A Moment In Time (Pelegaoth's Clutch Hatches)

[Invisible]

It wasn’t the color that Konamar noticed about each dragonet that hatched. The color was of no matter to him at this point. No, what mattered is when each one found someone else. What drew his often baleful eye was each lad picked over him. A green and then a brown and at least it was not in an instant with that blue. Within his head he ticked off each that impressed, mentally subtracting them from his chances. The number would dwindle, it always did. Always he lingered almost mournfully until there were no more numbers in his head. No more numbers and no more chances.

He wished there had been more time. More time to seek out the comfort of the grapes that were what would get him through the numbers as they went down. It wasn’t right. These…kids had plenty more chances. They were children, babies even, and why were they given a chance to steal what should be his? Now he looked at the candidates around him with poorly concealed scorn. Some of them were too dumb to even know how to handle the heat. One young boy hopped up and down scattering the hot sand and sending it under his own sandals. Konamar stepped a few feet farther from that one.






The golden egg had not moved, showed no signs of wanting to be the first to arrive. Like a Lady Holder she seemed to be planning a fashionably late entrance. That was fine with Genet because even with the unbearable heat it was too exciting being down here watching. It would be more exciting were the queen to hatch. And even more so if she were picked. But where was G’tet?

Her search for her twin was interrupted by Keldara’s words and she focused on the other candidate with a smile. “I can’t see him, but that doesn’t mean much. I swear enough sweat has dripped into my eyes already to wash them away!” When the other girls had all gathered around she gave them a smile too. Nearly all the traces of competitiveness had been swept away in the excitement and it was hard to feel anything but a companionable sympathy for the others. All of them were locked in the heat and the sand until one creature set them free. She felt almost sisterly towards them. Well, all but Vera and a few of her friends. Her usual exuberance was somewhat dampened by the heat but she still cheered and clapped loudly each time one of the other eggs hatched and the little dragon found his lifemate. “It’s all so exciting!”

[dragon]

Torad could be heard a short distance in the hallways cursing himself for not making it earlier as he continued to straighten out his robes as he dashed down the hallways to the sands. On occassion he would have to avoid colliding into someone, performing feats of agility. On such occassions he would yell out an apology but not break the pace, he had to make it there as quickly as possible. He couldn't allow himself to be a moment later than he already was. Finally where he needed to be, Torad stumbled to a slower pace as he made his way on the sands near the male candidates, falling in line and looking as casual as possible for someone so late.

Curses. Well I suppose this isn't the first time I ran a tad late. Still, this is even later than last time.

Torad had just caught a glimpse of the brown impressing one of the boys and cheered for him. He noticed there was still a blue and some of the eggs hadn't hatched yet. If nothing else, he must have just caught the beginning of it. This eased his mind slightly, giving a slight mental sigh.

As his mind eased, he began wondering if he would actually impress this time. If he did impress, what color dragon would he get? He began exploring and imagining the different possibilities of each color, but really he wouldn't mind any. His mind then carried over to the type of dragonrider he would become. He felt he could fill any role called upon him, so once again he wasn't favoring any position. Though he heard his parents were dragonriders and he always dreamed of being a dragonrider that would make them proud. He knew the chances of seeing them or even knowing who they are were slim to none, but he still had that desire to become something they could be proud of, it was the natural instinct of any child, young or old.

Torad shook his head so as not to get lost in thought. He would keep focused on the situation already present, rather than a dream that so far didn't exist.

[Tabula Rasa]

Things began to happen a little more quickly as other eggs began to rock with more energy. The long, dark queen watched as her progeny scattered about the sands, seeking and finding. Her head swiveled, now and agan, towards the gold egg that kept patient and still, but she seemed unperturbed by the lack of activity. On the other hand, a few people in the stands were beginning to murmur and gesture. Shouldn't it be rocking, at least? Shouldn't it be doing something?

