Hatching of Clutch 14
It was a hot day already, and the hatching ground made it unbearable. The candidates shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably, waiting for the hatching and Impression. The observers, seated in the bleachers above the Sands, waited eagerly, and not quite as warmly. White Januth, protecting her eggs fiercely, didn't seem to mind the heat. After all the candidates were circled around the Sands, and all the observers had taken their seats, there was a minute or two before the first egg broke. When it did, it was a loud, sudden 'pop!' and out tumbled a small, beautiful green. The green shook her head, as though to clear it, and gazed inquisitively at the candidates surrounding her with outstretched arms, though they did look uncomfortable on the hot sand, and a few were perhaps a bit frightened. The green didn't have much trouble choosing -- dashing over to one red-headed girl, she crooned upwards at her rider. Tyrinna smiled down at her new dragon. "Oh, come on, Scoriath, there's plenty of food for you." As Tyrinna was leading Scoriath from the Sands, another egg hatched, and, to the delight of the crowd (as well as candidates), out came a pair of twin browns! One of the two browns shot forward as fast as his legs could carry him, the moment his eyes fell upon one boy. The other took his time, going from first one candidate to the other. The first brown rubbed his head at his chosen rider's legs like a feline. "Laccolith, you're acting just like Twinkletoes!" Galen said. Laccolith's twin hadn't yet chosen a candidate to Impress. He had looked over each of the two male candidates remaining, and even investigated the girls, but didn't choose. Then, seeing someone in the crowd of observers, he struggled through the hot sand over to the edge of the Grounds, and crooned up at the seats above. One boy, seated just above the dragon hatchling, got up from his seat and ran down to greet the dragonet. Kneeling beside the brown and scratching his eye-ridges, Ryanan said "Chanth, you chose me! Me!" When Laccolith, Chanth, and their new riders had exited the Sands, and the candidates and crowd had settled down a bit more, another egg exploded open. It was practically a storm of egg shards, and the candidates close to the explosion ducked as bit of egg shell flew past them. But when they looked back, they gasped in awe at the tiny golden beauty standing imperiously amid the remains. White Januth looked smug, though there may have been a little jealousy in that expression. The three female candidates arranged themselves in a circle around the little queen, who gazed at each one in turn, turning her head but never moving her body until her multi-faceted eyes, whirling a strange mixture of red and green, fell upon one tall girl, whom she dashed to with a few short steps. The girl fell to her knees, regardless of the scorching sand, and embraced the dragonet. "You're so beautiful, Emmith!" Serah gasped. The other girls standing beside her looked a bit envious, but the quiet 'pop!' of another egg breaking open distracted them, and they all smiled to see a tiny, sweet-looking blue hatchling standing there, his head cocked to one side curiously. The blue knew right away whom he wanted -- dashing over to the male candidates, he pushed against the legs of a young man with two firelizards, one blue and one gold, hovering near his head. Riai grinned, and hugged the little blue dragon. "Don't worry, Dylleth, there's plenty of food!" When the gold and the blue hatchlings had left the Sands, there were still three eggs and three candidates left. Each of them felt quite certain that they would Impress. One of the eggs suddenly broke apart, revealing a minitaure version of white Januth, who looked quite pleased with her daughter. As the the little hatchling turned her eyes slowly from each of the two female candidates to the next, two green flits soared down at her from their position near one girl's head, and began nudging her with their emerald wings towards their mistress. The hatchling cast one piteous glance at her mother, who smiled a draconic smile, and then the dragonet rushed forward to meet her new rider, Jennavar. The flits returned to their hovering position, and Jennavar hugged the little white with tears in her eyes. "Maybe Double and Trouble are some use after all, huh, Annaleth?" she smiled. When Annaleth and Jennavar (together with Double and Trouble) had left the Sands, the two remaining candidates discreetly crossed their fingers behind their backs. And for one, it seemed to work, as the next egg broke open over a strong, handsome bronze, who immediently strutted imperiously to the last male candidate. Terran smiled as he scratched the bronze's eye-ridges. "Benioth, you're hungry? There's lots of food, don't worry -- I'll take you, come on!" T'ran followed after the bronze as Benioth dashed for the exit -- and the distinct scent of meat. Vara watched them leave enviously. She had seen seven riders leave, now, and all of them had seemed so happy.... Vara was so caught up in her musing that she didn't even realize the shattering of the final egg, and the green hatchling who was now at her side, crooning piteously. When she did notice, Vara knelt on the Sand beside the green, apologizing profusely. "Oh, I'm so sorry Xianth -- please forgive me! Of course I want you!" The eggs had all broken -- the dragonets all Impressed -- and all the candidates (and more) had Impressed well. As Vara and Xianth left together, the crowd of observers began to leave as well, heading like hungry hatchlings to where the Impression feast was about to begin. Januth, still on the Sands, smiled upward at her rider Calate, who smiled back and said "And their lives as dragonriders begin...." Calate, rider of white Januth
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