Perfectly Pleasing

[E]

Somadin had found himself in complete awe as the first eggs began to hatch. He watched the bronze give its first little roar, but Somadin knew it would not sound so little for long concidering he already stood taller than himself. With how fast those charts had said the dragons grew… well… Somadin looked away from the hatchling searching the smaller hatchlings breaking free.

Now the blue was just about Somadin’s height, in fact a little smaller. Now THAT was reassurance to the smallest boy on the sands. Perhaps, even if he didn’t stand a chance to impress a mighty bronze, perhaps one of these little blues or little greens would not think him weak despite his size. They would understand, so much smaller than their bronze brother. Right?

Seeing that the dark little blue impressed to Kess, he smiled. While there might be a gender difference between rider and dragon, that never stopped greens from impressing boys and they never seemed harmed by it. Why should it impressing the other way make a difference? Besides, Kess was one of the nicer candidates. He was glad to see her impress despite it meaning one less egg on the sands for him. He was not so glad to see the mighty bronze impress to Ev’os, however. While Somadin couldn’t deny that the older candidate fit the picture of a bronze rider; tall, strong, haunting… He still knew it would mean the fact would be rubbed in if Somadin didn’t impress, and probably even if he did.

That’s okay though, He thought to himself, I don’t need one of the giants. They would be a pain to wash and oil anyways. Nodding and forcing himself to smile despite the impression, he watched as more hatchlings hatched. It seemed to almost be picking up speed and he found it hard to watch each dragon individually as many were hatching at the same time and moving in different directions. With each impression, whether he knew the candidate or not, he began to feel a knot tightening in his stomach. Each impression meant one less dragon on the sands… Less dragons meant less chances… And his chances were only one in four according to the dragonhealer…

Hearing a cry, Somadin turned his head to see a boy cut down by a brown. The knot in his stomach twisted as he fought the urge to heave at the sight of so much blood. Forcing himself to look away from the dying candidate and trying not to think of what it meant, he watched as the now bloody brown impressed his close friend Trevan – err, T’van now he supposed. That did make him smile again. It was a sad smile, he was happy for his friend but he did not want to lose him to weyrling training if the smaller boy failed to impress…

Shifting his feet in the hot sands, he sniffed, attempting to fight back tears. Already there were so many less eggs… Perhaps that redhead woman had been right, that not everyone was worth the chance on the sands. Perhaps it was all about the blood that ran through your veins and what sort of blood ran through the veins of a motherless and fatherless candidate? Wiping a tear from his eye, he took small comfort in the fact that the redhead had not impressed yet either… But there were still eggs… only a few, but that meant there was still a chance…

[hrsegrl]

Phaedon continued to watch the hatching with his usual enthusiasm. Only humans had been injured thus far and it seemed the Healers already had their hands full getting injured Candidates off the sands. The Dragon Healer was pleased more than saddened by the vitality and strength of the dragonets. Perhaps he should have been just a little worried about the injured youths but they were mostly minor injuries so far as he could tell.

The next few dragonets gave him no concern at all. Even as a brown impressed to a girl he was not concerned, more curious really. So many girls had impressed this time around. It was strange and to blues and browns as well as greens and Golds. This was certainly going to be an interesting group. He looked back at the dragonets and continued to wonder.

When he saw a green pacing about and looking over the Candidates uncertainly from a distance he became concerned. He didn’t like when they seemed uncertain of whom their rider was, it made him nervous. The green started to run and tripped. Oh Faranth, let’s hope she did not injure herself. That was all that crossed his mind really.
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The blonde boy in the back of the group of Candidates could not rightly see who was impressing what. He tried to move closer to the front or at least behind someone shorter than himself. In doing so he nearly tripped over Somadin. “So sorry, just trying to see who’s impressed…” Caselo did not even know it was Somadin because he had barely looked at the person he had nearly tripped over.

His eyes were glued to the sands. Caselo was in shock at what he had just seen. A girl had impressed a brown dragon. He rubbed his eyes, certain they were mistaken but they were not. Well he’d be a runner’s uncle. This was the strangest Hatching he’d ever been to and in all honesty he felt it was going to become more strange as the Hatching moved on.

