Smoke & Mirrors Hatching

[Symphony]

It was a cold, rainy morning, uncharacteristic for Sanctum. Outside it was windy and there was a suitable amount of noise generated by the air being sheared against stone, but in the hatching caverns, there was an entirely different sound - the dull pulse of humming, the heat of the sands enough to waft a nice warmth through the caverns themselves, and the low rumble of the large, pale queen circled around the eggs. Ariannalyth resembled a furious clutchmother, the irony being that the clutch she so ferociously guarded was not her own at all, but the former senior queen's. The eggs were hard and some of them were rocking, the hatching impending; it would begin any moment. The dragons of the Weyr would be able to sense it, and they would be able to fly into the caverns and perch along the ledges surrounding the Sands. The Stands would no doubt be crowded, and Liyanna herself was up in them, away from where she could be easily approached, though the Lord and Lady as well as the Wingleaders would be able to reach her. Ariannalyth's eyes glittered scarlet as the dull hum echoed throughout the Weyr - no doubt alerting everyone to the presence of the clutch.

---

The Smoke & Mirrors Clutch
The last clutch of Freseath & Ruinith

01. Mist Egg Impressed; Green Laylath to Minji
02. Soot Egg Impressed; Green Avaliath to Aaria
03. Vapor Egg Impressed; Brown Haronth to C'dor
04. Ashes Egg Impressed; Blue Rivelath to Journeyman Smith F'par - NPC Plot Char
05. Dusty Egg Impressed; Brown Varaneth to L'nau
06. Smudged Egg Impressed; Blue Faronth to Amir
07. Blurry Egg Impressed; Blue Blyddeth to Journeywoman Healer Omaera - NPC Plot Char
08. Smoke Egg Impressed; Green Kasandrath to Iolanthe
09. Illusions Egg Impressed; Gold Rozenwyth to Fariel
10. Reflection Egg; cracked - green hide displayed
11. Scratched Egg Impressed; Blue Ladrith to Journeyman Harper R'fael - NPC Plot Char
12. Cracks Egg Impressed: Green Nikeath to Tiramnet
13. Mirage Egg Impressed; Brown Surroulath to J'rin
14. Deceptive Egg Impressed; Blue Desdenoth to T'mor
15. Swirled Egg Impressed: Green Esmadryth to Journeywoman Harper Lisande -- NPC Plot Char
16. Ringed Egg Impressed; Bronze Morreliath to S'kor
17. Showstopper Egg Impressed; Bronze Garejalyth to O'wyn (NPC)
18. Pale Egg Hatched; Green; Between

[Missa]

The weather lately seemed to be constantly wet or windy, or both. There was no change in that today, it was really rather boring actually. No matter how much she wandered around for chores, she always ended up humming the old teaching scores to herself in the barracks. If it wasn't wet, Aaria probably wouldn't come near the scores for at least a few sevendays. It was just - and what in the name of Faranth was that humming?

Blinking in slight confusion as she swung her feet from the cot to the floor, Aaria allowed herself the moment it took her to figure it out. Hatching! It was finally happening, hatching! Blame it on the weather, yes the weather was making her sluggish. Then again the cold was enough to make anyone wnat to curl up and never come out. Unfortunately, she couldn't really do that at the moment, it was bad enough trying to find the sandals she'd been given.

How was it that things managed to go missing when they had a particular place to go? Sharding inconsiderate things. Giving a muffled triumphant sound as she dragged them out from behind the trunk - how they'd gotten there she didn't know - Aaria wasted no more time puling them on and moving to search for the white robe. Of course, it would be on top, at least one thing was where she put it in the first place. Shards but it was cold too, there was barely any use in having the material on. It was white too, white and water never mixed well. Oh well, more important things to worry about really.

Would the cold have any effect on the eggs or the hatchlings? It was doubtful, but why not. Canines had no fur when they were born, that made them vunerable to cold, why not a dragon hatchling? Odd thoughts perhaps, but it was better that way then worrying about Impression. Admittedly, Ria was nervous about that too, but at least she wasn't dwelling on it. Much. Drawing closer to the hatching grounds - now wet, lovely - she could see the pale golden form of Ariannalyth, and the eggs. Okay, a little more nervous with every step now. Heat instantly flared through her feet, through the thin material of the sandals covering her feet. Ariannalyth didn't look happy, had something upset her before she'd arrived or was it just the idea of letting the babies she'd cared for go? Hopefully just that, Ariannalyth didn't deserve to be upset on the day of a hatching - on any day actually. Bowing deeply to the queen, Aaria raised her eyes to the gold for a moment, quietly thanking her and greeting her before stepping back and away, moving towards the other females. It was always a safe bet to go with the crowd.