The anxious thread of thought paused as, with a loud crack, one of the larger eggs split down the middle and the first bronze of the clutch squirmed free. There were cheers and rumbles of approval from humans and dragons alike. Large and bright, even beneath the fluids that coated his hide, he already moved with the surety attributed to his color. Other hatchlings creel, but this fellow let out a brassy bugle. A call and a demand at once.

The cry seemed to inspire a small egg that had been struggling to finally give up its grasp on a tiny, slender-winged blue. He flung his sails out, sprinkling the sands and nearby eggs with a fine shower of goo, then traipsed out across the sands. Soon T'lev was chosen of blue Arsenth and the pair were headed for a tasty bowl of meat.

The second, darker blue on the sands continued his frenzied hunt until he came to the feet of a boy with vibrant red hair that looked, perhaps, a bit uncomfortable in the plain white robe of a candidate. The dragonet halted, and even his stillness seemed to crackle with unbound energy as stared up at Ezieki. You! came the jubilant cry like a bolt out of the blue, sharp and crackling with excitement. You're the one, Ez'ki. I'm so hungry, we must eat. But quickly, quickly, there's so much to do! The dark little blue surged forward and then halted, wings flaring wide and revealing wingsails of brilliant white, violet and blue. He turned back towards his rider to add, equal parts apology and jubilation My name is Xyruth. Oh, please hurry!

[Selvagem]

C'cao
The greenrider frowned as his pale eyes of blue swept the crowd of girls again and again, and still failed to catch the one he was looking for. How could she not be amongst them? He had convinced her to come for this himself. He started to stand, sat down again as someone behind him booed at having his vision blocked by the rising greenrider, and frowned deeply.

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

Horatio, Jhorna and Thordis
Horatio felt like he would burst as the little blue flittered past him, and when it had gone he felt like he would cry. He had not been chosen. Well, not by that one at least, though at the rate the eggs were hatching anything could still happen. He stared as a bronze broke shell and...bugled. The sound was crisp and clear and strangely...stirring. Horatio felt his heart wrench again at the sight, and struggled to close his mind against the raw hope rising in him. Torn between desires, he did not know what to do. He stepped back, trying to create space to think away from the commotion of Hatching eggs, and abruptly bumped into someone behind him.

That someone just happened to be Konamar.

Left where he was, Jhorna was beginning to really stamp his feet, trying to undo the nerves tingling through his arms and legs even as he sought reprieve from the burning Sands. Muttering his awe at the bronze, he completely missed the Impression of Ezieki to Xyruth, and stood still long enough for the Sands to bake his toes. With a muffled yelp, he jumped back, and muttered nervously to Sunyu, standing beside him.

"You wonder why there arn't any burns on the robes," he said, trying to grin despite the sweat coming down his cheek, "The heat these Sands are at, it's amazing there're only claw and tooth marks on these clothes."

Thordis, for his part, was having it bad with his twin layers of clothes. Sweat was just about pouring down his forehead and neck even as it trickled down the faces of others, and he kept wiping his eyes to see better. The bronze caught his eye even as a murmer of appreciation rumbled through the crowd on the Stands. For a moment, all discomfort was forgotten as the boy gazed, awestruck. He had seen such dragonets before, but never so close, and he could not resist. With careful, gentle steps, he inched his way to the edge of the lines for a closer look, all the while wary that another dragonet might hatch suddenly and go on a rampage.

[flamewolf]

Keldara
Kel turned to Genet with a smile. "It's a lot hotter than the first time," she agreed as she shifted uncomfortably. "Did the sands get hotter just to annoy us?" she asked in slight amusement. Her gaze drifted out to see the first bronze hatch. The bugle he sent out made her smile slightly, but her gaze was quickly pulled away by another blue hatching, and impressing, and then the first blue finally choosing his bonded. Good for them both! One green, two blues, one brown and a bronze. Her gaze slid over to the Queen egg, unrocking, unmoving. She smiled; the little queen was making everyone else worry. Even now she had their almost full attention, even when she wasn't doing anything. That was some power.

