Hatching Feast ((OPEN))

[Jenth]

((Hope you don't mind me starting Sparrow, i just wanted to finally get this out of the way. Enjoy my song!))

The Hatching had been quite a spectacle, and the Weyr was a buzz with the hatching of a new gold. Counting the violets there were now 4 queens, two clutching and 2 juveniles. There was still hope for Pern yet! Guests and Riders alike were already enjoying themselves in the lower caverns and the Weyrlings would almost be ready to join them. Surely more then one was proud of today’s events, maybe even boastful but it always a gamble whether it was them or their family that would be more boisterous about it.

Gwen’s little white was a curious little happening, but it seemed every hatching had at least one. Maybe it was just Nayarath, but Inolyn would hate to think there was something wrong with their senior queen. In the meantime, the young violet weyrling had some unfinished business to attend to. The record she had placed in song would be the last harpering she’ll ever perform since soon she’ll be classed as a weyrwoman and have other, more pressing issues for Pern to see to. At least she might leave a legacy, she thought as official harpers took their places.

“Welcome all to the feast of Nyocia’s third hatching! I’m sure the Weyrleader’s wont mind me having a few opening words. In the past 3 years we’ve welcomed the changing in the newest generations of dragons; First the violets and tans, then the barreds and now we have white Tyrth. When I Impressed Jorindath from Nayarath’s first clutch I wrote a little something about the day and I hope you like it.”

The music started in an up-beat and yet hopeful melody, fitting for a ‘rebirth’ of sort for dragon kind. It had been long decided that Inolyn should have the honor of singing, not only as songwriter but she was included in this song as well. All the senior weyrlings were connected to this song.

In a cavern wide and deep
Great eggs of dragons rest
Sitting, waiting, dormant, still
Upon their sandy nest

Over them she hovers
Their mother, golden queen
Waiting for her eggs hatch
Brown, blue, bronze and green

But carefully she hides it
A glory for all behold
Closely she holds it near
The shell of dragon gold

Another Pass draws closer
Candidates please stand brave
Impress your fated friend so dear
For all of Pern’s to save…

Rocking restless do the eggs
Breaking green, tan, bronze and blue
More discreet were the browns
Nothing like what the violet brew

Hiding, tricky was the dragon
Not where she was thought to be
No gold but violet did appear
But still a queen for all to see

Through the girls she sought
The one for her alone
A harper girl of free mind
The one to call her own

There was yet more to come
Eggs hatching more surprises
Silver dragons stripped in purple
Small miracles in clever guises

Like many happy pairs that day
All, both old and new
Through lasting bonds that’ll never break
Thread will be subdued

[ShadowReine]

Tyrth slept, for now. He had eaten as well as a small white hatchling could be expected to. Gwenduinne had had time to change into her Gather clothes for the Feast, but then come up against a snag.

Knots for green and blue, barred and brown, bronze and gold and tan, even violet, hung on pegs just inside the door, ready for the new weyrlings. For her? Nothing. She frowned, then she reached for her robes and unhooked the single white strand of candidacy, then took one of the green knots and unwove it. In moments, she had an improvised knot for a white weyrling, secured to her shoulder.

It would do, at least. Spunky perched on the other shoulder and the young woman walked to the living cavern with absolute dignity and pride. She would never be a gold's rider, not now, but that just meant she had to prove herself, and the value of Pern's smallest dragon. Would he be big enough to fly and fight? If she had anything to do with it.

Despite having to pause to deal with her knots, she still arrived in time to hear Inolyn's song. It needed a new verse, now, she thought. Tyrth deserved his own. Her shoulders straightened further.

She was going to be the best she could be.

--

I'm a greenrider, I'm a greenrider, I'm a greenrider. Tiomar almost did not make it to the feast. Part of him just wanted to stay and watch Freyjath sleep. She was not that much bigger than the white, who slept in a green-sized wallow not that far away. A small green, but that didn't matter. She was the most gorgeous color and she was his. His beautiful, sweet, devoted Freyjath.

Who would still be there when the party was over. The party, on the other hand, would end. Claiming his new knot on the way out, the young greenrider whistled as he made his way over. Food, music, and plenty to celebrate. His dragon's birth..no, hatching-day. The day he became a whole being. How had he lived, before, in a world of grey shadows? He had no idea.

--

B'can remembered the last Hatching feast, when it had been his dragon's arrival on the scene that had been celebrated. He had been overwhelmed, uncertain, his dragon's exhaustion fogging his mind. He barely remembered it. Now, Apolloth was awake and making the occasional comment in his mind as the tan weyrling ducked through the rain, arriving in time for food and music.

