'twere right, rub it in already."
Lysseth's trumpet would suggest she's quite happy to do so.

On the sands, Dysan and Helian stop near Xemyth to offer a formal bow.
Dysan's begins to catch the excitement of the crowd. He and his friend join
the semicircle around the eggs, moving with a curious mincing quickstep
from the heat.

On the sands, Lamorna gasps loudly as the first three eggs hatch and the
first impressions are made. She shoots a glance over at Dysan to mmake sure
he's alright and then returns her gaze to the eggs.

On the sands, Jorea glances at the faces of other candidates, watching the
Center of the Universe egg as it rolls, gasping quietly as the three greens
are impressed. She glances to the clutch mother again, seeing if it will
provoke a reaction, before turning her attention back to the eggs closest
to her, gripping the hand of her partner tighter than before.

On the sands, Xemyth hums louder as the candidates appear, then silences
herself abruptly as the first eggs hatch. Next to her, Ysabel presses one
hand to her mouth in awe as she watches the Impressions.

Divya sniffs at her father's joke. "I won't lose today Dad. I'm not betting
on first to Impress, since I usually get it wrong. This is a safe bet." She
shakes her head to Kassima and imitates the other rider's accent in her
reply. :'Tis sorry I am t'be puttin' a damper on your celebrating, but I'll
not be wagerin' on the color dragon that chooses Dysan. Just the one bet
today."

Sria's gaze follows entering Candidates and dragonets before adding to
G'non, "You'll have to hold out for races - " and flashing a grin I'sai's
way. "Mm-hmm," she nods. "Can't be too careful, what with runaway
hatchlings as a possibility."

On the sands, Callyndra jumps a little at the suddenness of the three
greens appearing and impressing so quickly. She plucks at her robe, unaware
of her own movements.

D'va chuckles. "Ok, ok. Well I certainly hope you're right. I'd like to see
him impress, for C'san and Lirryn both."

Wilanth emerges from the tunnel to the bowl, circling momentarily before
she flies down to land gently on on one of the ledges overlooking the sands.

Joshi dismounts from Wilanth using her offered leg to do so.

I'sai ill-controls a laugh. "Oh, I don't know, G'non - anyone get a chance
to take you up on it, or did you escape them?" - "Kassi, sorry, didn't
realize you were talking to me; too late for the firsts, now. But a trio,
that's interesting, and who's to say which of the three was really the
first. Nobody gets bragging rights, this time, such as they are. Maybe...
maybe. Hm. Maybe I shouldn't bet on them, grand-dragons and all, just enjoy
it. I'll put a thirty-second on no blood, though, with S'din out there and
all." He narrows his eyes Sria's way, then, "Speaking of bets: going to bet
me there'll be a runaway, then?"

On the sands, Ice Maze Egg starts to rock...at first it is nearly unseen,
but quickly it is very, very noticable.

G'non grins. "I never wager marks. Amilin'd kill me if I did. She knows how
bad I am at wagers."

On the sands, Thin cracks have formed across the surface of Embroidery Egg,
when suddenly the startled brown hatchling tumbles out. Righting himself,
he finds himself right before an older girl from High Reaches Hold.
Impression is made and the pair heads off the sands in good order.

On the sands, Lamorna eyes move from rocking egg to rocking egg untill they
land on the Ice Maze eggs. She leans over and taps Dysan on the shoulder,
shifting from foot to foot as she does so. "Dysan, look!"

On the sands, Dysan shifts from foot to foot, though his face shows no
outward signs of tension just yet. He watches closely those Candidates
nearest him, as if planning dodging routes. His attention is drawn by the
newest group of wobbling eggs. He catches his breath.

On the sands, S'din has led the quick grouping of impressees to the ledges,
offering his own congratulations before his eyes scan the sands for new
Weyrlings.

On the sands, Ice Maze Egg quickly begins to rock harder, and harder. At
one point it glances off a neighbor egg causing a loud *CRACK*! As it does
so, a ragged crack appears, and shards start to flake off.

Konnevath bugles proudly as a new brown is hatched and Impressed in a
matter of moments.

Wilanth lands, snorting slightly. That changes to a hum as her rider
dismounts. Joshi sweeps off her helmet asking the most obvious question,
"Is it too late to place bets?" The greenrider Igen asks before offering
politely, "Igen's duties to High Reaches and her queens." Can't forget some
form of manner.

On the sands, Jorea's attention is caught by the Ice Maze egg, she watches
it for a few moments, her attention then spinning to other eggs before it
returns to the rocking one. She looks at the brown impressing and then back
to the Ice Maze egg. She winces at the crack, but continues to watch the
rocking egg.

Kassima makes a face at the Telgar bronzerider, crossing her eyes and
presenting him with a raspberry: "Spoil m'fun, why don't you, as if'n you
haven't done *that* enough recently already. I still think this watchrider
thing's a malicious plot t'get you out of being wheedled about fetching
exotic foodstuffs--" There's a wink, though: she's teasing. "'Twill take
the blood-bet. Morbid creature that I am. And Divya, let me be saying, 'tis
as accurate a rendition of m'voice as I've heard in a Turn; for that alone
'twill be less grieved if'n I lose." Pause. "Marginally. Hey, there goes
that egg!"

On the sands, Callyndra grins at Jorea, Lamorna and Dysan when she spots
the icey looking egg moving. Her attention goes back to Kalronk to make
sure he's ok. Or maybe she's making sure she's ok too. She misses the brown
impressing but notices when the pair walk over to the other side of the sands.

On the sands, Ice Maze Egg slows slightly as it digs itself into deeper
sand. However, this just seems to upset the dragonet inside the egg, who
suddenly thrusts a wet bit of wing, followed by a talon, through the crack
in the egg. The egg, abruptly, falls apart.

Divya laughs out loud and tosses Kassima the quarter-mark. "Perhaps next
time I'll do a better job, Kassima. I'll have to visit Telgar and hear it
more often so I can improve my accent." She waves to the Igen rider and
directs her to Kassima for placing a bet.

On the sands, The Ice Maze Egg shatters, revealing a solid young blue
dragon sitting amongst the shards.


On the sands,
                              Starry Midnight Blue
                
Like a swath of rich silken fabric, this blue's hide shimmers in any
available light. From his muzzle to the tip of his tail, the color is
almost constant, a deep blue that's not indigo or navy, but certainly a few
shades darker than pure blue. There are only lighter shades on his
underside and belly, but still not really passing pure blue in terms of
lightness. His wings are almost like filigree, the sails nearly
translucent, yet elegant and well-proportioned. Curiously, however, there
are splashes of silvery shades on random bits of his hide, much like stars
in the night sky. The tiny splotches are best seen close up, but they
almost represent a master weaver's best embroidery, a whimsical pattern
that doesn't mean anything to the untrained eye. There are even a couple of
trailers that make a couple of the splotches resemble comets.


"Thirty-second it is," I'sai says on a note of satisfaction, sparing his
own nose-wrinkle Kassi's way by way of trading faces. "And..." upon
Wilanth's landing, Joshi's question, "Definitely not too late. Try Kassima?
She knows about all that, even if Divya, say, was deciding... what was it?
something about not making more bets than the one."

Verenth points his head towars the sands as the first blue emerges! A blue!
Like him! It is even dark like him!

On the sands, Dysan startles as the crack of the egg catches his attention
and the blue is revealed. He shares a look with Lamorna and suddenly finds
himself unable to breathe.

D'va claps for the blue dragon. "A fine one, for sure."

On the sands, Jorea oohs as the Ice Maze egg is broken and the midnight
blue dragonet emerges, staring at the blue intently, turning her head to
glance at her fellow candidates, "Isn't it beautiful," she mutters quietly
to her partner, before returning her attention to the newly hatched dragonet.

Kassima adds as a hopeful afterthought to the Igen greenrider, "And 'tis
never too late for bets as far as I'm concerned, beyond for the first
t'Hatch and all. Mind you, I'd *take* a bet on that, if'n you wanted t'bet,
say, blue or brown, but someone would probably throw something at me--" She
breaks off to catch the winging mark with her usual alacrity. "You're
always welcome at the Icy Wastes, Divya, y'know that. But you'd be doing me
a kindness if'n you'd save bringing any brandy by until I can share it
again." Her train of thought disrails again, this time by the need to set
her accoutrements down and stick her thumbs at her ears to wiggle her
fingers Is-wards.

