NOTE: Anything prefaced by "Tubby>" (you'll see it later in the log) was something that happened in the weyrling room off to the sides of the Sands. Joslyn's player was puppeting Kesath (Foloran's hatchling).

 

Josy - Saturday, September 18, 1999, 8:24 PM

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The following is a roleplay-log from SouCon MUSH (soucon.godlike.com 4201). The world of Pern is copyright to Anne McCaffrey.

 

Telinda strides over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Luiseth hmmmmmmmms?

Dragon> All sense that Tiarnath lifts up on her haunches and hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmms

Pjorin walks over from the Candidate Room.

Shadara walks over from the Candidate Room.

Kayjay strides over from the Candidate Room.

Imara strides over from the Candidate Room.

Temari walks over from the Candidate Room.

Larbon walks over from the Candidate Room.

Fiona walks over from the Candidate Room.

Jerich strides over from the Candidate Room.

Jeraria walks over from the Candidate Room.

Visaan walks over from the Candidate Room.

Laemir walks over from the Candidate Room.

Starr strides over from the Candidate Room.

Rhia strides over from the Candidate Room.

Tarrin strides over from the Candidate Room.

Fiona steps quickly out onto the sands, pausing to bow to Muinyth and Jeuneth, and to their lifemates Shasta and Joslyn. Then she moves toward the eggs, joining the circle of Candidates forming around the clutch.

Krystalin walks over from the Candidate Room.

Temari enters, eyes wide with nervousness and anticipation. She bows quickly to to Jeuneth and Muisyth, and then to the weyrleaders, then moves quickly to take her place on the sands.

Foloran walks over from the Candidate Room.

Kayjay stumbles onto the sands, eyes twice their normal size, and bows respectfully in the direction of gold Jeuneth and brown Muinyth from across the sands. With equal respect she bows to Weyrwoman and Weyrleader.

Imara bows to where she assumes Jeuneth, Muinyth, and their riders are, as well as the Weyrleaders, as she walks out onto the sands.

Deveran walks over from the Candidate Room.

Larbon walks impatiently forward, the heat of the sands overwhelming in their suddenness. Flushing from the heat, he bows properly to Jeuneth and Muinyth, and the Weyrleader and Weyrlady before taking his place.

Jerich quietly bows to Jeuneth and Muinyth, before bowing to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman respectfully, before moving across the sands to join the half circle of candidates

Tarrin bows before Jeuneth and Muinyth and there riders before turning to before the weyrleader and weyrwoman, moving to take his place on the sands.

Jeraria stumbles out onto the sands, wincing at the heat and blinking at the lack of light. She attempts a bow in where she thinks the dam, sire, their lifemates and weyrleaders are, before trying to make her way to what could be the outlines of her fellow candidates.

Ariene strides over from the Candidate Room.

Laemir nods politely then bows low to Jeuneth and Muinyth. Each weyrleader receives the same courtesy, then he rises to walk near the assembled candidates.

Ylaeria walks over from the Candidate Room.

Foloran steps out onto the Sands, wincing slightly at the all-too-expected searing heat. Expected or not, it still hurts. The former-steward bows respectfully to Jeuneth and Muinyth - along with their riders - then to the Weyrleaders and the generall masses, before taking his place in the semi-circle of candidates.

Kenla strides over from the Candidate Room.

Dragon> All sense that Iesath raises her voice, and begins to hummmmmmm loud and clear <<They come!>>

Starr walks out onto the sands and looks around, squinting. Finaly she spots vague shapes that appear to be the sire and dam. A bow if given to both, then to the vague figures beside them. Quickly she moves to takle her place, swallowing and taking Fiona's hand as it becomes available.

Deveran bows to the Queen and Brown, and their riders before bowing to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman.

Visaan stumbles out from the room he was just in, seeming highly bewildered by all the action and tension in the air. He bows to Queen and brown as well as the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman. Respects paid, the boy moves quickly to find a place in the rapidly-forming circle.

Dragon> All sense that Rnayth joins the queen with his own crooning hum that reverberates not only through his thoughts, but from his throat and through the air.

Krystalin looks around and then spots the sire and dam. A quick bow is dispatched to them and their riders, then she hurries and takes her place.

N'all strides over from the Candidate Room.

Shasta strides over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Ariene hurries onto the sands, wide-eyed and nervous. She dips a quick bow to Jeuneth and Muinyth, before doing the same to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman. She moves out of the way of the other candidates, wincing at the heat beneath her feet.

Rhia bows to dam and sire and then makes for her place on the sands..hopping and skipping at the heat.

Ylaeria bows to the Queen and Brown, and their riders before bowing to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman. Her hands are curled around her robe tightly.

Dragon> All sense that Niaeth joins in the general concensus. << Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm >>

Kenla squints her eyes. Nope, doesn't help her see any better. She faces where she believes the dam and sire of the clutch, and their riders, are, and bows. Turning, she heads toward the other footsteps and hopes they're coming from other candidates.

Dragon> All sense that Jeuneth intimates something of a hum, allowing you all such a courtesy. << Quickly, too. >>

K'laarn walks over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Pjorin bows as he races past--first to dam and sire, their riders, then to the weyrleaders before slipping into a spot near several other candidates.

Kayjay stumbles onto the sands, eyes twice their normal size, and bows respectfully in the direction of gold Jeuneth and brown Muinyth from across the sands. With equal respect she bows to Weyrwoman and Weyrleader.

Dragon> All sense that Vanaeth joins in << Hmmmmmmmmmm >>

Tarrin bows before Jeuneth and Muinyth and there riders before turning to before the weyrleader and weyrwoman, moving to take his place on the sands.

Jeraria stumbles out onto the sands, wincing at the heat and blinking at the lack of light. She attempts a bow in where she thinks the dam, sire, their lifemates and weyrleaders are, before trying to make her way to what could be the outlines of her fellow candidates.

Imara bows to where she assumes Jeuneth, Muinyth, and their riders are, as well as the Weyrleaders, as she walks out onto the sands.

Foloran steps out onto the Sands, wincing slightly at the all-too-expected searing heat. Expected or not, it still hurts. The former-steward bows respectfully to Jeuneth and Muinyth - along with their riders - then to the Weyrleaders and the generall masses, before taking his place in the semi-circle of candidates.

Larbon walks impatiently forward, the heat of the sands overwhelming in their suddenness. Flushing from the heat, he bows properly to Jeuneth and Muinyth, and the Weyrleader and Weyrlady before taking his place.

N'all leaves dragging a few resisters with him and shoving them into the semi-circle. He bows to the sire and dam, and nods his head to the weyrleaders. He assumes his place by K'laarn.

Ariene hurries onto the sands, wide-eyed and nervous. She dips a quick bow to Jeuneth and Muinyth, before doing the same to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman. She moves out of the way of the other candidates, wincing at the heat beneath her feet.

Jerich walks onto the sands and quietly bows to Jeuneth and Muinyth, before bowing to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman respectfully, before moving across the sands to join the half circle of candidates

Fiona steps quickly out onto the sands, pausing to bow to Muinyth and Jeuneth, and to their lifemates Shasta and Joslyn. Then she moves toward the eggs, joining the circle of Candidates forming around the clutch.

Laemir nods politely then bows low to Jeuneth and Muinyth. Each weyrleader receives the same courtesy, then he rises to walk near the assembled candidates.

Rhia bows to dam and sire, stumbling a bit as she goes. Her little hop, skips as her feet get hot.

Shadara comes out ahead of the candidates and she bows to Jeuneth and Muinyth and their riders and then to Tewlinda and K'laarn as she moves over to the edge to wait for the first impression

Joslyn has been camped out here for days, of course, and looks about as ragged as one would expect. With Jeuneth curled in the corner - a demonically possessive dam - the goldrider is aglow beneath the dirt and so forth, beaming from ear to ear as Candidates pour in and such. "Shasta?" 'cause she has to be here, too.

In the dim light of the Hatching Cavern, candidate robes appear grey rather than white, and the colours of the dragonets will be nearly impossible to determine. Smokey figures can be seem more by silhouette than by detail. Murmurs and whispers can be heard as those gathered anticipate the emerging hatchlings.

Krystalin looks around and then spots the sire and dam. A quick bow is dispatched to them and their riders, then she hurries and takes her place.

Dragon> All sense that Muinyth finally decides that yes, now is the time, and others perhaps should know. A deep hummmmmmmmmmm fills the browns' thoughts as the eggs on the sands begin to rock.

A shudder, and a crack, are all that can be heard as the first of Jeuneth and Muinyth's eggs hatch - Core of Intelligence Egg, the hatchling falling out onto the sands. A cry through the dimness signifies its Impression - to a young man of Cove Hold - the name uttered lost in the general buzz of excitement as the new rider hugs his brown.

Telinda rushes onto the sands, her skirts held in one hand and a worried look to the skies. A mumble is passed unheard on the sands, lost admid the other noise.

Deveran bites his lip as he waits for the eggs to crack, a faint frown on his face, "I can't see very well."

N'all strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Ariene peers through the dark, straining to see exactly what's going on -- mostly unsuccessfully. She shifts from foot to foot, squinting. Hearing Deveran somewhere nearby, she adds, "Me neither."

Kayjay reaches for Jerich's hand, not able to see clearly.

N'all strides over from the Weyrling Room.

Starr looks around, trying to see the area the crack came from. Of course she fails and just holds Fiona's hand tighter.

Tarrin watches the eggs nervously.. reaching for the hand of who ever might be next to him..

Foloran strains to see the Impressed lad through the dim light. Failing miserably, he goes back to watching the eggs...

Pjorin stands stock-still, his thin, long arms wrapped about his torso as the first impression seems to occur so very smoothly. Nervously, he steps back a pace, wincing at the heat of the sands that penetrates his sandals.

K'laarn isn't far behind Telinda as he glances over the others quickly. He looks as stern as ever and he pauses, standing out of the way of the dragons and the candidates, as well as the Weyrlingmaster's near Telinda.

Ylaeria looks around at the others and she takes a pair of hands, anyone's hands and she waits nervously, "It's hot." she says as she steps from foot to foot.

Laemir almost stumbles as he bumps into one of the girls from the smithcraft. "Sorry," he apologizes, then leans forward trying to see through the darkness.

Jeraria recognises a tall figure as somewhat familiar, and edges closer to it. "Kenla?" she asks. "I think.. I think someone's impressed already."

Visaan peers out and around the backs of others, seeming nervous, curious and excited.

Krystalin shifts to the right, trying to see who impressed what.

Larbon shuffles on the sands in line with the other candidates, a silent shape seeking destiny in one form or another on the sands. He peers at the moving eggs in the distance across the bowl, the sounds of dragons working to escape reaching his ears.

Jerich finds Kay's hand and clutches it tight.. obviously nervous.. he strains his eyes looking about in the darkness.. trying to find shadows

Temari jumps at the sound, hugs her arms around herself and peers nervously around her.

Kenla's hand catches Jeraria's. She knows this because of the voice. The words "I think so too," are all that confirms Kenla is even on the sands at all.

Imara stumbles to a place between two candidates who she can't even see. She peers around the sands, trying to make out what all of the shadowy figures are.

Fiona hangs onto Starr's hand, as much to have something familiar to cling to, as to give comfort to someone who's as nervous as she.

Rhia finds her way to the circle and grabs some unknown candidates hand. smiling at him.

Shadara moves over to the lad from cove hold, and he is tapped on the shoulder and Shar helps him and his new brown lifemate off the sands

As the moon's shadow begins to pass over the Southern Continent, cloaking the sun's rays in darkness, an eerie dusk seems to fall over the Hatching Cavern. The hot sands become a canvas for the shadows of candidates, eggs and the watching sire and dam of this clutch.

Shasta tears inelegantly onto the sands just before the first egg hatches - making better time than she did for the clutching, at least. "Shells, you could've told me," She calls in accusation to Muinyth, though excitement keeps her tone from being too despondant. Candidates part way in suprise as she heads to the deeply hummmming brown's side, and her bright eyes flash with a beamed smile to Joslyn.

Right up by a group of three Southern Weyr teens, Crumbled Empire Egg and Alien Cognizance Egg give their last shudder, knocking right into each other to scatter shards, and leave two gangly legged hatchlings, whose true colours are shadowed soon known as they stumble up towards Malliea and Titya, who look down at the duo of greens in surprise as their names are called out.

Diamond Eclipse Egg seems to glow brighter at those two bright points as it starts to rock back and forth. Slowly at first, it gains momentum quickly.

Muinyth, his throat throbbing with the welcomming hum, gazes with brilliant bluegreen eyes towards Jeuneth, and extends his neck to offer a gentle nuzzle tentatively. His rider leans against his sandstone form, smiling up at him before turning her attention to those rocking eggs, and gangly hatchlings.

A strand of light crosses the sands for a moment, revealing the remains of One Small Step for Man Egg, with the hatchling completely out of sight. A moment later, Denyari - D'ari - falls to his knees as arms seek out the darkly sanded brown.

Starr hears cracks and eggs and dragonets and shifts to the side. Head swivels here and there, trying to see through the blackness. The only good that dos is to make her hair fly over a shoulder.

Temari jumps again, staggering into the candidate next to her. A seeking hand grabs her own and she holds it tightly, breathing deeply. "I can't see" she whispers unhappily.

Imara blinks as the world seems to get even darker. She hops from one foot to the other quickly and squints in the direction of the eggs.

Shadara helps the new greenriders off the sands with thier lifemates and geths then and the second new brownrider off the sands with his lifemate as well

Fiona flinches each time she hears what might be an egg cracking. She strains to see, but then gives up. Too dark.

Foloran 's eyes dart back and forth at each audible crack. He was nervous before, but now he actually looks..afraid?

Diamond Eclipse Egg rocks faster and faster. It almost seems to be spinning in place like a miniature planet in the dark-shrouded sands.

Larbon stands on the sands, shifting from foot to foot, the heated candidate dance. Looking at the rocking eggs, he remembers to breath after a few moments, nearly turning red, absently holding his breath as he concentrates on the shell beginning to form spider cracks, trying to see the first emerging nose.

Kayjay clutches for Jeraria's hand and swallows. She takes a deep breath. "Dragons and now this... darkness."

Tarrin eyes dart acorss the dark cavern to the hatching dragons in awe.....

Visaan tries to peer through the haze, truly, but the semi-darkness obsures a good portion of the view past a few feet in front of him. Suffice it to say, he can't even see the eggs, but he can hear them.

Jeraria gives Kenla's hand another squeeze. "I don't know who that sounded like, impressing just then. But it was close."

Krystalin leans over slightly to try and see better, but only sees glowing dragon eyes.

Jerich looks back and forth.. of course not being able to see anything.. he whispers to Kay.. " was that another impression? or more than one? i cant tell.."

Deveran shakes his head as he steps closer to the other candidates, "I don't like this one bit." he says as he sways from foot to foot.

Laemir does a hiphopping step as his eyes strain to see what shapes are candidates and which are hatchlings. One hand rubs at his left eye, as if that'd make a difference.

Ariene is bumped into by Temari, and takes the other girl's hand. "I can't see, either," she notes, standing on tiptoe. That doesn't help the darkness, of course.