Perhaps had he been more focused on actually impressing himself he would have already but he was so much more interested in seeing who had impressed to what. Maybe he should have bet on more girls impressing. Even as he was thinking that, he watched a green impress to his foster sister, Havalie. What a day for girls indeed!

------

E’vos and his Rovanoth were being shown how to feed the Bronze properly while one of the dragon healer’s did a quick check of the dragonet’s hide. He was perfect, which was of course, the only answer either of them would accept. The Bronze was almost more arrogant than his new rider. If the Candidate Master had had a hard time with Ev’os, he pitied the Weyrling master who had Rovanoth as well to contend with.

Vaguely he saw Kesstriel walk up behind him with a blue. He could congratulate her but it was simply not in his mind to be nice to anyone. If they said anything to him he would be just as surprised. Most of the Candidates had probably doubted his ability to impress and now they would have to eat their own words.

When the man gave them the all clear Ev’os walked out of the Sands and led his, now sleepy companion down to the Weyrling Barracks. The dark eyed man knew exactly what to do.
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Dragons were impressing left and right it seemed which meant less and less chance of impressing. She knew almost everyone who impressed though the most notable stood out in her mind. Caselo, Somadin, Navace and Iaslia were still on the Sands which gave her some hope.

The fact that a girl impressed a blue was strange enough to her but even as a Weyrbred girl she had never heard of a woman impressing brown. When Nanyaa impressed brown Niddalath, Havalie was a bit shocked, so much so that she failed to immediately notice the green that was still in search of her rider. Eventually her blue eyes left the scene of girl impressing brown and met with those of the green. Havalie, it's me, Sarenth. Can we eat now? Please?

Havalie did not realize at first what was happening to her. Yes she had wished with all that was in her that this would happen but always she had felt that her family’s inability to impress would pass on to her too. Shy as always she gave the green a warm smile in return for the words and was instantly concerned when the green tripped. Are you alright, Sarenth? The green answered by finishing her little run over to her new rider and butting her head into Havalie’s side.

“Don’t be so pushy, we’re getting food. I promise you will go to sleep nice and full.” The young woman could scarcely believe her good fortune. To the awaiting crowd she shouted above the noise, “Her name is Sarenth!” Then she continued her walk to the meat tables knowing that Sarenth was ravenously hungry.

[fadingmemorie]

The hatching was over. Those meant to Impressed dropped food into hungry mouths, and the ones who didn't gathered their belongings and waited for their next chance. Aliath was still firmly planted in the sand, her eyes whirling a myriad of colors. Gaelle noticed the facet change and turned to E'dian. "Is that supposed to happen?" The dragon also looked suspicious, glancing around nervously.

Then the Queen began to hum.

Instantly, the rest of the Weyr's dragon population joined in with their Queen. No rider or spectator knew what they were encouraging, but still they returned slowly to their seats. As they stood, they all strained to catch a glimpse of some leftover, forgotten egg. The candidates were hurried back into the cavern, looking tired but excited. Gaelle watched the grounds, mirroring their confusion. Was there another egg?

Aliath shifted around in the sand, moving her body and her tail at the same time. As she moved, the sands over her tail moved with her, exposing flashes of golden shell. Gaelle saw it and gasped. How had her weyrling gold created that huge egg? "E'dian! Do you see that?" She grabbed the Weyrleader's sleeve.

Female candidates scuttled into position as the humming of the dragons intensified. The egg had been cracking, just slowly. Aliath poked at it with her nose, softly helping the dragonet out of her shell. A golden head popped out at the top, turned sideways, and surveyed the scene. Her mother, the golden Queen, murmured at the hatchling, coaxing her into the world.

