Valentine's Clutch Part II - Capricath's Eggs

[Pi]

Perhaps luckily for everyone, Capricath's eggs decided to start to rock early in the morning. The sun is just about up, casting a brassy glow across the Weyr, casting everything in a golden light, and those who work in the kitchens are already up and about, the scent of freshly baked bread and breakfast dishes wafting enticingly through the lower caverns.

Thrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

The throaty rumble coming from her lifemate woke Myr up where she slept, curled up within Capricath's forelegs. "They're hatching? Oh, heck, send a message to get the Candidates out here, will you, Capri?" As if they thrumming wasn't enough. Standing up, Myr stretched, yawned, and made an attempt at flattening her sleep-ruffled hair so she was at least presentable as the folks were ushered into the Stands and onto the Sands.

A few of the eggs were rocking gently as the hatchlings within began to make their journey to the outside world.

[Pi]

“A bronze!” Myr’s excitement was evident as the first hatchling broke his shell, stepping out in a hide of light, molten bronze, glistening wet with egg-goo. He looked around him, his well-conformed body tensing and relaxing as he got used to the new-found freedom of movement, before making a beeline to the Candidates. A few girls are sniffed before being rejected shamelessly, and then he ends up in front of Ketoh. K’toh, I am your Valentinth. Will you be mine?[/b][/color]

Next, two blues emerged from their shells, bursting forth at the same time. One a light sunny blue, the other a darker sapphire, they moved as one towards the Candidates, and straight in the direction of twin girls, Taja and Mahali. “Shahth!” Taj fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around her lifemate, while Mahal squealed out in equal glee, “Jahanth!”

A green cracked from her shell shortly after the two blues, landing upside down, propped up by as of yet ungainly legs. With a little croon, Capricath lowered her head to gently nudge the green the right way up, and, with a further supportive nudge, helped her to her feet. Squeaking hungrily, the green wobbled a few steps towards the Candidates, before tripping and landing on her face. Not wanting to get up again just yet, she reached out mentally to her lifemate. Malin mine! Please help Brangwainth get food![/b][/color]

Almost at the same time, two little browns cracked their shells. The one to emerge slightly before the other was somewhat rounded and with a red-tinged hide, and he sat, slightly bemused, watching while his brown brother hatched beside him. A few blinks of his jewelled eyes though, and he was up on his somewhat unsteady legs, hastily heading towards the Candidates. One girl… two girls… one boy… and there’s his Felina. Fel, follow your Hearth to food, please, mine. I am hungry.[/b]

The other brown was almost as quick to get to his feet, following Hearth only moments later. As the first brown picked his lifemate, this one, a lush, chocolate brown colour, wandered along the rank of Candidates starting from the opposite end. Wherefore art thou, A’tair?[/b] He spoke to Altair, before finally coming up to his lifemate. A’tair, Romeoth has found you. Now you must find him food.[/b][/color]

[Pi]

The hatchling which next graced the sands moved with almost poetic grace, moving with uncanny elegance for one so freshly hatched. Built as if chiselled from sandstone, his light biscuity hide was darkened slightly by the egg goo, though it didn’t manage to mask his rather statuesque proportions as he stalked along the Candidates looking for his. Velain. V’lain. Your Sapphoth is here.[/b][/color]

Bursting forth from his shell, a bright, brassy, slightly reddish bronze hatchling let out a loud creel to his mother, as if complaining about the world being too… well, not egg-like. Scrambling to his feet and managing to get himself covered in sand as he did so, he made a haphazard dash filled with many stumblings and trippings to land at the bottom of the steps up into the galleries. A loud creel up into the people there, and it’s obvious that Impression has occurred. Lutinusth! H’nuk, I am Lutinusth! Come here, come to me![/b]

Myr clapped in delight as yet another bronze hatched, this one a slightly greenish colour, but a bronze, nonetheless. Capricath let out a thrum of approval as the little one got straight to his feet, steadying himself with wings outstretched and tail held stiff. Giving himself a shake – and managing to stay upright – he set off on his search for the one. And that one was found quickly, in the form of Draym. Claudiuth greets you, Dr’ym. And now Dr’ym must take Claudiuth for food.[/b][/color]