[Minji]

The young candidate, former artist, was pretty up since just before the sun started to rise. It wasn't that she lacked sleep, but she had been wondering about many things all the while she had been up, not once at all feeling the hunger of sleep wanting to settle into her eyes and body and overwhelm her entirity. No. She did not give into it, and the reason was simple, she was lacking in things to portray. It was something like every artist's nightmare, but Minji in particular would not allow this bad thing to happen to her. Prety much it was like it would embrace only a small portrion of her and slowly eliminate all of her will do draw or do anything artistically related. But luckily for Minji, she had been up since that very morning just sketching away at every little thing that she could see. From a shadowed corner across from where she sat on her cot, or the entrance of the doorway where she would just somehow sketch in a shadow of someone trying to sneak about the corridor outside. Whatever the case, Minji was going to keep her ability to where they should be, if not more.

It was when Minji was into drawing her fifth sketch when she heard the faint humming of dragons against the rushing of pitter, pattering of the rain. At the sound, Minji lifted her head up and looked toward the wall that would be facing toward the cavern before she shrugged it off. Perhaps it was a trick of the winds. Something that should be avoided, but somehow, Minji just couldn't help but wonder.. Why were the dragons humming? In a few brief moments, it finally clicked inside ofthe candidate's mind as to what exactly was going on.

Scrambling off of her cot, Minji dashed, in a somewhat hasty pace, to put her sketch book away in its hidden compartment and to find her white candidate robe. When her robe was found, she looked not disdainfully, but in wonderment of why she never bothered to do something about it in her sketches. But all the while she thought about it, the humming proceeded and Minji was soon caught full attention as to what her current goal was; to get to the hatching caverns.

As Minji walked calmly toward the exit of the barracks, by this time it was morning, and she eyed her destination. When her view was locked upon the caverns, Minji took in a deep breath and shrugged on her white robe before sprinting toward the entrance of th cavern. It was long before Minji was in the safty shelter of the grounds when Minji realized that she was not exatly early, yet not fashionable late. Seeing as to how ther was but one other candidate here and the rest were just the by-standers that would be watching from the Stands. How odd it seemed for Minji to feel so little against the people in the Stands than where it was on the Sands itself. She felt as if she were being judged right then and there, and the worse feeling of all? Being left standing upon the hot sands while every other candidate had become weyrlings.

Face it, it was probably every candidate's worse fear, but Minji had to remain positive. She just knew she had too, and when she approached the golden form of Ariannalyth, Minji simply bowed and muttered a soft greetings before she took to moving about the sands toward the rest of the females. Only time would really tell if she, and everyone else about her, would be ready to become a rider. But did Minji really want to become one?

[Neeuqtar]

((I used up my muse in writing a formal lab report. BUT IT IS PRETTY!!

So please assume Tira has gone through the formalities and is busy steaming off directly infront of the queen, past the eggses, like so vv

Tira EGGS EGGS queen

And she's irked at being wet and in a clammy white robe.))

[Yakura]

Tenmor shifted, glaring blearily around. He hadn't even stepped outside yet on this fine day and already knew that it was quite unpleasant, for he was chill even beneath his furs. Grumbling to himself he straightened slowly, waiting for the remnants of sleep to abandon his joints and allow him the liberty of free movement. He had been hoping for a bright pleasant day, warm with maybe a slight breeze. From the sound of things there was more than a breeze, as if the weather had sought to grant his wish and overcompensated quite horribly, resulting in whistling wind among the stones, deafening if one happened to approach just the right place. The air was chill and damp, bespeaking of rain. It was hardly a pleasant day, Tenmor thought morosely as he pulled himself up the remainder of the way, knuckling his eyes and stifling a yawn. He had been planning on doing some outdoor chores, weather permitting, which it was not, so he would be forced to do some dreadfully dull and menial chore, like replacing glows. Even though Tenmor found the duty of replacing glows relaxing, for it meant that one didn't have to socialize too much, he had been hoping to do other things on what he had hoped was a fine day.

Tenmor grunted and pushed himself up the last few inches, kicking aside his furs in an uncharacteristically grumpy manner. He was hardly found of the cold and damp, preferring dry heat above all else. He pushed his bad mood into a corner, abandoning it for the moment as he shuffled over to wet his face, perhaps hoping to wake himself up more and get the incessant buzz out of his head. He hesitated suddenly, frowning. A buzz? No, it was already deepening to something more. It was a rumble that echoed through the walls, reverberating off the walls and vibrating to the very core of his being. Realization dawned suddenly and swiftly, startling Tenmor out of his sluggish movements and abruptly back into the world.