On the sands, Lamorna forgets about the hot sands for a moment and looks
over at Dysan as his favorite egg hatches at last. She gives him a
encuraging smile and then looks back at the lovly blue "He's so handsome!"

On the sands, Ysabel gasps as the newest dragonet is revealed. "Oh, Xemyth,
isn't he gorgeous." she murmurs proudly. The clutch mama just gives her
lifemate a look - what did you expect? - before she croons encouragement at
the little one.

Sh'van lets out a whistle for the various dragons hatching, glancing up at
Giareth. "No, you weren't /quite/ that small..."

Sria grins upon I'sai's blood wager before replying, "What happened to not
betting on them?" and promptly becoming distracted by the sands' activity.
"There we are - nice wings," and her gaze remains below despite a smile at
the exchanges around her.

"This brings back memories," Joshi scans the candidates, the eggs, a smile
on her lips lighting up her face. She directs that smile at both Divya and
I'sai with a "Thanks," for the information. Heading over to Kassima she
nearly runs into a few bodies on the ledges, because her gaze is directed
down at the sands, making her choices for bets. "This is a happy day," she
grins, "Wilanth's sharing her turnday with these hatchlings."

On the sands, Callyndra ooos along with many other people and shoves those
wisps of hair back off her face, her feet shifting back and forth as she
finally feels the heat and stops plucking at her robe.

Divya mutters to D'va, "... the night... the moons... in eclipse....
beautiful."

On the sands, Starry Midnight Blue seems a bit dazed at his sudden freedom,
and he lies there for a moment trying to get his bearings. After a long
moment he scrabbles to his feet and begins to wander in and out of the
eggs. Like the maze he was caught within, he now seems to be lost in the
maze of the rocking eggs. At one point he emerges amid a group of boys, but
quickly returns to the main nest when none appear to be suitable.

On the sands, The shattering of the Ruathan Knot Egg is rather like that of
untying a knot. The cracks had formed along the lines of color, and the
shards fall away like strands of a cord. A brightly shining bronze steps
away from the pieces. He passes a cluster of girls without a second
thought, then turns about to Impress to a young trader-lad with long hair
who was hiding among the girls.

Nyneve starts a little, looking to Joshi. "It's Taehath's second Turnday
today."

D'va nods to his daughter. "I see quite a few of those out on the seas,
actually.. every now and then. Jeth likes them too."

On the sands, Dysan bends his knees, musn't lock the knees. Need to be
ready to move. He's breathing again, that's a good sign, though his face
shows signs of strain and sweat runs quite freely, dripping off of his
jawline.

On the sands, Jorea watches the movements of the young midnight blue
dragon, glancing at the other eggs that are rocking and hatching. She turns
her gaze to a couple of the candidates she knows, smiling to them.

On the sands, Callyndra feels Kalronk's slippery hand sliding into hers as
the blue moves around the eggs and she giggles when she sees the way he
wanders among the eggs. "I know exactly how he feels" she murmurs to Jorea.

On the sands, Lamorna awws as the newly hatched blue seem to get a little
lost among the many candidates "I hope he finds someone soon." Some of her
nerveousness seems to be fadinf away now that the hatching is actualy
happening. She does shoot a worried glance at Dysan, making sure he's alright.

After a you're-welcome back to Joshi, Is barely, barely refrains from
making more faces back at a certain wingleader over there, though he does
eye her with decided mischief; instead he eventually replies to Sria, "This
is betting on the -candidates-. It's different." Somehow. "And... what's
that? Turndays? Couldn't quite hear - "

Kassima lowers her hands again to pick up hide and stylus, poising the
latter to write on the former; "So which bets did you have in mind?" she
asks Joshi, cheerful as anything. "And every Hatching day's a
wonder--doesn't matter how many times I see it, the marvel's still the
same." Whatever she would've said to the last comment is forestalled by a
surprised blink Nyneve-wards, followed by a delighted exclamation: "'Tis
the lady who wanted t'be told if'n she was wagered on! Good t'see you
again; that's a coincidence, both of your dragons sharing a Turnday.
Mayhaps someone should bake a giant cake shaped like a disemboweled
herdbeast." I'sai, now, he gets a brief cower and look of mock-terror for
all that mischief; shame there's too much in her own grin to make it
convincing.

On the sands, S'din continues to fulfill his Weyrlingmaster duties as he
leads the new Weyrlings and their lifemates off the sands with a gentle
prodding. There is a smile on his face each time he speaks to them - that
should change the moment training actually begins.

On the sands, Starry Midnight Blue almost seems to disappear for a while as
other eggs hatch and other hatchlings Impress. Then he is there again,
seemingly appearing from nowhere...although he most certainly did not
between! He simply is there, nonetheless. This time, however, the group of
people he sees is more interesting. It includes several boys and girls.

On the sands, Jorea shuffles her feet and turns her head to Callyndra and
grins, "Yeh, that blue's taking it's time though, isn't it?" she asks
quietly, stuttering on several of the words. She grins again and turns her
gaze back to the blue.

On the sands, Gather Egg bursts open on the south side of the sands, just
as Troubled Waters Egg does the same on the north side. Two greens appear
to vie for a watchers attention. The southern green finds her lifemate
first, a young harper-apprentice boy. The other green takes her time,
walking the length of the sands in her search. Finally, the green finds
her, a blond girl who was just left alone when the first green took her
partner.

On the sands, Lamorna gets ready to dodge if it looks like any of the
newborns are heading her way and then nods at Jorea. "He is, but maybe he's
just choosy." She watches the blue as he picks his way though the candidates.

Divya ewwwwws as Kassima's idea of a dragon turnday cake. "Yuck! Better a
giant meatpie where the crust is nice and crunchy but the meat is still
very rare. Easier on the humans watching!"

On the sands, Callyndra is starting to shift back and forth faster on her
feet and the wisps of hair are turning into damp tendrils that are starting
to cling to her face. Restlessly, she shoves them back, jumping when she
sees the blue just appear.

D'va peers at Divya. "'Yuck?'"

The very idea of Kassima's words has Joshi burst into laughter, "Eww... I
don't think anyone would eat that even me!" She snickers and then smiles at
Nyneve saying, "I'm Joshi of Igen, rider to green Wilanth... she's four
turns old today." This said while digging into a pouch at her side that
rarely opens unless there's a bet about. "Let me bet a thirty-two on her,
him and her," She pulls out three different wooden marks pointing at
Callyndra, Dysan and Lamorna. "That's about all I can afford to bet on
right now."

On the sands, Dysan answers Lamorna's glance with a smile. He's all right,
caught in the moment perhaps as he follows the blue's progress. Part of him
seems to be trying to drink it all in, remembering every moment. The other
part is paying attention to more immeidate concerns, holding out a hand to
steady another Candidate who appears to be a little faint.

On the sands, Jorea nods to Lamorna, "Yeh, or maybe he's just trying to
make a show of himself," she says nervously, giggling for a few moments.
She looks over at Callyndra, "You allright?" she asks quietly.

Sria's non-answer is, "Oh, the -candidates-, I see," for I'sai, and Divya's
suggestion earns a, "Easier, though once they started in on the 'cake' I
don't suspect there'd be too much difference."

Nyneve inclines her head to Joshi. "Fort's duties to Igen and her queens.
I'm Nyneve, green Taehath's rider," she says. Looking to Kassima, she seems
faintly amused for a moment. "Indeed, it is I. Did you bet on green?"

On the sands, Starry Midnight Blue suddenly pauses as he approaches the
group. In front of him are several people, one of who smells distinctly of
water. He looks at this people, this lad, with damp hair and green eyes and
who looks posed to spring any way a stray dragon might wander. Well, that
stray dragon is going to wander in his direction! At increasing speed!

Divya nods to D'va. "A cake decorated to look like a disembowelled
herdbeast? Don't you find that slightly distateful?" She hears Sria's
comment and is forced to nod agreement. "True, there wouldn't be much
difference."

On the sands, Tied-Across Egg shudders just a bit in place, sand sliding
down from its sides as vibrations course through the had shell. From within
there is a definate scratching sound and then a sudden little thump
followed by silence.

Kassima affects a pout at Divya. "You're nay fun. Here 'twas thinking a
disemboweled herdbeast cake would be the perfect challenge for m'aunt, the
one who does, ah, novelty baking. Daresay the dragons might like a meat pie
better, though... I would!" That's her laughing answer to Joshi. "So long
as 'twas *good* cake! After all I've seen Lysseth do in the Grounds, I'm
hard t'disgust with entrails anymore... thirty-two on each of those three?
Huh. Got it. Watch me bugger m'self into an empty beltpouch, taking so many
bets on individuals. Green for you?" she asks Nyneve. A moment passes as
she considers. "Methinks so. Split bet on green and blue. I don't see why
everyone thinks there's something wrong with disemboweled cakes."

