Jerel is shoved into the sands entrance by a none-too-patient drudge. "No, in /there/.." Said drudge rolls his eyes and leaves a bewildered looking Jur behind.

Ysanne watches Jerel with a bemused expression.

Aisha chuckles warmly at Jerel.

Xavier strides over from the Lakeside Meadow.

Telinda smiles, "I think we have everyone" she says looking around, "Lets head out to the sands."

You walk over to the sizzling hot sands.

Aisha strides over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Jerel walks over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Ysanne strides over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Xavier strides over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Aislinn walks over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Moira walks over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Aisha steps gingerly onto the sands, wincing at the heat. "Yeesh," she says, or something equivalent.

Xavier minces out onto the hot Hot HOT Sands.

Moira mutters under her breath, "Should have stopped for my sandals."

Aislinn grits her teeth as she steps into the sands.

K'laarn strides over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Nerian strides over from the entrance to the hatching cavern.

Nerian wanders on and gives her customary half-bow to the dam and sire.

Ysanne does a quickstep over the heated sands, pausing to offer a flourished bow to the watchful parents. "Its us again" she murmurs.

K'laarn follows the remiander of the candidates out onto the sands, coming just a few steps behind Nerian. He trudges over through the sand toward where Rnayth sits very close to Tiarnath, nuzzled against her side, and looking alert as he slowly rises away from her, head swiveling as he balefully watches Candidates filter onto the sands.

Moira bobs her head to Tiarnath and Rnayth, then starts to pick her way across the sands, making a point to stay relatively far from that baleful bronze.

Tiarnath snorts, eyes whirling ruby as she watches these presumptious humans dare to get near her eggs, tail thrashing and wings unfurling she covers all she can.

Aislinn performs a small curtsy before walking to the first egg.

"Tia!" Telinda cries out, running over to her lifemate, "Stop that. No need to frighten them!"

Aisha stays around the fringe of the group, trying to look nonthreatening.

Nerian stays back from the eggs as she watches Tiarnath's temp^H^H^H^Hdisplay.

Ysanne diverts her path to the eggs furthest from Tiarnath; despite Telinda's scolding, prudence is a wise companion.

Xavier walks carefully across the sands to stand near a large black egg. He reverently places his hands on the shell and carrasses the smooth hardness of the egg. He looks up at Tiarnath and watches her closely. He seems more enraptured by Tiarnth than the eggs.

Moira, raking a hand through her relatively tangled hair, gaze lingering briefly on Tiarnath before putting the nearest egg between herself and the gold. She's not afraid, of course--far from it. Just cautious.

Aislinn jumps back, falling over into the sands. She sits there staring up at the gold.

Tiarnath hisses, her neck extending more until she's chastised further by her lifemate. A moment more, and then she steps back, wings furling and nudges Rnayth, crooning softly.

Aisha watches the display with careful thoughtfulness.

Rnayth turns to his mate and pushes his head against her neck lightly -- a soothing gesture. Then he rumbles, deep and penetratingly.

Telinda shakes her head, "I have no idea what's gotten into you today!" she remarks, turning to the candidates,

Jerel follows the other candidates examples and gives a quick bow to Tiarnath, Rnayth, and their riders. The former gets a worried glance, but he eventually wanders over to one the closer eggs, regarding it thoughtfully.

You say "It's ok. Go ahead and touch them!"

Nerian politely moves forward, touching an egg with stars and twinkling lights and a throw rug.

K'laarn makes it over to where the dragons and Telinda are standing. "Thats right Rnayth, I know you're trying to keep her calm." He remarks to the bronze as he reaches up to lightly pat him as he moves near the dragon's flank.

Moira, naturally, heads over to her 'favorite' egg. One hand rests gently on a wood-brown patch. "It's harder," she announces, with a grin. "Or it feels harder, at least."

Aislinn gets back up on her feet, brushing off sand from her clothes and muttering something about "always falling..." Once satisfied that she is sand-free, she moves to the purplish egg first, laying her hands on it.

Ysanne hasn't waited for Telinda's words to touch. Her fingers splay lightly over the egg she has visited time and time again - a portait in greys. "Everytime," she murmurs "They change a l ittle more."

Aisha eyes the dragons doubtfully, but edges up to one of the eggs, laying a palm gingerly on the surface without taking her eyes off the dragons. They *look* calmer, but...