But it was only because of rank. She sighed silently before glancing sideways to the other candidate. "Exciting, I think, is an understatement," she responded with a laugh. "Everyone's uptight and energetic because of it. If I was watching in the sands, I wouldn't be able to sit still." She paused. "Actually, if I was in the sands, I would be sorry for the other candidates. It's so hot!" She chuckled before her gaze drifted out to the clutch. Not a huge clutch, but still, it held many mysteries and futures.

Sunyu
Sunyu's gaze was following the undecided blue, and missed the bronze's hatching. Until he bugled, anyways. He was more worried that a dragonet might not find his rider and wink between than the ranks of dragons that hatched; he'd heard that a dragon hatchling would do that if their rider wasn't present. But that bronze's bugle made him shift his gaze over to him in surprise. Already he knew his rank and that throaty voice seemed to dictate it. He had to give the hatchling props for that; but his gaze turned back as the two blues (he missed the other blue's hatching) impressed. He smiled. Good. For a moment there, he'd been getting worried.

Then Sun turned to Jhorna as he spoke. The joke made him chuckle in amusement. "I think the shoes would be worse off," he responded brightly, shifting on his feet. "But it is a wonder that these clothes haven't darkened. They're too...white." He'd been doing a good job at ignoring the heat but now it came back to him full-blast. Oh well. The sooner the hatching was over, and the dragonets all impressed, they could leave the heat behind. Even if he didn't impress, that was something to look forward to. His gaze flickered over to Keldara. If she didn't impress...He didn't know what he'd do if he did.

[neopanther]

Ezieki

Momentary distraction occured, his find forced onto the hatching of a bronze, who called for the attention of all. Ezieki smirked, broadening to a smile, the clutch was healthy and wealthy with its yeild.

A small blue imprerssed, Ezieki nodded to the new wrider, approval given, the boy was a fair amount younger than he - but there were relative few on the sands that were to his age or older.

You! The words were loud, they rung throughout his mind, giving Ezieki the complete inability to concentrate on anything else. Though the enxt statement was slightly less invasive, You're the one, Ez'ki. I'm so hungry, we must eat. But quickly, quickly, there's so much to do! He halted for a moment, he looked down to his feet, the blue was dark, colour of the twilight, but just as Ez'ki caught sight of the creature, he had darted from him - only to halt a small amount away - Wingss flaring, streaks of white, violet and variious blues all gleaming like beams from the joint at the top of his wings, a rather vast array of intense colours to show. He stood in awe for a moment, curious as to what the dragon would reveal to him next, one thing was for certain, this hyperactive dragonet, was far from your stereotypical blue...

My name is Xyruth. Oh, please hurry! Xyruth? It fit the dragon perfectly, short, quite snappy, yet harsh and full of energy.

"Fine, I'll see what I can do Xyruth." Unaccustomed to being forced to do anything, or urged even, Ez'ki had to bring himself to a jog to keep pace with the haphazard blue.

Come on mine, my clutch siblings hatch faster than you move. Ez'ki smirked, as he picked up his pace a notch, the pair jogging towards the food for his dragon, he rubbed a hand briskly over his face, amusement evident on his fefatures. There'd be no living like he had now, not bonded unto this great, endless, vibrant pool of pure energy.

Ez'ki reached the table wheres the others stood, he took a bowl of deeply red meat, seeking a vaguely open position by the wall, he crouched before his hatchling, "Come now, you were so eager to eat, do not let the other rhaatchlings distract you already Xyruth." Ez'ki smiled, his blue coming sniffing over to him, Ez''ki extended his hand, proffering the meat to Xyruth, who launched himself at it, snatching it from the male's hands.
I hope that crunch part wasn't your finger... His tone was somewhere between sheepishness and humour, so much Ez'ki laughed lightly, smile obvious upon his features.