On the sands, Lamorna looks increasingly alarmed as the blue seems to start
to wander their way, and swollows, her nerviousness starting to return in
spades as the heat licks at her feet.

D'va says "Yes, distasteful, certainly. But with as many years as you have,
Div, I didn't think you still talked that way, like you were a teen."

On the sands, Myrdinth heads directly for Dysan, slowing to an abrupt stop
in front of the Candidate as he frantically makes noises for the boy to
look at him! Look at me! Look at me!

"Like a disemboweled..." former-baker I'sai hides his face in his hands,
not that he doesn't widen his fingers a few moments later to peek out
through the resulting gaps. Blue dragonet. Those greens, back there. Back
to the... "Dysan? He's going to Dysan! Div, you were right!"

Nyneve blinks slowly at Kassima. "Disemboweled... cakes?"

On the sands, Dysan's face changes in stages. Tension is replaced by quiet
regard. Worry is replaced by degrees of bounding joy. For a timeless
moment, dragon and rider are lost in each others eyes. In those eyes, Dysan
finds courage to face whatever comes, and a quiet, certain and timeless
love. "Oh Myrdinth.. we'll get you what you need.. anything you need..
always."

On the sands, A loud squalling green is left abruptly in the place Fierce
Runner Egg used to rest. She looks around for a moment, still making that
appalling noise. She picks her direction and heads out, finding her mate in
a green-eyed girl who has both hands over her ears in reaction to the
noise. The girl drops to her knees, blushes, and takes her hands from her
ears to comfort the poor dear.

On the sands, S'din moves about the sands in a quick pace, definately
working up a sweat and earning his marks, so to speak, by trying to move
the large numbers of new Weyrlings off the sands quickly. There are several
close calls, but everyone makes it off the sands safely. The latest
impression brings a smile to his face and he says. "Congratulations, D'san
and Myrdinth. Let's get you to the ledges so you can feed your new lifemate."

On the sands, Lamorna watches as her friend impresses, her eyes shining
with joy as she lets out a loud cheer "Dysan! Congradulations!

On the sands, Myrdinth croons urgantly...it sounds like he is hungry. Very
hungry. His eyes whirl red.

On the sands, Jorea's eyes follow the blue's progress across the sands as
it rushes towards Dysan, not noticing the shivering of the Tied-Across Egg.
She smiles at Dysan, "Way to go, Dysan!" she calls out to the
newly-impressed bluerider. "Or is it D'san, or whatever..." she adds, on a
slightly quieter tone.

Kassima's grin to I'sai is wickedness in its purest form. Her reply to
Nyneve, by contrast, attempts to be innocence in its purest form: "But
a'course! Disemboweled herdbeast cakes. Or a cake shaped like a herdbeast
that was then disemboweled. One would be as appropriate as another.
*Shells*, is that the lad Divya bet on? And you?" she asks Joshi. "This
isn't a good day for m'marks so far, is it? But a bonny pairing, and a
lovely name on that blue lad, sure enough."

On the sands, Callyndra takes a deep breath and turns to Jorea for a
moment. "I think so. Remind me to keep after Dysan for something to help
with hot feet on these sands after the hatching, ok?" She's got one foot
picked up and waggling to cool it off while the other cooks. She glances at
Kalronk who nods nervously at her. Well, he doesn't look like he's going to
fall over yet. "Then..." she stops, eyes widening when she sees Dysan
impress. "YES!"

D'va applauds for Myrdinth and Dysan and nudges Divya. "And here you
weren't going to bet on him to impress first. You should have gone with
your instincts."

On the sands, Ysabel's gaze darts across the sands to the rocking eggs and
the wandering dragonets, trying to see everything at once. Most Impressions
are greeted with an automatic smile before she turns to see what else is
going on, but when Myrdinth finds Dysan she can't help but break into a
broad grin.

"Well I'll be..." Joshi stares down at the impression and over to Wilanth.
"Tricky girl... how did you know that would happen?.." Apparently dragon
advice on bets is all good. "Igen's duties to Fort and her queens Nyneve,"
she says somewhat absently. "Thanks for winning me a bet kid," said down
towards the sands softly. He won't hear her.

"Ah, Dysan - oh, D'san, then. Wonderful." Sria says, considering the pair
before once again surveying the others.

On the sands, Tied-Across Egg starts to shudder again, then take a slow
roll all the way over once. Then there is more scratching sounds from
within. Another thump, then a louder thump accompanying a small little
crack appearing on the top of the egg. That isn't enough for whoever is
within, as the scratching gets a little more frantic, then another thump
inside the egg that sends a small flake of shell sliding down from the top
onto the sands.

Divya cheers loudly as Dysan Impresses to the starry blue. "Myrdinth, did
he say? What a lovely dragon name!" She stands and and claps until her
hands are reddened, giving her a good excuse to avoid her father's question.

I'sai cheers for the lad, "Excellent. And what with the mazes he builds,
all the twists and turns, that's the sort of dragon to navigate well in the
sky. Myrdinth, was it? Myrdinth, Riordanth, sounds a little close but not
-too- close, bet Moh'll be pleased."

Sh'van whistles fiercely for Dysan's impression, both fingers in his mouth,
the sound piercing.

"Moh'll be pleased regardless, I'm sure," Sria adds, before turning to grin
at Sh'van. "He might hear that, anyway."

On the sands, Jorea grins widely as D'san leaves the sands, then turns to
look around at the other eggs. The motion of the Tied-Across Egg catches
her eye, and she turns her body so she can watch it a little more closely.
Staring at where the flake of shell came off to see if she can determine
the colour of the dragonet inside.

Joshi gives a sharp glance at I'sai, "Riordanth?" She glances around, "Is
Mohria up here?" She begins to scan the ledges for the bluerider.

On the sands, Cracks shatter the surface of Lone Tower Egg, then a claw
pokes out. Moments later, a dark blue muzzle appears from another hole in
the egg. Another leg and the hatchling begins to struggle forward, taking
part of his egg with him. Suddenly, the egg shatters completely and falls
away, it seems the little one has found his wings. Free from the egg, he
continues forward, Impressing to a giggling young girl from Ista.

On the sands, Lamorna finaly turns her attention back to the rocking eggs,
after giving D'san one last look and another cheer.

I'sai startles at -that- shrill whistle, giving Giareth's rider a quick
look; he only turns back for, "Likely, likely, and blue especially," to
Sria, and once Joshi catches his attention, "Hm? I didn't see her, but
she's bound to be about. All these dragons; she could be anywhere. You two,
you're friends?"

"You could say that," Joshi says with a gleam in her eye. A grin breaks out
on her face. "So I take it that lad was her candidate? Riordanth has a good
eye." She glances at Wilanth, "One she shares apparently."

Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth offers just a brush of teasing,
gleaming thought, resonating with that Hatching hum: lovely grandchildren
he has indeed... even if, by having them, he places himself dangerously
near to seeming oh-so-old. Not that, for all the tease, there's the
slightest suggestion in mind or thought that *she* actually finds him thus.

On the sands, Tied-Across Egg goes quiet for a moment, and then there is
more frantic scracthing sounds from within. For a moment a clawtip appears
through the tiny hole caused by the lost flake of shell, and it pulls
another little flake inside the egg itself as a result of its struggles.

Sria's eyeing the sands still before she's pulled aside by a very different
bluerider than the newly Impressed - she turns away to speak quietly with
her for a few moments.

"Riordanth's the blue who caught Dianneth her last rising, 'tis nay so?"
Kassima inquires, while taking advantage of a momentary lull to scribble
down fresh notes.

Divya sits back down and smiles happily. "'Tis a fine day indeed. Dysan is
now D'san and I've an extra half-mark in my pouch. I'd buy the lad a toast
but such pleasures as fine wine are denied him for the next two turns. I'll
just have to drink his share then."

"I will help you do that," Joshi calls out merrily to Divya with a grin.
"Joshi of Igen." Must introduce herself to future drinking mates.

Sh'van grins over at the others, but his eyes are still on the sands, and
the candidate that Giareth picked out.

On the sands, Jorea continues to stare at the Tied-Across egg, watching the
claw protrude from the small hole and draw fragments of the shell inside.
She notices the blue impressing the girl from Ista, and smiles at the girl,
but quickly returns her attention to the Tied-Across egg.