Telinda flickers a look around the sands, shielding her eyes as if that might actually help her see better, but no look, from the disappointment on her face. She turns towards K'laarn, grabbing his hand while she can still see him.

Ylaeria squeezes on the hands she's holding, "I hope it doesn't get any darker."

Although colour can't be seen through the growing darkness of the sands, the movement of a hatchling that starts somewhere over by where Beginning of Time Egg was stumbles across the sands, past Jeuneth and Muinyth, and their riders, past the weyrling masters, before stopping right in front of a large cluster of candidates. A moment, later, its colour still somewhat obscured, it moves on, tripping over overly large limbs, falling face-down right in front of a former Honshu Weyrbrat, who calls out, in wonder, "I know you're green! I know."

Diamond Eclipse Egg seems to blend into the darkness that surrounds it, but the steady tapping noise emitted from it certainly isn't hidden. As even the brighter bits of its shell blend in, its movement carries forward, becoming steadily louder, until the ovoid breaks into two halves, leaving a hatchling in its wake.

Celestial Rising Egg rolls out away from the others and seems to ripple with the activity inside. A short rock here and then a roll almost like a wave.

 

 

---*** Lurking Stillness Hatchling ***---

 

Looming in the darkness, a motion hovering at the limits of perception, shadow upon shadow in peripheral vision. What is it? A fanciful monster lingering in the concealing darkness? A renegade from tales of turns past, lurking in wait to leap upon the unsuspecting with a blood curdling yell? Yet, only ominous silence reigns from the last shadow into which it melted. Is it still there -- did it move -- what's that breath on the back of your neck?

Pjorin shifts uneasily, nearly backing into another candidate. Muttering an apology, he stops and takes the other candidate's hand in his when offered, blinking wide-eyed at the impressions that speed by in the dim light. 'Be over soon,' he comforts, more for himself than to the small girl at his side.

Kenla almost whimpers, and her first words are faint, "I didn't think it would be scarier than how I imagined." Then an audible gulp and more sure of herself, she adds, "Well, at least they're just as lost as we are..."

Kayjay eyes widen as she desperately tries to see.

Starr coughs suddenly and unhappily, but quickly has it under control. "Where are they?"

Tarrin swallows as he watches ties to focus on what is going on in the darkness, not being very sucessful.

Jeraria shudders and jumps slightly towards Kayjay. "I think.. I think I saw something move in the shadows there." Her tone is soft, and very very scared sounding.

Krystalin reaches out for a hand and finds one.

Shadara comes back and chuckles as she taps the next new green Weyrling on the shoulder and leads the pair off the sands as well, then comes back once she has them settled in.

Lurking Stillness Hatchling :is just a shadow, or is it? It certainly seems to be moving. Moving towards the shadowy figures of the candidates. Very odd behaviour for a shadow.

Celestial Rising Egg moves much like it's being buffeted from withing in great waves. It's rocking now furious and fast. The one inside obviously wanting out.

Ylaeria gives a faint gasp as she looks around, "Did I hear another couple of eggs crack?"

Laemir can certainly hear the sounds of shells cracking and the rustling of sand and hatchlings, but as for seeing, he's at a loss. Still hopping as the sands heat up the bottoms of his sandals, he watches and waits.

Rhia looks about here and fidgets from one foot to another.

Imara rubs her eyes as she attempts to figure out where all these cracking noises are coming from.

Fiona takes a quick breath. "There's something moving....out there."

Deveran frowns even more, almost bouncing from foot to foot as he points, "Is that a shadow moving?"

Larbon fidgets with the edge of his robe, the ghostly shapes wandering around disturbingly and dangerously. Possible.

Visaan sways from foot to foot, not just because of the heat, but because the person in front of him is taller than he. Why doesn't he move? Perhaps fear... perhaps excitement... "What is it?" he asks someone and gets no reply.

Foloran now desperately looks from side to side, young eyes looking for the familiar shapes of his fellow candidates, and his Brother among them. "I can't see a thing. Laemir. Where are you?"

Starr takes a small step back and tries to see the shadow moving out there. Of course, nothing can be made of it and she sighs..

Krystalin shifts her feet in nervousness.

It doesn't take long for the steady rocking of one egg - Fire in the Sky Egg - to roll onto the egg next to it - Scarred Earth - which in turn starts the egg next to it - Suite of Planets - to begin to rock as well. Almost at once, in a mass confusion of limbs that make it even harder to see their colour, three hatchlings fall onto the sands, pulling themselves up to get a better look at those white things. One that looks faintly green chooses almost at once, while the one that could possibly be blue follows the darkest of them all around the sands for a short distance, until he looks up into the eyes of a young Harper man. His larger brother - brown, or so say the candidates closest - trundles around a bit more, tripping over his ungainly limbs until he looks right up into the eyes of Danyen, the young man opening his mouth wide in amazement, as he holds the brown close, simply whispering in delight.

Ariene's brow furrows as she continues to peer into the obscurity, before sighing. A sound catches her attention, and she swivels her attention to it, though she still can't see it.

Jerich says "i heard some cracking.. wonder if anyone else impressed.." Jerich looks around shifting his feet back and forth.. his empty hand clitching his robe a bit nerviously.. wondering how many of the eggs are left.."

Temari is staring around her wildly, she must be cutting off circulation in the hands on each side that she is holding so tightly.

Lurking Stillness Hatchling gets closer and closer to the candidates. Here a candidate, there a candidate, everywhere a candi-candidate. It approaches, closer, closer, or perhaps its just a trick of the shadows after all. Who could tell? It's certain that shadows AREN'T supposed to move. Or are they?

Rhia jumps at the sounds and squeezes the candie's next to her hand.

Pjorin swallows audibly, looking about quickly. 'Who--Who touched me?' he asks loudly, nearly falling over.

Tarrin says, 'Whats going on..." trying to looking around at the 'moving' shadows.."

Starr steps closer to Fiona, almost as if in fright. Though her head is trying to follow the moving shadow.

Visaan tries to remain calm, his shyness helping in that task by keeping him more to the back of the crowd. Of course, it helps his curiosity none at all...

Laemir calls out to his brother, "Here... here..." but the words seem lost in the darkness.

Shadara chuckles and helps the three weyrlings off the sands one at a time before coning back out.

A bit of the faint light catches Kenla's eyes for a brief moment as she looks upward. But she quickly turns her head. "There's cracking. And I /think/ there's something a lot closer." Another audible swallo.

Joslyn just hangs out, sweating more than the heat could account for if anyone could see her in that inky darkness. She must be over there by Jeuneth's great glowing eyes somewhere, though, perhaps that little sillhouette that keeps obscuring the whirling facets.

Kayjay looks out across the sands, trying to focus and remain poised. Her knocking knees causes her robe to sway back and forth.

Ylaeria gives a faint whimper of fear as the shadow continues to move, "Where are they, I can't see." she says as she lifts her feet quickly, trying to keep them somewhat cool.

Jeraria shuffleturns half way to her left, then back, and round to her right, eyes scanning the dark for anything dangerous that might be heading her way. And best avoided.

You paged Foloran with 'It's FAST. More like the books, at least. Mass confusion.'.

Krystalin takes her hand out of the other candidates and looks around some more, trying to spot thehatching dragonets

Imara finds herself following the movements of a shadow. She leans close to the candidate next to her and whispers, "Did you see that?" The other girl just shakes her head.

Foloran's relieved to hear Laemir's voice, but just too frightened to move right now. Frantic breaths issue forth from the young lad as his eyes struggle to work properly in this absence of light.

Lurking Stillness Hatchling sidles up to a boy from Boll who promptly shrieks in terror. Nope, not that one. How about this girl? No. Oh well, it advances on a group of white-robed figures. Almost it pauses. Maybe it IS just a trick of the light after all.

Celestial Rising Egg ripples softly in its bed of sand, where it was once placed so lovingly by Jeuneth. Its soft shell almost pulsates, gently moving around without a sound. Hidden in the dark, its final movement remains unseen, though the loud explosion that accompanies the projectile shards is loud and clear. A brief moment later and a screeching cry is audible, as the newest hatchling makes itself known.

Deveran shakes his head a bit as he shifts on his feet, backing up a bit as the shadow keeps moving.

 

 

---*** Enveloped in Darkened Sisal Hatchling ***---

 

Differing in no way, the darkness of these sands is an endless seam of deep, enshrouding sisal, impossible to see through, and impossible to remove. Gleams of something that surely cannot be light uncover for just an instant -- a cut in the endless sisal, swirling it around a little to cloud the vision in darkness, like a sea of black, before re-weaving itself into the main strands. And then, just as quick, hidden from view once more.

Fiona stiffens as a shrill cry breaks the stillness, and her head turns sharply toward that sound.

Silver Arrows Egg twists and rolls. The creature with in straining to be free and out. Sounds of shell starting to give in a slow crack as it continues its long battle.

Kayjay whispers to Jerich. "I hear them..oh I hope they are not hurting themselves stumbling in the dark."

Starr jumps to the right as the cry is heard nearby. "Was someone hurt?" she asks, in suprise.

Telinda shakes her head, "You know, there's definitely something rushing around out there, but by Faranth, I can't see a sharding thing!" She frowns, wiping a hand across her brow, the perspiration already begining to bead.

Ariene is starting to get rather anxious, as evidenced by the tightening of her hand on that of the Candidate next to her. "What's going -on-?" she whispers.

Ylaeria twists her head at the shriek of terror and she cowers back a bit as she tightens her hands on whomever she's got a hold on.

Larbon keeps still. Best ot occupy the smallest bit of sand and leave the rest for the wandering hatchlings... if that's what those dark shapes are.

Jerich says "i hope not either.. would not be good at all.."

Lurking Stillness Hatchling backs away from shrieks, just in case. Shadows don't like loud noises apparently.

Kenla moves to her left suddenly. Dragging Jeraria. Holding hands isn't making it easier to move. Yet her voiced comment, "I'll watch out for you, Jera," is followed by a squeeze.

Temari is whispering quietly. "Oh help, oh help..."

Pjorin cants his head quickly to the side. "What's that? Another... something?" He shifts from foot to foot, trying to ease the heat that is builings up in the soles of his feet.

Jeraria winces at the cry and grips Kenla's hand even tighter. "That was loud. And close." she mutters.

Deveran pulls back from the shriek, trying to keep from tumbling over anyone, "Shame they don't have glows out here."

Ringed Magnificence Egg must be moving - there is the wisp of sound for those nearest - almost abrasive as sandpaper over coars wood. A few Candidates step away from that dark monstrosity, a reflexive sidestep or two, bumping into their neighbors.

Starr steps back as she thought she saw a shadow nearby. Then steps back again.

An old, graying woman in dark clothes leans far out over the railing of the stands, glow clutched in her beringed fingers. Likely in hopes of seeing the Sands more than helping the candidates, she manages both, just in time to illuminate a hatchling as it approaches the now lit area around the candidate. The dragonet gazes up into Jeraria's eyes and Impression occurs the dim phosphorescence making the dragonet clearly visible.

Tarrin says, "What is that..." seeing the shadows move and pull back...

Foloran doesn't even /notice/ the heat of the Sands now. Adrenaline coursing thorugh his veins, eyes dialated, he simply watches the events unfold before him...

Visaan shifts his position now, finally fed up with looking over someone's shoulder. But he only sidles to the right, his eyes trying to catch a glimpse of the moving shadows while not running into anyone.

The darkness of the sands doesn't make seeing the blue that comes out of Icy Grey Egg very easy, but those nearest him certainly notice him, and squint to get a better look. His Impression, however, causes no notice, since he simply disappears from view for a moment, curling up at the feet of Millenye, who barely moves, like his lifemate.

N'all remains at his military posture. Neither rain, sleet, snow nor gloom of (false) night will stay this weyrlingmaster's penetrating glare. Does he see? Probably not, but he'd like the prospective weyrlings to think so. So he does a good job of faking it, which can't be seen. Bummer, that.

Imara peers into the darkness and suddenly points at something. "There!" she hisses. As it disappears she adds, "Or maybe not."

Shasta leans out from her place near Muinyth, the dragons' eyes glowing like gems high above her. The young woman just stares wide-eyed into the darkness, as if in hopes of catching a glimpse.

Enveloped in Darkened Sisal Hatchling cries out yet again and then all is still. Getting it's bearing is suddenly flows and slinks towards the candidates. slow and fluttering it seems as if buffeted by a breeze. It seems to envelope and swallow the darkness into itself whever it goes.

Larbon gapes, then blows a kiss to Jeraria who, in all likelihood, will never known it was blown in that moment.

Silver Arrows Egg pushes harder on its egg. Again a crack can be heard snapping. A bit of shell lands on a candidate's foot. Still the egg works hard at the quest freedom.

Starr hears a dragon's call and looks around. "Where did that come from?" she asks, moving forward an inch to look and see if she can.

Twin pillars stand sentinel over an opulent panorama, blending graceful symmetry with perfect balance and harmony, the hues reflected in the rich wealth of indigo and violet that clothes this hatchling. Luxurious crushed velvet, in shades of sumptuous sapphire with lavish hints of emerald, ripples over his flanks -- odd nuances in shade and pattern exquisitely mirrored on each side, concluding in the daintily chiseled curves of his blackened talons. An intricate pattern of watery blues and oceanic greens dapples his translucent wingsails, reminiscent of a sisal wrap draped from someones shoulders, the fluidity shadowed down and into the fork of his lissome tail. Feathery wisps of turquoise are this blue's crowning glory -- streamers of aquamarine trailing back from the creases of his eyeridges to the tips of his neckridges, like some elaborate and ornate headdress.

Kenla edges away from Jeraria, letting go of her hand. But there's a toothy smile, also briefly illuminated, and a quiet word of congratulations lost in the din.

Ziniath buts Jeraria. Wake up you.

Jeraria is oblivious now to the darkness, to the other candidates, to everything except the voice and presence in her mind. "Ziniath! Oh Ziniath, the whole of Pern is ahead of us. Anything."

Visaan finally sees what the commotion is about and peers over to where Jeraria has impressed, saying, "Congrats!" though not loudly enough to be heard by her.

Shadara chuckles and moves over to Jeraria as she see's the blue pause in front of her, "This way please Weyrlings."

Fiona turns toward the name, cried out into the darkness. And smiles, murmuring her congratulations, knowing that the other girl will never hear her.

Laemir seems confused, but that's cleared up when he hears Jeraria's words. "Congrats, Jeraria!" His voice rings out in the darkness.

Tarrin smiles as he hears Jeraria and calls out softly, 'Congrats.."

Telinda blinks, "Jeraria?" she calls out, "Oh, Ziniath, that's a pretty name!"

Enveloped in Darkened Sisal Hatchling ever closer this lurker approaches. Eyeing the circle for signs of the one it wants. Another flutter and it starts for one ond of the line, another small cry piercing the silence.

Temari stares into the darkness. "What's happening?" she asks. "Jeraria?"

Ringed Magnificence Egg continues its silent quest to burrow even further out of sight. As if this blanket of darkness simply wasn't enough for this hermit of an egg, it insists on hiding 'neath layers of Sand if at all possible. Afraid of the dark?