His attention, though, was drawn towards the new weyrlings. There was Gwenduinne the Arrogant, utterly unbowed. Maybe, though, an attitude that would have been a problem in a future weyrwoman was exactly what was needed to ride and handle a dragon that would eternally rely on speed and agility over strength. They would need a bit of cockiness to pull off the fancy moves that would give Tyrth his true potential.

He also saw a boy he did not know who had Impressed green. Another green he'd rather Apolloth did not fly...well, he'd get used to it, but he'd bet that if that happened, the greenrider would have more fun than he did...he wouldn't have Impressed green if that wasn't the case, like as not.

Neither of those were the face he sought through the crowd. Where was Pern's newest queen rider?

--

R'mer knew better than to make a pig of himself. Even on a rider's schedule, he retained a tendency to a certain plumpness. He arrived at about the same time as one of the two new male greenriders...he was a little disappointed that there were only two.

The more there were, the better his chances of finding a weyrmate when he felt ready for one, and he certainly didn't want to weyrmate with a girl! Still. He'd manage, and he was in no hurry for right now. He found himself some food, sharing it with Thunder as he settled down to wallflower in a corner.

[phlysolo]

Vikinth was surprisingly tough to feed, K'ton had thought, watching his sleeping bronze. He had fought and struggled and tempted his new rider to let him gorge as fast as possible. K'ton, not wanting to lose the dragonet who had just claimed him, had forced the big beast to slow his eating habits to a pace that would not only sedate him but prevent him from choking as well. At last, both their energy spent on the effort of feeding, the pair had marched their way up to the Weyrling Barracks, had been assigned to a room with other bronzersl, and had picked a bunk for himself.

Almost immediately, the dragonet had sniffed his 'bed' and settled down in it. Vikinth's Weyrling, too, sat abruptly on his bed, noting tiredly that all of his effects had already been moved to the Weyr. How convenient! He half heartedly dressed back into more 'formal' Gather type clothing and paused at the doorway of his shared bunker, looking back at his dragonet. How he longed simply to curl up beside the bronze and drift off to sleep as well, but the rider who had escorted him to the room had advised him, as a bronze Weyrling, that it would be in his best interest to at least make an appearance.

So, begrudgingly and tired, K'ton had marched down to the Lower Caverns, bronze Weyrling shoulder knots fitted to his tunic. He did not immediately see anyone he recognized so he instead plopped down onto a seat and filled his plate with bubbly pies, hoping the sweet juicy goodness would keep him awake.

~~

Brylorea had almost refused to leave Voluspath's side as they were assigned a barracks almost completely away from the other Weyrlings. The rider had tersely, but with a gleaming smile on her face, had told her briskly that she would be bunking away from the rest of the Weyrlings and would be taking slightly different lessons as well. Great. She hadn't sighed up to get alienated from the rest of the Weyrlings. Voluspath, on the other hand, seemed pleased by the arrangements, not wanting to share space with a green, barred, or blue.

The Weyrling was ever amused by the golden dragonet's arrogance and vanity, although she knew she was going to have to work on that particular aspect of her personality. This gold was going to have to get on with the non-metallics whether she liked it or not.
Instead of settling down immediately onto her bed, the gold peered at Hers anxiously, expecting more movement.

"Voluspath, you've had quite an evening, dear. Don't you want some rest?" She asked, sitting down next to the dragonet and leaning against her.

The gold shook her head with exasperation. Now was not the time to sleep! They needed to show up at the Hatching Feast where she was sure everyone was waiting for them.

Oh, I would love to sleep, BryMine, but we've got things to do. I'm sure that we're expected everywhere. Voluspath replied, butting her rider affectionately before pulling herself to her feet. Yes, the dragonet was tired, but they had appearances to maintain.

Bry resignated that her dragon would be quite upset if she denied the gold her jaunt outwards into the waiting Weyr. "You're right, love. I'll get ready"

But Bry was slow in choosing something to wear that would represent her new status in the Weyr, but also not look too...uppity. Her parents were so about showing off their status through the clothing they wore, but Brylorea just...wasn't like that at all. Instead, she wore a simple red tunic with a matching wherhide jerkin. Her pants, too, were a nice shade of red that hopefully at least kind of matched with her top. Just on her way out the door, Voluspath right behind her, her eyes caught on a neat hanging of shoulder knots. Oh...Of course.

With one easy movement, she unhooked her Candidate knot and replaced it with a much more stylish looking, she noticed, gold Weyrling knot. There. Perfect.