[Invisible]

Barely holding back the urge to shove at the other candidate unfortunate enough to run into him Konamar turned a glare hotter than the sands onto Horatio. “Watch yourself,” he growled softly to the kid. “Try to pay attention or you’re likely to wind up missing a foot.” With a taunting sneer Konamar stepped away from the kid. Useless thing.

Brushing sweat off his cheek he looked around to see if he had missed anything. The sight of Ezieki leading off a blue made his glare even more fierce. Him? He had been good enough. That hardly seemed right. The kid was a loser. A waste of space. Whomever had searched him should never be allowed to go out on search again. One more down and that left too few. There were not enough eggs to assure him his chance. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right.





Genet looked out at the stands again, craning her neck as if that would help her. “I don’t understand why I can’t see him. Why wouldn’t he be here?” Hands writing together she turns back to Keldara and manages a distracted sort of nod. “Right. I don’t know. I’m sorry? Oh! The heat, right. I think it just feels hotter because we’re more nervous? Well, I am nervous.” Hazel eyes turned towards the egg that had not yet moved. “I hope this is over soon. Come on, egg. Hatch already.” The egg that was her reason for being out here sweating like a roasting porcine was only getting part of her attention. So as not to be rude she continued to watch Keldara and the other girls in case they spoke. But mostly she couldn’t help but try to find G’tet in the stands. None of her other family would have come and she didn’t understand why he wasn’t obvious to her. What if she impressed and no one saw? Well, no one in her family. It wouldn’t be nearly as exciting.

[dragon]

Torad watched as the blue and bronze hatched. Torad gave a smirk as the bronze bugled, it seemed so sure and confident of itself, announcing itself with an air of importance it seemed. Standing near the two male candidates, his attention on the dragonets broken as he quirked an eyebrow. Apparently one had bumped into the other, but the reaction given seemed to be a bit too extreme. Maybe it was the heat. Who knew? Torad decided to pay it no more mind, quickly switching his mind to the candidates that just impressed. He cheered for Ezieki and the blue he impressed. But he began to wonder if he'd ever impress. Sure there were still eggs left, but so had there been last time and he left the sands unimpressed, though still proud of the candidates who did. He quickly snapped out of that line of thought and decided he would think positively this time. Thinking on what ifs and past experiences weren't going to improve his chances anyway.

Torad tried to remain a positive thinker, as usual, but the sands were hot and the robes really weren't making it any more tolerable. If nothing else, one way or another he'd have the pleasure of leaving the sands and getting out of these robes and actually cool down. Beads of sweat began slithering down his cheeks and forehead as he continued to stand. Each moment seemed more intolerable than the last. Torad blinked as a drop of sweat made it's way to his eye and he wiped his face with his sleeve. Now his eye was stinging a bit and he cursing himself for not noticing sooner and wiping it away. After awhile, the stinging started to subside, though Torad was still sweating. Really, did he have to be in such a rush and slip his robes over what he now considered the hottest, heaviest set of clothes he had? Well there wasn't much he could do about that now, he knew his best bet was to take his mind off it and focus on the hatching that was taking place. The less he thought about it, the better. Torad turned his attention towards the eggs that had yet to hatch, wondering what colors they would hold.

[hockey]

Jun, it will barely have started by the time we get there, do not worry. Bishuth tried to cheer his rider as the man hastily toweled his hair and searched for a pair of trousers that looked nice enough for a hatching. Shard it all, Bis, why didn't you tell me right away? A'jun let his happy mask fall as he stomped around in the privacy of his own weyr. You were all soapy, and there was time. Do you know if she even went? I'm sure she did. She wants to very much. But that won't stop her from punishing herself for something that wasn't her fault! Bishuth rumbled, aware that what his rider said was absolutely true. Still, I am sure she is there.