Among all the males hatching, this little green stood out like a sore thumb. A lush tropical green from head to perfectly formed toe, she glistened with egggoo, a few tiny shards still stuck to her as she gained her balance and the confidence to walk, with a little encouragement from her mother. One girl in particular drew her attention, and that’s exactly where she headed. Vinxi! You must come with Kanikhath now, please. She is hungry and does not want to wait any longer.[/b][/color]

“Giacomoth!” A girl called Casanova called out excitedly, as her blue lifemate found her on the Sands. Another squeal, though somewhat more masculine, as another blue found his lifemate. L’zbet announced to all, “His name is Tayloth!”

[Pi]

Ginger and saffron marked the tanned brown hide of the next dragonet to hatch, who emerged from his shell with tumbling gracelessness. Creeling from his awkward position, he soon righted himself and swayed unsteadily on his feet before moving on to the Candidates. One lad, already missing his twin, was exactly what this little brown wanted. R’xeh, you are no longer Raixeh. I am your Vatsyath.[/b][/i]

A dark, stormy-coloured blue hatched next, his shell shattering around him as if hit by lightning. Spreading his wings for balance, he began his search for a lifemate almost immediately, though it took two passes of the semi-circle of Candidates for him to come to a decision. He stopped before Tarin. T’rin, Byronth chooses you. [/b][/color]

Cold, glittering green coloured the hide of the next dragonet to hatch, who made her entrance into the world a quiet one. She crawled from her egg, shook herself off, and looked up at her mother, before setting out on a wobbly heading to the Candidates. Kirin! K’rin! My K’rin! Dzilyath’s K’rin!

Another green hatched, this one a light, cheerful spring green, with a touch of rosiness to her pleasantly plump figure. She rolled from her egg, sand sticking to the egg goo that coated her, before shaking her head and looking around her with big, big eyes. Having determined where hers is, she sets off on a mission… towards the Stands. There’s a gasp from the audience as another dragon seems set on finding one from among them, and when the little green starts to make an attempt to climb the steps, Myr calls out. “Whoever she’s chosen, come to her before she hurts herself!” Eimin! Esterth needs you![/b][/color]

[Pi]

Four eggs remained on the Sands… but not for long. The second biggest amongst them began to shake violently, and, in a shower of egg fragments, a large brown burst forth and announced his arrival into the world with a piercing creel. On his feet in moments, he shook himself to clear his earthy brown hide of any sticking piece of shell, before heading towards the Candidates. Without so much as a deviation from his path, he stopped before Akkika. I am Upendith, and you will need to feed me now.[/b][/color]

The smallest of the remaining eggs began to crack, at first a painfully slow ordeal, which soon built in speed as the one within upped the urgency of his hatching. When he emerged into the world, his hide a bright azure blue, he paused for a moment, getting back his energy before heading to his lifemate – his Kanit. K’it, Chaamth is here for you now.[/b][/color]

The penultimate hatchling, a perfect little grape-green dragon emerged slowly from her egg, needing a bit of a helping nudge by Capricath before she was able to right herself. Her attention from the very beginning was on a small cluster of female Candidates, to whom she made her way as soon as she was able to walk, singling out Vilmaris from among them. My Vilmaris, you must feed Cytherath, she is hungry.[/b][/color]

And then the moment that everyone had been eagerly waiting for. Being the only egg left, the gleaming golden shell stood out proudly beneath Capricath’s forelegs, it’s cracking noises clearly audible to those on the Sands. Bit by bit, tiny chips of shell fell to the sand below, until a dark gold dragonet was left in the place of her former home. Squeaking softly, she got to her feet, greeted Capricath, and then stared out at the Candidates. “Girls, go to her! Slowly!” Myr commanded, emphasising the slowly part. With the females approaching her, the little gold didn’t need any more persuasion, and she stumbled gracelessly up to her chosen one. Sydiana, Astrilth has chosen you.[/b][/color]

No more eggs, and Myr breathed a sigh of relief at the newest gold’s choice, leaning back against Capricath’s pale foreleg. “It’s all over,” she sighed, smiling happily at the newest pairs.