And with that, the tired Weyrling and dragonet, headed proudly to the Lower Caverns. Bry held the door open wide enough for her gold to cross the thresh hold before her. Hoping vainly that their entrance would go unnoticed, she was greeted triumphantly by no less than ten of the inhabitants of Nyocia. Over and over she mumbled her name, the name of her dragon, even as Voluspath growled warning to back off to those closest to them. She attempted to be as polite as possible to everyone who approached them, but it wore on her patience. She regarded Kora in a whole new light now, having to deal with so many people at one time. It was exhausting.

Finally, she was able to make it to the main tables just as a beautiful song was reaching its end. Shards, the melody had sounded quite beautiful and she was saddened that she'd only caught the tail end. From her position, she couldn't see anyone she knew at all. Not Gwen, not K'ton, not even B'can who she was rather hoping to run into. Ah well, this even as supposed to take a while, perhaps she'd see him yet.

OoC: And my muse kind of died on me now that I'm on H'rik. I'll post with him a bit later.

[ShadowReine]

There...a flash of gold, the gold weyrling having brought her dragon to the festivities..which, he noticed, the white and green had not. But B'can was glad to see it, it allowed him to make his way over. "Brylorea!" he called, cheerfully, trying to raise his voice enough to be heard over the crowd.

The poor girl, in some ways. She was the woman of the hour, and that meant that everyone would be wanting a piece of her. She would not be left alone, and part of him had wanted to congratulate her later, in private...had he not known that this would be the last free time for days for any of the new bonds. Brylorea would undoubtedly have it worse...more dragon to clean and oil and probably extra classes, too.

He was just glad that the new junior weyrwoman was such a...right choice. It felt so much more right, so much more...stable. So, the short tan rider approached her. "And this is..." He'd missed the gold's name.

--

Gwenduinne watched as people began to gather around Brylorea. That could have been her. Not that she wasn't getting a small amount of attention herself. Maybe it was the makeshift knot, though, the white strand a little wider than it should have been. It looked as if she was trying to shout to the world that she was 'the' white rider and everyone had better sit up and take notice.

"First moment I have, I need to get a proper knot." It wasn't anyone's fault...there hadn't been a white dragon in centuries and then, hadn't he been bonded to a Lord Holder or something extraordinarily irregular like that? Nobody had been ready for Tyrth's arrival, least of all his rider.

[phlysolo]

Finally! A familiar voice Bry heard amongst the crowd. Unable to see B'can over the crowd, she let Voluspath to lead her towards the sound. The gold came to an abrupt stop in front of the elder Weyrling, survaying him sharply and was unable to tell his ranking; dragonets weren't familiar with the 'knot system.' However, the gold sensed Her's excitement and pleasure at seeing the young man so she was forced to approve...for now. If this lad turned out to be some silly blue rider she'd have to...persuade Bry not to keep his company too often. Yes, there were many more good bronze riders, especially from this Clutch! Hrmph!

Who is that you're so happy to see, BryMine? He looks rather scrawny... Voluspath said, turning a haughty gaze from B'can to her future rider. Brylorea wasn't about to explain aloud, of course. That'd be rude; Voluspath already sounded suspicious of B'can's status anyways...

That's my friend B'can. He's Weyrling to -tan- Apolloth, dear. I'm sure all of us will get along famously. Don't be so quick to judge him, Voluspath. Bry replied mentally. This satisfied the gold immensely. Good! Her rider knew who it would be best to associate with! Then again...maybe not. Bry had reprimanded her ever so gently about 'judging people.' Hrmph. Voluspath could just as she saw fit!

"This is Voluspath, B'can. I'm happy to see you at the Feast. I was wondering if you'd show up to the Hatching, seeing as you've already got a dragon to look after," She teased, playfully tapping his arm. Her euphoria in the aftermath of the Hatching had set her in an excellent spirits. Voluspath, too, suddenly didn't to seem as high strung as she had been before. The gold nuzzled her rider and crooned happily as Bry slung an arm around her neck.

[ShadowReine]

"Apolloth wanted to see it, actually, so..." B'can smiled. "Voluspath. A good sized gold, and a very nice color to boot. I prefer Apolloth's, of course, but that's rider bias. We all have it."

She was a nice color, though. Deep and rich, and good proportioned wings...there, he was doing it again. Assessing, judging. At least he hadn't done so out loud. He only mentally shook his head. It was all Apolloth's fault. All of it. "He went back to his nice, warm couch, though. It's still kinda wet out there."