It was the Hatching. The Hatching, right now on this blustery chill morning, the Hatching. Tenmor scrambled forward, splashing a hasty handful of icy water on his face in an attempt to clear his head and quell the rising panic. This was not the time to worry so. The water helped to clear his mind only slightly but at least succeeded in bringing his mind fully to the present. He had to hurry and get going now. His panicked gaze swept the room for a moment, searching for the ceremonial robes that every Candidate was forced to wear. He himself bore no particular resentment against the nondescript white shift, though he knew of plenty who did. He hastily grabbed the white robes and pulled them on, somehow managing to put it on straight the first try and was out the door in a second, making his way towards the Hatching Sands as quickly as possible.

He had sadly been correct on the weather, for it was raining and blustery, more than ever it seemed. Cold rain lashed at his face and the wind plucked at his robes, swirling the white fabric around his ankles and pressing it tight against one side of his body while billowing wide on the opposite. It was not a pleasant day but the fact that it was finally the time for the Hatching made everything better, it seemed. Taking a deep breath Tenmor began his rain-soaked battle towards the Sands, ignoring the rain and wind for the most part, his mind focused solely on the Hatching at hand.

It seemed like it took no time at all for Tenmor to arrive, slightly out of breath quite a bit damper than usual. He paused at the entrance to the Sands, basking in the warmth that they radiated, before shaking himself like a dog in an attempt to dry himself. Everyone else appeared to be just as wet as he was, if not more so. He pitied the female Candidates who had longer hair and silently congratulated himself on having relatively short hair, for it wouldn't take forever to dry at least. He began to move towards the eggs and stopped himself abruptly, twisting his footsteps towards the Queen. Respects to the golden monarch first, of course.

Tenmor bowed before Ariannalyth, deeper than he had done so at the Hatching, his dark brown eyes fixed determinedly on his feet. He was well aware of how glorious and beautiful a Queen was, for all of the massive golden dragons were the matriarchs of dragonkind, radiant and powerful. "Golden Ariannalyth, I beg for the honor of attending this Hatching," he said humbly, voice still somewhat breathless. He didn't see the Weyrwoman anywhere near but that didn't matter much at the moment. He had to pay his respects to the Queen first, before he could even hope of Impressing. Or did it really work that way? He wasn't quite sure.

[Krii later. xP]

[Minji]

"I'm not going, Rhosyth. You know how much I abhore being in the Hatching Grounds, or any grounds that involves dragons hatching.."
X'veir said quite sternly toward his dragon who was perched on the outter ledge, not at all minding the fact tha it was indeed, raining outside this morning.

It was quite the task to get his rider to do anything, but for some reason, the darkly colored dragon just could not seem to get His to go with him to the Hatching cavern to watch as the next generation of dragonriders form. Why wouldn't X'veir go just this once? Because obviously the bronzerider had no true interest in the grounds since he didn't have much of a pleasant time there when he was a candidate.

Go to this one and I will not pester you agin to attend another one for as long as we live.
The bronze stated, almost demanded of his Bonded as he still remained out in the pouring rain, his head handing low and close to the ground. Eyes whirled slowly and with colors of boredom of having to talk with his rider when he could be missing out on the first hatchlings. With a sudden jerk of his head, the bronze snaked about through the entrance and laid his head near his rider with his mouth open and his hot, stinky breath fueling the air about the rider.
I promise to be a good Rhosyth if you go.. The only other time I'll ever...

"No, Rhosyth.. I will not go to another hatching for as long as I live.. You know I've watched a plenthora of hatchings through your eyes. I will not change that fact, and I'm sorry, but I will not even go to a hatching even if you were to sire the clutch."
X'veir folded his arms across his chest and leaned against his bedpost before staring at his bronze with utmost disbelief. Why is he still even trying of convincing him to go when he's not going to? With a few moments passing, X'veir unfolded hs arms and walked over to the bronze.
"I'm sorry old friend, but ever since you and I became one, I found no real reason to go back to the caverns.. I don't know if I can even stand watching another candidate get injured, or even killed."
X'veir sighed and placed a hand on the bronze's snout before giving him a pat and walking off toward the bathing area.

If there is a mauling on the grounds, I will take you back to our weyr. I really want you to come with me this time.
If nothing else, Rhosyth held a tone of begging, and though it was slim to nil that the bronze would ever do so, he sounded hurt.