Ariene catches sight of Jeraria in the dim light provided by the glow, and smiles. That quickly fades as the darkness ensues once more, and she continues to clutch tight to a hand.

Starr looks around in confusion, "Who? huh? Jeraria? OH! Ziniath?" she grins through the dark.

Jeraria manages to rise to her feet and follow the shadow that is Shadara.

Jeraria strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Ylaeria's jaw drops open, but shortly the gaping expression turns into a brilliant smile. "Jeraria!! Oh, Ziniath is such a marvelous name!"

K'laarn glances at Telinda and smiles at her, "Jeraria's got a nice dragon there. Ziniath is rather.. catchy as a name, don't you think?"

N'all's chuckle can be heard echoing throughout the false night. It's not encouraging.

Pjorin looks about, hearing something. "What?" The young girl at his side whispers urgently. "Oh, how wonderful! Jeraria! Congratulations to you!" His voice breaks in fear as a shadow nears.

Jerich hears Jeraria's name being called out in congrats and smiles.. " congrats!" he calls after her..

Imara turns as she hears a familiar voice. "Was that Jeraria... and Ziniath? Oh congrats!"

Starr leans forward to look around a candidate next to her, frowning into the darkness.

Joslyn's trying to count, and failing miserably. It's too much trouble to realize there's a Hatching at all at this point; she'll never keep track of colors or Impressees, and so she just hops up and down in the chaos, cursing.

Kayjay hugs Jerich's hand with both of hers. She gulps again. "So much noise!"

Just as soon as Jeraria leaves her immediate area, Kenla moves to her right, pushed by accident by a candidate. And her hands free, she asks, "Oh, where am I now?"

N'all mutters to K'laarn, "I'll... survives... you... continue... saying..."

Foloran hears noise, noise, and more noise. Head whipping from side to side in a vain attempt to see the sources of each. He calms, slightly, as he sees Jeraria Impress.

Ziniath nudges at Jeraria. Nudgenudge.

A dragon-like shape grows more defined out of the shadows that have formed -- its presence right in front of a shapeless white blob. One of the Weyrlingmaster's seems to have noticed this lengthy pause and quickly hurries over to the candidate, holding up the illuminating glows to reveal Imara, and the dragon that has impressed.

K'laarn nods and then turns toward N'all, saying, voice low, He mutters to N'all, "You've... far with... Weyrlings... and kicking."

A sharp cracking sound is followed by the horribly loud cries of a hatchling in distress, shortly silenced, however, when Mineney reaches down to free the bronze from the shards of Eerie Afterimage Egg, and the bronze looks past him to notice shy young Datelne, who finds the words, "D'tel, yes, Virienaith," come to his lips, without a thought.

"Imara! Congrats!" Foloran shouts out into the darkness.

Visaan's eyes again find the light amid the dark... this time soon enough to offer a real "Congratulations Imara!"

Rhia grins as she watches impressings and still tries to make out the shadows about.

Laemir sends his own voice outward to chorus the joyous expressions. "Good for you, Imara!"

Ziniath moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Ziniath has left.

Silver Arrows Egg blunders into oblivion as a large talon slides through its ovoid shell, poking out as if an arrow protruding through human flesh. The arrow rips, and falls, harshly pulling downwards until a long scar can be seen down one edge, allowing the hatchling inside to crawl out, presenting itself to the sands.

Crimson Warrior Egg was long silent and still, while other eggs all around rocked. Suddenly, it rolls, it's shadowed resting spot belied by the crunching of sand under its' weight. Clinks and thunks can be heard as the ends of the crimson egg clatter against its neighbours with each violent wobble.

Temari jumps again. "Imara?" she says, then shakes her head. Who can see /anything/ in here, let alone a dragon.

 

 

---*** Penumbral Shadowed Hatchling ***---

 

Darkened orbs dance a slow, leisurely turn across the granular sands, their course unhurried as if they had thousands of Turns to make one full circuit of the hatching grounds. Seeming to bulge with tidal forces, they cling tenaciously to their orbit, one sheltering the other from view even as they rotate about heavily. A head, a tail, a body, all shrouded in the singular obscurity they present.

Larbon, breaths deeply, himself a shape as mysterious as those which move in this dimness. The crack of eggs and cries of delight reveal each tiny dragon, emerging from its shell, escaping the now constricting confines, freedom gained and a lifemate to choose.

Tarrin looks quickly about trying to make out things in the shadows, trying to see who has impressed...

Ringed magnificence egg suddenly shudders violently, coruscating bands of color rippling over the marbled surface, pulses of light teasing the eye in the dimness of the hatching cavern. It almost seems to expand and then contract, throbbing with the frenzied efforts of the prisoner within. With an abrupt *crack* the oscillations halt, forest green and ruddy gold disconnected from their spiral dance as the fragments fall away to expose a hatchling.

 

 

---*** Blink of an Eye Hatchling ***---

 

Somewhere in the near distance, there is movement, there is shadow, -there- is a stirring. The merest suspicion of a form skitters across the sands, a silhouette of pure dusk flickering just at the edge of the field of vision. As if daring the onlooker to pin it down, it dances in and out of reality, seeming to solidify into more than mere shade and then -- *blink* -- it melts back into the shifting background of sand and dim light.

Imara blinks. Is there really a shadow in front of her? Yes! "Yishenth! No, we'll never ever ever be apart!"

Visaan smacks his head with his hand as he realizes it wasn't Imara who impressed.. And with a mighty blush, moves to hide in the circle

Telinda puts a hand on her hip, and snorts, very unladylike, "This is going way too fast!" she calls out, "I can't see anything, and I'm missing all the good bits! It isn't fair!"

Ylaeria whirls as a flash of illumination sparkles in the darkness off to her right, and she breaks into another wide smile, clutching at the stray ends of her rope belt with a combination of delight and nerves. "Imara!" she manages to get out.

Deveran just looks baffled as he looks around, squinting to try and see through the dark

Kenla has steadies herself, and is standing straighter. Still, her eyes, and her head, eepi looking one way and the next, after noises real and imagined.

Jerich smiles.. calling out congratulations to Imara.. before trying to look towards what he thought was a crack..

Starr turns towards another crack and then swivels her head the other way. "So many! I can't keep track of it."

Pjorin peers about, "What was that?" he asks a passing shadow, trying to determine what happened where.

Imara walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Shadara comes back out to move over towants D'tel helping him and his lifemate off the sands and then comes back to head over to Imara to help her off the sands as well, "Thios way please."

Krystalin shifts to the right now, peering to try and see the dragons. Then jumps back as she thinks one comes close.

Kayjay hops from one foot to the other. She calls out softly to Kenla. "Over here!"

Captured within rays of sunlight, brilliantly coloured tropical fish ripple through waters of the clearest aquamarine, enveloping this hatchling in the delicate shades of a southern sea. Glimmers of amethyst and sapphire swim through the ultramarine tints that adorn her head and back, the gleaming jewelled tones darting between her neckridges, like fish playing a game of hide and seek. As if diving deeper, the colours darken over her flanks -- a swirling ocean of cimmerian-aqua and midnight-blue -- brightening towards her tail where rock pool shades, complete with mossy seaweed, wind down to the very tip. Waves crash against the shoring of her wingsails, churning effervescent jade-greens into seafoam, gem-like traces of purple barely visible within the opalescent-greens of her leading edges.

Visaan chuckles at himself. Seems his congratulations were premature, but not undeserved.

Penumbral Shadowed Hatchling blinks in the darkness. Its eyes illuminating the slight shadows nearest it. After a moments blinking. The hatchling pushes past its unhatched bretheren.

Laemir lifts one foot up briefly to see if rubbing his foot would help the heat he feels there. "Hot, very very hot." is his comment, then his attention is back to the darkness.

Kenla reaches her hand out toward the voice, and catches Kayjay's. "Thank you!" she calls, then realizes the recipient is very close. She smiles softly, and her head turns back toward the egg noises.

Larbon startles as a particularly harsh cracking rips through the blackened air, stepping back compulsively from the sound.

Blink of an Eye Hatchling might have moved... or did you blink again? There's a momentary darkness, simply an absence of light as the bulk of the creature moves. The darkness almost traipses across the Sands, an annoying, animated void.

Starr takes a small step forward and peers into the darkness. "Where are they?" she asks herself.

Foloran's eyes jerk quickly to every source of light he can find - mainly consisting of people wandering out with glows to illuminate the newly Impressed Candidates. Does he look scared? Yes? Good.

Tarrin shifts his stance slowly on the sands uncomfortable looking out into the darkenss and the shapes moving there..

Deveran shakes his head as he tries to see in the dark, "Shard it, I can't see." he says as he shifts from foot to foot

Yishenth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Ariene shifts from foot to foot, lifting a hand to wipe beads of sweat from her forehead. "So hot," she murmurs, catching sight of a quickly moving shadow, and silencing, rather petrified.

Visaan still hops from foot to foot, this time only from the heat. He seems reluctant to stand near anyone.

N'all barks out towards a Larbon-shaped shadow, "Stay still, you daft idiot!" Yup, he is as bad as they all say. Nothing happens without him knowing about it.

Fiona takes a small step backwards, straining around to see where the sounds are coming from, so that she can escape.

Temari takes several deep breaths and relaxes her death-grip on the hands of her neighbouring candidates.

Foloran's sweating like mad, though whether it's form the searing hot sands, or from his nervous and frightened state is unclear. Er..well, it's probably both, actually.

Penumbral Shadowed Hatchling moves quietly. The bright eyes the only noticable aspect of this hatchling. Possible wings flutter as it shifts about the sand.

Nebulous Sunset on Ice Egg slowly starts to roll from its safe little niche in the sand, wobbling as it does. The egg shivers, trembling causing small flakes of shell to scatter to the ground during its passage.

Rhia steps back quickly as she thinks there's a dragonet in front of her..and then realizes it's only a tal candidate and pushes past him to be able to see.

Ylaeria squints into the blackness, trying desperately to make sense of shadow...and failing miserably. A flicker of movement...or was it?...catches her attention, and her head swivels to the left, squinting even harder in an effort to discern the sourse of movement.

Shadara waits to see who the next person to impress will be, nearly invisible on the sands in her dark clothing.

Ariene stops her shifting, hearing N'all's yell. A gulp, and she tries to see into the darkness, once more, but is still equally unsuccessful.

K'laarn frowns as he hears N'all chastise a candidate -- but its not at the Weyrlingmaster that he frowns. He scowls in the direction of the candidates and says "Be still unless you need to step out of the way!"

Starr seems to spot something, for she moves to take another step forward. Though since Fiona steps back she can't. Looks like she is looking at those glowing eyes in the dark.

Pjorin tries to pull his hand from the young girl's clasp -- but she's not having any of it. 'Scareded!' she almost cries, and Pjorin sighs, his fingers all but numb. 'Not so tight,' he hisses. 'C'mon! Look at that!' He juts his pointed chin at a shape revealed by passing glowlight. 'See? It's nothing! So Let go!'

Kenla inadvertantly has stepped in front of Kayjay. Who could tell? The slightly taller girl rocks a little without noticing her error.

The rhythmic rock of an egg in the general direction of Infinite Scarlet Storm Egg ceases, all at once, with one final creak. The spindly legged hatchling that emerges from the shards almost scampers across the sands, until it stops, its wedge-shaped head tilted to Hanyan, his midnight blue lifemate nudging him firmly.

Kayjay hisses, "Is that you in front of me Kenla, move a bit, not that I can see anything!"

A Weyrlingmaster is visible in the inky blackness only by virtue of the glows swinging with each stride she takes, held in a basket in her hands. It is only by chance that he's standing near Larbon. Light spills over the dragonet before him, as Penumbral Shadowed Hatchling gazes up adoringly.

 

A guardian stands watch, protecting against the swirling tempest that threatens to consume all -- a sense of wisdom apparent within the somehow gentle and graceful, yet coltishly awkward curves of this rich, walnut brown hatchling's hide. The colours roll over his flanks, scattered hues marring him with barely discernable cinnabar and warm shades of sienna, which are feathered with touches of carmine that shoot down his belly -- like the fletching of an arrow sent into flight from the willowy arc of a longbow. The delicate membranes of his wings are brushed with luxuriant topaz, the aileron stretched into crystalline fractures over bones and spars -- thin ochre traceries accenting the veins almost as if sewn with fine embroidery threads. Crowning his head are locks of dark umber that shadow his headknobs, trailing down to nestle between neckridges and concluding in the tip of his tail, faintly reminiscent of a runner's mane caught in the whimsy of the wind.

Jerich trys not to shift back and forth after hearing N'all and K'laarn's comments.. ooooh but that is hot sand under his feet and its burning

Laemir somehow finds his brother's side, most likely moving toward the voice he knows so well. "I've never seen anythin' like this before, Fol."

Starr looks towards the glow that lights Larbon and the brown, smiling. Then draws her gaze back to the sands.

Blink of an Eye Hatchling is there again - that nagging nothing that draws your eye and then repulses it with lack of a focal point. Stare and stare, you'll never make anything out of the darkness save more darkness... and movement. It's definitely moving. Toward some boys. They better be moving, too.

Foloran, also standing rather close to Larbon, sidesteps quickly to avoid being trambled by the Brown. He winds up on Laemir's /other/ side now. "Shells, neither have I!"

Kayjay mutters at Laemir's comment. "Or not seen for that matter!"

Kenla blinks. The normal reaction to surprise doubles as a momentary solution to her night-vision difficulties. Kenla quickly moves to Kaykay's side, and says a bary heard, "Sorry."

Visaan shifts just in time to see Larbon impress. "Woohoo!" he calls out to his friend, "Congrats Larbon!" For once, Visaan is definitely smiling.

L'bon,feeling a nudge, he takes his hands away from his face and looks into the swirling orbs of a questioning dragonette. Not quite sure what to do, he smiles softly and reaches out, gently touching the soft muzzle, wonderingly. "Dhanuth!" he cries in utter delight.

L'bon strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Tarrin stops moving as well gritting his teath slightly , stairing out into the darnkness hearning the congratualation he calls out, "Congraulation larbon..

Dhanuth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Ylaeria stares, and twists her cord belt even tighter as the brown finds its mate...who happens to be Larbon...oh, oops, L'bon. "Dhanuth!"

Crimson Warrior Egg rests still again, the raucous clattering easing somewhat for a heartbeat. Then, after only a single quiescant moment, another shudder of tremendous strength wracks its form. And another. Again, and again, the crimson egg convulses, an ever increasing tempo.

Deveran blinks as Lar...no l'bon... impresses and he swallows a bit as her moves closer to his fellow candidates.

Laemir lifts a hand to his friend, "Good! Good!" he calls to L'bon, but the words are lost in the commotion and darkness.

N'all turns on his heel, his large shadow moving towards the weyrling room.

N'all walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

A dark talon pokes out the top of A Star is Born Egg, sending it wobbling precariously towards a group of candidates, who break ranks, screaming. A moment later, and a former weaver apprentice is cradling a delicate, misty green muzzle in her arms, calling out, "Lanya and Mariarath, Mariarath and Lanya. Of course."