Finally, the gold dragonet rolled out of her egg and rose, wings dripping with fluid. She was wavering from hunger, so she ran to the candidates. Tripping, she tumbled into one of the candidates, leaving deep claw marks in her arms and legs. The poor girl lost consciousness, but the gold went on. She approached Iaslia. I am Nisurath. I am very, very hungry.[/color]

Gaelle watched with widened eyes. "Oh, dear." Aliath's eyes whirled blue and green. She was obviously quite pleased with herself and her gold egg. But Gaelle wasn't sure it was a good thing, and she was sure she didn't want Iaslia Impressing it. The rumors about the girl were not impressive, but Gaelle would give her the benefit of the doubt. "Well, we should go and oversee the feast."

[LyricalBlue]

The Weyrleader wrapped one protective arm around his Weyrwoman as the humming began once again and at the sight of the egg his eyes narrowed with worry. This was not good, unhatched eggs were natural for any Queen. As the little thing mauled one of the candidates in the way his eyes narrowed more. This too was natural, but the way in which this little queen wavered was not. She looked to be on the brink of starvation.

E'dian's grip around Gaelle's waist tightened as the little Queen locked gazes with his daughter. Behind him, Xialanth crooned encouragingly, thought E'dian was not entirely sure it was for him or the little gold on the sands. How had they missed that egg? It was clearly the largest of the clutch, though it lacked much of the golden sheen that Queen eggs were famous for.

He turned his head to Alaith in question, but the gold seemed sanguine. His eyes flicked across the crowd gathered. He saw surprise mix with worry and felt his stomach tighten convulsively as E'dian looked back down and saw Iaslia bend down to wrap her arms around the little Queen's neck. Leaning down to whisper low enough for only Gaelle to hear, E'dian spoke.
"You are both indeed Weyrwoman and Queen now."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hatching was over, Iaslia mustered herself along with the other candidates who did not Impress and turned to head back to the Hall for the customary Hatching Feast. Then Aliath began to hum again, the red head whirled in place, her eyes immediately going to where the Weyrleaders stood. The gold had uncurled her tail to reveal an egg much larger than the rest. Was that what she thought it was? With dark green eyes wide, she was hustled back to the sands. As the egg began to hatch there was little doubt as to the color of the hatchling and the girls who had not Impressed stood in a loose half circle around the adult Queen and her last egg.

Iaslia could not help but give a little smirk, she could understand Aliath not wanting to give up her children. It all happened so fast, the Queen had little time to gloat, and it had been a good clutch. The gooey mass of golden dragonet tumbled out of her shell and suddenly Iaslia had eyes for nothing else. One candidate got a tad too excited and approached the queen and the two fell in a tumble that would no doubt be fatal to the other girl.

But as the little Queen's eyes locked on Iaslia's, the girl lost herself in a haze of faceted blue eyes and adoration. She moved immediately to wrap her arms around the base of the little Queen's neck to support her. Iaslia pushed some left over membrane off the perfect golden hide and sighed.
"Come on, there is still food left. Nisurath"

Her voice fell off on the name, simply savoring the taste and as the gold turned whirling eyes on the girl, Iaslia knew that her world was now changed forever. She murmured the name once more and Nisurath looked at her with a tilted head. Yes, this was all good and well, but she was hungry! As the pair righted themselves and walked to the left over buckets of meat, Iaslia turned her head to look up at her father, raising her voice high enough for even him to hear.

"Her name is Nisurath."
With that she turned and dipped her hand into the bucket, feeding gobbet after gobbet of meat into the waiting maw of the little Queen's mouth. The former Weyrleader was there with admonishments not to overfeed her, but Iaslia was fairly sure that she had an endless stomach. Though, soon enough the gold pronounced herself sated and the pair were hustled off to the Weyrling Barracks to settle their new partners down to sleep.

[hrsegrl]

When everyone was preparing to leave the sands,Aliath had a surprise in store. One which he did not appreciate much. The Dragon Healer grew only more concerned when he saw the state the Gold dragonet was in when she hatched. Her coloring was naturally pale though he wondered if her palor would improve with time or if the Gold's overprotectiveness of the egg had caused perhaps some health issues for the Gold.