On the sands, With a last gasp, the Tied-Across Egg cracks to reveal a
stunning green.


On the sands,
                             Soothing Gemstone Green                

Intricate whorls of malachite swirl across the back and belly of this
green, twining with streaks of jade towards her tail and brightening to a
kelly green along her wingspars. Pine takes over along the edges of her
magnificent wings and her headknobs are tinted a matching forest shade, the
solid blocks of color providing respite for the eye from the roiling hues
that engulf the rest of her hide from muzzle to dainty tailtip. Though
large for a green she isn't clumsy, and even as a dragonet manages to exude
elegance and move with a grace that makes every faltering step seem like
part of a deliberate and intricate dance. She is at home in her own hide,
calm and self possessed, which only adds to her loveliness as she seems to
nearly glow from within.


Kassima rolls amused eyes Divya's way. "Like *that*," she points out, "is
in any ways a burden for you? But so many people sound pleased at his
Impression, I can't help but be pleased too; marks or nay marks. Just don't
let word get out. There's another pretty blue, 'tis nay so? This clutch
would seem strong in 'em; blues and greens, the *true* mark of good
fortune." Lysseth's hum takes on a momentarily amused note. Her rider has
*that* much at least right.

On the sands, Lamorna ooh's softly as another lovly green appears on the
scene. "What a graceful one. And so...shiny."

On the sands, Porridge Egg and Cartographic Egg crack open at the same
time. Two small blues emerge. Very similar in size and coloring, the
easiest way to tell them apart is the bit of Porridge Eggs shell which
remains on the hatchling. They walk together toward a group of girls,
picking two from their midst. The brown-haired girl from Crom wraps her
arms around her new lifemate, while her friend, a younger blond girl from
the Weyr picks shell off her new lifemate.

On the sands, Callyndra shifts to the other foot, waggling it to cool while
the first cools and uses both hands. She grins at her friend from Ista when
she impresses, then her attention is snapped back to the eggs. "Oh, she's
gorgeous." she murmurs to herself. Kalronk is just as taken by the green as
she is and grabs her hand again. She uses the sudden pressure to help keep
the one foot in the air to cool off.

On the sands, S'din escorts another Weyrling pair off the sands before
lifting his hand to wipe his forehead. With a deep breath, he takes a
moment to rest before a dual blue impression causes him to resume his
Weyrlingmaster duties.

On the sands, Jorea oohs softly as the green finally breaks free of her
shell. She glances across to Callyndra and Lamorna, smiling at both of them
and nodding to Lemorna, "She's very... yes, shiny's exactly the right
word," she says, turning to look back at the 'shiny' green.

I'sai lifts slanty brows, "Oh, it's one of those, is it," to Joshi there.
"I don't know who Searched him, actually - maybe he told me the other night
when I was visiting, he and... Lamorna, down there, do you see? It's just
that she and he are friends, though it's F'min's child she's carrying, it's
said. Good thing, too, Dysan that young," forgetting his honorific just
yet. "And aye, Dianneth. - What'll you be drinking for him, Div, Red or
white?"

Konnevath croons at the latest green to hatching, admiring her jewel-toned
hide.

On the sands, Soothing Gemstone Green steps away from the remains of her
egg calmly, no evidence at all in her manner of the energetic struggle that
it took to break free. She is all calm concentration as she moves out from
the remaining eggs and towards the circle of white robed candidates,
heading towards the closest with her head turned just slightly, giving the
first one, a young lad from Keroon the eye, before she gives a little flick
sniff and turns towards the next.

Divya smiles to Joshi and says, "I'm Divya, Konnevath's rider. He's the
brown trying to flirt with the hatchlings."

On the sands, Ysabel giggles to herself as the Porridge Egg cracks, earning
another mildly irritated look from Xemyth before the gold focuses on the
dragonets stumbling around the sands. Grinning, Ysa fixes her eyes on the
latest green to arrive on the scene.

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth glitters out from his focus of
hatchlings, sands, sire, rider - and returns a not-so-grave, << Thank you,
Not-Old One. >>

Riordanth emerges from the tunnel to the bowl, circling momentarily before
he flies down to land gently on on one of the ledges overlooking the sands.

On the sands, Lamorna glances over and beams as she notices the little
porrage egg hatching and the dragon inside finding its lifemate. She
watches them head off from the seands before returning her eyes to eggs in
front of her, and especialy that large green.

On the sands, Soothing Gemstone Green makes her way along the line of
candidates, looking at each one for just a moment before moving on further,
about halfway through the candidates now. Her steps are slowly growing more
certain, but that doesn't make her rush through this so very important
process, instead keeping the same pace so that each candidate gets just the
same look from her swirling eyes.

On the sands, Chalice Egg breaks open to reveal a glowing blue. He finds
his lifemate in an older boy of the Weyr. The boys face mirrors the glowing
of his new friend when he realizes that he will not be left standing again.
Sword in a Stone Egg opens just behind the new pair. A bright green
hatchling comes forth. She finds her lifemate standing very close to her
egg, a boy with rust-colored hair.

On the sands, Jorea watches the Soothing Gemstone Green move away from the
broken shards of her egg. Her eyes flicker briefly to other impressions
that she notices and smiling at the new riders, but she always returns her
look to the Green.

On Riordanth, Mohria scrambles down Riordanth's side, beaming. "I know, I
know I know!" she squeaks. Riordanth's eyes swirl with such shades as to be
almost blinding. "HI!" she says, waving. "Isn't this FUN?!"

Mohria climbs down Riordanth's side to the ground, as the dragon warbles a
greeting.

I'sai murmurs, "Speak of Faranth's spawn," and waves up at Riordanth even
as his rider clambers down. "Ears burning, Moh?"

Mohria looks at I'sai and claps her hands over her ears. "They are
pink...why?" She adopts a suspicious look, "You talking about me?"

Kassima splits an interested glance between I'sai and Joshi, scenting out
gossip wherever it may lurk; pity, or perhaps fortune, that there's the
Hatching to distract her, and that lovely green to admire. "She's dark,"
comments Kassi, all approval. "And I *thought* so. I lost marks on that
flight; 'twas nigh certain 'twould be K'ran again. Or T'van. Just goes
t'show how rusty I'm getting. Wait, wait, Divya--Konnevath flirts with
*hatchlings* now?"

On the sands, Lamorna leans over and says softly to Cally "That green is
certantly self-assured is she not?" She watches as the shining green makes
her way across the sands.

On the sands, Banquet Table Egg slowly rolls down the sand mound, leaving a
groove in the sand in its wake before it slides to a stop at the bottom.
There is a slight movement forward as if the egg is about to roll again but
nothing happens. It is suddenly silent.

On the sands, Gemstone Hoard Egg opens with a resounding thwack, the sound
of its tiny inmate, a pale green hatchling falling to the sands. Wings and
feet tangled together, the green struggles to get up. Perplexed by her
inability to get up, she looks up. A green-eyed girl who had been dreaming
of leaving for the weaver-craft looks back at her. Face lighting up, the
girl kneels to help the hatchling up. It seems her dreams have been altered.

"She's what?" Joshi half laughs, "I don't know if I followed a single word
of that, but I'm sure it's good gossip." She glances down. "Did that girl
impress yet?" Her man-bet is gone, now just two left. Wilanth doesn't miss
Riordanth's arrival and croons out a delighted greeting to the blue. A
welcome greeting no other dragon had received yet.

Divya rolls her eyes and gives her lifemate a fond pat. "Aye. Konnevath
flirts with /all/ greens and golds, from new-hatched dragons on up. He's
been crooning at the greens as they hatch this evening."

On the sands, Callyndra chuckles as she watches the green, then a blue,
then "it's all going so fast" she murmurs, not sure where to watch next.
Kalronk has figured out what she's doing and has followed suit, leaning
against her as she leans against him to cool her feet. She nods to Lamorna.
"Green. With attitude." she murmurs in answer.

On the sands, Soothing Gemstone Green finishes her march along the ranks of
the candidates, the look of her not changing once in her travels. She then
moves back out towards the mound just enough so that when she turns she can
take in the full arc of the candidates. One final look over the assemblage,
and then she turns slightly and begins to stately march towards one cluster
of candidates.

Riordanth croons excitedly right back to Wilanth, and then drops his voice
to a more calm and gentle-manly hue.