A'jun grumbled and threw a vibrant red shirt over his head. Stepping quickly into his boots and not even bothering to lace them, he climbed quickly up onto the Blue's back. Let's go. And if she isn't there, I'll find her and drop her onto the sands myself, never mind what Pelegaoth will do to us. Then let us hope she is there. There was a hint of amusement in his voice that was only enhanced by his playful leap off the ledge. A'jun laughed and gave his dragon a familiar pat on the neck when they glided down into the 'bowl in front of the hatching cavern, a little late, but at least they were there. Get all of that silliness out before the new weyrlings see you pulling stunts like that.

Bishuth only nudged him playfully before taking off to join the other dragons on the ledges above the sands. A'jun smiled after the dragon, memories of the day his soulmate had found him on the sands of Fort nearly a decade before. He dashed up to the stands, taking his seat with the other spectators. His eyes searched the girls for Kersha, quickly finding her. She stood closer to the Gold egg than to the other girls, and unlike some of the others, she made no effort to ease her own nervousness or those of the others by attempting to make conversation. That was probably best, as she probably wouldn't be the best conversation partner, though he did hope she would make an effort to be polite in front of the Queen.

-------

Kersha glanced up as a familiar dark Blue joined the other dragons above the sands. That meant his meddling rider was here. She hoped he was happy. She was standing there in a robe that didn't fit quite right, trying to ignore the burning of the sand beneath her feet, and she would probably have to speak to one of these girls if the Queen didn't hatch soon. Actually, it might help to talk, much as she didn't want to. At the very least, it would take her mind off of the doubt that was gnawing at the back of her mind, growing stronger the longer she stood there before the egg.

She almost managed a smile at one of the other girls. Almost. She had wondered that herself, whether the heat of the sands had increased for their benefit (detriment, more like). It had never felt this hot from the stands, or any other time she had been in this particular cavern. Her eyes searched the stands, taking longer than she'd like finding A'jun. The edge of her mouth twitched up just the slightest bit when another girl (why didn't she know any of them?) gave voice to the nerves they were all feeling acutely at this point. Ah, there was that obscenely happy Bluerider. In his lateness, A'jun had been stuck in a rather high place near the back of the benches. It certainly wouldn't have the best view, but at least he was there. It was oddly comforting to see him, especially when he gave her a little wave. She didn't wave back, but she gave him a quick, small smile that she hoped he saw. If not, he was going to bother her terribly afterward about being so gloomy. Not that he wouldn't anyway, but at least it might be less if he saw her smile once or twice.

[Tabula Rasa]

The next egg to crack didn't garner much of the onlookers' attention. A brown, plain and simply colored, that pushed free from his shell with little flair and set about the business of finding his rider with quiet determination. His seeking was overshadowed by the sounds of more eggs cracking and by the handsome bronze that growled and bellowed as he carried on his own search.

Meanwhile, another egg hatched. A sleek dark green went practically flying from the remains of her shell, making a beeline for the gather of white-robed boys. Several leapt backward or jerked to the side, bolting and twisting out of the way of fast-moving talons and the threat of injury at the paws of an overenthusiastic hatchling. But one stepped forward. "Anquilith," beamed H'fador, and moments later escorted his lady toward her first meal.

The blustery bronze followed suit, and with a roar (or what would, one day become a roar) he barreled towards his own selection. Larger and more awkward than the green, he didn't manage to halt before Jansen so much as barrel into him, one sharp-taloned claw sinking into the young man's leg (his good one) in his elated fervor. There you are. The hatchling's thoughts were just as loud and booming as his noises. Why didn't you come when I called? Well, it doesn't matter now, J'sen. I am Leeth and my stomach aches. Easing away from his lifemate he noticed, for the first time, the damaged he caused. You're hurt! How did you hurt yourself? You've got to be more careful, we're too important to be wounded.