That was all that took to get the bronzerider's attention. With those words alone, he had stopped and whirled about on his heels to face the bronze once more. He opened his mouth and then shut it before rolling his eyes and scratching his recently shaved chin. After he folded his arms over his chest again, he sighed and dropped his arms and went to the closet to grab his leatherhide jacket and glared at his dragon.
"Only for you will I do this, Rhosyth.. But if there's one rouge dragnling, we're off."
X'veir spoke this in a stern tone as he strode out to the ledge in the pouring rain and jumped smoothely from the dragon's foreleg to the hollowed point where he was so accustomed to finding with or without a saddle.


It only took but a few minutes for the bronze to make it from their weyr to the entrance made for dragons to enter to the Hatching Grounds. The air within was muggy, and yet both dragon and rider took in the pleasure of its aroma. Once the pair were accustomed to the air, the bronze snuggly made himself comfortable and scanned the sands as X'veir jumped down to make himself comfortable in a crook of his dragon's left foreleg.

Rhosyth, knowing that X'veir planned to stay through the whole of the hatching, with or without any real actions, smuggly grinned to himself as his gaze remained intent upon the sands, his own deep, baritone thrumming adding in to the other dragons were were procuring the humming song for the hatchlings. Indeed, it was a moment that the dragon would cheerish, even if he wouldn't be able to remember after a couple days, if not that.

[Symphony]

Ariannalyth flicked her tail, but otherwise overlooked the candidates. So far all had bowed, so she made no effort to stop them from streaming onto the Sands, though she snorted audibly. Her eyes whirled, and the queen curled up behind the clutch rather than around it. The sands were growing crowded enough that she needn't stay put to garner second and third looks. It wasn't easy to miss the massive pale queen, her eyes whirling. The other dragons were also primarily ignored, though the presence of Rhosyth earned a second look from her - and she crooned, albeit very quietly. But she did not offer any greetings or way of introductions. Her attention instead was focused on the eggs as they continued to rock.

And then one began to hatch. The Deceptive Egg wobbled several times before a single crack spread from the top of the egg and spiderwebbed downward, over the shell and to the bottom, spreading into not one, not two, but a thousand tiny cracks, until it looked as though the egg would shatter at the smallest touch. Next to it, the Blurry Egg also wobbled, until it bumped into the Deceptive Egg and most efficiently shattered it into several very tiny pieces. What was left was a neatly black dragonet curled into an awkward ball that looked more like a shadow rather than any kind of creature. However, after a moment, the wings unfurled, egg gook falling onto the Sands, and light caught his hide just right to reveal that the darkness of his hide was merely the angle at which he was viewed. Primarily he was blue green, with dazzling sapphire highlights. The little blue was small and almost chubby in build, though he did not appear to notice as he turned and scanned the crowd. Nor did he seem to notice the Blurry Egg rocking frantically next to him.

[tarra]

Tsarkor

Rain. Again.

Perhaps it was just his luck, or perhaps it was him bringing the poor luck on the Weyr as a whole. Random thoughts skimmed his mind as he bundled on the white Candidate robes, accentuated by the tension humming through his bones with the dragons. He was terse, no, he could not be terse. Terseness brought out the worst in the runners, or dragons for that matter. No creature liked fear in its handler. He chided himself, mental voice striving to out-voice the chill rising in his stomach, in his throat.

A runner might trample a man. A dragon could do so much more...

Tsarkor forced himself to begin walking. No, running, he was too far from the Hatching Sands still. The movement brought back a semblance of calm. He swallowed the bile in his throat and forced focus on his distraught thoughts. Reach Sands, wait with...no, bow to Queen first, then wait with other Candidates. Final instructions flew pell-mell before his eyes, even as the great bulk of magnificent Ariannalyth loomed before him. He was dripping, he had run through the rain. He had just the presence of mind to halt, skidding, shake the water hard from himself, the dragons' humming echoing through the cavern, through his bones, rattling.

He shuddered a final time, felt coolness descend with the sight of the other candidates, and began walking towards them. His eyes fell on Ariannalyth once more, panic seized him a brief moment and was gone. He bowed, low and deep, before he could forget again, and stepped onto the Sands with the rest. The sands had never felt so clingy, or so cumbersome to the feet. Then the first crack, audible even above the humming, and Tsarkor froze.

His eyes fixeted on the Deceptive Egg, cracking in miniscale motions so finite he almost swpore he was watching a wonder unfold: a poem in action, a snowflake in formation. He chided himself again: was a Hatching not a wonder unfolding? Did he have to tell himself that again and again? He stared, unabashed, as the Blurry Egg began rocking, bumped its companion, and shattered the Deceptive Egg into a thousand mini fragments.