Crimson Warrior Egg is savagely battered from inside, fierce opposition, or perhaps the impatience to be out, sending it bouncing up and down again and again. Internal strife it may well be, but even the toughest of eggs couldn't hold up to it, and so it finally fails, falling into bits in front of the triumphant hatchling inside.

Pjorin seems more intent on getting his fingers from the vise that is his companion's clasp than anything else; with a jerk that almost sends the pair stumbling he frees himself and adds his cheer to the one for L'bon and his new lifemate.

 

 

---*** Whisper in Darkness Hatchling ***---

 

Things go bump in the night, monsters live under your cot, serpents hide in your press -- and this eerie conglomeration of darkness flutters across the sands, slow flickers of what must be wings reminiscent of sheer curtains caught in some silent winter wind. It is, by bulk and outline, no doubt a dragon, but it moves with the crisp and precise movements of something entirely different, its black shape drifting about with cold determination. Not so much frightening as haunting, it looms as a black void on the already dark Sands, almost invisible as it melds with shadows.

Jerich smiles as he see's Larbon has impressed.. that much he figured would happen already.. he shifts to another foot quietly.. trying to see if there are any more moving shaddows..

Kenla's words are likely only heard by the few candidates near her when she says, "It's like a good nightmare - scary, but not..." Breathless. She still looks around, flashes of worry on her features, but there's the occasional smile, to.

The growing light from the gathering glows in the stands pushes back the darkness. Just as the first lances of light from the sun strive past the obstacle of the eclipsing moon, a Glazed Ceramic Blue Hatchling rushes into the pool of light below the stands. He halts before Tarrin, eyes blinking in adjustment to the light yet certain in his choice.

 

Like a vase, crafted from clay and glazed in a menagerie of brilliant blues, the colours flowing over this blue hatching are a mass of contradictions -- from the midnight blue of his neckridges, to the electric blue of his head -- the shades meld together in exquisite harmony. His flanks are dappled with glimmering cerulean, as if shafts of sunlight struck ribbons of water pouring from a vessel, the fluidity evident in the watery hues as they wash towards his wings. Not forgotten, but perhaps, like the underside of most pottery, difficult to reach, the tones under his belly are slightly distorted, predominated with darker blues and greens that brush down towards his ebony black talons. Wingsails, a striking contrast to the dusky darkness of his belly, threaten to dazzle with all the iridescence of a rainbow, while his tail is encircled with solid granite-blues -- like thick torcs that circle around to very tip, eventually fading from existence.

Starr takes in a deep breath and tugs a little on Fiona's hand. "Did you see that?" she asks.

N'all strides over from the Weyrling Room.

N'all's shadow looms back over towards K'laarn.

Startled isn't quite the right word to describe Foloran right now. He gasps sharply at the loud crackling noises, and his head jerks quickly toward that Blue. But then he sees Tarrin's Impressed, and he grins.

Ylaeria glances around, and barely catches a blue hatchling running into the light out of nowhere, finding Tarrin. She smiles again...but she seems to be doing that a lot out here.

Rhia claps softly as she sees everyonce in a while..a friend impress. then it's back to watch for the many shadows still out there.

Temari glances around, catching the moment as Tarrin impresses. "Oh" she says in wonder, then snaps her glance back around as a shadow seems to pass near her.

Kayjay standing near Tarrin, see's the moment of impression and wipes away tears of joy.

Shadara moves over towards Tarrin and his blue, "WHat's his name?" she asks softly as she waits for the newest Weyrling to notice her pressence.

Tarrin creis out and says, "Ok Cyonth I will get you something to eat...

Ariene gives a little clap when she hears Larbon and his lifemate's name, bouncing slightly in place. A brief smile flashes across her features, though it's impossible to see, it widens upon catching sight of yet another impression.

Tarrin walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

K'laarn turns and gestures to N'all, "I can't see hardly a thing in all of this. No one has gotten hurt yet thankfully though." He says with huge relief.

Visaan's gaze shifts quickly as a dragon's name is called by a voice he recognizes. But Tarrin is so far away by the time the boy realizes that no congratulations will reach him now.

Laemir waves with both hands then quickly brings them down to his sides as he hears that Tarrin Impressed. "A blue? It was a blue?"

Starr turns and tries to look around Fiona, but fails to see Tarrin or whoever just impressed. So she settles back to try and look for the shadows moving on the sands.

Cyonth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

N'all chuckles, "Give 'em time." He says further, "I can see just fine." Uh, huh.

Foloran nods to his Brother, "Blue, yeah," being his logical, if not stammered response.

Whisper in Darkness Hatchling rests a moment, fading into the deep annonymity of the shadows. Darkness bends and shifts as an ebony curtain rustles in an unfelt wind, and with a whisper of sound it advances. Slowly, yet with determination.

Kenla asks Kayjay, since she was out of view, "Was that really Tarrin? It was a little deeper a voice than I remember..." There, another sound from a dragonet. And Tarrin or whoever he is is lost to other concerns.

Starr jerks her head to the side. "Did you hear that?" she asks, leaning her head forward to try and catch a glipse of the shadow.

Shadara chuckles as she comes back onto the sands, a faint, unheard sigh coming from her at the memories this brings back.

N'all mutters to K'laarn, "Ceruth... my... And... me.... eyes,... some... to, and... bloody difficult,..."

Visaan stands quietly amid the oddly quiet sands, his eyes not on the dragonets or candidates for once, but up toward the cavern ceiling high above...

Nebulous Sunset on Ice Egg jumbles around, bumping up against another egg before arcing away from the contact as it rolls, swishing one way then the other, moving steadily around as the creature within fights its way out.

Kayjay squeezes Kenla's hand. 'Yes, it was Tarrin." Her voice quivers with emotion.

Deveran just continues to shift back and forth, back and forth in nervousness and from the heat on his feet.

Krystalin rubs her arms vigorously as if chilled, then wi[es the sweat from her brow.

Mediterranean blue and young woman are joined together for all time, the pair heading off, leaving a trail of shards from Midnight Perpetrator Egg behind them.

A loud crack, its source unseen, is the only indication of a new hatchling on the sands, the cloaked hatchling unseen until Riane's arms reach out to touch something, and darkened Mediterranean blue and young woman are joined together for all time, the pair heading off, leaving a trail of shards from Midnight Perpetrator Egg behind them.

Ylaeria backs away uncertainly from a rustle disturbingly near her--and trips over the errant foot of a hitherto unseen Candidate just to the side of her. She falls most ungracefully on her rear end, right on the Sands. A muffled "Ow!" issues from her direction.

K'laarn nods and says, "Good idea N'all." he says, his amusement plain in his voice.

N'all's head sweeps towards Ylaeria, how can he see in such darkness, "Shardit, girl, be careful!"

N'all mutters to K'laarn, "... to... you.... handy... kids."

Shadara gives a frown as she turns at the Ow comment, "Back on your feet please." she says as she moves over and helps Ylaeria back up.

'So many of them! Ylaeria,' Pjorin's voice is nervous as he shuffles near and offers a hand to her. 'Stand up! C'mon!'

Here one moment, gone the next, Reduced Luminosity Egg barely has time to leave behind its contents before it disappears into the sands. Hatchling, however, is here to stay, and begins to roam, for a moment anyway. Moments in, it stops, letting out a mighty bugle, young Feleana dropping to her knees in wonder as her hands reach out to touch the darkened green hatchling in front of her, exploring, "You are Aeiranth, aren't you?"

It's a good thing that the Sands are as dark as they are, because otherwise the owners of those helpful hands would see Ylaeria blushing as red as her hair as she hauls herself up with their help. She rubs her rump, flushing brightly, as she mutters a "thanks" to her helpers.

Prismatic Flames Egg rolls from the mound with the speed of a feline chased from a burning house, the flames seemingly to flicker up and over the shell -- not seen, but heard in the crackle of splintering shards. A busy egg this one, never content to just stay still, it continues to wobble in concentric circles. It will escape, this secret denizen, it will, by jove it will!

Whisper in Darkness Hatchling slinks forwards, shadows moving in shadows, only a whisper of sound revealing location. There's a muffled gasp as a candidate feels the breeze of its passing, and shadows leap to loom before a pair of girls in white robes.

K'laarn snickers softly and nods at N'all, replying, He mutters to N'all, "... get... disoriented."

Shadara moves over and helps the newest greenrider off the sands and she hmmms a bit, helping the girl and her green to the room where the rest of her fellow weyrling class waits.

N'all mutters to K'laarn, "... trick... to..."

Kenla asks Kayjay between worries glances at all angles, "Can you see any better than earlier?"

Rhia shifts her feet and asks the lad next to her. "your taller..what do you see?"

N'all mutters to K'laarn, "... since... out here.... these... as... do."

A bump. A stomp. A shuffle. And then there is grey where before there was only blackness, a murky dragon-shaped form where once was only veiled shadow. With every step the shape seems to solidify, taking on damp wings, clumsy tail, unmistakably wedge-shaped head. All brushed with the Sunrazed Savannah Brown that soon becomes apparent as Whisper in Darkness Hatchling steps directly into a circle of light as if he was destined for it, and destined for Kayjay who is the sudden focus of adoring whirling eyes.

 

Sun-gilded mahoganies, suggestive of a dry, seemingly deserted, prairie, undulate like grass caught within a fickle wind -- the dusty flaxen browns intermingling with deep ochres over this hatchling's flanks. Burnt sienna creeps stealthily across his neck and forequarters, as well as shadowing the final third of his tail, the flowing shades evoking a sense of hunter and prey in the grassland of his hide. Glassy amber wingsails, reminiscent of glimmering eyes, watch over the scorched-brown of his trailing edges -- as if waiting silently before a thundering rush to attack -- while ruddy-brown talons tip the massive toes, shimmering like the heat from a crackling wildfire in the brilliant glare of a Southern sun. Down his legs and belly, the colours blur together in a rushing mass of sorrel, sepia and tan, a brilliant harmony of browns combined into a silent symphony.

Telinda snorts, "Get sick to your stomach out here doing that" she chatizes both weyrleader and weyrlingmaster, "Dehydration make all the dragons fall over if they're trying to help you!" Well, maybe not, but it sounded good!

Visaan's head swivels sharply toward all the noises, in succession. He seems not to see anything at all, but ventures to ask in a harsh whisper, "What's happening?" of the nearest candidate.

K'laarn snorts and then just shakes his head and says incredelously, "Now why didn't I think of that?" He groans, "Boy.. I feel.. well." He chuckles darkly.

N'all grins at K'laarn, "That's why your the weyrleader, and I'm the weyrlingmaster, I'm more devious."

Nebulous Sunset on Ice Egg trembles, then goes still, roiling shadows the only visible token that it ever moved at all. Its thousand points of light go briefly dim as the hatchling within gathers its energy, then the egg explodes with a dazzling eclat of light and sound, shell fragments launched in every direction, the hatchling no longer obscured by that veil of night but ready to welcome a new day.

---*** Prowling Crawler Hatchling ***---

 

Creeping, slowly. Inching its way across the sands sunk into the depths of night, it's hard to discern where the creature ends and shadow begins. A leg moves -- then another. And another, until far too many legs for anything that has a right to be on the sands take their turn. Quick, delicate, scurrying, shadows dance within shadows and the subconscious plays tricks with ones' mind, leaping upon the first association it can make -- and an enormous crawler leaps across the sands in a hunt for prey. Darkness swallows up the creature, only to reveal it again within heartbeats, sounding louder than the crunching of sand with each and every step.

Now, Foloran's still standing next to Laemir, but his mind isn't currently working properly - fear having long since removed reason. "Brother? Where are you?" he calls out again, before notcing Kayjay's Impression..and waving in that direction.

As the eclipse nears its darkest point, it becomes more difficult to distinguish between the candidates and the hatchlings. Dark shapes form a shadowy tableau, as the dragonets struggle to find their lifemates.

Starr turns towards the sound of crunching sand. "I wish I could see!" she says to no one.

Kayjay drops her hands to her side, a look of total bewilderment comes across her face. She blinks, saying. "Suriath?". She sobs, relief written across her face. "Oh, you found me!" Her voice rises in triumph. "You wanted me!"

Alluvial Ocean Egg gently rocks back and forth, much like the ocean that it seems to look like. A gentle creaking is all that can be heard from it, the darkness of the sands keeping it hidden from view. Slowly at first, the creaking seems almost to be an illusion, but quickly it speeds up, rocking faster and faster. And then it stops.

Jerich lets go of Kays hand.. wanting to hug her and congratulate her but instead .. whispers.. " Congrats Kay.. I knew you would impress.. " a bright smile apparent on his face..

K'laarn grins wryly, "Well, at least I've got some skill when it comes to threadfall tactics or I'd feel even more idiotic."

Laemir reaches out a hand that bumps into Fol's side. "Here. Next ta ya." the ex-carpenter says then grins. "Kayjay! OH!"

A flurry of shards and Sickening Starbug Egg is no more; leaving in its place a hatchling half buried in the sand. Colour remains unclear until its head reaches up to nudge Larly, who isn't even looking, her surprised cry of, "Me? Santiath!" setting the watery green right back into the sands, with a shrill, and yet exuberant bugle!

Kayjay strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Shadara ahhhs as she comes back out and she sees a brown pausing before Kayjay. She weaves her way through the candidates and she rests a hand on KJ's shoulder, "You and Suriath should come this way please."

Pjorin blinks, wiping his eyes as heat and grit make them water. 'Wait! Was that Kay?' He asks Ylaeria. 'It was... Look at that. She impressed!' He sound very happy for her.

Suriath moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Visaan calls out, "Congratulation Kayjay!" toward where she had been, obviously the words going unheard. But who can say in all this dark..

N'all's teeth reflect a slight white as he smiles towards the weyrleader.

Kenla again lets go of the girl next to her, yet another Impressee. This time her grasp lingers a little longer. "Good for you." A tinge of jealousy in her happy words.

Ylaeria's head whirls in the direction of Pjorin's point, and she brings sand-covered hands to her mouth with a gasp. "Oh, my," is all she can manage to get out.

Prismatic Flames Egg becomes more languid in its movements, tired, but not exhausted, not yet. It now seems more of a flame in every flickering movement that it makes, the crackling intensfying as if everything consumable is being eaten in it's path. Sand sprays up around, it's certainly energetic.

Ariene repeats everyone else, "Kayjay? Oh, Kayjay!" She definitely beams, before peering forward, again.

Jerich looks a little lost now that he has no one to hold onto.. but he is obviously happy for his dear friend. Jerich looks around in the darkness quietly..

Deveran gives a faint cheer as Kayjay impresses and he shifts from foot to foot once more.

Foloran flinches as /something/ touches him. He calms, though, when he finally figures out it was Laemir. "Oh," comes his soft, embarassed reply.

Prismatic Flames Egg slips onto its side, its steady motion carrying it deeper into the sands. Faster, and faster, the depression deepens, the odd flicker of light sending its vivid array of colors shimmering. A moment, and it collapses inwardly, like a pile of wood in a fire, its hidden contents falling out in a mess of limbs on the sands.