[ignisfatuus]

Hatching seem to have an odd affect on time. On the one hand, the time seem to crawl by. As far as Jansen was aware an eon had passed between each dragon hatching. And yet... and yet it was gone in a flash. Before he was ever aware, the dragons had impressed and were gone. It was all mildly surreal. Jansen stood there a watched feeling entirely detached from it all.

A green hatched, a green impressed. A blue hatched, a blue impressed. On it went.

None of this held any meaning for Jansen. He did not know the people who impressed. He did not know much about the dragons either. The Weyr was an alien place to the Caminar boy and as far as he was aware, he almost certainly would not dwell in it for long. The chances of him impressing were slim. Everyone thought so. He hadn't even acknowledged that the golden egg had yet to move and that this may be a problem.

Jansen had even forgotten his discomfort. A part of him had realised that the hatchlings drew far more attention than the likes of he. Worry about being stuck here had dissipated already. All there currently was was the sweltering heat and hoping that he would no be injured. Especially his legs. One almost completely healed leg was bad enough. Let's just hope it all goes smoothly...

It was thus that Jansen only dimly aware of the bronze that was creating such a furore and that he was headed in his direction. That was, until an intense, sharp pain pieced his good leg. Jansen could not stem the cry of surprise that issued from his mouth as he toppled, his other leg not quite strong enough to support him completely on it's own.

But there was something else that permeated his consciousness. Permeate is not quite the right word for it. No, it was more akin to breaking down a door with a mallet and storming in full plate armour. There you are.

It was those three words that stole all of Jansen's attention from the leg he was clutching in a feeble attempt to stop the bleeding, and from the intense heat of the sands on his lower legs as he knelt there before the bronze. Dark eyes, wide with surprise gazed into rapidly swirling ones

Why didn't you come when I called? Well, it doesn't matter now, J'sen. I am Leeth and my stomach aches.

'Leeth' Jansen's voice was slightly quieter than it normally would have been as he watched the bronzen dragon move back a little. You're hurt! How did you hurt yourself? You've got to be more careful, we're too important to be wounded.

'I had but a slight accident, don't worry Leeth, I'm fine.' Jansen said as he stood up, legs protesting once again. Pain seared up his leg from the fresh wound as blood dripped down his leg and onto the sand below, sand which hungrily absorbed it. Much like the white robes around the newly formed tear. None of this mattered to Jansen, or rather J'sen as he was now know. The fact that he would not be returning to the Caminar had yet to cross his mind. So much was he caught up in Leeth and his needs.

If you are fine then hurry! My stomach, it aches. Leeth said in a demanding tone, as he started to walk in the direction that he could see his siblings eating. Jansen hobbled along side the dragon, leaving a small splatter trail behind as he went.

'Slow down, slow down.' J'sen rested his hand on the fine bronze's head, physically forcing Leeth to slow just a little. 'I can not move quite as fast as you at present. It will only keep you from food for a moment more.’

A whole moment! The abject horror in Leeths voice couldn’t do anything but bring a smile to Jansen’s lips as he brought him to the table. Using the wall and the table for a little support, J’sen set about feeding his beloved new partner, making damn sure to keep his fingers clear from harms way. He would have time to think on this all later, about all the changes and challenges that his impressing this magnificent Bronze was sure to bring his way. J’sen would be ready for them. J’sen and Leeth. The two of them would make a glorious team, a formidable team.

[anhydrous]

I’dalyn stood stoically at the edge of the sands, the excitement of the event lost to the staggering amount of work that it would bring forth. He watched intently as his recently impressed charges stumbled towards him, their slimy voracious hatchlings in tow. He waved them off into the feeding cavern with a small smile, reminding each of the various things he had tried to drill into their minds before the hatching had begun. Half of them wouldn’t remember a thing he had said, but that was why he had sent a handful of experienced riders into the cavern to help with their first meal. Honestly I’dalyn knew that he should be in there too, but he would rather Daisulyth not make a fuss any sooner than he had to.