On the sands, S'din gathers up a gaggle of blissfully-unaware new Weyrlings
and gently shepherds them off the sands with their new lifemates, probably
the last time in a couple turns they'll ever see him as gentle...poor
little lost lambs.

The mention of darkness catches I'sai to look, and then smile - less clumsy
than the others, her! - but then turn back to Mohria: "Indeed. You and
Dysan and... did you know Joshi, here, was missing you?" and waves grandly
to the Igenite in question, as -if- she might have been missed. "But what's
this about flirting with hatchlings? That, I don't understand."

On the sands, Jorea watches the Green as it passes candidate after
canditate, her eye caught by the Banquet Table Egg that's behind it and she
grins slightly. She shuffles her feet, even though they're protected by
sandles the uncomfortable heat travels upwards from the sands.

Mohria meanders over towards I'sai, still with that curious look. "What
about Dysan and I?" she queries, and then flashes Joshi a grin. "Missing
me?" That whole flirting with hatchling's conversation...just gets ignored.
She'll figure that out later.

On the sands, Cracks appear in Tournament Day Egg, but before the egg can
open Firelizard Tapestries Egg opens to reveal a tiny green. Not to be
outdone by his clutch-sister, a brown pushes his way out of the Tournament
Day Egg. The pair sets out together, but the green finds her lifemate
almost immediately an older girl from one of the nearby holds. The
competitive brown cant be outdone, or so it seems, he selects the very next
boy, a young man from the same hold.

Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth dances spiral laughter around and
around the glitter of his, a silver satin ribbon all a-gleaming: 
<< Welcome, well-welcome, Not-Old-Either-One. >> Pause. << Though I suppose
that means I really shouldn't start calling you 'Grandpa.' >>

On the sands, Lamorna watches with admiration as the green persumably
marches towards her choosen one. Then another movement catches her
eye...ooh, its that one lovely egg, the Banquet table egg.

On the sands, Banquet Table Egg shudders and shakes as if it is assailed by
a flurry of blows from within. A series of spinner web cracks appear over
the shell.

Mohria corrects, "D'san, sorry." She giggles.

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth allows - and for all that dragons
haven't much sense of time, all and all, he knows her shell cracked before
his - << You may if you must, Lysseth. Once. But -he- says you must rhyme
it. >>

"I just couldn't stay away another day," Joshi says with a flirty grin at
Mohria and rolling her eyes in merry exaggeration over I'sai's definition
of 'missing'. "I've actually come to see the hatchlings.. did you know that
Wilanth.." She turns to point at her green and then to another green, "And
Taehath share a turnday with that blue now... Myrdinth was his name right?"

On the sands, Jorea giggles slightly as she sees the Brown and Greens
impress right next to each other, looking at the cracks in the Banquet
Table egg and grinning, "They don't want to wait, do they," she murmurs to
Callyndra, turning her gaze back to the Gemstone Green.

"Well, now," Kassi says after a beat, momentarily nonplussed, "that's... is
ambitious the word I want t'use, of him? Since he'll have a wait in store;
trying t'catch their favor early, I suppose? I'sai, tell me, does Tear ever
flirt with hatchlings?" She grins at both maleriders, and turns again to
the other greenriders: "And 'twere speaking of a greenflight at Telgar
recently... Joshi, 'tis your name? Forgive me; I didn't give mine. Kassima,
green Lysseth's, with duties and all that properly attached."

Divya nods and says, "Myrdinth was the blue that chose D'san. A very
goodlooking one too, Mohria."

On the sands, Soothing Gemstone Green continues her march up to the
candidates, stopping right in front of Jorea just as the young woman
returns her gaze to this shiny young green. Then giving a little spread of
her wings in what looks like a proper little greeting and a little croon as
she looks straight ahead towards the young woman. Then she leans her head
in closer to the one she's chosen to be hers.

"Being friends and all," I'sai says, guileless as anything, "...And
Riordanth and Myrdinth both having that, that rrrrrd thing in their names
and - hey! What're you giving me that look for, Joshi?" not that he isn't
easily distracted, glancing towards where she'd pointed, to Taehath. "And,
er, no. No hatchlings. Not for us. Not -hardly-."

Nyneve watches quietly, her attention more on the candidates than the
hatchlings.

Mohria winks at Joshi and then grins, "Really? Yes, Myrdinth. Yes, yes I
/know/ Riordanth." She laughs joyfully again as her blue nudges her. He was
right, he was right! She looks to Kassima, "At Telgar? Dianneth's flight?"
She looks smug. So does Riordanth. She nods at I'sai, "Friends. Yup!" Bounce.

On the sands, Jorea pauses, looking into the Green's eyes. A wide smile
crosses her face, "I'll never leave you, Iseuth," she says, moving a hand
to the green's head, "Never ever," she murmurs, her eyes locked with the
green's.

On the sands, S'din grins as he moves toward the new pair. He leans close
to listen, then announces to the crowd in his best WeyrlingMaster voice,
"Congratulations to the new Weyrling pair, Jorea and Iseuth!"

"Charmed to be sure," Joshi says to Kassima. "Joshi of Igen, to green
Wilanth that one whose attempting to snuggle up to Riordanth over there.
Igen's duties." Suddenly she lets out a small curse, followed by, "I was
sure that green would go to that girl there," Big point at Lamorna. "Don't
suppose that ...well there's still time," she turns back unruffled. "What?
What look?" she asks of I'sai, having already forgotten the eyeroll.

On the sands, Banquet Table Egg loses one miniscule fragment of shell as a
claw tip appears then disappears. The egg shudders again, one part bulges
outward as the inhabitant attempts to work its way out of its confinement.
Another small fragment on the bulging side falls to the wayside. With what
seems to be a shuddering sigh, the egg falls silent once again.

Riordanth croons happily to Wilanth, stretching his muzzle towards her.
Snuggling is always accepted!

On the sands, Lamorna lets out a cheer as she watches Jorea impress "Go
Jorea!" She claps her hands together and beams at the happy pair.

Sria separates from that low-toned conversation in time to be caught up on
what she views - and she directs a belated smile Mohria's way before
murmurring, "That green, there --" and peering closer. "Who's that, then -
ah, Jorea. Iseuth, hmmn."

Sh'van lets out another whistle for another impression, but still, he's got
is eyes on a particular candidate.

I'sai ducks an Impression-distracted nod to Mohria, "What was that?
'Iseuth'? She's not related to me, I promise, but I'm not complaining.
Isanth's closer anyway, and..." what? Joshi. Oh. "I forget. You made a
face. Made your eyes all squinty or something and Lamorna? Who knows, maybe
that egg," and he points more or less randomly to the Banquet Table that's
lost so many bits only to go silent again.

Divya claps for Jorea's Impression, and calls down congratulations. Less
obnoxiously loud than for Dysan, but still sincerely meant.

On the sands, Callyndra grins and steps back, pulling Kalronk off balance
as she leaves Jorea room. The younger candidate glares at her and steps
away with a humph! but even he grins and cheers when Jorea impresses.

On the sands, Ysabel smiles at the newest pair as Xemyth croons approval,
reaching up to scritch the gold's eyeridges.

Kassima's chortle is most unrepentant. "'Twill pardon us, I hope," she says
to I'sai with deadpan voice and laughing eyes, "if'n we say we're well-glad
of that fact, all things considered... Dianneth's, aye, 'twas
saying--you're Mohria?--that I'd heard 'twas your blue who caught her.
Felicitations and all that, as due! And a pleasure t'meet you, a'course,"
she agrees with Joshi. "Shells. Isn't that another of the lasses you
wagered on? Lovely green, though, and lovely name, and Is, this is me just
nay speculating why all the dragons who seemed named after you have turned
up *female*."

On the sands, The Fleur de Lis Egg rocks back and forth before it bursts
into small fragments. A loud bugle announces the arrival of a sturdy brown
hatchling. After perusing the candidates for a moment he goes to stand
before two young lads picked up from the Starcrafters. A moment later, he
has chosen the smaller of the pair, a young man with bright blue eyes.

On the sands, Jorea turns to look at S'din, reluctantly, and smiles at him.
She starts to walk towards the exit of the hatching sands, towards the
weyrleader ledges. "Food, yes dear, we'll get you food," she says, smiling
down at the green. "This way dear..."

Mohria bounces, clapping her hands. "And Jorea too! Congratulations!" she
yells. She may just loose her voice tomorrow. She turns to Kassima and
frowns a bit. "Felicitations?" she attempts to repeat. "What does that mean?"