Tsakor gaped. A black dragon! A new colour? He heard the humming increase all around him, almost stepped back himself with the renewed volume. But the dragonet unfolded his wings just then, and the boy's eyes caught the shades of blue and green with a glint of appreciation. A beautiful creature, balanced and proportionate even at this age. The chubbiness of the dragonet was lost on the boy, captivated as he was by the elegant sapphire highlights. He glanced at the Blurry Egg, then chanced his eyes over the Clutch as a whole, wondering. He wondered who the new-hatched blue would choose.

________________________________________________

Tarra

Tarra cheered as the first egg broke, and felt more than saw Suftath raise her humming in jubilation. She had left Kalliyar at the Creche, where he would be safest at this time, and arrived just in time to see the Deceptive Egg begin to wobble. Her green had left her at the stands and then flew to take her place on the ledges. Suftath spotted Rhosyth as she landed, and sent a brief mental greeting befre she took her place in a settled reclining poise, and added her voice to the humming all around. Like the bronze she enoyed Hatching, but she had a tendency to recall the event a little longer. A week, perhaps. Anything further would require her rider's reminders.

[Yakura]

On rainy days such as this one, Krii often found herself indoors, either sorting through medical supplies or cleaning bandages. Today was no different. Krii was leaning against the wall of one of the supply rooms, fingers move swiftly back and forth as she rolled a clean strip of linen into a much smaller bundle, so that it would easily fit on the shelf with the rest of the bandages. Although it was relatively early in the day, still morning, Krii had already been up for half the night and was beginning to feel irritable. The repetitive task of rolling fresh linen bandages was doing little to improve her mood, as was the fact that her klah had been sitting in the corner gathering dust (quite literally, actually) for the better part of the day. Half of a forgotten tray of meat rolls sat next to it, a delicate green flitt nosing around and choosing only the best pieces for herself.

Krii sighed, stretching slowly and attempting to work a crick out of her back, finally finishing with the arduous task of rolling a small linen cylinder of bandages. She tossed it unceremoniously onto the shelf, which was sadly only less than a third full. It had been her task to fill it completely, a task which she had failed spectacularly at. Groaning to herself, Krii loosed her red-gold hair from the messy braid she had been keeping it in and stalked over to the corner, unceremoniously nudging Prim off the plate with her foot as she bent down to pick up the stale mug of klah. She took a short sip and grimaced, the normally warm liquid cold and gritty. She set it back down and picked up the meat roll that had best survived Prim’s ravages and bit into it quickly, glad that it at least wasn’t full of dust like the klah.

Chirping defiantly, Prim clambered up Krii’s grimy work clothes, her lithe green form settling on one of Krii’s shoulders. She immediately began to butt her head against her bonded’s cheek, her bright voice lowering slowly to a thrum. Krii frowned, letting the half-finished meat roll fall to the ground, realization dawning slowly. That sound…it was a humming, wasn’t it? Krii could hear the noise and feel it as well, almost as if every dragon and firelizard in the Weyr was joining in. The Candidate jerked spastically, realizing exactly what it was a few seconds later than most would have. It was the Hatching. Krii scrambled towards the door, throwing it open with one hand, the other already tugging at her laces in an attempt to at least remove them partway before she got to her room. Sadly she failed in her haste, her fumbling fingers no match for the tight, neat laces of her clothes as she skidded across the floor of her room, finally yanking off her garments and snatching up the dull white robes that all Candidates were required to wear. She hadn’t done much to hers and they lay crumpled in a corner, wrinkled and disheveled. She pulled them on as quickly as possible, missing the sleeve entirely on her first attempt and somehow managing to put them on backwards the second time. The third attempt was apparently the charm, for she managed to pull the nondescript robe on, pulling her hair out from under the collar, already on her way to the door. Prim was ahead of her, soaring with green wings stretched wide.

Krii had known that it wasn’t pleasant outside, but she hadn’t expected the gusts of cold, rain-sodden air that buffeted her, plucking at the loose cloth of her robe and tangling her hair. In a desperate attempt to arrive in some semblance of grace she pulled her hair back with one hand, securing it in a large bundle. Her eyes were narrowed against the lashing rain, flung from the storm with reckless fury. This wasn’t a way to start a Hatching! She gritted her teeth, increasing her pace, realizing belatedly that Prim had flown back from the harsh winds to cling to her shoulder, small green body hunched against Krii’s neck for warmth. Although the rains showed no signs of abating, Krii pushed forward, face set in a determined grimace, until she finally arrived.