Speaking of the brown, he wasn’t far off, watching complacently from a few hundred feet above his rider’s head. Each new hatchling received a thrum of approval, his voice melding with the various other dragon-sounds that were reverberating off of the hatching cavern’s walls. He seemed entertained enough by the awkward nervousness of the candidates, trying to ease I’dalyn’s restless mind with a steady stream of comments on their priceless expressions.

His rider was not nearly as amused as he was, and the brown queried him with a note of genuine uncertainty. Were you nervous at my hatching? Surely you didn’t fret like your silly little children do today. The question slowly drifted downward, slipping into I’dalyn’s consciousness and resting there softly like a feather. Of course I was nervous, he replied with exasperation as he shooed another weyrling pair towards the feeding cavern. The candidates aren’t like hatchlings, love. A baby dragon breaks shell knowing that their rider is waiting for them on the sands. A candidate hasn’t the slightest clue what the hatching is going to bring. I’dalyn knew that all too well. He had stood a good few times before he had impressed to Daisulyth.

Watching as an eager bronze consecutively wounded and then impressed to one of the Caminar boys, the weyrlingmaster revised his reply. Hell, some of them even get killed out on the sands. Candidates have a right to be nervous. Daisulyth listened dubiously, crossing his forelimbs and resting his head over the top of them. He didn’t offer a reply to his rider’s explanation, and so I’dalyn turned his thoughts back towards the clutch. There were still quite a few eggs left to hatch, and the queen egg had yet to show signs of breaking shell any time soon. Leaning his back against the stone wall of the cavern, I’dalyn donned his best genial smile and continued to herd weyrlings in the right direction.

[Selvagem]

C'cao
C'cao watched the bronze barrel across the sands and into the lone Caminar boy amongst the candidates, before stopping and bend to greet him in what was clearly an Impression. The crowd was cheering, but even the knowledge that he had won another of his three bets could not stem the greenrider's bad mood. Selvagem was not here. After all he had gone through and hoped for, she was not Standing, for some reason he could not fathom. Perhaps J'fel or some other rider had warned her off, not wanting a Caminar to get a chance at being Weyrwoman. Perhaps another candidate had done something to her, ruined her hopes or simply driven her out.

The speculations began to rile his cool temperament, and the heat of both the Sands and the bustling crowd did not help his mood. The events of the Hatching held no interest for him any longer: he had seen the same thing many times, and Jansen’s Impression had just reminded him, once more, of the constant danger the candidates were in. He did not feel like watching a mauling, which was only too likely to occur. The greenrider stood up and began to walk, pushing a way through the throngs towards the aisles of the Stands and then the exit. He felt a questioning pulse at the edge of his mind, almost if he were asking himself why he were leaving. Reaching out to embrace Opheriath’s confusion, he drew to mind little strains of music, a lullaby, and sent them through to her, then impressed into her mind the images of another boy, and the color he was Impressing to.

Tia, if you see this happening, tell me.

Having instructed his dragon to watch for the last of his bets, he made more haste through the crowd, anger clouding his thoughts. And thus occupied, he failed to see the latecomer sitting near the edge of the Stands. His legs, moving quickly, connected solidly with A’jun’s feet as he tripped over the man and fell in a surprised, sprawling heap beside him.

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

Horatio, Jhorna and Thordis
Horatio had been about to apologize to the candidate he had bumped when the man’s words caught him up short. He blinked at Konamar, taken aback by the other’s tone and sneer. Perhaps it was the heat, or the electric feel of the crowds’ applause at each Impression, or the struggle still raging within him – whatever it was, Horatio felt temper flare within him, and his lips knit into a sneer to match Konamar’s even as he whispered through clenched teeth.

“At least I know not to keep banging my head on the wall.”

His voice was soft, meant to be audible only for its target. The words were cryptic, but Horatio’s tone was so sharp, so caustic, that there was little doubt what he meant. Backing off slowly, his eyes still on the bigger boy, he was abruptly bowled over by another boy who was dodging the green rushing to find her rider. He rolled and got back onto one knee, taking the moment to assess where everything was.