---*** Sounds of Silence Hatchling ***---

 

Some strange sound -- eerie yet enchanting, nauseating yet captivating -- stirs the Sands as the kiss of a cold breeze would ruffle the hair on a child's forehead. And there is a shadow: Nebulous but certain, definite bulk but indeterminate shape. As if just beyond some solid wall, the noise that drifts with this uncertain form is muted as it moves. Neither shadow nor shape, this dark fiend of a creature rolls its way across the Sands, a hint of something ruddy reflected off the bare illumination of the Hatching grounds. Hints of scarlet -- the pure shade of aged Benden red -- glimmer in the cloak of midnight, tiny beads of pure liquor that seem to sparkle as they shift. And the underlying theme of sound presents itself once again: Something of a wind behind a wall, of tiny golden bells tinkling just out of earshot.

Kenla is again standing alone, and along with it she's no longer standing straight. Her voice is again small, too: "Was that one of them? I though I felt something."

Rhia hops and hops. "Well there's another..Congrats!" she calls out.

Shadara mutters to N'all, "... clumbsy... dark,... want... with..."

Solar Wind Egg has arrived.

Starr frowns again. "What is that sound? Prolly someone in the galleries? i hope so...pretty scarey not being able to see." she says, leaning forward to look around.

Alluvial Ocean Egg rocks again, more forceful, its quiet inturlude coming to an end. Steady rocks can be heard through the darkness, and the sound of gentle creaking, as if a boat against swirling water. Gently, it creaks over onto one side, and writhes there. But now is not the time, and slowly, it stops once more.

N'all's chuckle is all that answers Shadara.

Fiona gives a faint laugh. "At least it can't last forever," she murmurs, giving Starr's hand a gentle squeeze.

Pjorin shudders, suddenly chilled to the core. 'Oh, what is that!' He looks around, dark eyes narrowed. 'What is that noise, and is it moving with that shadow there?'

Hairline cracks suddenly dissolve what once was One Small Step for Mankind Egg, leaving nothing but dust, and a roaming dragonet. Wingsails rustle, and finally stop, a dark croon sending Dervol into raptures over his windy night brown lifemate.

Solar Wind Egg flickers with movement, rolling back and forth on the sands as if buffeted by some slight breeze. Very slight, for the egg hardly moves at all, drifting lazily back and forth, small crunching sand noises the only indication it's moving at all.

Deveran frowns a bit more as he bumps into one of his fellow candidates, a lad from the Smithcraft, "Sorry, can't see at all." hs says in response to a half seen glare.

Alluvial Ocean Egg ends yet another quiet time, its rocking moving it sporadicly back and forth against the sand underneath it. A long, hard creak, and it sits silent again, before suddenly shaking harder and harder until it seems ready to explode, as if being bashed by wave after wave of harsh water.

Visaan cannot see, can barely hear through the whispers and excited chatter from the candidates. But none of that seems to bother him. "What *is* going on?" he asks again of that enrapt candi... still no response.

Sounds of Silence Hatchling shakes the faint shadow of wings, and then promptly disappears deep into the shadows. As it moves, it makes jangling sounds, almost as if it'd remained attached to a piece of it's shell, and clanged that against each and every intact egg left. *Bump* Oh, a close encounter there, not one that it should try and repeat, and oh darn, who put that there. With a complete and utter cacophony of sound, the fiendish penumbra disappears.

Ylaeria eeps, a tiny strangled squeaky sound, and grabs Pjorin's hand whether he likes it or not. She's not all that into these rustly sounds that move in the dark. Sorry, darkness is no old friend of hers.

A loud *crack*, and Velvet Void Egg lies in shards, leaving a very confused looking shadow in its wake. Bleating, or as close as a dragonet can be, loudly, it barely moves, simply looking around in confusion. Candidates step back, until a brave one calls out, softly, "Stand up, little hatch-Oh! Desevryiath!" M'tyne's words fade into oblivion as he and his green lifemate rush towards each other.

Alluvial Ocean Egg rocks once more, tempest-tossed upon the stormy seas churned now to a froth by the movements of the dragonet within. A spray of sand envelops the air around the egg in a fine mist of sable as it spins dizzily on its side, waves of motion battering its aquamarine shell, until a sudden surge deals the fragile casement a mighty blow and it breaks upon the sandy shore, revealing a damp, bewildered hatchling.

Starr looks around and frowns. "That is one of the wierder sounds I've heard. Where is it coming from? Oh! Is that it? no..no..." she says, glancing at the others.

---*** Shadows through Darkness Hatchling ***---

 

Flickers of light make a merry dance across the darkness-cloaked world that are these sands, merrily disapearing as easily as they came, leaving behind nary a trace of their ever presence, but neverthless indicating the presence of some shadow-hidden being, or perhaps not. A further gleam indicates a large, dark shadow, an egg, or somesuch, no doubt. Shadows lengthen, and then shorten once more, like an endless wave of moving tides, with sharp talons that make even sharper shadows on the sands around it.

Rhia dashes behind a taller candidate lad and then peeks from around him "they are noisy."

Temari lets go of his hand as the boy next to her impresses, and moves backwards against the candidate on her other side, eyes wide, staring. "Congrats" she says softly.

Prowling Crawler Hatchling slinks through the darkness, a stealthy shadow drifting in and out of awareness. It seems to leap out of vision then back in as quickly, going from movement to stillnes, to jerking forward awkwardly. Eye orbs gleam redly in the darkness like two bright, flaming embers. He makes his slow progress away from the eggs and toward the candidates.

Solar Wind Egg begins to move a bit faster in the wind, searing heat from the sands combining with some inner fire to send it into spurts of frantic motion, flaring and then dying down again. Its surface, so charred from the long exposure to the heat beneath, ripples with activity, a faint *taptapping* heard from within.

Shadows stretching across the sands shorten imperceptibly, dark shapes moving around the perimeter of the hatching grounds. A faint crunching is heard, the scrabbling of talons on sand, and then a flash of light as another glow is unshielded, exposing a once-hidden Glacial Crystalline Blue Hatchling with his tail firmly wrapped around Kenla.

 

Never to be touched by the warmth of the sun, an ancient glacier -- the glaring chill of winter's breath etched within its jagged fissures -- spills down from a distant mountain, melting over the curves of this crystalline blue hatchling. Layers of topaz -- the product of repetitive freeze-thaw cycles -- frosts his flanks, deepening over his haunches into a rich, heather-blue, like brambles taking root in the frozen tundra. From within the heart of the glacial river, fingertips of granite point to the sky, delineating his neckridges, while jewelled tourmalines sweep down the pointed curve of his tail as they escape the barren landscape. Amid the luminescent turquoise of his wingsails, inky striations crack and fracture over his pinions, the patterns finely engraved like frost upon a windowpane.

Starr turns to the sharply angled shadow that suddenly moves and steps back. "Erk...thought that was close!"

Shadows through Darkness Hatchling is simply a shadow, nothing more. It dances across the sands, nothing but a trick of the light. No sound, not even a whimper, or the brushing of sand against hide. This is fun! No sounds still, however, and nothing but the odd shadow as to where it is. Shadows lengthen and fall in one place, and then another. It certainly must be fast if it got from here to there so quickly. But its only a trick of your mind, and the dark, so anythings possible, right?

Pjorin sighs longsifferingly. What is it with women grabbing onto his hands? 'It's okay,' he mutters to Ylaeria. 'Really. I mean, its dark, but the dark never hurt anyone right?' He gasps seeing the shine of blue hide near a companions face. 'Kenla! Congratulations!'

Ariene gives a quiet, frightened whimper as the cacaphony on the sands redoubles, worrying at the cloth of her robe with one hand, the other still clutched to the candidate's next to her.

Foloran lets out a soft, "Oh my," as he sees Kenla's new lifemate. "He's beautiful.."

Fiona hears the name of her fellow weaver, and gasps, grinning in the darkness.

Visaan calls out a happy "Congratulations Kenla!" hoping to catch the girl on the sands even still.

Laemir takes a step backwards, even though he has no idea why. His feet burn now but the smile he has for Kenla's genuine. "Congrats!" he calls to her.

Starr makes a face. "I can't see! Will you move Fiona!" she says, trying to go on tip toes to peer past her.

Sounds of Silence Hatchling managed that! It managed to navigate that egg, with only a small bump in the night. Really! So, here we go again. The name of the game is to attach oneself to a white-robed thing, not an egg. Egg, bad idea, candidate, good! There. Now, let's see -- Hello darkness my old friend, we come to walk with you again -- can we do it? Can we? Perhaps, perhaps, only one way to find out. The jingle, jangle resumes, along with the odd bump, the odd grunt, and the odd tussle with an egg -- nono, we said candidate, not egg!

Fiona darts a look at the shadowed figure next to her, and rolls her eyes, then takes a few steps to one side.

Shadara chuckles and moves over to Kenla and her blue, "Come with me please?" she says before leading them to the room with the rest of the weyrlings.

Kenla is at once at her full height, although then she squats and runs a shaking hand along the blue dragonet's eyeridge. "Ardanth, you were here for me? Me?" And she suddenly breaks down, tears rolling down her eyes.

Foloran's gone from deatly frightened to entranced in one easy step. A calm comes over the lad, and his eyes become even more attentive than before. Perhaps, he finally realizes, there's a lifemate out there for /him/.

Temari calls "Kenla? Oh well done."

Ylaeria pulls a face in the direction of Pjorin's voice. "It's the rustles that bug me." A grin is given in the direction of Kenla and her new friend.

Ribbons of Fire Egg is as invisible as everything else in this miserable murk, but it MUST be moving. All of the eggs are moving or shards at this point, so it just goes without saying that this egg is stirring as well.

Kenla walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

No one noticed the exit of Intricate Iridescence Egg from the sands. No one noticed it crumble into bits. And the form that appeared when it left does not seem happy about it. A flying leap and its rushes towards the first group of candidates, somehow managing to miss all of them before it rushes on to the next. At the third, still no injuries, it comes to a holt, as Aerikan dares not to move. The dragonet stops. Aerikan stops. R'kan meets Aath, the little green finally showing her true colours - those of vivid lime and fluorescent green.

Ardanth rumbles a happy note, head nuzzling into Kenla's arms.

Rays of pale sunlight begin to filter in as the Hatching nears its finish. It lends an almost misty quality to the cavern as the darkness slowly begins to fade. There are fewer candidates now, and only a scant handful of eggs remain.

Ardanth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Sounds of Silence Hatchling stops, the sound halting. Oh wow, no more of those blasted eggs. Oh, wait, what's that, a light!? It heads that way, blinded by the light, towards a loosely knitted circle of candidates.

Shadows through Darkness Hatchling is just another shadow, dancing across the sands, finally making noise with echoing bugles, and croons, and warbles, eyes glowing red against the darkness of the sands. It is here! Don't worry. It is coming. Shadows fall across it like waves, talons and legs scritching against the sand. And then you can't see it again. Has it gone? Has it softly and suddenly vanished away, and never seen again? Or is the dark simply making you imagine things? Are you going insane? Probably.

A commotion this time in the stands as fresh baskets of glows arrive, casting a few glimmering rays of light over the railing and onto the suddenly Illuminated Celestial Bronze hide of the Sounds of Silence Hatchling. As if startled by the light the hatchling stumbles and jostles Laemir, panicked movements becoming more sure as he makes his choice.

 

Over a landscape that glitters with the advent of dawn, a celestial guardian towers protectively over the hide of this hatchling, the hues fluid as if an imaginary breeze danced across the smooth surface of his prismatic bronze form. A gauzy overlay lends a misty quality to the orange-red tones that dominate his neckridges, the pearly outer layer leaving him with an ethereal quality as it trails fingers over his flanks -- the dream of an illuminated warrior brought to mind in the sleek muscles, taut beneath his hide. Great wings -- tinged red along the bones and spinnerwebbed with an intricate network of iridescent veins -- are alive with the bright shades of sunlight slanting through clouds, the leading edges tipped with the ruddy colours of a crisp sunrise. Across his broad chest, and curved belly, the hints of pearlized scarlet mutate to a full, livid crimson beset with filigreed hints of pale pinkish-bronze, curling up and around the graceful tilt of his nobly sloping muzzle.

Ribbons of Fire Egg is definitely moving now, a few rays of stubborn sunlight daring to illuminate the black orb. During those wisps of light, it's apparent that it's wobbling like mad. Something wants out now!

Starr gets to see Laemir impress and grins brightly, then looks to Fiona, then back again. Then her eyes are caught by moving shadows and she steps back sddenly.

Foloran just gawks, then, eyes wide as his Brother, his own /Brother/, Impresses the Bronze. "Laemir," he gasps softly, backing away, wide smile curling those young lips of his upward.

Krystalin looks and catches a fellow impress, smiling as he does so.

Shadara chuckles softly as she moves over to Laemir, waiting for him to notice her as she taps his shoulder, "This way please?"

Fiona can finally see, somewhat, and a faint look of relief crosses her face as she sees how few eggs and hatchlings are left.

Laemir blinks first once then twice? "Oh, oh... Brielth? Oh oh... Oh... uh... uh...." He embraces the bronze then sighs happily. "Uh.. oh.."

Deveran just shakes his head as he sees Laemir with the bronze, "Such luck."

Shadows through Darkness Hatchling is still a shadow, nothing more than that. Crossing from one side of the sands to another, it seems to have appeared again. Here it is! Moving slowly across to a pair of candidates, it inspects them, and moves on. Nope, nope, nope! Sand flies, and no doubt gets into the eyes of candidates, but it cares not. It is here! Jumping around, it approaches another pair, and pauses to consider.

Foloran says "Brielth," Foloran mouths, smile still on his face as he watches his Brother."

N'all strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

L'mir strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Ylaeria lets out a whoosh of a sigh, letting her grip on Pjorin's hand relax...but not loosen completely, as a few touches of light start to gild the Hatching Sands. Another smile is directed at Laemir--L'mir--as bronze Brielth finds his match.

N'all walks over from the Weyrling Room.

Rhia hops and skips and hisses "This is shardin' hot.." and tries to still but that won't work.

Solar Wind Egg is gently tossed onto its side, rocking back and forth as if a gust of wind was pushing it. Seeming to be as light as a feather, it rocks onward for some time, until the tension is too high, and it gives in to the enviable. A moment later, and its shards are less than shards, trampled by the overeager, hatchling inside.

Ribbons of Fire Egg has something inside that wants out, wants out, wants out! There's lots of noise and an abundance of movement over there, leading a few of the remaining Candidates to turn their attention on this active darkness. But the egg is still winning... barely...

 

 

---*** Preternatural Puddle Hatchling ***---

 

Shadows coil, darkness twists, and an inky blackness grows across the sands. A shadow cast by a shadow, or a puddle seeping out of the sands? Twilight in liquid form, it oozes through the nocturnal pitch. Drip, drip, drip, the mind supplies a possible source. For with every fingerlength of shadow the pool absorbs, incorporating blackness into itself, there's a soft background chiming, ringing through the consciousness.

Brielth just keeps on tumbling -- now that he's started, but, yes, he does, he manages to stop, wing wiggling his way to his feet proper and then waddling after his, yes HIS, lifemate!

Jerich watches L'mir walk off the sands with a bronze.. his mouth curled up in an oh what an handsome bronze kinda look but of course no one can see it cause of the darkness

Brielth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Pjorin stares, blinks. Light! 'Oh, look! Tis Laemir--L'mir?' He asks almost questioningly. 'Is that what I think it is? It is!' And look! No more eggs and he's nearly out of here scot-free.