Not that that wasn't obvious. Was he babbling? Maybe a little. But eventually, Voluspath would rise and Apolloth would chase. He was as sure of that as of his dragon's name...why did it scare him a little? Maybe because it didn't need the involvement of the dragons for him to want to spend more time with Brylorea. Now, that he had to set to one side. It would be months before...

Which was worse...seeing her as an asset to the Weyr or as a woman he wanted to bed, when really he wanted most of all to be friends? Gah...

[Sparrow]

Kora entered the Lower Caverns with only Lilac and Soot as company. Nayarath had settled on a ledge earlier, not worried about the rain and more elated to finally be free of the Sands, and obviously couldn't quite fit down here to accompany her. Y'xem... well, Kora was under the vague impression that the threadscore he had gotten a while ago was acting up again. Maybe that Journeywoman Healer hadn't done a good enough job, she had no idea. It was awkward not having her Weyrleader at her side, but Kora would manage. The Violetrider from Nayarath's first clutch had already proved herswelf useful, so the Weyrwoman strode in her direction.

It was a lovely song, don't you think? Kora commented absently to Nayarath.

I've never hidden the queen egg, the Gold replied with a sniff. She protected it, but not hide. That struck her as degrading.

Oh, the way you hover over them anyone would think that. Kora laughed softly.

Maybe you should greet our new Goldrider instead of thanking the Harper girl, Nayarath mumbled, put out by the lack of agreement from her rider.

Kora glanced Brylorea and Voluspath's way, and figured the pair were crowded enough just now. She continued in the same direction and smiled at Inolyn. "Thank you for getting the Feast started," she said softly to the girl. "And that was a lovely song."

Lilac chirped; she agreed. Soot had never been much for music and was likely to get a nip from the Violet perched on Kora's other shoulder whatever he said, and so remained silent. On her perch, Nayarath snorted. The Gold seemed to be a bit put out by everything just now, perhaps Hatchings just did that, as it took the limelight off her. A second Gold was no help.

~~~

Salise made her quiet way over to someone who looked more or less alone, something that surprised her. Shouldn't people be excited about a White? The only person she had seen consulting with Gwen was the MasterHealer. Was there something wrong with the little dragon? Small was not bad.

Artemisth walked with Salise, still small enough to come here, but her mind was elsewhere. That nasty Tan wasn't here, but his rider was, and flirting with the newly hatched Gold's rider already, she was sure. The young Barred hissed softly; she couldn't possibly approve of anything her thieving brother did, even if it was really his rider doing it. Salise gave Artemisth's eye-ridge an absent rub, trying to silence the dragon. Why did Artemisth have to despise Apolloth so?

"Congratulations on Impressing Gwen," Salise told the new Whiterider, a shy smile tugging at her lips. Artemisth glanced the girl over, but wasn't particularly impressed by her. Hers didn't know the girl well either, the Barred had no idea why she felt the urge to go meet her now.

~~~

Aleyi, as usual, was in a bouncy mood and made their cheery way over the food. Brooke circled over her head, excited by the air the Hatching had brought about. What fun this was, having more Golds about and everyone so excited about it! Brooke only settled on Aleyi's shoulder when the girl finished gathering food so she could see if the Bluerider had picked up her favorite tidbits.

Aleyi saw R'mer, but figured she could find someone else to chat with and approached the new male Greenrider. She had no idea what his name was, or his new dragon's, but she had seen him Impress. Jerglith didn't assist her in any way, Blue dragons didn't know everything, he had told her lamentingly. Aleyi knew her dragon wanted to.

"Is your dragon sleeping?" Aleyi had never been much for greetings. She smiled at the boy(T'mar). Jerglith had accompanied her to his first Hatching Feast, mostly because the Blue was much too curious to know what happened there and lost interest in sleeping. It had been rather dull though; Aleyi planned to do better this time. Since this one was inside, Jerglith had to stay at the barracks, he was too big for the lower caverns, and occasionally complained about the storm holding him back.

[ShadowReine]

Gwenduinne smiled. "Thank you...even if he's the last thing I expected."

The he part was a big part of that. She had assumed she was too feminine for a male dragon to want...not the kind of girl who made friends with guys. "You're...Salise, right? Tyrth's fast asleep...hatching's apparently hard work."

And that was odd. His somnolence was not exactly making her tired...but his sleeping presence was not akin to his waking one, and she felt dulled by it. Weakened. Incomplete, even. Of course, without him, she would be nothing. Nothing at all.

--

T'mar smiled to the female bluerider. "Fast asleep. If she wakes up and wants to come over, I'll go get her." A pause. "I don't think we've met. I'm Tio..." Beat. "T'mar."