If the Weyrwoman had known she didn't act like it. With a deep sigh he knew that this was not going to be easy. The girl would likely insist nothing was wrong with the little Queen. Golds were the hardest to deal with. He took to writing in his journal an waiting for the Gold to finish eating. He had to let her go get some sleep but he was vey concerned. Making a point to talk to the Weyring Master about it, he also thought perhaps he should seak to Gaelle later. Just to have Aliath keep an eye on the younger Gold.

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Caselo was walking away, not entirely dissappointed because he was such an optimist. Although when he saw people start turning around he followed them. What in the... A Gold? He saw the gaunt looking Queen and tried to manage a smile. Warm loving thoghts could only help. Not that he was trying to impress her but dragonets needed to feel welcomed.

When the girl was mauled he cringed a little. Poor girl. She'd probably not live through this. He was very happy the Queen foun her rider quickly so that there were not too many injured. Iaslia was a proud an fiery young woman but he had a hard time thinking ill of her. The Queen obviously saw that domineering spirit and it suited her.

Caselo smiled then. A great first Hatching for a young Queen. Now for the Feast. He turned to leave and realized that he was one of the few in his class he recognized that had not impressed. At least he would have more time to prepare for a dragon now. Next time he'd better not be late.

[starshine]

A'rik had began to make his way around the sands to usher the remaining candidates to the hall for the coming feast. He had also planned to extend his congratulation to his now former students. Three steps in and he froze as the humming hit his ears. He turned on the spot to see the large egg appear from behind the queens tail, its shell flecked away to reveal the feeble gold dragonet inside. His green eyes grew wide as it made its slow journey to the candidates, clumsy as she went. A girl fell to the sand after being struck by the newly hatched queen. Finally the little dragon locked eyes with the fiery red head.

Iaslia had not been a dream in his classes, often picking on others and retaining a bit of the arrogance of her elder uncle. He had hoped that perhaps a small amount of her cousins patience would take hold. Either way the girl had a strong will and a good head for politics, even if she did have a dirty game. Once the new pair had moved on toward to feeding tables he approached the remaining candidates and instructed them to attend the feast that followed the hatching. He then moved on to the newly hatched pairs of rider and dragon. A smile spread across his face.

The pride he felt in the one who had impressed was immense. He truly felt that each pair was strong and healthy, despite the queens initial feeble start. She appeared to have a healthy appetite. He approached, coming in beside Havalie and her spritely looking green. "I want to extend congratulations to each of you." His voice was slightly professional though it couldn't hide the sheer glee behind it. With that he grinned again and headed down to the weyrhall.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Claralth dove into his bucket of fresh meat. Kess could do nothing more than marvel at his ferocity. Her silver eyes were locked on him. Slow down... its not going to disappear. Her comments went seemingly unnoticed. She smiled and looked up to see Ev'os with his bronze. She grinned, even though he wouldn't give her the time of day she was not going to forget her manners. Her mother and the creche mothers had taught her well. "Congratulations Ev'os! He's very handsome!" Her voice was sincere, because she really was happy for him, though she was reserved, as she always was when it came to her cousins uncle.

Kesstriel placed a hand on her blue's shoulder, feeling the muscles shutter under her touch. He continued his feasting as she scanned back to the sands. I wonder who else will impress. She strained to see what was happening, rising up on her toes to gain what little height she could. Following her Claralth came three healthy and energetic greens, then a sturdy and steadfast brown. She squinted her eyes to see the wall of a brown approach a boy though his face was blocked from her view. She contented herself to wait for the brown to turn and head toward the feeding tables.

Havalie arrived not long after with a glowing healthy green. Kess gave the girl a smile. Happy that she had impressed, and to such a beautifully colored creature. How excellent. She turned her attention to her blue, helping him get meat from the waiting buckets. It was then that the humming came. She turned her head, Clar's following suit. His eyes whirlled a slight orange of concern for what was happening. Kess layed a hand on the back of his neck. What is it? She was curious, in the few hatchings she had seen, this had never happened before. There is another coming. Sure enough the queen moved her tail to reveal the egg, a golden head peaking out from its top.