[Dimma og Ljós]

<sup>Standing in the stands, Eimin watched as the Hatchling started. Ever since she had arrived at Castaway Weyr, she had stood in the Stands, watching the Hatchlings. Dragons amazed her; from their beauty to the intelligence. It seemed this Hatchling would be no different from the rest.

As the eggs began to shake, Eimin could see the Candidates lining up, ready to meet their lifemates in dragon form. She sighed, wishing she could have been a Candidate, but was glad that she wasn't, simply because it would ruin the Weyrbrat War she had planned for the next day.

Suddenly, the eggs began hatching. The first a Bronze; it seemed to know where it was going, and went straight there. A Blue, a Green, and 3 Browns followed, causing an uproar among the gathered crowd. Capriath's clutch was large. 2 Bronzes followed the 3 Browns, along with a Green, Blue, Brown, another Blue, and 2 more Greens.
Yet, something interesting happend with the second Green. After the first Green made her choice, and the second was hatching, she looked around, as if trying to find her lifemate around the Candidates, but didn't find it. Then her large eyes turned on the crowd, and off she went. The ones nearest the railing of the Stands stood and moved out of the young dragonets way, as it clumsly tried to climb up the railing.

“Whoever she’s chosen, come to her before she hurts herself!” Myr called out, silencing the crowd as they waited for the unknown person to step forward. Eimin! Esterth needs you!</sup>

[/b][/i] whispered a voice inside Eimin's mind. Without hesitation, Eimin leapt from her seat, and started down the railing.

Back. Onto the sands, little one, Eimin sent, smiling as she put a hand on the railing and hopped over the railing, landing on the Sands, but instantly regretting it. The Sands were hotter than she thought they were. As she stood there, trying to get use to the hot sands, Estreth stood beside her, butting her hip with her head. Feed me, EiminMine,[/b][/color] the little dragonet kept sending.

Eimin nodded and put a hand on her dragon's head. Taking a tentive step, together they moved towards the other Candidates and into a new phase of their life together.

OOC:
*hugs Estreth* Thank you, SO MUCH, Pi!!![/center][/sup]

[Kirin]

It only took two days for the Dragons to hum once again, signaling the start of the second, larger clutch. Kirin was already up and having breakfast when it started, much to his relief. Two late night hatchings so close to each other would quite possibly kill some people. With a surge of excitement, the candidate shoveled down a couple of more mouthfuls of food before heading back to the Barracks where everyone was getting ready with such a kerfuffle. A few words of encouragement were exchanged between Kirin and some of the other before he headed to the Hatching caverns with his hair wetted down to make it flat and his white robes flapping around his feet.

It did not take long for the hatching to commence once most of the candidates had gathered. After the disappointing first clutch (for him at least) Kirin had learnt the need for thick soles while on the Sands and now he was prepared and far more comfortable. He stood there with eagerness, joy and nerverousness oozing from practically ever pore in his body. This was such a large clutch and here he was, standing again. Surely this time he would not leave alone. He could only hope he would not leave alone. He would never hear the end of it when his Father and family got word of his failure if he did.

Wide eyed and trembling slightly he watched as one egg after another burst open to reveal a miniature dragon, each with their own personsalities showing through. The sight of the first being a Bronze lifted his spirits. It was a sign of good luck to have a Bronze hatch first and an immovable smile now took hold. Before long six had hatched, the Bronze, two Browns, two Blues and a Green. He held no hopes or desire for a Bronze but any of the others would be nice. Kirin couldn't help but bounce on the balls of his feet, the only way he could find to express his restless nervousness.

And then before he knew it, another six had hatched and impressed. That was over half the clutch and not one had looked his way. Maybe this was never meant to be... There were only eight eggs left and many candidates still. Maybe his father had been right. Maybe he should have learnt a proper trade and stayed in the hold...
No! No.. There was still a chance. He should not give up yet. What kind of dragon would want one who gave up so quickly? With great effort Kirin pushed his doubts to one side and watched the rest of hatching. A Brown followed by a blue impressed two of his fellow candidates and then a quite Green hatched. He watched her because she was there, not because he expected or hoped to impress her. Nowadays, Greens tended to pick woman, like all of the previous Greens in this hatching had done. Although she was pretty sweet. Before long he heard a little chant in his head. It sounded like his name, but not quite...
Kirin! K’rin! My K’rin! Dzilyath’s K’rin!