He'd get used to that, but not right away. Getting used to being a greenrider? That had happened the moment his Freyjath had bound her mind to his forever. Already, his life was split into Before Freyjath and With Freyjath, and the former had not been living. not really. "Sorry. The name change is...weird." And the he tried the full thing out. "T'mar of green Freyjath."

Her name was already as familiar as his own. Did it always happen like this?

[phlysolo]

Brylorea was all smiles, her fear and anxiety of the Hatching had long since become part of her life that was so far into her past now that it seemed like her being had two parts to it: one with her life without Voluspath and the other with. The golden dragonet at her side radiated her rider's feelings and her eyes whirled a deep blue of contentment and happiness. Despite feeling almost every single pair of eyes in the Dining Hall upon her, Brylorea felt comforted and reassured in the presence of her friend. If B'can wasn't drooling over and ogling her Voluspath, then perhaps there was hope for her to live a semi-peaceful existence, werywoman or not. Then again, B'can was Weyrling, he too must have had his share of people gawking over him and his strangely hued dragonet when it had Hatched. Ah, well. Either way, she knew that at least right this moment with him, she could enjoy some sense of serenety in her life with Voluspath.

The gold looked up at her, sensing vague hints of uncertainty. She moved as close as she could to Hers without bumping into her and rumbled softly. Her jeweled eyes calmly inspected her rider-to-be's face curiously.

Do you doubt yourself even when you know you are Mine? I chose -you- and yet you feel unworthy still. Hrrumph, I wouldn't have glanced in your direction if you were not strong. Trust yourself like I trust you, The gold told her, her eyes whirling gently green.

The girl looked down into her dragonet's eyes as she lowered herself to the ground, peering up at the tan Weyrling. Well, at least someone had confidence in her. A wave of reassurance surged through Bry and she smiled widely again. Yes, what Voluspath said was true: somewhere inside of Bry was a leader and all she had to do was believe it for herself.

"Well, I'm glad Apolloth persuaded you to come," She replied fondly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. And in more ways than one, she added thoughtfully to herself. Though it was odd to her, she felt suddenly that she would have been unhappy to learn that B'can had missed her Impression of Voluspath.

At the compliments, Voluspath sat up once more, regarding the Weyrling with what could be a draconic smirk. Of course he would say so, if only to get on her Brylorea's good side, or her own. He was an interesting young man, but he was just a tan rider. She had no idea how big his dragonet was. If wasn't nearly as big as a bronze, then he certainly wouldn't be worth her time.

"Yes, I do understand your 'rider bias', Voluspath is, forgive me, much more attractive than your Apolloth any day, B'can," She said teasingly, feeling at ease with her surroundings once more. Even when someone walked passed them gawking, Brylorea was able to flash a grin their direction. Voluspath raised head only slightly to gaze in the direction that Brylorea had and snorted at the passerby. Instead of scampering off, the young lad edged closer until Voluspath snapped her teeth at him. The boy squeaked in surprise and scampered off.

In Brylorea's mind, Voluspath roared with laughter. Why! That was quite fun! We should do so to more children. Voluspath cackled, her eyes whirling rapidly with pleasure and amsuement.

You will do no such thing! You're supposed to command respect, not fear that you're going to bite someone's arm off!

[Sparrow]

"I think he's the last thing everyone expected." Salise smiled. A White? That had definitely surprised her, and probably everyone else. Even Nayarath had looked mildly shocked, in Salise's opinion at least, when the little head popped up from the wreckage of the Granite egg.

Salise nodded. "Not that Artemisth would admit to it." She didn't know what dragons thought of hatchings, except that they seemed to be excited by it. Artemisth had never complained about being tired though, especially not right after hatching. If it was hard... well, it was the young Barred's secret.