Before long the young queen had emerged and made her clumsy way to the candidates. She struck a girl who was in the way, sending the youth to the ground. She stopped before the familiar crop of red hair that made up her cousin. Iaslia had impressed, she had impressed a queen! Kess resisted the urge to run at her cousin and embrace her. She stayed by Clar's side as the newly hatched queen and her rider made their way to the tables. Clars moved to the side, allowing the gold to have more room, and access to the meat.

[Redden]

Calmly Nanyaa and her brown waited for a turn and approached the buckets, many of the other dragons seemed to be feverishly wolfing down their food hers however seemed to just be content with the fact there was food. Normally the girl would find herself anxious and a nervous wreak from not knowing how to act or react, but an over whelming sense of pride and calm seemed to exude from Niddalalth and helped her. Not really paying anyone any attention other then the brown until the hum came.

She paused in mid motion to watch the gold hatch, she simply smirked seeing Isalia impress the newest gold, truly this will be the most interesting additions to the weyr yet. Niddalath nudging her hard with his head causes her to continue her motions have offering him more meat. He simply stopped when he was done. Much to her surprise and joy the brown seemed to be as much of a talker as her. Finally she gave another look around to see whom all had impressed before being ushered of to the hall for the feast.

Saddened her brother had not impressed too she waves to him as they all move out, hopefully for the feast she'll at least be able to sit with him and have him meet Niddalath.

[wonder123]

So much was happening, it was hard to keep it all straight.

Trevan turned his eyes away from Kess. He'd tried finding Somadin, but had to give up after only a few minutes. The other candidates were too tall, and the grounds were crowded enough that someone Soma's size would go unnoticed.

Besides, two green dragons in front of him was a fairly good distraction. Tre's eyes widened as they stumbled around, just a few mere steps away. His feet were planted to the ground though - none of this 'rushing the Hatchlings' business he'd heard some Candidates did. If he was going to become one of them, it would either happen or it wouldn't. He'd just have to wait and see which it would be.

The greens never looked his way. The smaller one had wandered to one of the larger eggs, seeming to set it off as it rocked hard enough to senf the top half of the egg flying. The remaining shell flopped over on its side like an upturned dish, spilling out its contents: one large brown. He was only a handspan smaller than his bronze brother. Trevan charted its every move, amazed at the strength in such a (relatively) small thing. It wasn't even a minute old! The newborn brown paused to study his surroundings...did he know he was being watched? No, it seemed like he was too focused on his own search to notice.

Trevan continued his inspection. As newly and poorly informed of dragons that he was, he could tell the brown was quite solid and would probably be one of the strongest of the clutch. Hadn't that bronze Evalos got himself only been a hand or two bigger? That would change surely, as Master Phaedon had told them, but the fellow had a nice start. He towered over the greens that had passed him, and if Tre had to guess, he would be taller than his small friend as well.

The subject of his attention moved then, suddenly. It'd caught another boy off guard too - the brown had been standing so still he'd almost been forgotten in the chaos of other Impressions. That boy didn't move quick enough, and soon all he could feel was pain. The unweildy claws had raked him badly. He wouldn't be getting up again.

You can't be slow like that and expect to live, came the thought. I doubt that hatchling even noticed. He'd looked away from the dying boy with no sympathy - the tough hold that was Southern was not a breeding ground for pity - straight into the whirling eyes of that same dragonet.

T'van. You are right. I am Hirith.

T'van. He didn't even realize how natural the name sounded because he was lost to that moment of ectasy. It was like he hadn't even known a part of him was missing until Hirith had found him. He was cold from shock and warm from pleasure all at the same time. This was the Impression that had all talked about in those awed tones. This was -

Don't just stand there. I'm starved.

The no-nonsense voice sounded again. It wasn't harsh, just stated in a matter-of-fact tone that T'van could relate with very well. It was much like his own voice on his usual days. "Don't worry, Hirith." He could barely speak out so others could know his new lifepartner's name, he was so overcome. "We'll get you seen too straight away." His arm drapped protectively over the brown hatchling, although Hir had already proved what he was capable of.

Forget smithing. This is what T'van had been born for.