On the sands, Lamorna gives them one last happy smile before looking back
at the eggs, the banquet table one catching her eye once again as it moves.
She turns to look at it, giving it a small encurging "You can do it."

On the sands, Iseuth follows after Jorea gracefully, warbling just a little
bit happily.

On the sands, It's not a banquet that appears when the Banquet Table Egg
splits, but a dainty green dragon.


On the sands,
                               Dewy Emerald Green
                
Midnight's dusky hue clings to petite curves, enveloping the hide of this
dragonet in a green barely lighter than a moonless night. Her eyes seem as
luminous whorls against those celadon shadows, their vibrant colors
standing out almost too clearly, making those orbs seem innocently large on
her wedge muzzle. Faux droplets adhere like dew to the grooves of her
muscles, limning each smooth expanse of hide from muzzle to tailtip with an
eerie, emerald glow that undulates to the rhythyms of her sinuous
movements. Her wings are twain cloaks of blackened jade, the veins of which
seem like icy lightenings, while the wingbones and spars are traced in
brilliant emerald. Latent power resides in her fledgling form, coupled with
an unnatural grace that will surely win her attention in the future. She is
vividly alive, a determined power that will not be checked, a force filled
with devious energy that belies her attempts at aristocratic delicacy.


On the sands, With a last series of determinedly rapid shakes, the Strange
Wooden Hold Egg finally splinters into a flying rain of rough-edged shards;
dismayed by the suddenness of all this, a damp green hatchling collapses
like spent sails onto the warm sands. Before the green gets up, Lady's
Favor Egg bursts open to reveal an energetic blue. The little blue passes
his larger brother, finding for himself a girl from Crom. The green
hatchling struggles to get up, slowly making his way to a young man from
Pars Hold.

Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth can't resist, can't imagine
resisting, though she does grant him first, << Not that I truly think of
you as a grandsire-- >> Goodness, no. Let's hope not. Her thoughts of and
affection for him have never exactly been what one would term 'familial,'
unless one had a very warped family indeed, whose children were probably
all named Bubba. << Rhyme, though. A rhyme for you. Hmm. >> Her thoughts
are subdued, racing beneath the surface as she confers with that
limerick-loving rider mind so conveniently hers, and at length sings out
for him, << I once looked up to the skies and saw, a bronze and the wind
that he danced ta; my eyes his then meeting, I called out in greeting,
'Sweet Taralyth; sweet mate; sweet Grandpa!' >> Her pleasure at this
dubious verse would frankly shame a child's.

"What?" Joshi turns to I'sai, "My eyes scrunched up and what? Squinty?" She
makes another face, squinting her eyes, scrunching her nose and flaring her
lips out jokingly, "Did it look like this?" She barely moves her mouth as
she speaks, a snort of laughter escaping before her face breaks into pieces
and she laughs. "A face indeed." She sticks her tongue out at I'sai and
turns back to Mohria. "So how have you and Riordanth been? Are you really
pregnant?"

On the sands, Dewy Emerald Green suddenly bursts forth from the shell, the
shell fragments exploding in every conceivable direction. She stands tall,
elegant and proud, her wings outstretched, her forelimbs reaching before
her powerfully with a pose of draconic royalty. Then, somewhat to her own
surprise, her newborn sense of balance kicks in and she begins to slowly
topple backwards, her eyes whirling madly as if to say 'Why is the world
tilting like this?' She ends up falling onto the sand with an undignified
thud.

Divya twitches one ear to see how Mohria answers this question. What will
she call the small human being growing inside her?

On the sands, Callyndra gasps softly, moving over near Lamorna as the
number of candidates on the sands is a lot smaller than it had been.
"They're -" her voice stops. In fact, Cally freezes as she watches the
little green just topple over. "Oh my"

On the sands, Ysabel chokes on a laugh as the newest green falls over.
Xemyth, on the other hand, warbles worriedly and snakes her neck forward to
assure herself that the little one is okay.

"Pardoned," and I'sai waves again, brightly as before, with absolutely no
comment for the female-ness - "And, speaking of Dia, _that_ one reminds me
of her. Not so much the looks as such as the attitude, though really, how
much can we tell when they're stumbling across and haven't even yet
Impressed," and he reaches up without having to look to find Taralyth's
dark muzzle, flattening his hands on the soft skin of the dragon's head.
"Yes. Exactly like that," he lies to Joshi, and then deadpans, "No,
Mohria's just keeping the hatching feast's supply of meatrolls under her
sweater."

On the sands, Lamorna grins as the Banquet table egg shaters into a
thousand peices "I knew you could do it." Then she runs admiring eyes over
the dantiy, determaned green that stands there. "What a handsome lady. And
so elegant."

Mohria looks down at her rounded middle and then back at Joshi with a blank
expression. "No, I just ate the post-Hatching feast ahead of time." She
grins, then, mischeviousness dancing in her eyes as she rubs her belly.
"Yup." She laughs at I'sai, "Got my own hatchling."

On the sands, After a series of small, precise cracks are made along the
side of Burned Hold Egg, a bronze hatchling removes himself from the
shards, practically stepping out of them in much the same way a peeved
potentate might brush past underlings. He spreads his wings gracefully, and
begins to look around with a prim air. He begins a slow, dignified march
towards the candidates. His proves to be a short, pudgy little fellow who
claimed mining as his prior occupation.

Joshi glances down and then over at I'sai and says, "No I don't think I
made that face as I am not Auntie Nagger ..she died doncha know." She turns
back to Mohria, "Congratulations! I'm not the father am I?" This said
teasingly and joking as she grins at Mohria. "Are you hoping for a boy or
girl?"

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth listens, marvels, << That rhymes many
things! -He- says that part of it is only because of the, what is it, the
-accent-; but I do like it all the same, >> and the limerick lingers in the
back of his mind as he leans again, to watch those hatchlings claim their own.

"Congratulations," Kassima clarifies. "Just a different way of saying it.
Some things one can certes tell, even this early; ask me about what a
horrid harridan *Lyss* was straight from the shell sometime--" Lysseth's
answering rumble could almost be called bland. "This one's dark again;
beautiful, and aye, she's got Dianneth's arrogance 'twould seem." The
half-heard talk of pregnancies draws her to almost unconsciously rest a
hand on her own stomach even as she says to the bluerider with a warm
smile, "And congratulations again, for that."

Dragon> Lysseth senses that Taralyth's not above brightening again, though:
harridan. Indeed.

On the sands, Dewy Emerald Green lies still on the sand as if trying to
figure out what just had happened. Her eyes swivel this way and that,
taking in her surroundings. She looks down at the sand then upwards before
slowly stretching out her limbs, righting herself with surprising grace.
Looking around once again, she gives a self-satisfied nod before beginning
her movements toward the remaining members of the semi-circle. It seems
this creature learns quickly as her steps are careful and measured.

On the sands, S'din chuckles at something a new brownrider says. He says
something to the boy softly as he escorts him and several other new
Weyrlings off the sands.

Mohria laughs, "No, not you. F'min." She grins, and then glances over to
Kassima. "I don't think she's arrogant. Just proud of her abilities." Her
eyes dance teasingly and then she replies to Joshi, "Not sure, though we
already have a name picked out if it's a boy. Crispin. What do you think?"

On the sands, Lamorna can't help but smile at the greens self-assurednes as
she gatheres her bearings in this new large world. She holds her breath as
the green starts to make her way towards the canididates, now totaly
ingoring the pain in her feet.

On the sands, Callyndra finally takes another breath and lets it out in a
sigh. "The greens in this clutch are so pretty." she finishes saying to
Lamorna. "And seem so much stronger." she adds.

Divya asks Kassima, "What are you hoping for when your /baby/ is born? A
boy or another girl?" A slight emphasis is given to the word 'baby'.

"It's nice.. although it makes me think of food.. like crispy fried food,"
Joshi suddenly looks hungry. She glances down at the sands and says, "Where
did that girl go...? Aha there she is." She looks at Callyndra carefully.
"Impress impress... win me a bet."

Lysseth> Taralyth senses that Lysseth's pleasure deepens, as if now a child
rewarded for her cleverness with a sweet; but after a brush of appreciation
for his compliment, and laughing chide for the *brightening*, she slips
away with a final sparkle towards dragonets' distraction.

"Arrogant," I'sai has to agree in his turn, but pleasantly. "Crispin? Much
better than Soggyout, I think. What was his name before he Impressed,
F'min's?"