Kirin's, or rather, K'rin's jaw dropped. Dzilyath... was his dragon, or rather he was her rider by the sound of things. He reached down to run his hand over her leathery hide, only to have egg-goo sticking to his hand. He had to laugh, and he did, quite loudly.
My K'rin! Dzilyath is hungry. Feed me?
Well. How could he refuse a question like that?
Come along my darling. Lets get you fed
And with that, they left the sands.

[Midnight]

V'lain

Velain watched a bit impatiently as the eggs cracked open and the young dragons found their riders. After not impressing at Miracath's clutch, he was more nervous about being left standing at this one. This would be his last chance for a while, he knew, because there weren't any other grown Purples or Golds in the Weyr.

He admired a strong looking Brown as he surveyed the candidates. Usually he liked bronzes, but he had to admit this brown was impressive. And then, he realized that the brown was headed in his direction!

Velain. V’lain. Your Sapphoth is here.[/color]

V'lain's eyes widened in surprise, and he was speechless. Sapphoth nudged him, crooning in concern, and he managed to drag himself back to earth, grinning broadly. "Sapphoth! I'm so glad you found me!" He exclaimed, giving his lifemate a quick hug.

Mine, I am very hungry.[/color] Sapphoth said firmly, and V'lain nodded. "Well then, let's get you something to eat!" And he proudly led Sapphoth off of the sands.

Sydiana

The Hatching seemed to fly by, and Syd was so amazed by all of the hatchlings and Impressions that she hardly noticed her own lack of a dragonet until the Hatching was almost done. Then, her spirits fell. Maybe she would be left standing. Fhay had said that some candidates stood two or even three times before Impressing, but that wouldn't make it any less of a disappointment.

Still, she wouldn't give up just yet. There was still a small chance she could Impress this time. She wouldn't think about it until everything was done.

Soon, the Gold was the only egg left. Sydiana found herself staring at it as it began to crack open, and she slowly moved forward as the Weyrwoman instructed. She let out a soft gasp as the beautiful little gold made her way onto the sands.

And then, the Gold stumbled forward...right into her arms. Sydiana, Astrilth has chosen you.[/color]

Happy tears sprung to Sydiana's eyes as the surprise and joy of Impression hit her. "Thank you..." She whispered to Astrilth. Her Astrilth. She could hardly believe it!

"I bet you want food, don't you?" She asked, knowing that young dragons were always hungry.
Yes, that would be nice.[/color] Astrilth answered, her eyes whirling a happy rainbow. Grinning, Sydiana led her off of the sands.

[Sparrow]

A wave of relief passed through Tarin when he heard the call for candidates halfway through is breakfast. Just as he had hoped, the eggs were hatching in the morning. He could be awake for the Hatching this time, and perhaps that would make a difference on whether he impressed. Excited, Tarin rushed to the barracks to change and then to the Sands, his freshly wet hair clinging to his skin and his robes flapping wildly around his ankles.

He didn't have to wait long for the eggs to begin to crack. Anxiously, Tarin watched as dragonets forced their way from their eggs and headed for the candidates. He didn't feel particularly worried that he wouldn't impress, but was mostly just curious about which dragon he would end up with. And as more passed him by, this wondering of what dragon would come to him seemed to press more urgently on his mind. A bronze had hatched first, a good sign for the clutch overall, but what about for him?

Bronzes, blues, greens, and browns hatched, each choosing their lifemate and then stumbling with their new partner off the sands. It looked like there were only seven eggs left when a quick blue exploded from his shell. Despite his sudden entrance, he had to inspect the candidates twice before finally pausing before Tarin.

T’rin, Byronth chooses you.

For a moment, T'rin just stared at the dragonet in amazement, and then a wide grin spread across his face.

Byronth is hungry too, the dragon added, seemingly as an afterthought.

"Of course! I'll, um, feed you. Come on." T'rin briefly rubbed Byronth's eye ridge and then started with his new lifemate off the sands.