The Hatching Sands were hot as always, and already a murmur of anticipation filled the air, the humming of the dragons ringing in Krii’s ears. The Candidate paused, staring around in silent wonder. Some of the eggs were rocking already, and even as she watched, one split open, countless pieces of shell falling to the sand as an amazingly dark dragon was revealed. For a second Krii thought it to be a black, but noticed the iridescent blue-green sheen that covered its body. It was a blue, a slightly pudgy blue, but a blue nonetheless. And here she was missing the first egg hatching because she had been too busy working.

Hiding her shame, Krii hurried over towards the golden Queen, wringing her hair out as quickly as possible. The moisture on her skin was already disappearing in the heat, much to her relief, and her damp robes felt a good deal less clammy and uncomfortable. Prim leapt off her shoulder, disappearing towards the other firelizards, her thin form quickly lost from sight. Krii turned towards Ariannalyth, dropping into a combination curtsy and bow. She was still slightly out of breath, but managed to get a few rushed and eager words out. “Glorious Arainnalyth I hope to stay here at this Hatching you so gallantly protected,” she murmured, almost too soft to hear, her words directed directly at the gold. Out of the corner of her eye she could see more eggs trembling, ready to spill their beautiful little contents into the world. The nearly-black blue dragon was still there as well, obviously waiting to find His.

[Neeuqtar]

For some reason, Tiramnet could hardly bring herself to look at the Clutch, her eyes instead locked on the queen, drinking in the glory of the great creature. Greatest of all the fliers, the dragons were so much... more... than herself. Though Tira knew she would never give up her dream of falconry, knew she would make it its own separate Craft one day, separate from beastcrafting, there was something about being dwarfed before the greatest creature on the planet that made her breath catch in her throat and her heart flutter in her chest.

Steam swirled away from her soaked robe, making it stiff and scratchy, but Tira hardly noticed. Even the burrowing of Tiny to a slightly more comfortable place in her breastband was barely an irritation; the falconer was used to the small creature's habits by now, and Tiny knew better than to poke her little green nose out of Tira's clothing by now (she would receive a firm flick on the nose if she attempted to escape without permission; the same went for shirt-diving without permission. The little green was shaping up to be quite the obedient girl). So Tiramnet could bathe in the glory of the queen dragon and the humming that made her skin vibrate and temples pound.

The Hatching of the little blue was observed on the periphery of her vision, and she dismissed it. Blues didn't Impress girls; she'd just have to make sure not to get slashed in passing. Tira had gotten very good at avoiding the swipes of taloned predators; not for nothing had she scaled mountains and evaded furious hawks to get her eyases. She still bore scars from getting Rage, for the bird's ferocity came directly from the parents. Closing her eyes for a moment, Tira hummed softly, shifting her voice until she found the precise point at which the notes meshed, making her teeth vibrate together in a not-entirely-unpleasant fashion. She opened her eyes again, her hum weaving with the deeper ones of the dragons, harmonizing and united. Tira sang to the Hatchlings...

[Minji]

Minji

With the hatching proceeding with that of a blue hatching first, it was apparent that this was when most of the other candidates started to flood in. Already, her own robes were becoming stiff from being damp and then heated rather quickly from the heat that emitted from the sands of the Hatching cavern. Not that Minji could really complain as the othe candidates were facing the same problems, but she did have to admit that the robe was becoming rather uncomfortable as some parts of it rubbed uncovered parts and irritated it to no end, but it was probably worth the while as Minji's attention went from her uncomfortableness to that of watching the blue, to the eggs rocking, and then back to the blue to analyze its true colors.

Upon evaluting the hide of the blue, Minji seemed to have smiled to herself as she watched it unfurl its wing, giving it away as to its color identity. She had to admit that she was kind of unsettled with the first hatchingling being a black, as she had only heard of there being golds, bronzes, browns, blues and greens. But either way, she wouldn't have minded it there was an odd dragon. It would just makes things all the more interesting. But the blue green color of the blue intrigued her, and the additional of the sapphire highlighting made it even more so elegant upon the blue dragon. Surely he would be a jewel to portray. Not that Minji really wanted to give the dragon and rider an option as to whether or not she sketched them. Reason for it was that she wouldn't be able to cature the colorings as she was only good with her charcoal pencils. Shading with just that was simple, but in all truths, Minji had no sense when it came to shading with colors. She had attempted it once, and it ruined the whole of ther picture. It was of an amusement to her master, but to Minji, she figured it to be a creul joke on her, but that was what she possibly deserved for her one time absence from class..