Jhorna, in the meanwhile, chuckled at Sunyu’s reply, nodding as he jumped once on the spot in the continual struggle to keep his feet relatively cool, “Good thing I didn’t wear my best shoes today. Aye, you’re right about these robes – makes you wonder how many times they’ve been baked, but maybe they just get whiter with each baking…”

The bronze chose that moment to make his rush to find his lifemate, and Jhorna with a scalded yelp jumped sideways to avoid its charge. Though jumping sideways meant, of course, that he tripped and fell into Sunyu. Again. The curly-haired boy was quick to roll away and stumble back onto his feet shakily, mumbling sheepishly as he struggled to get the burning grains of sand dusted off himself.

“Sorry, em, Sunyu, I had to avoid that bronze. I’m sorry that seems to keep happening when you’re with me,” he was embarrassed, “It only seems to happen on the Sands though…”

Thordis, having moved to the edge of the candidates for a good look at the bronze, was alert and wary enough to skittle back to avoid the green. He circled away warily, and then turned to see the bronze find his own rider. Feeling thankful that he hadn’t been in the way of that one, he glanced around quickly and realized that he was alone in the midst of the Sands. The rush to avoid the dragonets had somehow pushed him further out – and nearer to the eggs. With a catch of breath, he began to scramble back towards the rest of the now very much disorganized candidate rows.

[Invisible]

If it had been a different place or a different time than Konamar might not have been able to control himself. It would have been too easy for the older candidate to take a swing at the younger one. How dare he say something like that? The heat of Konamar’s glare only intensified towards Horatio, but for now he let the boy go. For now he was safe, but later…Later there would be plenty of time for revenge. If the kid thought it was over he was sadly mistaken. Paybacks would be coming.

Thoughts of revenge were set aside as he noticed the bronze impressing. To that stupid Caminar boy at that. He shouldn’t even have been allowed on the sands. He wasn’t even fully healed. It was a disgrace and it was totally unfair. Not that it changed a thing. Konamar was still out here and more and more boys were leaving the sands. It wasn’t right. He turned hungry eyes on the remaining eggs and on the hatched dragonets of any color who were prowling the sands seeking their lifemates.

[Tabula Rasa]

The next egg to crack released a little green that stepped free with dainty precision for one so young. Her dark hide was rich and deep and dragging wing showed flashes of an intricate and delicate pattern. Shaking each foot free of slime and egg shards, he raised her head and hurried towards the cluster of boys, though just which one she'd pick wasn't yet clear.

In its sandy confines, the gold egg shuddered just once before going still again. From the sidelines, the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader stood, watching the proceedings. J'fel was frowning, just the smallest bit, but Aderes settled a hand gently on his arm and offered him a soothing smile. She, like Pelegaoth, seemed unconcerned.

Another green, tiny and bright, popped free of her shell in a sudden burst of shards, streaked wings a blur as she flew straight for her new rider. The boy, a pale-haired, freckled little child of a man, just stood his ground with arms outstretched as to a long-lost lover. "Oh, of course you are, I know, I know," squeaked Kl'enet, as the new greenrider would soon be known all over the Weyr. "Let's go eat right now."

The quiet little brown was nearly forgotten amid the stirrings of the gold egg and the hatching of his brighter and more demanding siblings. But, he seemed unperturbed by this and continued to circle slowly around the curve of boys until he came to a candidate who, really, could hardly be called a boy any longer. The moment of impression was subtle. No tilting perspective, no sudden blaze of color and sound. Just the faint murmur of laughter somewhere in the distance and the question, Who are we angry at, K'mar? The plain brown dragonet twitched his tail and canted his head to the side. I am Volsteath and I'll help you... something calculating and deliberate crept into those gleaming, whirling eyes, ...if you would only feed me, first.