Xavier stands there with his hands resting lightly on the egg in front of him, but is watching the two dragons.

Ysanne follows the darker and lighter lines of the egg she touches, fingers tracing with consideration. "Such a shame to lose all this when they hatch."

Jerel continues to stare at the egg before him, and eventually reaches out, fingers tracing along the ripples on it's blue surface.

Aisha crouches down, studying the egg's curvature with her hands.

Moira walks down the tunnel.

Nerian moves off to an egg with sandy yellow colors plus some garish greens and blues.

K'laarn stands near Rnayth as he observes, or seems to be studying the faces of those candidates roaming the eggs. His hand gently strokes the bronzed side of his dragon and idily he comments "I need to take you out more for exercise. You seem to be getting fatter." He seems to be jesting by the following chuckle.

Ysanne pauses in her touching, hands still resting on the egg, and watches Jur. A smile on her lips greets the sight of him, so hesitant.

Tiarnath settles down near Rnayth, her head across his forelegs, but her eyes still watch the candidates.

Telinda snorts, "You think everyone is getting fat, K'laarn!"

Aislinn puts her ear to the shell in front of her, both hands still resting on the surface as she carefully leans into it. Her eyes half-close as she tries to hear something.

K'laarn turns to look over at Telinda and glances her over throughly. After this pause he carefully replies, "Well, not everyone. You're not fat." He says blithely, though by the look on his face, he's saying it just to be nice and not hurt her feelings. "You and I should take turns taking our dragons out for a little excise. Do you think Tiarnath'd leave for long enough if Rnayth and I were remaining here?" He queries.

Nerian crosses over in front of the dragons in order to reach the black starry egg.

Telinda shrugs, "It's possible, and then she'd only be interested in getting a bath and heading back here though. I should take up N'all's offer of doing drills with him and the weyrlings."

K'laarn nods his head agreeably. "Aye, that you maybe should." He says encouragingly and helpfully as his eyes drift to Telinda's midrift. That glance says more than words ever could that he's noticed she's gained at least some weight.

Xavier finally moves to another egg and studies it. His eyes keep coming back to watching the two dragons who are guarding the eggs, however.

Tiarnath's eyes follow Nerian, watching each step the girl puts down.

Jerel glances over at Ysanne and grins before moving onto another egg. He's not so unsure of this, and boldly places his palm on it's shell, gently rubbing it's many colors. Deep greens, whites, faint yellows, and dark reds. He pauses and touches his index finger to the faint image of the female dancing across it's surface.

Aisha drifts slowly from one egg to another, not focusing on one in particular, getting to know the hardness and warmth of the shells.

Aislinn pulls back from the purplish egg and moves to another one...this one splashed in blue tones.

Ysanne grins at Jerel, then oos, as she is made suddenly and pointedly aware of how hot her feet are, having to move quickly. And decides to pay visits to other eggs, haphazard in her choosing.

Nerian lingers at the egg for a few seconds before moving on to the next.

Aisha walks down the tunnel.

Rnayth remains behind and beside Tiarnath as he watches these candidates. His eyes focus warily on Jerel before skipping over to Aisha before finally dropping on Ysanne and then Aislinn. An eerie rumble throbs from his throat, as if he might be just a little bit distrustful. He shifts, relaxing slightly, turning his head to observe Nerian. This girl he knows, or at least seems to. He gives her a soft croon of acknowledgement when she strays near.

Nerian smiles briefly as she hears the croon. "Pretty eggs."

Telinda mumbles something under her breath, turning her back to K'laarn and smoothing her hands over her stomach. It's not that fat! "Exercise. With N'all. Yep."

K'laarn warily eyes Telinda. "It best just be Drills, with the Weyrlings." He adds a little possessively before he crosses to Telinda and wraps his arms around her from behind before whispering something in her ear before giving her a squeeze. Then he rests his chin on her head, or at least beside it as he smiles over at Nerian when he hears her comment. Rnayth, ever the proud sire straightens at that comment and thrums a pleased agreement.

You sense K'laarn whispers, "After all, I'm the only one who gets to -exercise- with you." He says meaningfully.

Nerian moves over to a watery egg, smiling at the candidate already there as she touches the other side.