When Minji was sure of herself of the dragon being a blue, and a very handsome one at it, she turned her baby blue gaze to the rest of the clutch. Some were rocking, others remained still, but that was of no reasons that they were duds. She knew that time would let everyone know when those eggs would start to rock, and later, spill out the lovely dragons that were imprisoned until this very day.


X'veir & Rhosyth

"A blue.."
X'veir muttered to himself, and possibly sending the words through to Rhosyth, as he was still enjoying himself with his deep baritone humming. It wasn't of any worry to the bronzerider as he knew there were no such things as black dragons. Ever. It was just simple as that. Any odd dragons were, or at least to this bronzerider, nonexsistant, and it would take alot of convincing to prove it otherwise to the stubborn man. Sure, Rhosyth would accept that any color was possible, but then he would get somewhat snappy at the fact this his rider was being 'racist' toward dragon kind colors, to which sometimes the bronze found in some amusement as His would say that no, he wasn't.

In any which case, Rhosyth did take note of Suftath's brief greetings toward him, and returned the greetings. He was content, and he was not at all worried about what his rider would think of this Hatching. Shards, he was going to enjoy himself even if the bronze was to embarrass himself and go out with flirting with every female dragons if he had to in order to get X'veir to say that he enjoyed himself. But that was only the bronze's last resort. He does not, at any which given time, enjoy going so far into flirting that would cause him to get hurt. But the gold Ariannalyth, ah, but she was a glorious dragoness that did catch the bronze's gaze for a few moments before he turned to watch the hatching proceed. There was no need to stare at the gold for a long, excessive time when his main focus was supposed to be on the hatching.

[Rose]

Fariel

Fariel's expression was darkened by a pout as she looked into the mirror, running a hand through her fizzy red hair. Her hair was always so unruly in rainy weather, and they had been having a lot of it lately. And she thought that Sanctum was supposed to have good weather!

As she was running a brush through her stubborn tangles, she thought she felt something under her feet, like a vibration. "Hmm?" Confused, she looked down, but there was nothing there. She definitely felt and heard a...hum.

Wait! Hum!?

"HATCHING!" She cried, unnecessarily, for the other candidates were already leaping into action around her. She ran and pulled on her white candidate robe, her heart pounding. Clad in her robe, she darted out into the rain, not even caring that she was going to get soaking wet. The hatchlings wouldn't care, right?

However, she was not expecting to slip on a patch of mud and fall flat on her bum. Not even stopping to check herself over, she pulled herself to her feet and hurried the rest of the way to the sands. Her fall had cost her a few minutes, and she skidded to a stop at the end of the line of candidates just as the little blue hatched. Her robe was soaked, and there was a big spot of mud on the back. She really hoped that the Queen didn't mind.

Lienau

Lienau hurried onto the sands and bowed to the Gold just as the first egg was cracking open. He quickly joined the other candidates, quietly sidling in at the end f of the line.

His gaze was riveted to that single rocking egg, and he was quite oblivious to the fact that he was dripping onto the sands, the little drops making steam as they hit the burning ground. He didn't realize he was holding his breath until he let it out as the Blue hatched. At first, he was surprised at how dark the Blue's hide was, but then he realized that it was just the light--or lack thereof. A storm was not particularly conducive to the perfect lighting for a Hatching.

He twisted a bit of damp robe between his fingers as he waited, his gaze darting between the Blue and the rocking eggs.

[Missa]

Ariannalyth seemed oddly comfortable with the candidates, she hadn't once growled or snapped at any of them. That had to be a good sign... Right? Not that her attention remained on the pale gold for long, instead switching to the eggs the moment one started cracking.

The small spiderwebbing of cracks that fluttered over the shell of the Deceptive Egg was in its self rather interesting, it hadn't broken yet, but from the looks of those cracks, it wasn't from lack of trying. What would be the first to hatch? A strong sturdy bronze? Or maybe a little green? Or... Maybe a brown.. Hm. Gaze drawn away from the Deceptive Egg to the Blurry Egg as it too, began rocking. Now her attention had to be divided between them, equally.

Or maybe not. Once the Blurry egg hit it's sibling, the other practically fell apart. Leaving a- Black? No, there wasn't any black dragons, perhaps a really dark brown or maybe a dark bronze. Or as it tuerned out to be, blue. Not dark though, absolutely gorgeous colouring! Different to what she'd image, okay, so she'd know dragons didn't have uniform shades. Still, she wouldn't have thought the lower ranked colours were that.. well, pretty. The higher rankers, yes, the mettalic sheen gave that little bit extra, plus their colouring.. Yet this little blue was absolutely adorable, sapphire highlights and all.