Artemisth snorted. It's only breaking out of an egg. Mostly, she had been hungry.

~~~

Aleyi nodded absently. "I guess I wouldn't know. Maybe sometime the dragons will start changing the girls' names too." She shrugged. "For now, I'm Aleyi of Blue Jerglith."

I could call you A'yi or somethinig, but I like Aleyi more, Jerglith commented softly. Aleyi liked Aleyi more too. Maybe they could just say 'A'leyi' and not really change it at all.

"Aren't you hungry?" Aleyi glanced at the tables, which it looked like T'mar hadn't gone to yet. Brooke was hungry, and grabbed a little meat from Aleyi's plate. Always regal, she balanced on her hindquarters, wrapping her tail around Aleyi's neck for extra support, and took the meat in her forepaws before nibbling at it daintily.

[Jenth]

“Thank you, Kora, but a lot of the praise should also go to the harpers. I only created the words and a rough tune, they did the rest. I wasn’t really all that good with instruments, singing was and this may be the last time I ever perform.” Already having stepped down, the harpers had moved on to wildly known melodies and old favorites. Despite being a violet rider, she had to this day retained the title ‘Harper girl’. Inolyn really didn’t mind, it had been her past and after creating a hatching song it hadn’t helped to fade out the nickname. It made her a unique rider, and who knows when her talents and teachings might be needed.

“With a second gold you must be relieved. The traditional queens will continue yet, and I don’t think we understand everything about the violets yet.”

I don’t hide everything from you

I know you don’t, but you may not even know what your capable of. You may be big but your not fully mature

“Either way, we’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us.” Looking over, the gold weyrling pair wouldn’t be getting anywhere fast. Inolyn didn’t know the girl, or many of the newly Impressed, but if the Voluspath had chosen her then they were sure to do well enough.

~~~~~~~~~~

K’nam was still on a high from the Impression. Erith had eaten his fill yet still he did not wish to sleep like many of the others but the weyrling wasn’t going to force his hatchling. Instead he led the brown, wobbling slightly with bugling sides from a stomach full of meat, down to the hatching feast like the others; with or without their partners.

Erith wasn’t fazed by the number of people, or afraid of being trampled. He was a large and heavily built brown, and the flow of people tended to part around him. Afterall, this event was all because of him and his siblings hatching. However he was slowly becoming bored of looking up at everything, and desided to seek out the only of his siblings to come so far; gold Voluspath.

The other’s should have come, they’ll regret it tomorrow that they slept while we played.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Zukah wasn’t the least bit wanting to leave her dragon’s side as Valkyrith dozed on her coat. The barred was quite an interesting creature, from her multifaceted eyes to the strange contradicting effect of her hide. She was everything Zukah could have hoped for, and now they could help rid Pern of its terrible nightmare. But there was another reason for not wanting to go…

They are only people, and you are hungry. You are strong, Valkyrith knows so and if you don’t go then I’ll come too! They should know that if they hurt you, then I will hurt them!

No! You sleep, I will go eat Zukah told her dragon quickly, not wanting to have a dragon invoked injury on anyone unable to read the barred’s temperament. The girl made no attempt to dress extravagantly, only out of her candidate robes. Valkyrith was drifting into sleep when finally she left for the feast.

[ShadowReine]

"Voluspath!" B'can exclaimed. "That was rude...of course, you'll have to scare people away from your eggs when they aren't ready to be touched."

A broody gold could be intimidating. "And every rider on Pern thinks his or her dragon is the best ever shelled. And they think we are the best riders. Apolloth thinks I should be Weyrleader." B'can spread his hands.

Could he be Weyrleader? In a few Turns, if he had to be, but he'd rather not...except sometimes he caught himself thinking like one, assessing the Weyr's assets. He wondered if Voluspath would be a bronze only gold or if she would consider tans. Apolloth was as big as some of the bronzes...but he still wasn't bronze.

--

Gwen nodded to Salise. "I wasn't sure his egg wasn't a dud myself...and if it wasn't, I was figuring it would be a runty green."

Not a perfect white dragon. She wondered just how much people in the Stands had stared. She had stared, first because he was what he was and then...come close to falling over when he had bound his mind to hers forever. There could be no parting, and no regrets.

--

T'mar laughed. "Yes and no. I had the worst nerves out there, and I'm only now beginning to trust my stomach."

He didn't quite understand why the dragons didn't shorten the names of the female riders of fighting dragons, but...dragons had their traditions too. And T'mar was a good name, a name that told everyone who he was...and the knot told other things, too. Status, hierarchy. It was good, comfortable, to know his place. "Guess I should eat."

[Sparrow]

Kora nodded. "The most important part is the idea though, right? And I hope it isn't the last time you perform, I think everyone likes your singing." Even her fire-lizards. One didn't have to be an actual Harper to sing.

The Weyrwoman laughed at Inolyn's next comment. "Oh I am, but I think Nayarath is a little jealous. She'll get over it though." The attention couldn't stay focused on the new hatchling forever, it would be a few Turns before she did anything worth documenting, probably. Nayarath would continue to in the meantime. "And I guess we don't. They can't be too different from the rest of the dragons though, right?" They were another color and they chewed firestone, but other than that they seemed quite similar to Golds.