Ariene lets out a deep sigh of relief, as well, as the darkness is alleviated somewhat. She casts her gaze upward, briefly, before she looks toward the Sands once more -- and the diminishing pile of eggs.

Foloran doesn't care that the hatching's nearly over. He doesn't care that the eggs are nearly gone. His happiness is apparent as his dark eyes follow his Brother's form toward the Weyrling Room. Pride evident on his face.

Telinda blinks, "Oh, Faranth, well, at least we'll get our chairs mended for life now, eh, K'laarn?!" she adds, winking at the Weyrleader as she watches one of the new pairs, the glowlight, just for moment, letting her see.

Preternatural Puddle Hatchling slinks sneakily across the sands, barely managing not to be absorbed into them. It spreads left, then right, oozing this way and that, with no particular end direction in mind. Soft slurping and dripping sounds accompany its passage, sand being sucked up from the grounds and then redeposited a little further down.

Long distance to Foloran: Joslyn? Oh, nonono.

Temari stares across the sands. So many impressions. Are any eggs left? With those on both sides gone she wraps her arms around herself again.

Starr can't help but giggle in nervousness. "What /is/ that sound?"

N'all says "NOt for a turn and a half, Tel, then he's all yours. Until then, he's all mine." He grins, "A new bronzer to torment. Life is good."

In the shadows a faint creel of dismay can be heard. It is close to the candidates though it is hard to pinpoint, again the noise breaks the soft sounds of the sands as well joined by a sudden scrabbling sound of new, awkward talons pushing their way through the sand. The sound is growing faster and closer, suddenly stopping as the newly hatched dragonet stumbles into the returning light before Starr. A formerly dismayed tone shifts to a brilliant bugle of triumph.

 

The cool ocean waters of a northern coastline laps against a sandy shore, each wave coaxed over the golden grains in a rhythmical dance of colour -- lacing this dusky sea-green beauty with traceries of indigo and cobalt. The angry hue of storm-tossed seas crashes over her headknobs, surging forth over neckridges like a plume of water powering through a rocky inlet, before dripping down in calm tidal-pool greens over her flanks. Umber and cinnamon pattern her kelp-green belly, almost as if she had wallowed in the damp sand of the beach, while her talons are the rocky brown of the wave-washed stones, constantly battered by wind and water. Fronds of seaweed trail loving fingers over her pinions, reaching out to anchor in the elegant jadeite of her mainsails, hints of shell-pinks accenting her trailing edges, reminiscent of spiderclaws, hiding in the blades of sea lettuce.

Fiona shudders. "I don't want to know.Just as long as it's not coming over *here*"

Ribbons of Fire Egg softly vibrates, sending ribbons of shivering motion up its sides, and back around towards the ground once more. Delicate quakes of movement follow in much the same way, as do the somewhat more forceful cracks, as the hatchling breaks free.

Visaan watches, or at least tries to, as the dragonets find their lifemates with a happy smile upon his face. He still seems bewildered by the whole thing, but not unhappy at all. And then someone else impresses and his smile becomes a grin, "Congrats Starr!!" he calls out, hoping he's close enough to her.

Shadara laughs a bit as she moves over to Starr, "Congrats Star, if you and your lifemate could follow me?"

Telinda grins at N'all, "Oh, don't be such a spoil sport!" she adds, "The dear boy wouldn't mind, and he still has chores to do!"

 

 

---*** Midnight Cavalry Hatchling ***---

 

Because you cannot stop for this haunting creature of no shape, no size, and no color does not mean it will not be stopping for you. There's a regal air to the uncertain form, its posture definite and upright, its movements steady and rhythmic. Each step sounds as the beating of hardened hooves against firm ground, echoing even in the dark chaos of the Hatching grounds. Its ultimate destination is impossible to discern; only the creature itself is privy to this and has no intention sharing as it glides across the hot Sands. It will pass Candidates and clutchsiblings alike, never deterred until it's made an ultimate selection. Something of infinity is intimated in the ceaseless darkness, melding so perfectly into the inky blackness of its surroundings. It knows no beginning and no end of color or form, only the ultimate quest to find its lifemate amid the chaos of the Hatching.

Fiona squeezes Starr's hand, grinning. "Oh, congratulations," she whispers, stepping away from the Candidate next to her.

Starr blinks and blinks again, then bites her lower lip as she bends to hug her green lifemate tight. "oh Jiazith! I love you too!" she says.

Foloran draws in a deep breath, eyes finally adjusting properly to the utter lack of light. He releases that breath...and goes completely silent and motionless.

Ylaeria twitches, scrubbing her free hand first on her robe, then in her eyes, as *something* sends sand flying into her face. Ow. She squeezes both eyes tightly shut, opening first one, then another, a tiny tiny bit. Sand-induced tears run down her cheeks, and she scrubs at those too. "Shardit."

Jiazith waddles closer to Starr, looking up with rapidly whirling eyes. Here she is, Starr! Crooooooon, and she's happy. Now, time to do something. Tail flicks towards the place where all the others were disapearing to. Hmmm. Head tilts back up to Starr, looking at her mournfully. They're together, but can they get on with it?

Starr strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Jiazith moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Ariene gives a faint smile at the Impressions of Starr and Laemir, but that fades quickly, and she returns to shifting from foot to foot, and her attention to what she can see of the shadows moving in the murk.

K'laarn nods his head and then reaches out to hug Telinda loosely, "But not too much of a surprise. He's an interesting lad, I expected good things. And its good we'll get free repairs," He teases, "Especially the way this candidate group broke the chairs, eh?"

Preternatural Puddle Hatchling expands, inky tendrils of shadow spreading as it seeks purchase on the sands. Wet squelches, like the sound of a boot being sucked down into mud are heard as it oozes towards a clump of candidates, creeping around their feet.

Pjorin beams as Starr leaves the sands with her new lifemate. 'That's good! Look at that.' He waves after the pair cheerily. Yep, definitlely getting lighter.

Midnight Cavalry Hatchling sweeps along, the rustle of wingsails definite as it crushes the remnants of its egg - the shards powdered and filtering in among the Sands. It moves. And it's scary. And it pauses before this Candidate and that as if weighing their potential merits before moving on in the dimness.

Deveran shakes his head as he can see a little better and he stamps his feet a bit as the heat just seems to get worse and worse on his feet.

Krystalin grins as she sees Starr go off with a lifemate, then looks back to the rest of the eggs.

Shadara chuckles a bit and shakes her head, "Poor L'mir."

Rhia smiles from time to time at something said to her by another candidate. Head bobbing. then she wipes the sweat from her brow.

Midnight Cavalry Hatchling straightens someone, its cloak-like form lengthening as if the creature were aligning its nebulous posture. The jewelled glow of dragon eyes give warning to its whereabouts, swinging this way and that as it eyes the potentials. It has come for one and it will find that one.

Preternatural Puddle Hatchling slurp, slurps. It lurks for long moments around a pair of candidates taunting them with swamp sounds before schmooing off in another direction. The murky shape seems to streamline as it aims the flow towards a certain presence.

Visaan finally seems to feel the heat, he wiping his brow along with the rest, too tired to hop from side to side. He just accepts the sizzling heat. Even his gaze barely follows the dragonets anymore, though when Impressions are made, his glance is drawn like a magnet.

straightens somewhat, ahem

There's a commotion in the ring of anticipating and nervous candidates, at first only gasps of surprise filtering through the pitch blackness. Soon attended by a weyrlingmaster with a basket of glows, light floods the small patch of sands, revealing a Starlit Ocean Blue Hatchling standing before Pjorin.

 

Ocean depths reflect the ancient and mysterious light of a thousand constellations -- a million shimmering stars bathed in the glassy troughs of each wave, gently swirling currents of cerulean blue over this hatchling's hide. Cyan sparkles his flanks, miniscule droplets glittering iridescently as if he were covered in a fine spray of mist, the hue darkening over his haunches -- a distant horizon where sea embraces sky. Wisps of sunlight dance over the airy-blue of his eyeridges, catching the prismatic, crystalline sapphire of his neckridges like diamonds on an Istan beach. Deep midnight shades his pinions, illuminated to a bright, frosty-blue over his wings as a breath of wind ripples a tranquil sea, while his slender tail curls sensually, brightening in rich, vibrant tropical-blues.

Ylaeria yipes. And points. And points. And points some more. "It's a...it's a...a..." Yes, girl, Pjorin Impressed a blue, right under your nose.

Shadara laughs softly and she grins as she moves over to Pjo, "Well now, looks like We're going to see how you turn out."

Foloran is unsure whether to say Pjorin, or P'rin, or..eh...something. Who knows. He waves, anyway, calling out a quick, "Congrats, Pj!" There.

Jerich shifts a bit from the heat and watches starr move off with her new lifemate.. just in time to notice Pj impress.. he smiles a bit .. and looks towards the spot where the eggs should be.. wondering what is left

Visaan animates to call happily out, "Congrats Pjorin!" before slumping his shpoulders ahgain somewhat.

Temari glances over to the light, seeing Pjorin impress. "Oh, well done Pjorin" she calls, then subsides, looking around. So few left, what hope has she?

J'rin shudders, and then stares. 'Neliath!' He blinks and the nods businesslike. 'Yes. Food. Right away!'

Midnight Cavalry Hatchling stalks. Move. All of you. It's cutting through the white-robed remnants with fierce determination. Something that must be wings pushes first one Candidate and then another aside, the creature hellbent on finding that ONE person.

Naliath nuzzles J'rin lovingly and then gently pushes his new lifemate in the direction of the weyrling barracks. Mustn't waste any time, no no.

J'rin walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Shadows flicker over a dragonish shape. Is it a dragon? Or a wher that got itself lost. No. It must be a dragonet. It lingers in the shadows keeping away from the remaining candidates as it watches them shift about on the warm sands. It steps towards the the light but then pulls back further into the shadows walking along the rim of darkness. Then it chooses, it simply steps forward to be illuminated by the light and croons into Foloran's face.

 

Displaying the gifted hand of a master carpenter, the joints lovingly sanded until they melt seamlessly into one another, this brown hatchling appears to be sculpted from leftover pieces of wood -- a startling patchwork of colours and varnishes, polished into a gleaming finish. Circular patches of maple-brown are arrayed across his flanks, held together by a curving strip of dark mahogany, which divides his underbelly into two uniform, but contrasting, regions of light and shadow. Mahogany courses down his tail, the rich grain feathered like the hairs of a runnertail, his equine nature mirrored in his talons -- oddly reminiscent of steel shod hooves. Delicate ribbons of pine shade his muzzle, a square patch of rare ebony accenting the area just before his eyes. His wings are inlaid with patterns of cherry-brown which spreads down and over his pinions, themselves delineated in a perfectly symmetrical fashion, arching whorls giving the impression of a combed runner's mane.

Naliath moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

N'all watches as J'rin leaves, "Extra duties for him."

Rhia looks towards where the eggs should be and frowns..is that all..or do more still lurk?

K'laarn frowns and nods at N'all and replies, "Indeed. Indeed." He watches after J'rin as the young rider departs.

Shadara chuckles and hmmms as she motions J'rin to head towards the weyrling room with the rest of his class, stopping on the way to tap Fol on the shoulder, grinning a bit, "This way Weyrling."

Visaan takes his next breath to call, "Congrats.." to Foloran, watching for more shadows..

Ariene continues to look on, shoulders slumping very slightly as two more of the dragonets find their lifemates, and she's not one of them. Nonetheless, she musters a smile and words of congratulations to the boys.

Ylaeria is left standing, watching after J'rin as he and Naliath head towards the barracks. Hands that still retain a few grains of sand fall to her side as she stares after the pair.

Krystalin looks around at the others, pursing her lips to see if there are any more eggs or dragonets left.

With the movement of the two moons, the shadows along the sands shift and change, some growing longer, some shorter as the darkness makes it's way through the cavern. It seems to pass on its own time, which can appear achingly slow for those trying to view the hatching.

Deveran lets his shoulders slump as he looks to see if any other hatchlings remain, shaking his head a bit.

Foloran's eyes go distant, soft, as he kneels down in front of the Brown. "I'm here," he assures the hatchling, wrapping his arms around his new lifemate. "And we will never be apart.."

A rather short and ungainly candidate from Island River reaches over and grips the hand of the boy beside her as the Daytime Darkness Egg gives a sudden convulsive shudder. Before either of them has time to do more than widen their eyes, the shell is breached with a hundred tiny fractures and then pops open, dropping a streaked emerald green dragonet onto the sands. Waddling in first one direction and then another, it communicates its confusion with a loud creel, and then bumps into the legs of the sandy-haired boy, who quickly drops to his knees to lovingly encircle the great head in his arms.

N'all sighs, "Well, it's off to start babysitting, again."

N'all strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

The sun triumps, at last, and the moon slips away, revealing all the golden glory of Rukbat once again. The Sands are a mess, littered with shards and scraps, raked by talons and covered in footprints. Few candidates remain, blinking at what were so recently whole, hardened eggs.

Fiona looks around, holding her breath. An expression of extreme relief shows on her face. The eggs which had been the source of her insomnia these past few months are all gone now, finally.

Foloran nods up to Shadara before standing. "We gotta go, Kesath.."

Temari looks at the sands, now becoming clearer as the room lightens. She stares at the ground, arms clasped around herself, shouders slumped, dejection written across her face.

Shadara grins and nods as she heads off the sands with the last of the weyrlings.

Shadara strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Foloran strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Ariene blinks as the sun returns in full force, shielding her eyes against the unexpected brightness. This also causes her to see that, indeed, all the eggs have hatched. She looks around her, then heads toward the other candidates left.

Shasta, visible once again at her station by Muinyth's side, gazes out over the sands littered with shards that were once shells.

Foloran senses Kesath bespeaks them with << And who is this shining beauty that leads away from my shards, Fol? Perhaps you will have something to fill my achingly empty belly in there? Achingly empty. >>

Kesath moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Jerich looks down at the ground.. his heart dropping in his chest.. he sighs softly and stands quietly.. not quite knowing what to say or do

Tubby> Jiazith opens her mouth obediently, and closes it with a snap, almost grabbing her lifemates hand in her haste to fill this hunger in her belly. She warbles again, chewing firmly, and swallowing just as quickly. Mouth opens again, and she stops to look around for a moment.

Visaan smiles as the last impression is made, bewildered as ever, excitement still sending his blood rushing through him at breakneck paces... he blinks in the renewed light and looks for the others.

Tubby> J'rin stumbles forward, right toward the meat. 'Oh! Here. See? Look at this. Look!' He grabs a double handsful of chopped bovine flesh and offers it to his dragon rather cautiously.

Joslyn looks up and about, the sunlight illuminated the remnants of Jeuneth's clutch and the glitter of the gold herself. "It's over?" the girl asks, peering about still as if she might still miss something.

Tubby> Suriath moves sudenly at Kayjay's request, butting his head under her offered hand, directing those soothing fingers onto an eyeridge. Entreatingly, he croons, leaning oily brown hide against his lifemate.

