Hatching of Clutch 7
Gold Velath rested comfortably on the hot sands while her young rider, Mechelle wiped the sweat from her forehead. "What was fine for dragons sure exeeded the comfort zone for humans," Mechelle thought. Ignoring her rider's grumbling, Velath told her, "Damanth and D'lan are here." Looking up, Mechelle saw them circling to land. Once on the ground, Damanth took his place next to the queen while D'lan joined Mechelle. They didn't have much time to talk before the candidates were led in. The eggs themselves were beginning to rock and the hatching was imminent. A loud pop got everyone's attention, and there in the middle of the eggs stood one bronze hatchling. He had broken his shell strait down the middle and each half rocked gently on either side of him. Aware that all eyes were on him, the little bronze (who was actually a rather large hatchling) made a show of himself. Standing tall, and puffing out his chest, he slowly strutted forward on new legs, testing the minds of the candidates before him. When he stopped in front of his chosen lifemate, the boy couldn't believe his luck. Grinning from ear to ear, Dashen said, "Oh, quit showing off, Esnath," as he embraced him. Once the first impression had been made, the candidates (and spectators) turned their attention back to the eggs. Before them stood four more hatchlings just out of the egg. There were two browns, a blue, and a green. Since they all went in separate directions, it was difficult to follow. The first to choose was one of the browns. Even before he reached his rider, the tall young man was striding towards him. Shaking his head in amazement, Miton called to the brown, "Prasoth, I know just the thing to cure that hunger." Disappointed that the brown chose another, Regin watched the pair exit the hatching grounds. Just before he turned back to face the eggs, he felt something push against his back. Stumbling to his knees in the soft sand, he realized there was a dragon behind him. A smile filled his face as he knew he had just Impressed a dragon. "That would be Ashinth," Regin announced as he turned to face an eager brown hatchling. The blue dragon by then had wandered to the end of the line of candidates where a lonely boy was staring into the sands. Calling to him, the dragon closed the final distance between them. With a sigh of relief, Davinic only uttered one word, "Zenoth!" The girls all looked hopeful as the green came towards them. Some even held out a hand to her. Others just watched. They all knew when she made her choice because Zanady's eyes lit up. "Talath, you are absolutely the most beautiful dragon on all Pern!" she said. The excitement paused a moment before two more eggs hatched. This time, two more bronzes scanned eager faces. By this time, the candidates were all scattered around the sands. The bronzes both seem to choose the younger boys and head off towards them. Rayton and Befali thought they were coming for them at first, but then realized the hatchlings meant to pass them. Respectfully, they stepped out of the way. Onward, tiny feet carried the bronzes towards Maleor and Jyfin. This time, as they were about to step aside, the boys realized the dragons had chosen them. Laughing together, they introduced their new friends to one another. "This is Urionth," Maleor says to Jyfin. "And this one is Lacornth," Jyfin proudly replied. As soon as the bronzes had made their choices, three more eggs hatched together revealing a blue, a green, and a stocky brown. The blue made no hesitation as he almost flew to his new rider he went so fast. "Whoa, slow down there, Dileth, you almost knocked me over," Jaysen lovingly chided. Again, the girls grew tense as the green approached them. One girl couldn't stand the suspense and ran forward towards the little hatchling. Only a few feet away from the green, she skided to a stop. The green first gave her a sidewards glance as she looked past her to the others. Then, she made up her mind. Closing the short distance, the green fell into the girls embrace. "Oh, Lorith! I'm so glad you chose me!" Dayra exclaimed. The stocky brown hatchling moved slower than his brother and sister, but was very definite in his motions. Leaving the egg pile, he walked just over half the distance to the remaining four male candidates before he stopped. Quickly they aranged themselves before him and absently inched forward little by little. Then, one of them stepped forward to greet the brown. "Femoth, I knew you would make me come to you," an amused Befali teased him. The next movement on the sands attracted all eyes. It was the largest egg, thought to contain a queen. The five girls quickly gathered in a loose semi-circle so that if it was a gold, she would be able to see them all. First a head popped out the top, then a leg broke free. Finally, there before them was a miniature replica of Gold Velath. The tiny hatchling cocked her head to one side as she looked closely at each candidate. Without hesitating, she walked strait into the arms of one of them. Embracing the tiny queen for a moment, the girl then steped back to look at her. It seemed that the two were conversing. Anxious to know the new queen's name, Ranah asked the lucky young woman. "She calls herself Sassith," Arrilynn was barely able to say because she was so full of emotion. Following the queen's impression, three more eggs burst open to reveal a blue and two more greens. All three turned towards the girls, much to everyone's astonishment. Thinking she was helping the situation, Ranah walked towards the blue, "the boys are over there," she said pointing to her left. "You are probably looking for one of them," she added when the blue stopped and looked at her a bit confused. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Ranah looked back to see Kylar who told her, "I think he is looking for you." Surprized, Ranah asked the hatchling, "you want me?" Eagerly, he ran the rest of the distance to her. "I'm so sorry, Timaleth, of course I want you, I just didn't expect you, that's all," Ranah explained to the blue. As Ranah led Timaleth from the sands, Kylar found herself between two green dragons in front of her, and two hopeful girls behind her. As the greens came closer, she furvently hoped one would pick her. Not daring to watch, Kylar closed her eyes and clenched her hands tight at her sides. After a few seconds, she peeked with one eye and saw one of the greens staring back at her. Opening her eyes wide, she knelt to greet her dragon. "I was afraid you would pass me, Wilmseth!" she said, laughing. To Liora and Mayania, the sight of only one green approaching them both was hard as well. Nervously, they glanced at each other with looks of apology mingled with hope. Neither seem to want to hurt the other girl's feelings if she impressed, but both wanted the green to pick her. Luckily, this green was decisive. Marching up to Liora, she bent her short neck back to look at her new rider. Relieved that her waiting was over, Liora said, "Cardath, let's get you fed, I'm starving too!" The last four candidates looked longingly at the last two eggs. Soon, in the midst of shell fragments, the last brown, and the last bronze dragon looked out towards the hopefulls. The bronze was first to run forward, but soon got his wings tangled up in his feet. Passing him, the brown was first to make his choice. There were no bashful in this clutch. His lucky new rider, Rialen, shouted so all could hear,"His name is Quisoth!" The bronze was just a step behind the brown and just before he tripped again, a helpful candidate steadied him. "Hey slow down. It's easier that way," he told the anxious hatchling. Turning to look at the boy who saved him from another nose dive, the bronze and Rayton were nose to nose. After a few moments of silence, the new dragonrider looked towards the crowd to announce, "The bronze is Jeduth."
[ Home ] [ Apply ] [ Lower
Caverns ] [ Records Room ]
|