I'm not jealous of my own daughter, Nayarath snorted. She just wished she could fit into the lower caverns and get all the same attention. Lying in the cool rain rather than on the hot Hatching Sands was quite nice though... for now.

"Yes." Kora glanced at Brylorea and Voluspath too, and still felt a little uncertain about going over there. The hatchling had just snapped at someone- hopefully she wouldn't make that a habit. It was explainable when guarding eggs, but Nayarath had never even threatened to bite someone in other circumstances! "It looks like our newest queen has a lot to learn too." And hopefully her rider could control her.

~~~

Salise nodded. "I was sort of hoping it was when those two dragonets fell on it... at least he's not injured, right?" She hadn't heard anything about the White being hurt, although the MasterHealer had seemed worried about him.

~~~

Aleyi grinned. "I think the sands were way too hot." Why did dragons need so much heat? Jerglith could only reply that he liked being warm, but didn't everyone? That wasn't much of an explanation. Was it harder for them to get warm?

"Yeah," Aleyi glanced at Brooke, who was eating already. "I think Brooke wants me to hurry up and sit down." After swallowing, the Gold chirped softly. That was exactly what she was thinking.

[phlysolo]

Reprimanded twice now, and most sternly by her bonded, Voluspath was thoroughly rebuked. However, she was sure that she could very easily disregard the tan Weyrling's scolding. To disregard Brylorea would be inexcusable and she, suddenly more respectfully to those around her, settled more comfortably on the ground. Brylorea was relieved at this, expecting her golden Hatchling to be far more rebellious and stubborn than she was right now. It would seem that she would have to keep the golden babe under critical watch and be stern with her if need be, lest Voluspath got out of hand.

That was one thing Brylorea hadn't considered at all when it came to a new Weyrling-any Weyrling. They, like human toddlers, were going to be hard to control and there would be several battles of will between the two of them for control in the future, Bry knew. Good thing, though, that Voluspath had given her such a surge of confidence a moment before: She knew that, regardless of the situation, the gold would respect and follow any order Bry gave to her the best she possibly could. All she would have to do is assert her authority over the growing dragonet and they would have no problems in the future.

Promise to me you won't do that again? It would be...very bad for those who would be Candidates to your future Clutch be terrified to approach the Sands knowing a tyrannical gold dragon was hovering over them... Bry said finally to her dragonet who was no longer looking mischievously aggressive.

I shall not do it again. You are right, of course... Voluspath conceded, although she was mildly annoyed to have been reprimanded. Still, Hers was right...Of course, that didn't mean that Vollie was going to go make up for it! The gold would, however, be at least a little nicer to those who approached, grudgingly or not.

Finally, after the brief conversation with her gold, Bry's attention was turned to the older Weyrling standing before her. She smiled, nodding in understanding. Voluspath had said twice now, in the few candlemarks that they had known each other, that she knew without a doubt that Brylorea would make an excellent Weyrwoman.

"As Voluspath has said already more than once to me this evening, B'can," She replied, reaching out to touch a hand to Voluspath's head when the gold dragonet lifted it up off the ground and sat back lightly on her haunches like a canine. "But their confidence in us is only what helps us in the long run, is it not? Perhaps, with Apolloth behind you, you will make a good Weyrleader someday."

Brylorea had not, at that moment, realized the gravity of her assessment. Though, yes, she was trying to be nice to her good friend, she could not den the fact that she would also be greatly disappointed if his tan Apolloth wouldn't rise to Chase Voluspath when she Rose. A beat later she did come to acknowledge her own budding desires and made an instant effort to not only stifle them when they rose, but to ignore them. She could not allow those...certain other feelings to seep into her dragonet. Voluspath wouldn't be ready for them for...possibly several Turns! And if that was the case, Brylorea could not, and would not, allow them to jeopardize her dragonet.

The dragonet felt these sentiments and snorted. A tan! Winning her?! Not a chance! But of course...she'd never seen this...Apolloth before. Perhaps if he was large enough...But no! Only bronzes would be good enough for the likes of her! She turned her head away from the two as one of her Clutchmates spoke to her. Ah!...a brown...While she was only mildly disappointed that Erith wasn't a bronze or tan, he was large brown, at least.

Her eyes spun deeply blue and she flicked her tail from side to side, lowering down so that she now almost looked like a feline about to pounce.

Oh, yes! I wouldn't have let Mine come out here all by herself! She'd have such good stories to tell me later, but I'd rather see so I could make stories for myself! Voluspath replied. She turned her head once towards Brylorea, then back to Erith. It would be more fun to play with him than to sit at Her's feet!