Telinda tries not to, but sniggers at K'laarn's murmered comment, placing hands over his as they embrace her, "Only with the weyrlings dear, and not that sort of *with*! You should know me better than that!"

Xavier glances over at Telinda and K'laarn with a curious look on his face. He shrugs and moves on to another egg.

Aislinn nearly bumps into Xavier as she heads to another egg "Sorry" she murmers as she sidesteps him.

Xavier nods to Aislinn, "S'O.K."

Jerel grins, and nods his agreement to Nerian. "Yes.. They are pretty." He regretfully wanders away from the egg he had been touching, and stops beside one with the image of so many multi-colored leaves painted on it. He absently traces the outline of one of the leaves before moving on to the next egg.

Uinn is looking at whose already made a bet.

Ysanne frowns at a more forboding looking egg, its bright colours marking a scene that is more disturbing than not. She bends nearer to it to check out a shape that looks like it might be a dragon poised for flight.

Xavier turns and heads off the sands.

Xavier walks down the tunnel.

K'laarn continues to hold Telinda in an affectionate cuddle with his hands resting on her waist and belly. He stands behind her as he watches candidates continue to touch Rnayth and Tiarnath's eggs. "You remember doing this, Telinda?" He says fondly as if just watching brings forth a memory.

Telinda grins and shakes her head, "Actually, not really, I stayed away from the eggs when I could. Especially Tiarnath's. That was trouble" she smiles up at the gold, "that I wasn't willing to have. Happened though." She shrugs, "What's meant to be is meant to be, after all!"

Nerian nodnods. "I've heard that sometimes dragonets even impress from the stands. My mother knew a bluerider whose dragon found her in the stands, even."

Aislinn's circuit of the eggs leads her near Nerian and she hears that last comment "Really?" she asks. "How remarkable. Must have been a complete surprise for that person"

Ysanne blinks at Nerian. "She actually *knew* someone that happened to?"

K'laarn snorts at Telinda's answer, turning his head as he tilts it toward Nerian and Aislinn, listening. Suddenly he jumps, as if surprised by something and steps back from Telinda for a moment, eying her warily.

K'laarn blandly comments then, almost accustionary, "Have you been eating Telinda? Did you eat today, more importantly." He gives her a rather serious look as he rounds to stand beside her though he keeps half an eye on the candidates.

Nerian nods. "Yarra, I think her name was. At Igen. But she transferred later on, I think. I never met her."

Telinda frowns at K'laarn, "Now what on earth made you act like that?" she asks, turning around to glare at the bronzerider. "Me? Eat? I think I grabbed a redfruit this morning." That's food after all! "So, sure, I ate! I'm a little hungry, but not overly so!"

Nerian hears Telinda and uh-ohs.

Aislinn is distracted by Telinda and K'laarn. Though not normally an eavesdropping sort of person, she does drift to an egg closer to the two. Of course she's touching the egg...it just happens to be in a spot she can overhear...that's all

Ysanne tries not to listen, and continues bending over the egg she is instpecting - even dares a touch at its stark and frightening lines. But she is all ears for the discussion taking place.

K'laarn retorts then, arms crossing in front of him, making him seem implaceable. "Well your stomach just rumbled, rather violently I might add. You're going to eat, while I watch, before you goto bed this night." Concern filters into his voice.

Telinda crosses her arms over chest, foot tapping amongst the sands, "It's my sharding stomach to rumble if it wants to rumble!" she adds, before continuing with "And if I'm not hungry then, I'll eat in the morning! I'm no child to be told I ain't going to bed before I've eaten all my greens!"

K'laarn says firmly -- as if he were stating a command. "You'll eat." No argument will sway his position on that one. Then he glances around at the curious faces and ears as he lowers his voice, "We can talk about this later." He adds, his head tilting toward the candidates somewhat inconspicuously.

Nerian is actually paying very intent attention upon the egg in front of her. Honest.

Telinda shakes her head vehemently, "We'll talk about it now, or not at all!" she comments, "And if you're going to be like that, I won't sharding eat! I'm fine, stop acting like my mother!" she says to K'laarn, striding off to the other side of Tiarnath, putting that big gold lump between her and the bronzerider.

Ysanne stands quickly, looking about to see what the other candidates are doing. A cautious glance is sent toward the way out - maybe that would be a safer course of events.