[Zenniel]

| Malin |

Malin had stayed to watch the remaining eggs. She watched in glee as the eggs hatched. It wouldn't be long now, she thought. One of those little pretties would be hers. In fact, one of those pretties that did hatch... well, they were hers. Actually, Brangwainth was hers. Brangwainth? What a weird... name! But, even as Malin hurried to pick up her dragonling, she knew that this was hers. "Oh, Brangwainth!" Was all she could say. What else could one say to that? Yes, mine?

| Akkika |

I am Upendith, and you will need to feed me now. What? What was that? Who said that? Was that her mind? No, Akkika, it is not your mind. Feed me, now, please. Akkika looked down, and, with much awe, stared at the brown dragonet that had... almost literally, trounced up to her. Her jaw was agape, but, nonetheless, she said, "Okay, alright. We'll go get you some food. What did you say your name was again?"

Upendith. Akkika, you are so... The brown could not decide on a nice term, and instead shook his head. Akkika grinned, she had Impressed!

[nick]

[glow=red,2,300]Draym[/glow]

Draym was once again ushered out to the Sands with the rest of the Candidates. As the eggs began to Hatch, his heart began to pound.

Six hatchlings down...gone already...like a blink of his eyes it seemed. He swallowed. What if I don't Impress?, he thought.

It seemed that the next three broke out simultaneously. Two Bronzes and a Brown. A strong Hatching, Dr'ym though, the first had been a Bronze too...wait...Dr'ym?

Claudiuth greets you, Dr’ym. And now Dr’ym must take Claudiuth for food.

Dr'ym's face broke out in a smile as he looked slightly down to see the little dragonet staring intently up at him. He could feel the tears coming down his cheeks, but he smiled at his Claudiuth...his lifemate.

" His name is Claudiuth!" Dr'ym cried out in a happy sob. Come now my dear heart, we will feed you. He began leading His to the meat where Claudy could gorge and be happy.

[.::.Shrimp.::.]

As the first of the eggs hatched to reveal a Bronze Hinuk almost jumped of his seat. Surely the Bronze would go, ignore the candidates, and find him. However, as the boy’s greedy gaze was on the dragon it soon turned to one of envy. The Bronze had chosen Ketoh! The other male was equally as puzzled, he hadn’t expected to impress a Bronze, much less the first hatchling of the clutch.

K’toh, I am your Valentinth. Will you be mine?
{Valentinth? Why, of course I’ll be Yours, my love. Come, lets get you food.}[/i]

The dragonet followed without fuzz, he was hungry after all. From the Stands the Weyrbrat scowled, every possible curse running through his mind. How dare he, that Ketoh, steal his Bronze?! And how did that Bronze dared to pick K’toh over him. He was, surely, so much better than his half-brother. A Blue, Green and three Browns hatched next, the boy sulking as he paid no attention to any of them. Bah, useless lower ranks!

Two more Bronze hatchlings came next, and his attention shifted back. He greenish one was so... Ugly! But the reddish tint of the first, t made his hide look like copper! Now there was a magnificent looking King. The dragonet stumbled, covered now in sand before he reached the Stands. Was he really his? Was he-

Lutinusth! H’nuk, I am Lutinusth! Come here, come to me!

Yes, he was. The boy jumped over sitting people in his excitement, reaching his Bronze as quick as he could before glompig the creature to the sands. After a bit of tussling, Lutinusth was careful not to harm his Bond, the boy led him to eat – and very far away from K’to and Valentinth.

((Dead muse. XD))

[prissy]

K’it, Chaamth is here for you now. When Kanit heard that voice in his head he whooped for joy. He had impressed to a dragon, a blue but still he was happy his father would be pleased.

{Oh Chaamth let us leave the sands and go feed you.} K'it said as he left the sands with his newly bonded Dragon he was sure that Chaamth was hungry. K'it remembered from all the lectures his father gave that dragons are hungry upon hatching so he went to the tables to feed his Blue.

Thank you, Mine. I will always be here. Chaamth told His who nodded tears streaming down his face he was so pleased with his little blue that he could have been a green and he would have been happy.