Mohria arches a brow, glancing at Divya. She caught that emphasas. She
looks down at her hand over her belly and smiles. /Hatchling/. She shakes
her head at I'sai. "It was Firmin, so Crispin kind of links to his name.
But I've never really liked the combining of the parent's names. No one's
going to /not/ know that this is our child." She grins. Riordanth rumbles.
She's not arrogant.

On the sands, Long Journey Egg is propelled across the sands by the frantic
activity of the hatchling within. It finally seems to have reached the end
of its travels when the egg simply collapses. A dark blue hatchlings comes
forth, moving at a quick pace across the sands. He finds his lifemate in a
young fellow who is bouncing up and down on the sands. This active pair
makes a quick exit.

Kassima's answer is wryly amused: "Arrogant, proud, much the same, where
*some* greens at least are concerned," and she gets just no draconic
response to that at all. "*Soggyout*? Who the shells named a child--? I'd
be fine with either," she turns to tell Divya, easily distracted by such
queries. "Truly; I've more lasses than lads now, so a lad might balance
things, but then I'd scarcely say nay to another Kisai. Who would?"

On the sands, Dewy Emerald Green, with her wedge-shaped head lifted high to
maintain a regal air, sweeps across the sands to stop near a Bollian girl
and her Bitran partner. She pauses, her eyes whirling and she seems to
realize there is more to her emotions than just need for a lifemate - there
is hunger involved. This makes her goal even more important. She moves on
further along the semi-circle, searching.

Sria smiles over at Mohria, "Not long yet to wait, is there?" she asks, and
doesn't comment on the name for all that she seems to consider it. She does
glance Kassima and Divya's way with the redirected emphasis, before
glancing after the swift-exited new pair on the sands, and that wandering
green.

On the sands, Callyndra's eyes roam over the sands. Grinning as the blue
impresses and the green seems to have everything under control, finally.
Her feet are once again doing that shuffle-dance and her hair is plastered
to her head.

Mohria shakes her head at Sria, lifting one hand to stroke Riordanth's neck
gently while the little blue's eyes close and he rumbles with pleasure.
"No, just a few more months." She peers down at the Sands below and grins.
"That green is going to be a handful."

I'sai's expression warms at the mention of Kisai - then, "Ah, I see. But
why wouldn't they not know he, or she, is yours? Down the road, down the
river, I mean. Admittedly, something like 'Mohmin' would probably get the
lad teased enough."

On the sands, Dewy Emerald Green stops in her tracks, her eyes still
whirling their hunger but they are tinged with something ... more. Her head
lifts elegantly, the motion precursor to what her final elegance may become
and looks carefully at the section of semi-circle nearest to her. Suddenly,
a soft sound escapes the young green and she takes one cautious step
forward, then another and another until she finds herself standing in front
of a somewhat plump but lovely young woman that has a scent of food around
her.

On the sands, Lamorna shifts from foot to foot automaticly, still not
feeling the heat as she watches the various hatchings pair off. She gives
Cally an encuring smile before looking back at the newly hatched green as
she pass a pair.

On the sands, A moment's pause is filled suddenly with the sound of a
momentous crack of Renaissance Mystery Eggs bursting. Amid the starlike
sparkles now stands a handsome, arrogant green, who takes her sweet time
finding just the right lifemate, as young seacrafter boy who is handsome as
she is herself.

Divya gets up and leans closer to the pregnant Telgari rider. She mutters
to Kassima, "... bet... To... will... word... hatchling before..." 

You sense Divya gets up and leans closer to the pregnant Telgari rider. "I
might be interested in another bet with you after the hatching. To see
whether or not Mohria will use the word 'baby' instead of hatchling before
the child is born."

Mohria blinks at I'sai, looking horrified. "Mohmin? How...that's
/terrible/! No, my hatchling doesn't need to be called Moh. That's me. It'd
be confusing." She grins. "Or, what, Fir? Sounds like a tree just as much
as Moh sounds like a type of bread."

I'sai teases, "Nothing wrong with trees. 'Firmoh', though... hey. Wait.
Who's she - " he leans down, looks: one just found a seacrafter, and the
other - "Is that Lamorna?"

Kassima remarks as an afterthought, "There's some subtext in the emphasis
that I'm nay getting, isn't there, with the baby thing... hey, what's wrong
with Mohmin? Besides that it doesn't start with K and would thus, y'know,
doom the child to eternal bad fortune and torment, nay doubt." Anything
else she could say on that subject is blessedly silenced as she leans in to
listen to Divya, with interest, and a muffled laugh escapes before she
murmurs her response.

On the sands, Lamorna eyes open wide as she drops to her knees before the
green. "Evienth! My sweet love, of course I'll get you food, as much as you
want!" She blinks back tears as she stands, still staring at the wonderful
green.

On the sands, S'din grins and gathers Lamorna up with the other bewildered
youngsters and says, "Everyone welcome Lamorna and Evienth to High Reaches
Weyr!"

On the sands, Callyndra's eyes widen and she claps in delight. "Oh congrats
Lamorna!" Again she steps back out of the way of the new pair.

Mohria opens her mouth to sternly rebuke I'sai at the mere /suggestion/ of
'Firmoh', but her attentions are drawn to the Sands again. "Lamorna!" she
squeals, clapping her hands together and bouncing again. Riordanth croons a
greeting to the new green.

Nepenth emerges from the tunnel to the bowl, circling momentarily before he
wings down to a quick landing on on one of the ledges overlooking the sands.

Nepenth flies over and lands one a ledge near Mohria.

On the sands, Coursing Canines Egg may be the last egg on the sands, but
that is not for lack of trying on the hatchlings part. The egg has so many
cracks, its a wonder the thing doesnt simply fall to pieces. Quick as the
thought, the egg does just that. Shards fall away to reveal a blue who
looks quite bewildered at his new surroundings. Then he remembers, a
lifemate! Thats what he needs. He sets off in search of such a one, and
finds her, a red-haired girl from Ogren Hold.

Divya senses Kassima's eyebrows pop up and after laughing, she agrees, "I
might be willing t'take that bet, odd a thing as 'tis t'bet on--does she
have something against the B-word?" After a beat, she adds, "Nay that I can
speak much. I usually call mine 'spawn.'"

On the sands, S'din just barely gets Lamorna on her way when he needs to
dash back in to gather the bemused girl. Gently, he ushers her out and he
follows them himself, this time.

"I knew it! I bloody shardin well knew it!" Joshi pipes up. She nearly hugs
Mohria in her delight, jumping up and pumping her fist in the air, "Wilanth
you're bloody brilliant!" She grins at her green dragon. "Now we just need
.... Oh darn and fardles," she frowns, "That girl was left in the sharding
shells." A pity look tossed Callyndra's way. "Know what that's all about."

Divya winks at Kassima but before she can say anything else she is
distracted by the noise from the Sands. "What, another green Impressed?"
She manages to pick Lamorna kneeling in front of a dragon and puts two and
two together. "Congratulations Lamorna!"

On the sands, Ysabel breaks into a smile as Lamorna Impresses. "Evienth,
isn't that pretty." she notes, glancing around the sands in time to see the
last Impression. "Is that it?"

On Nepenth, Kaelyn stands and cheers. "Way to go Lamorna!"

Divya mutters to Kassima, "... she's having... baby. She... a..."

Divya whispers "For some reason Mohria refuses to admit she's having a
baby. She keeps calling it a 'hatchling' instead."

On Nepenth, Kaelyn moves over to Mohria and Josi. "Hey there!"

Sh'van whistles for yet another impression, but still keeps his eyes,
hopefully, on the sands below.

Riordanth swings his head around to warble a greeting to his clutchbrother,
while Mohria gladly accepts Joshi's hug. Why not? Hugs are great! "Oh,
Callyndra..." She nods slowly, and then eyes dart to Divya as that 'b word'
is caught by her hearing.

Kassima looks back to the Sands in time to catch this latest Impression,
and observes, "Another thirty-second lost--but another beautiful name, too,
t'soothe the losing! And there's a blue... t'be ending it, it looks like.
Was that the last egg?"

"Same here," I'sai says of the brown-haired girl on the sands, more
quietly. "Not that I'd trade missing it for Tear... well. Well. I s'pose
I've smiths to round up, see how much of the feast they want to stay for."

On the sands, Callyndra sighs softly and starts moving to where her feet
can cool down, noticing that a few of the other candidates are doing the same.

On the sands, Matheny comes down a short flight of steps from the galleries.

Joshi glances over at the bluerider and some slight recognition flares.
"Hello!" She waves. Glance to Wilanth, "Kaelyn isn't it?"