Letting her gaze linger for a moment linger, Aaria then turned her attention to the Blurry Egg, guessing it would be the next to hatch.

[Minji]

Even for a brat that would never stand as a candidate, this was a really nice chance to watch all the same. Yes, Keanos was with his parents, and he was quite enthralled that they allowed him to come with them to attend such an event at such an early morning and the rain. This was, perhaps one of the most exciting time of his turn, but being the son of the Lord Hold, he was entitled to watch any and all Hatchings that he saw fit, but, only to a degree for the time being since he was still young.

While the Hatching began with the entrance of a very dark, inky blue, to which surprised the young brat as being a 'black' up to the point where it unfurled its wings to reveal the dark blue hide with the highlights of sapphire. The color of the blue hide dazzeled Keanos, as by now he was practically leaning over the ledge of where his parents, as with the Weyrwoman Liyanna, were just to get a better view of the dragons. Since it was only the beginning, as to whether the young brat would miss out on any of the hatching of the dragons, which would probably be slim to nil, he guessed that the hatching would probably last to around the afternoon. Sometimes it was just fun to predict things such as the length of the time, but it was just another way of passing time.

So, with the hatching of a blue, possibly to the dislike of some of the spectators, Keanos watched the Blurry Egg rock more before he turned to face the Weyrwoman, if not just to look back and ask his question.
"Why is it people want a bronze to hatch first? I know it's usually for a sign of the hatching being full of heathy dragons, but why should it matter as to what color hatches first?"
His words weren't exactly what he wanted them to come out as, but surely someone would be willing to answer his question. Whether that be the Weyrwoman herself, even if she might sound irritated by being asked, or his father, it did not matter. All that did was that he wanted a straight out truth as to why people wanted a certain color to always appear, and when it didn't they would automatically guess that the hatching would not be as great as with it starting out with a bronze, if not brown.

[Symphony]

The dark blue dragonet looked around the Sands for a moment. His eyes whirled, examining each and every candidate with an almost meticulous fascination, as if he thought he could gaze right through them. His wings spread, adding emphasis to his otherwise very small form, and then he started forward. The Deceptive Blue did not seem to notice that behind him not one, but two eggs were cracking, the spiderweb patterns of the shells beginning to shatter - one of which was the one that had bumped into his and triggered his hatching. No, he moved forward with very precise, almost calculated movements. Despite possessing undeniable babyfat, he was surprisingly graceful on the sands, though his wings dragged behind him as he moved. He came to a stop in front of one of the boys -- Tenmor -- and then let out what could only be described as a deafening shriek of demand.

T'mine, he said with a voice like liquid ice for lack of a better word, for it certainly lacked in the emotional warmth most dragons possessed. Not that he was cold to his, no, he simply seemed to be as turbulent as the seas his color so resembled, if his tone was anything to judge by. He continued calmly, though his tail lashed the sand behind him, kicking it up into the air for all to see. He was oblivious to the happenings behind him. your Desdenoth has been kept waiting far too long. I'm hungry now!

The Blurry Egg toppled over and fell onto its side, covered in delicate cracks, though it did not break. Instead, the Dusty Egg shattered next, if shatter could be the word. Rather, it seemed to peel away from the dragonet within, who could only be described as... brown. Brown, brown, and more brown, and distinctly not the prettiest shade, either. In fact, he definitely resembled... droppings, for lack of a better word. The little brown made an almost chirp in response to suddenly being out of his shell, his massive wings surrounding him like a cloak, and he ducked his head as though embarrassed at hatching. The hunger he felt was undeniable, but - but - he didn't want to risk drawing attention away from Desdenoth who was still on the Sands. Only when he was sure Desdenoth had chosen his did the brown roll over, awkwardly standing in what could only be described as a wobble. His gaze then swept the crowds.

Behind him, Ariannalyth moved back, away from the clutch slightly. As before, she barely acknowledged the newcomers to the Sands, though her eyes whirled just slightly. There was something inherently fascinating about the hatchlings. While in the egg she had guarded them with zeal, but none were familiar to her or recognized as kin; therefore, she watched with the same sort of interest other dragons might, though she was tempted to nudge the little brown along and get him moving - and she even went so far as to swing her tail around to push him forward. The end result was the Dusty Brown squawking indignantly before falling on his face, with Ariannalyth rumbling her amusement. Silly thing.