Rhia sighs softly and slumps a bit as she sees no more shadows.

Tubby> N'all says "YOu're not going to get .the talk. tonight, but tomrrow, show up around 12:00 noon pacific time :). Just one point I want to make. A lot of games, you have to edit the descs of your dragons. A LOT of work went into describing these beasties, don't edit them, except to remove "hatchling" words :). Congratulations on your impression, and for the next 10 weeks, we'll be getting to know a lot of each other. For tonight, though, enjoy it ;)."

Tubby> Kayjay scritches obligingly. "You are wonderful!"

Tubby> L'bon nods with a grin at Dhanuth's marvellous deductions.

Long distance to F'loran: Joslyn thinks you all might be a bit OOC right now, btw.

Tubby> Naliath gives the offered meat a sniff and then opens his mouth wide to take it in. Big, sharp teeth grind it quickly and he tries to swallow far too soon in his haste to eat it all as soon as possible.

K'laarn waits until all of the furor dies down. He gazes around, thankfully he can see now, somewhat. He nods his head, as if noting to himself what it is he sees and then steps out and away from Telinda and raises one hand and begins to gesture toward the candidates, "Would you all come over here please?" He asks, voice uncommonly gentle at this moment. Then he waits expectantly.

Fiona looks up, toward, K'laarn, and moves across the sands quickly, an relieved smile on her face.

Ylaeria is covered in light finally, where she still stands. The Weyrleader's voice catches her attention, and she shuffles over in that general direction.

Krystalin moves over as directed.

A frown flickers over Ariene's features. Here we go again -- take two of the same lecture. Nonetheless, she meanders that way, eyes upon the sands themselves, not looking up.

Rhia moves where she should to listen up as well.

Temari stares at the ground, unmoving, wishing the sands would swallow her.

Telinda stands to one side, smiling over to Joslyn, and nodding, "Indeed, it's all over. Next time, we'll have light."

Tubby> Ardanth bumps up against his beloved lifemate and rumbles contentedly.

Jerich slowly trudges towards the WL.. and stands quietly looking down at the ground

Visaan heads toward the weyrleader, still unsure of what's going on and moves to stand with the rest.

Tubby> Kesath rumbles along behind his lifemate, helpfully edging him in the right direction - that of food, of course. He plops himself down, gracefully clumsy, and opens his big mouth. Now.

Deveran just swallows and shakes his head a bit as he watches the other candidates left on the sands

Tubby> Marila waves F'loran? SHe has no idea, "Please come over here and feed him. Teach him to chew... hmmm seems he knows what he wants..."

Tubby> Kayjay giggles at her oh so smart dragon.

F'loran senses Kesath bespeaks them with << I was thinking, Fol, that perhaps when we are finished here that I might like for you to take care of this tremendous itching I seem to be developing. Do tell me, is such atrocious pain normal, or will this cease soon? It is so very unbearable. >>

Tubby> F'loran giggles - yes, giggles - softly, nodding first to his lifemate, and then to Marila. "The food's over here, Kesath! Follow me.." He takes a step, then pauses, to nod. "Oh, of course I'll take care of that itching!"

Deveran moves over eventually, looking at K'laarn.

Tubby> N'all says "Listen up!"

Tubby> N'all's voice barks out with a rap of command that is hard to ignore, and painful to ignore toe.

Tubby> T'rrin lightly pats Cyonoth as he finishes oiling him up..

Tubby> N'all er, too.

K'laarn starts to speak as soon as he's gained the attention of the remaining candidates, "Well.. It was a hectic night I can imagine for you all." He glances around, "Well I know how it feels to be one of those left here. It happened to me three different times." He notes, voice sympathetic. "But it doesn't mean that you're an awful person. Obviously, all of you have potential of some sort or another. Just believe in yourselves. We certainly wish all of you could Impress, and hopefully, since it wasn't this Hatching, it will be another." He clears his throat and glances at each and every candidate sincerely, "I'm extending an invitation to all of you, to make Southern Weyr your home, more permanently. If you wish it. I can think of nothing better than to welcome you all here with open arms. Naturally, if you'd rather go back to your homes, this can be arranged."

Tubby> Kenla pulls her hand away from Ardanth, since he's less likely to hear the signal, and turns her head. Hard.

Tubby> Kayjay looks up from her Suriath.

Tubby> Starr has disconnected.

Tubby> Kesath whips his great head around, forcing those facets to focus upon N'all for the fraction of a second. It doesn't hold long, however, as N'all is not interesting and meat is. That's where his attention goes now, to gobbling. He does it so well, too.

Tubby> J'rin looks at Naliath and giggles. "No worries. You're mine, even if I haven't chowned you yet"

Tubby> Suriath breaks the silence that follows with a loving croon at Kayjay, blinking with confusion. Someone else /exists/ besides his Kayjay? What?

Tubby> Listen? Foloran? Bah. He's busy. He picks up a piece or two of the fresh red meat, and holds it out to his lovely brown Kesath. "Here.. You eat this, and I'll take care of that nasty itch."

Tubby> From the Sands> Telinda nods, "There's nothing we'd like more. There's a whole slew of staff positions open, including our steward now that he got himself impressed! Can't keep good staff!"

Telinda nods, "There's nothing we'd like more. There's a whole slew of staff positions open, including our steward now that he got himself impressed! Can't keep good staff!"

Tubby> Imara sighs. "Oh Yishenth, you do itch everywhere. I can feel it." She starts to rub oil onto her lifemate, but quickly looks up at N'all.

Tubby> Naliath appears immensely embarrassed as he gradually is able to swallow the meat. Another snort and then he blinks at N'all before turning back to the food. Food is much more important. Then can come oiling, and then, when he is sleepy, talking.

Tubby> T'rrin watches Cyonth return quickly to his side.

Joslyn leans next to the head of her dragon, her arm propped upon the jawhinge and her eyes sympathetic as they rake over lingering Candidates. She's been there, done that, didn't really like it. "It's Southern's curse," she chimes in after Telinda. "Hire 'em, Impress 'em."

Tubby> Kayjay chuckles. "I have to learn, so I take the best care of you, sweetling."

Tubby> From the Sands> K'laarn starts to say "If you want to leave, or stay, you'll need to let me know so we can make arrangements for one or the other." Then he chuckles, nodding, "None of you are less important, just because you haven't Impressed."

K'laarn starts to say "If you want to leave, or stay, you'll need to let me know so we can make arrangements for one or the other." Then he chuckles, nodding, "None of you are less important, just because you haven't Impressed."

Temari looks up slowly as K'laarn speaks, then steels herself, and looks across at the gallery. Her parents are waiting there, keeping their distance. They smile sympathetically as she looks across.

Tubby> Dhanuth warbles adoringly. He stretches to touch his nose tip to his rider's.

Tubby> L'mir stands close to the youthful bronze, one hand resting near his neckridges. "Oh, never ever did I guess you'd be there for me." he mutters, then almost wiggles out of his skin at his brother. "Look at you!" he calls over, up on his tiptoes.

Tubby> Yishenth croons happily and looks quite relieved as she starts to get oiled. Though sleep is coming to mind as a wide yawn is given.

Jerich mumbles softly.. back to the stables I go.. got no where else to go..

Tubby> Brielth nonono. That's not the way it goes. Look at him! *prod*

Ariene just Looks at Telinda. A slight shake of her head, and she scuffs her foot in the sand, keeping her own counsel. Nonetheless, she can't help a soft swallow of disappointment.

Shasta, oblivious to the remaining candidates, gently rubs the granite eyeridges of her lifemate. Muinyth, head low close to the sands, rumbles, his voice no longer a welcoming hum but a gentle croon.

Tubby> L'bon sticks out his tongue to finish the bond and then pulls on a newly formed dragon-ear, intending to explain this part of anatomy as well.

Tubby> N'all says "I am N'all. From now on, I am all that will be in charge of you. I am your weyrlingmaster. This means if I tell you to jump, you do it! I will not tolerate disobedience, I will not tolerate slackers." He paces and looks at J'rin, "I will .not. tolerate people who do not do their fair share of the work. I will not tolerate whiners. I am not your friend, I am your instructor. The lessons I have to teach are hard, and I will teach you. I am not going to tuck you into bed at night, I am not going to cuddle you to sleep." He looks a L'mir, "I will be hard on you, L'mir, for you have Impressed Metallics, and before this is done, you will have two choices, excel or be exiled.""

Telinda smiles, "Don't give up hope, there's always another hatching!"

F'loran senses Kesath bespeaks them with << I have never had the pleasure of such delicious morsels, Fol. >> Nevermind he's never EATEN before... << They are incredibly moist and tender, the very pinnacle of perfect food. There will no doubt be more of this later? >>

Temari swallows. "Can I come back if I go home.... for a while?" she asks quietly.

Rhia nods and gives a soft, lost smile. Starting to back off the sands, starting to turn away.

Visaan might just be the only happy one in the bunch? "I'm staying... here's a sight better than Cardiff!" he says uncharacteristically loud.

Telinda nods, "of course!"

Tubby> L'mir lunges forward, almost losing his balance from his lifemate's push. He laughs, then turns to him, even if that means away from N'all.

Telinda chuckles at Visaan, "There's always better around the corner, be sure of that!"

K'laarn smiles warmly at Temari, "Certainly." He nods. Then he says, "Just let us know what you feel like doing and we'll do our best to accomidate you as well as we can."

Ylaeria glances up at the Galleries, and grimaces to herself. Nobody here to see her, nobody to cheer her on, nowhere else to go. She looks up at the Weyrwoman, and manages to get out "I guess I'm staying too."

Joslyn gets it together enough that she can leave Jeuneth to her own smug devices, working through the shards and such in Shasta's general direction. "So that was good fun. Jeuneth says Muinyth's not allowed to come over any more ever." For the record.

Tubby> F'loran, sheer adoration in his eyes, replies to Kesath with a quick nod. "Oh, yes. Plenty more later, I promise!" No reply for L'mir. Sorry... He goes about itching the young Brown's eyeridges, too. And yes, he's paying attention to N'all!

Tubby> Kenla's mouth is gaped open, but with a prod from Ardanth it shuts. All she can think of doing is nodding. Vigorously.

Tubby> L'bon sobers up at N'all's talk, but still a grin plays around with the corners of his mouth, Dhanuth's entertaining ears a slight distraction from the otherwise serious lesson.

Tubby> J'rin looks at N'all nervously, still feeding his blue chunks of meat almosts hesitantly, as if he's afraid he'll miss something. 'Blue,' he mumbles, humming singsong until N'all stares at him. Then he freezes and blinks, whispering, 'Beautiful blue. Pretty blue. Mine mine mine!'

Tubby> Naliath pokes his snout directly into the bowl of meat and snuffles around, taking great care not to smear it all over his hide. The head retreats after a moment and he spreads his wings, eyeing them balefully. They're so -damp- and -messy-. J'rin earns another headbutt because of this. Fix it.

Telinda says "Noone needs to decide this evening, there's food and drink in the weyrhall, so take the time you need, and then make a decision when you're ready."

Tubby> L'mir voice mutters, "Excel or be exiled?" That's gotta be a gulp, and a big one. "Yessir!" he says, face not moving from watching those glittering eyes of his new bronze.

Tubby> Kayjay looks up at N'all as he speaks, but can't keep but continue to glance lovingly over to Suriath."He knows best, He can help me to know how to take care of you. I don't know much yet."

Tubby> Kesath manages to get his wingsails under wraps, figuring out the trick of muscles necessary to fold them up along his sleek back, down the length of his curving spine. The portrait of bliss, he shields his eyes and lets loose a most melodic croon as the scritching progresses and he's fed: This is the life.

Ariene lifts a shoulder in a shrug. "I guess I'll stay," she mumbles, looking toward the stands. Shardit, her -grandmother- didn't even stick around. Ah, well, she's old. Her attention focuses on the sand by her feet again.

Temari nods, mutters "Thankyou", and backs off towards her parents. They embrace her and talking softly, the trio leave the grounds.

Tubby> Imara pauses oiling as she listens to the Weyrlingmaster. Suddenly she turns her head so she can look into Yishenth's eyes. "Um, I dunno. Not itch? No, that's two words..."

Muinyth turns whirling eyes towards his mate, once again extending his muzzle in the golds' direction. Shasta, taking a step away from her lifemate, grins. "He can't wait to stretch his wings again. I'd doubt if he'll mind, but he'll still flirt, you know." sure. And risk his life and limb.

Tubby> N'all looks at L'mir, and frowns, but it is tinged with a hint of a smile, "I am strict, I am called mean. I expect discipline from each and every one of you. My job is to make sure you can fight Thread without killing yourself or others through stupid mistakes. You will make stupid mistakes, and I will correct you. I may correct you with my words or with my fists, that is my choice to make and mine alone." He looks at the assembled, "And know this up front, I will do everything in my power to make sure you are ready when the time comes. For tonight, enjoy your evening, for we start at sunup tomorrow."

Temari strides over to the tunnel to the cavern entrance.

Tubby> Marila rolls her eyes and kneels down next to one of the younger weyrlings who is sobbing because her blue is just itching and itching and she's itching and they are all itching.

Rhia strides over to the tunnel to the cavern entrance.

Tubby> Kayjay gulps.

Tubby> Kenla's left hand creeps behind her back and she starts scratching. A warble from Ardanth and she blinks. "Oh, that was /your/ back, love? I couldn't tell!" The hand shifts to the place it's more needed.

Tubby> T'rrin bites his lip lightly looking over at N'all

Deveran walks toward the tunnel to the cavern entrance.

Tubby> F'loran sees other weyrlings oiling /their/ dragons. Maybe that's a good idea. Foloran starts doing the same, reaching around with his free hand to get some more meat for his beloved Kesath.

Jerich turns quietly.. sighing sadly as he walks out..

Tubby> Ardanth starts wriggling around. Now that you mention itching -- full belly asside, it starts to become the only thing he reacts to. A soft creel pierces the air around him, emited from his throat.

Ylaeria walks toward the tunnel to the cavern entrance.

Jerich strides over to the tunnel to the cavern entrance.

Visaan grins at the small gathering and peers back toward the tunnel before scampering off.

Tubby> Imara scoots around so Yishenth is between her and the Weyrlingmaster.

Visaan strides over to the tunnel to the cavern entrance.

F'loran senses Kesath brushes your mind with the warmest, softest, velvetiest of mental caresses - get used to it, he's LIKE that. << Ahh, Fol, if only you were privy to the delight I am experiencing presently. The itching is dissipating, the hunger is sated, and I am here with you. We shall do great and fun things together, my boy. Great fun things. >>

Ariene walks toward the tunnel to the cavern entrance.

Tubby> Kayjay says "I will /learn/." She says as she continues to scritch."

Telinda smiles, "Well, lets go see if N'all will let you give these pointy objects over, Joslyn. I doubt it, but we'll see!"

Tubby> Kenla blinks. Oil. She gulps and bites her upper lip. "I am /so/ sorry. I had to listen to the..." Her hands are searching and finding and scooping and spreading the oil. As fast as she can, on the blue's hide.

Tubby> J'rin eyes N'all, a spark of fiery rebellion in his eyes as he tugs the small blue over to the pot of oil and starts to rub it in. He's seen it done before, even helped a time or two. 'How's that?' he whispers to Naliath. 'Better? Is it?'