On the sands, S'rist comes down a short flight of steps from the galleries.

Sria says, "Evienth. That's lovely," and then, "Good for her - hmn, does
look like all." Just to be repetitive, perhaps, and her glance stays
trained on the sands.

Nyneve tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear and wrinkles her nose,
peering down at the sands.

On the sands, Matheny comes down onto the sands with S'rist and waves the
loose looking collective of candidates over so that they can speak briefly
with them.

Kassima leans in towards the brownrider again. She mutters to Divya, "...
going... denial about pregnancy,... that's... colorful... than...
you're..."  Straightening in her seat again, she starts the rolling-up of
hides; pauses it, to cast Is a grin. "The glories of watchriding life. Just
so you're warned, I've a mind t'get down there t'visit once a'fore I can't
anymore, and bring the hellion with me; she has a *present* for you she's
been working on. You might want t'hide somewhere and tremble."

Divya senses Kassima leans in towards the brownrider again. "I've heard of
women going into denial about pregnancy, but that's certes a more colorful
case than most--do tell me how much you're inclined t'wager?" Straightening
in her seat again, she starts the rolling-up of hides; pauses it, to cast
Is a grin. "The glories of watchriding life. Just so you're warned, I've a
mind t'get down there t'visit once a'fore I can't anymore, and bring the
hellion with me; she has a *present* for you she's been working on. You
might want t'hide somewhere and tremble."

On the sands, Ysabel leans against Xemyth, murmuring softly to her as she
watches Matheny, S'rist, and the candidates left standing.

On Nepenth, Kaelyn nods to Joshi with a smile. "Yes I'm Kaelyn, bluerider
of Nepenth over there." She points to Nepenth humming happily.

On the sands, S'rist makes his way out across the sands towards the group
of candidates left upon them. He pauses just a moment to reach down and
pick up one brightly colored bit of shell. He then slows as he reaches
Matheny's side and stops, "On behalf of the whole weyr, Matheny and I would
like to thank you for taking the time and effort to stand for our latest
clutch of eggs. Of course all of you are welcome to stay here at the weyr
if you like, we'll do our best to find an appropriate place for you, as you
probably saw, there is always lots of work at a weyr."

"Oh I need to go collect m'marks." Joshi says. "I'll be right back." She
saunters into the direction of Kassima. "Two wins and a loss? Not a bad day
for me eh Kassima? Not a bit of good luck for you though - except the one."

Mohria waves at Kaelyn and grins. "Hi! Did'ja see? D'san? He got himself a
blue! Myrdinth! Looks /just/ like Riordanth, only darker. Stunning. He's
just perfect!" "I'm not in denial," she says absently.

Giareth whuffs, sounding a bit disappointed. "It's okay," his rider says
gently.

Divya smiles at Kassima and says, "Let me collect the marks you owe me for
D'san's Impression and then we'll discuss the new bet."

On Nepenth, Kaelyn grins at Mohria. "No I actually missed it. that's great
that Dysan impressed and a blue at that."

On the sands, S'rist continues on, "For now though, we have a feast being
put out in the living caverns you are all welcome to come join, and then,
should you wish to be returned to your homes, riders will be availible to
take you there tonight, or at any point the next few seven-days, so you
have some time to decide just what you want to do."

Kassima slants Joshi a much-amused look. "Nay a bit of good luck in m'bets
with *you* beyond the one, nay; nor with Divya, but I've other wagers out!
I may yet realize a small profit. Here, though; fair earned." She digs in
her satchel to come up with a pouch, from which she fishes the appropriate
mark pieces to pay Divya and Joshi alike.

"Sounds grand to me - that's not a threat where I come from," I'sai says on
a laugh, stepping back so there's room for Joshi to get by, towards her; he
nods to Mohria and a few others, Sri and Ceres among them, and then
abandons his comfortably-ensconced dragon to walk further along the ledges.

Mohria bounces a bit and then beams, thumping Riordanth on the shoulder.

On Nepenth, Kaelyn watches the bluerider intently for a moment and then
looks at the sands once more.

Mohria looks up at Kaelyn curiously. "What's the matter?"

On the sands, Callyndra smiles, though it is a small smile. "Thank you
Weyrleader, Weyrwoman. I'll be glad to join the feast. But I think I'll be
returning to Ista and my little girl tomorrow. Thank you for the
opportunities I had here."

"Thank you ma'am," Joshi pockets her marks in the pouch that only opens
when bets are present. She drops her marks in and turns to walk back to the
two blueriders. "Aye Kaelyn, sorry bout that. Had a bit of marks in this
hatching... nice lil sum." She pats her pouch. "I think I remember Nepenth
chasing Wilanth once a time or another... is that correct?"

On the sands, Matheny smiles at Callyndra and nods, "I'm sure you'll be
glad to see your daughter again." then she includes all the candidates,
"You did a good job on the sands, you should all proud, please do join us
at the feast."

Divya takes her winnings and says, "Many thanks, Kassima. I'll be stopping
by Telgar on my next restday---we can work out the terms of the bet then.
And I'll bring food instead of brandy for sharing."

On Nepenth, Kaelyn smiles at Joshi and chuckles, "That is quite possible.
He likes to drag me all over Pern just to chase all the pretty greens. I
didn't get much of a chance to bet on the hatching. I had other things to
take care of." The rider turns to Mohria and shrugs. "Nothing, just tired."

Kassima's grin back to I'sai for that is just short of a beam; when he's
departed, though, she turns the beam into an exaggerated grimace. "Nay
ma'aming! Nay ma'aming!" she pleads. "Never, never, never. That word's for
the old and respectable *only*. I happen t'be neither. Pleasure doing
business with you." Tucking her pouch, hides, and half-drained 'skin of
juice back away into the satchel, she sets to getting carefully to her
feet. "Sounds like a plan t'me, Divya, and 'twill even be shameless and say
a most wonderful plan rather than protesting
oh-nay-you-don't-have-t'do-that! Though a'course you don't, where the
food's concerned. But you won't hear me complaining. Mayhaps I can
introduce you to the glories of cheese-bread spread with blackberry jam."

On the sands, Callyndra nods. "Thank you." she murmurs again. "I'll just go
clean up."

Mohria smiles sympathetically at Kaelyn, and then bounces a little bit, as
if unsure of where to go next.

On the sands, Matheny motions towards the galleries and takes a step that
way herself.

On the sands, Callyndra heads up a short flight of steps to the galleries.

On the sands, S'rist turns and puts an arm around Matheny's shoulders and
walks with her back towards the steps off the sands.

On the sands, Matheny heads up a short flight of steps to the galleries.

On the sands, S'rist heads up a short flight of steps to the galleries.

Sh'van nods to himself. "Yes, let's go," he says to Giareth, and mounts up.
"Clear skies, everyone!" he calls before sending the bronze aloft.

Sh'van climbs up onto Giareth's back, using his foreleg as a step.

Divya chuckles. "Sounds good. But right now a feast sounds even better.
Clear skies, everyone!"

Giareth rises up off of the ledge and into the air. Crossing the cavern, he
swoops into the tunnel, leaving the hatching grounds.

Divya jumps up onto Konnevath's back, using his foreleg as a step.

Konnevath rises effortlessly off of the ledge and into the air. Crossing
the cavern, he swoops into the tunnel, leaving the hatching grounds.

D'va rises slowly and climbs up on Jeth, waving to everyone as well.

D'va climbs up the offered foreleg of Jeth onto the big bronze's back.

Jeth rises up off of the ledge and into the air. Crossing the cavern, he
swoops into the tunnel, leaving the hatching grounds.

Kassima waves after the departing bronzerider; waves after Divya too, and
elects to follow suit, pulling herself up onto Lysseth's neck. "C'mon,
lump, time t'fly." As Lysseth grumbles token protest, her rider calls to
the ledges in general, "Clear skies and duties and whatnay!"

"Mm have to admit a feast sounds very nice.. now that I'm thinking of
food," Joshi says, "What say you Mohria? Kaelyn? Shall we go have a cup of
ale and celebrate Wilanth's turnday and Taehath's...and these new weyrlings?"

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.

<*> Nyneve looks over at the mention of her green's name. "Pardon?"

<*> Mohria grins, nodding at Joshi, "I would love that! However, I must
pass on the ale and go with cider instead." Smiling, she rubs her belly.

<*> 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 off of the ledge and into the air. Crossing the cavern, you
swoop into the tunnel, leaving the hatching grounds.