With that thought, she scampered towards him, flexing her undeveloped wings experimentally. Brylorea, feeling and seeing her dragonet wander off called out to her with her mind.

Do not wander too far, Voluspath. Stay near me. She commanded and the gold stopped, though she was close enough so that she and her brown Clutchmate could at least converse.

[ShadowReine]

B'can nodded. "If. But it's...relatively unlikely."

They might, though, give him a wing if he proved himself worthy. A tan could certainly last a full fall, and lead one of the heavier wings. Apolloth would, of course, chase Voluspath. He would probably chase Nayarath, too. Not to mention the violets. How much of a chance did he have?

The young tan rider did not know. There was luck, there was the interest of the dragons...of the riders, perhaps, to a point. He wanted Apolloth to... He thrust the thought aside. As attractive as Brylorea was, she was a new-Impressed weyrling...

...and a gold weyrling, who would be obligated to be a partner with whoever's dragon did win hers. Wanting her, desiring her, could only lead to heartbreak. It was just a shame that such feelings could not really be turned off.

[Jenth]

Voluspath is a little odd for a queen, maybe it’s just a gold thing[/color] Jorindath told her Rider, but her comment ‘maybe it’s just a gold thing’ was only half hearted. Both dragon and human knew every dragon’s personality being unique and to their own regardless of color. The violet had always seemed maybe a bit too bouncy and cheerful to be very queen-like, according what she knew.

“Jorindath thinks so too, but she has only just hatched. It’s been a big day; we can only hope she calms down a little in time.” To judge a no doubt tired hatchling on the day he/she hatched would be a rushed decision.

~~~~~~~

Erith puffed out his chest, braced his legs into a strong defensive stance with his wings half raised. Smiling on the inside he side stepped the gold’s playful charge to rise up on his hid legs, his front talons stomping the ground as he fell down again. It was fun to play, but the fact that she was still a queen nagged at the back of his mind. He didn’t want to hold back but he also didn’t want to accidently hurt her.

Hmmm… Stories are fine, but your certainly right. Why hear a story when you can be here

[phlysolo]

Relatively unlikely...How sad a prospect...Bry lowered her head slightly, masking it with rogue strands of hair. As much as she liked B'can...it was true what he said. Although he was a large tan, there was no garuntee that Apolloth had the staying power in the air as a bigger bronze did. Even at that, would Voluspath even wish to be Flown by a tan?

The new goldrider sighed and shook her head; now was not the time for such questions and pondering them really wouldn't help. Voluspath had plenty of time ahead of her to grow and mature and get to know all of her prospective mates, a certain tan included. Still, it wouldn't hamper her feelings, nor limit her hopes. With this in mind, she grinned.

"Oh, don't be so had on yourself, dear B'can," She said warmly. "You forget that I've seen your Apolloth and I know how large he is. I'm sure he'll be able to catch any dragon he desires."

A meter or two away from Brylorea, Voluspath's attention was only on her brown Clutchmate. She had momentarily dropped her focus from rider to potential playmate. Oh, he was indeed just a brown, but there was no one else here for her to play with! At least not until Hers took her head out of B'can's butt. The gold idly flicked her tail and gazed around the Hall once more, searching for a better companion than this Cluthmate. Seeing none, she conceded and her eyes whirled faster, seeing his stance change to something more playful.

How fun! Excitedly, she reached to pat at the brown Hatchling, tilting her head side to side in her enthusiasm. But...

Why wouldn't you want to hear a story? Stories...stories make the world go 'round! Stories are better than...than everything! Everything except for Mine!

[Sparrow]

“Nayarath was a bit odd when she first hatched, but she was never outright rude.” At least, not outside what would be expected of a queen. The Gold had, at least, toned down the vanity a little as she grew older. “Hopefully once she’s had some time to rest and learn Voluspath will be better.”

I can bite her if she tries to bite people, so she learns it’s not very nice, Nayarath put in with a cheerful tone that Kora didn’t like. She sounded a bit too happy about the idea.
We’ll see. They would likely have to pull the new Gold and Goldrider pair aside and teach them something themselves; Kora would have to watch her Gold too.

[Jenth]

Erith tilted his head one way and then the other, swinging his tail from side to side trying to see the logic in her argument. Stories were fine, but what if you already knew it? Then it wouldn’t be much of a tale. It’d be quite boring actually…

But what about making your own stories? Then everyone will want to listen to what you have to say, not telling you what you want to hear

His talons clinked on the stone floor in his eagerness to play, crouching down into playful state of readiness.