Tubby> N'all looks like he's about to finish, "If, after a turn and a half, you are not able to perform as fighting riders, you will be assigned to a hold, or to a craft. Weyrlings of Southern Weyr, welcome to Dawnwind wing, the finest weyrling wing in all of Pern." His voice swells with pride as he says the last bit, "Together, we overcome. That is our wing motto."

Tubby> Yishenth watches Imara with thos eyes of hers. not seeming to be able to watch the girl enough. But she finall does lay down, tucking limbs beneath her.

Tubby> Suriath voices another croon, eyeing the BigScaryTalking man warily. Tilting his head until it presses against Kayjay's torso, taking her into his whirling gaze.

Tubby> Brielth watches L'mir, but also is intent on nudging him to the extreme, for any attention he can garner is always well received.

Joslyn grins and nods at the Weyrwoman, collecting herself and her singed heels once again. She looks horrible, worried and tired and dirty and sweaty, but elated. "I kinda wanna see how they react to N'all anyway." Grin again.

Tubby> L'bon tells Dhanuth quietly, answering while not interrupting the weyrlingmaster, "He's N'all, our weyrlingmaster. Yours too. We need to obey him and he'll teach us how to fight thread and help Pern." He adds with a twinkle, "I'll be bigger when we ride together!"

Tubby> F'loran affects one of those idiot-in-love smiles as he regards Kesath. He nodnods quickly, and slips his arms around the young Brown. "Oh, yes. Many fun things!" he..eh..repeats, one would suppose.

Tubby> Shadara looks at the weyrlings, "I'm not as mean or as vocal as N'all, but I Will be just as apt to give you things to do when you mess up." she says in that soft, yet carrying tone.

Tubby> Kenla repeats the last, "Overcome," to herself, and there's another soft smile. Her hands are moving to all the right places, as directed by the still-upset Ardanth, and she makes a small nod.

Tubby> J'rin nods. 'Overcome, yea. That fits,' He almost giggles as he massages the thick oil into the blue hatchling's hide.

Tubby> Naliath rumbles. Oh, this is the life. This is how things should be! Belly full and hide no longer damp and sticky. Slender blue tail curls sinuously around J'rin's legs as he submits to the oiling, watching N'all with disinterested, half-lidded eyes.

Tubby> Marila pats the girl on the shoulder, "Here lass.. take the paddle.. yes I know he itches and you itch and well please take the paddle.."

Telinda strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

You walk over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Kayjay says "He has to speak that way, Suriath.. He knows what he is doing." Her lower lip begins to tremble but she speaks lovingly and reassuring to her lifemate."

Ardanth looks practically blissfull as oil is eagerly sooothed over all his itchiest parts. His neck extends out and his head rests on Kenla's shoulder.

Shasta walks over from the sizzling hot sands.

L'mir is jostled about again and again as the boy holds out a large chunk of meat to his hatchling. "Look. Have ya ever seen a hammer? I could show ya that stuff if ya like."

Imara grins at her lifemate as she keeps oiling. "Together we will overcome, won't we Yishenth?"

Yishenth doesn't even look over to the man. she'd rather watch Imara..plenty of time later to worry about the man.

T'rrin smiles as he continues to lightly scritch his now dozing lifemate looking breamilly to him...

F'loran senses Kesath And what fun things will we do first, dear Fol? What is the world like? I have seen very little, and most of that was very dark. >> And already fading from memory. << Will there be more of this... illumination?

Kenla in turn rests her head slightly against Ardanth's side. "There, it's better. I feel you feel better." She grins suddenly. "You're quiet, though. I don't mind, no." If she isn't feeling words, she's feeling the emotions.

N'all looks at Joslyn, "You missed the speech." He looks at his charges, as Telinda and Joslyn arrive, "Dawnwind, TEN-HUT!" The command difficult to ignore.

K'laarn strides over from the sizzling hot sands.

F'loran nodnods quickly again to his lifemate. "Oh, yes! Many more wonderful things for you to see!" He opens his mouth to say more, but BLINKS as N'all orders him to attention. He snaps to his feet immediately.

Telinda giggles, "See, Josy, this is why we get to be made fools off! They all jump when he says so!"

T'rrin stands quickly looking to to N'all as he calls them to attention.

J'rin rises to his feet, still bent over as he tries to keep rubbing in oil. He gulps a little

L'bon,not expecting the command, tugs harder at Dhanuth's ears than intended, but stands to attention immediately.

Yishenth lifts her muzzle..who is that disturbing her reverie with her lifemate. eyes focus on n'all and then look to the others about.

Kenla sits up straight suddenly with a start. How could she not? Yet she can't quite stand, immediately. "Ardanth, excuse me," she mutters and disentangles herself.

Imara flinches at the loud command and stands quickly.

Kayjay stands beside Suriath. "You are the wonderful one" She whispers. "Shh dear, I have to pay attention."

K'laarn follows not far behind the Weyrwomen. His face is stern as he looks over the ranks of Weyrlings and their dragons. "Well, " He drawls. His stern demeanor threatens to crack into a brief smile.

Joslyn comes over, hot on Telinda's heels - her own heels a little warm themselves. She hangs back a ways some at first, though, surveying the scene with something humorously akin to maternal pride. "Bellows is a more appropriate word."

Shasta follows after the Weyrwoman and Joslyn, glancing over her shoulder as she goes, likely watching her brown take his leave from the Sands.

N'all snaps to attention as well, nodding to Telinda and K'laarn, "They are yours to address." He stands to the side.

L'mir grins then nods, reaching up to touch that hide. "Sure, Brielth, hammers are good things, ya know. You can tell me about what you do, and I'll tell ya about... uh.. hammers. Ya. Hammers 'n nails."

F'loran senses Kesath bespeaks them with << Whatever was that terrible noise? It sounds as if something has come thundering in here dying and screaming in pain. This simply cannot persist. >>

Shadara snaps straight as well, in time with N'all and she grins at the four that enter the barracks.

Naliath opens his eyes suddenly, trying to rub the oil in himself. He'll just have to learn how to do it. It'll go much faster that way.

Marila stands straight but its certainly not going to Snap. Please.

Telinda smiles, "Joslyn, would you like to say something first?"

"That is N'all," Foloran mutters down to Kesath. "We gotta listen to him. He's gonna teach us how to fight Thread, and all sorts of other things!

"

Imara tries to stay at attention, but turns to her lifemate for a brief moment. "They're the Weyrleaders and the riders of your dam and sire. I promise I'll oil you some more when they're done talking," she whispers.

L'mir laughs too loudly at Brielth's comment. "Ya, he's kinda like a nail, pointy like." At the command, though, he straightens, turning to N'all. Oh, maybe that's not a good thing to do? Ok, look back to Brielth, yeah.

N'all chooses to ignore L'mir for now.

Kayjay eyes widen and she reaches for the oil /quickly/ before Suriath bellows. She slathers some oil on his shoulderblades. "Is that were you wanted it?"

Kenla is standing, mostly straight. She is cowering slightly at first, but from somewhere - it isn't hard to guess - she gets the courage to reach her full height. The soft smile remains.

Joslyn? Like to say something? "Uhhhm, sure." She likes talking. Rubbing her nose for a thoughtful moment or two, eyeing the collection of weyrlings and dragonets with a smile, she composes herself despite her mussed appearance. "Well, I guess good ol' fashioned congratulations are in order. I haven't got any real words of wisdom, except that you've got a good 'Master with good assistants and you sharding well better listen to them." She pauses a second. "Oh, and don't do anything stupid."

Ardanth is a rather quiet, subdued dragon. He's leaning up against his human, Kenla, and watching with great big eyes.

L'bon nods firmly to Dhanuth, rubbing his headknobs apologetically. "And then we'll be bigger than anyone!" he assures his lifemate. He admires the brown's wings. "You'll be good at flying." he murmurs confidently. And quietly.

Dhanuth crooons loudly at his lifemate's words and touch. His tail twitching contentedly.

Kayjay eyes widen and she gulps again. She knows stupid can mean disaster. She has heard the stories.

F'loran grins just a touch at Joslyn's advice, nodding. Doesn't take him long to get distracted again, deep brown eyes wandering down to his lifemate oncem ore.

F'loran senses Kesath bespeaks them with << Well, I personally feel that one needn't be loud to convey one's message. But if that is what Ceruth's lifemate - >> Don't ask how he knew that. Dragon-thing. << - believes that bellowing will suffice, so be it. >>

Yishenth warbles but settles down. she doesn't want to cause a scene afterall. But she will be oiled..and now. Muzzle buts again Imara's back.

J'rin blinks at his blue. "Oh, be careful! The oil..." Looking like he's going to have a heart attack, J'rin nudges the oil pot away and starts to massage Naliath. "Here, right?" His dark eyes are brightly hopeful. "Here?" He glances nervously at the weyrlingmaster and the weyrwomen. Blink. "Don't do anything stupid?" he asks, confused. "Why would we--oof!" A pointed blue head to the midriff cuts him off as he massages once more.

Telinda wrinkles her nose at Joslyn, yeah right. That's why she's giving them -those- gifts! "Congratulations are in order from myself, but in the meantime Joslyn has had some gifts crafted for you to celebrate the begining of your weyrlinghood. They'll be engraved tomorrow, so try to hang onto them for now!"

F'loran affects a bit of a firm nod down at Kesath. He keeps quiet, though, snapping back to attention (sort of) again as Telinda starts speaking now.

Kayjay smiles at Telinda at peace with her world, leaning slightly against Suriath.

Shasta takes a place not far from Joslyn, chin lifted up at a defiant angle, shoulders tossed back, millitant stance ruined completely by the grin that lights her features as she watches the young dragonets. Though she doesn't speak, it's quite evident that she's proud, and thrilled for each and every one out there. Some things just don't have to be said.

Kesath tries to feign attention, but he's not particularly interested in all these people so much as he's interested in the drowsiness lent by his bulging belly. Sagging against his beloved F'loran, the brown watches at lazy attention.

T'rrin blinks and looks over to Telinda also leanind lighlty up against his lifemate.

"Yishenth," Imara mutters quietly. "I'll oil you all you want as soon as they're done. I'll get in trouble if I don't listen."

Kenla briefly looks around the room and doesn't spy a few certain faces. For a moment there's disappointment on her features, but she doesn't make a sound. The sigh can come later.

Naliath lets out a small chuff of satisfaction. Well, yes, it is more efficient to have J'rin do the massaging, since he's the one with proper hands. Deftly, he maneuvers his head so that his eyeridges are within reach of scritching fingers. There. Ah.

F'loran, nonchalantly, kneels down next to Kesath again, scratching at the young, and sleepy Brown's eyeridges as he listens.

N'all looks at Imara, "this goes for all of you, if your dragon wants oil, oil it. Caring for your dragons is paramount. Any dryspot I find is five lashes, so you can see how it feels to have cracked and open hide."

L'bon rubs his lifemate's nose as the weyrleaders and masters speak to the new weyrlings. Such a nice nose.

Suriath curls himself against Kayjay, quite croons escaping his throat now and then. While those Important Looking people speak, he glances their way for breif moments, but he knows who's really important, who really matters.

Kenla's eyes are wide. Forget the lashes, though. A whisper, "You will never have dryspots," to Ardanth shows that's the most important thing. Not the punishment.

L'mir ohyeahs, leaning over to grab at one of those funny things that do work well at getting the oil going. "Ya want some a this?" he asks his lifemate, "Or s'more meat? I have both." One hand holds a meat chunk the other the oil.

Imara gulps at N'all's words, cheeks reddening a touch. She crouches back down by her lifemate, oiling quickly but carefully. "I'm sorry Yishenth..."

Dhanuth presses his head against his lifemate as the others talk.

You paged F'loran with 'Of course. If you get lost on his personality, do feel free to ask me? You can tweak it to suit you, but I did put a bit of effort into so if you butcher it I'll be sad.'.

J'rin looks at his hands, oil-covered, and then at the gleaming hide of his dragon. Nope, no dry spots here--Are there? "You have to tell me if you itch, Naliath! Right away, kay? You itch anywheres?" he asks in a whisper, rubbing the blues' headknobs.

Seeing most of the adults have stopped talking she turns her full attention back to her Suriath. "Thank you for being so quiet, it helped me hear, so I can learn." She looks anxiously at his hide. "Any itchy spots still?"

N'all's smile softens the edge of his words to Imara, "Remember, I am here to teach you. Together, we overcome."

 

*** HERE WE WENT OUT OF CHARACTER TO HAND OUT THE KNIVES - IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LONG AND BORING TO READ ***

 

L'bon glances at Dhanuth, with a possessively friendly hand on his muzzle, his look betraying his resolve to care for his dragon as best he possibly can.

Ardanth seems immensely pleased at that confidence and a wash of love floods his being for you. There seems to be a slight drag on his thoughts that indicate sleepiness. Tired body seems to echo its physical discomforts.. achy muscles, tired body -- he worked hard today, and then suddenly...

Yishenth lays her head gently against Imara and rumbles softly. Finally she's finished being itchy. But lids start to drop slowly, one after another.

Telinda shakes her head as Joslyn finishes handing out the knives, "Yes, well, say no more!"

T'rrin looks at the knife for a moment then back up to telinda. lighlty patting Cyonith head with his other hand..

L'bon tucks his knife safely away after showing it to Dhanuth. "No, you don't want to touch it. It's easy to hurt yourself with it. See? I'm being careful too."

Brielth nudges L'mir. He likes nudging, makes him secure, and feeling wanted.

Joslyn gives up all those pretty weapons like a dutiful little weyrwoman, though her fingers linger on the blades as they're dispersed. "Behave yourselves," is her sage advice, a peek over at N'all to gauge his reaction before she retreats a step or two.

Dhanuth watches the knife with wide eyes. He twitches his tail.

J'rin slips into sleep, just where he is; his arms are entwined around Naliath and the tiny blue's head rests on his thin shoulder, eyes closing sleepily.

L'mir attempts a re-nug, then laughs. "That's what I'm gonna cut yer meat with, Brielth. Say, didja want some more? I've got meat 'n oil here." He holds out both to his lifemate.

L'bon explains to Dhanuth, "It's sharp. It's good for cutting up meat or eating with or trimming talons. See, you use these..." he very carefully kneels down and lifes up one of Dhanuth's feet to demonstrate talons, avoiding the tips.

F'loran takes hold of his new knife, and hides it away in the folds of his robe, still scritching Kesath's eyeridges gently, as the Brown drifts into sleep...

Ardanth rumbles very tiredly, but also very softly. Unobtrusive, he does look straight into Kenla's eyes a moment.

N'all says "Nope, you can keep it OOCly."

L'mir holds out the meat with one hand trying to slip the knife into his robe. No easy task. "Try some'a this kind. It came from right over there." His bony finger points toward the meat box.

Joslyn excuses herself, uncharacteristically inobtrusive. If anyone was looking, they'd see her scuttling across the Sands to collect her own great dragon, the both traipsing out happily - glad to be off those sharding hot sands, most likely.

You walk toward the Weyrling Barracks.

*** END LOG ***

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