Aislinn blinks, trying to concentrate on the egg before her. She tries to keep her eyes on it, but her glance keeps drifting to K'laarn and Telinda and an expression of worry crosses her face.

Nerian moves on to another egg and begins paying it far more attention than the two riders and their exact positions and every word they're saying, for that matter. And whers fly.

K'laarn watches Telinda stride off and grunts his displeasure. "Sharding women." He mutters then. "Worry about them, act co ncerned about them, and what do they do?" He looks up at Rnayth. "I ask you." The dragon merely rumbles his assurance to the rider, he's more interested in the candidates. The dragon's head lowers, poking toward the eggs. K'laarn snorts and says. "What? What do you mean I should of been nicer?" Those words obviously are a response to some unheard comment.

Tiarnath> I bespoke Rnayth with << He grumps alot doesn't he! >>

Dragon> Rnayth bespoke Tiarnath with << Yes. But he is only worried. He tells me he felt a large bump move in her stomach. >>

Tiarnath> Rnayth senses that Tiarnath rumbles an acknowledgement << It does that when she's not been eating much. >>

Ysanne returns her attention back to the egg before her, a more intent perusal intended to distract. But it isn't long before she's lost in its patterning, frowning at a curious set of marking that run along its side and culr away into the sand covered lower portions. Heac cocking to one side, she tries to figure it out.

K'laarn looks over out at the candidates. Oh sure, they -look- like they're touching the eggs, but the straining bodies leaning toward the dragons and riders to hear what they say, and the occasional glances indicate the truth. He grumbles under his breath even more at that.

Telinda visibly shakes herself and then wanders over to Nerian and smiles at the candidate, though it's a strained one "Nice weather we're having, isn't it? Better than all that mugginess. I wager there'll be rains coming in soon!"

Nerian nods carefully. "And much better than the dry heat at Igen."

Telinda wrinkles her nose, "Oh yes, then I'd be even more thirsty than I am" she says, walking onto another candidate

Nerian whews and moves to another egg in the opposite direction.

K'laarn just shakes his head in amazement at Telinda's attitude and her unexplicable questions about the weather. He glances at Nerian and gives her a glance that seems to indicate that he feels sympathy with her.

Nerian grins back at K'laarn, perhaps a bit impudently, before moving to another egg, this one again further from Telinda despite the backtrack.

Telinda feels sympathy for noone, she was the one being picked on, even Rnayth agreed!

Rnayth calmly nuzzles against Tiarnath and links his tail -- though the motion is only partially visible to some, with Tiarnath's. He keeps his head resting beside hers, as if they were communing.

Nerian ends up back by the starlit black egg, though this seems to cause no undue distress on her part.

Ysanne finally draws herself away from the disturbing egg, and still frowning, choses another to consider, stopping along the way to brush fingers along other smooth-surfaced eggs.

Tiarnath croons softly to Rnayth, nuzzling against him, her tail coiling around his and wings rustling slightly.

Tiarnath> I bespoke Rnayth with << He's worried her. >>

Aislinn heads back to the purple egg...she's touched the others...all of them she thinks. Her hands rest ever so gently on the surface as she looks at it. She glances once at the dam and sire, smiling to see them nuzzling each other, before turning her attention back to her 'favorite' egg.

Dragon> Tiarnath senses that Rnayth sounds concerned. << How did he worry her? >>

Tiarnath> Rnayth senses that Tiarnath rumbles soothingly, << I shouldn't say. He'll find out soon enough I think. >>

Dragon> Tiarnath senses that Rnayth seems mystified by that answer. He rumbles darkly. << You could just tell me, couldn't you? >>

Tiarnath> I bespoke Rnayth with << You'll tell him, and then it won't be a secret anymore. >>

Dragon> Tiarnath senses that Rnayth sulks slightly as he says << Oh. I see. >> In a rather unreasonable tone.

Tiarnath> I bespoke Rnayth with << Ask her if you want to know. Or wait and be patient. Even she doesn't know yet. >>

Dragon> Tiarnath senses that Rnayth replies confidently << We shall ask. >>

K'laarn finaly walks over to Telinda, after glancing at one or two of the candidates. He leans to whisper in her ear briefly while touching her shoulder.

You sense K'laarn wonders, "Its been a while now, should we ask them to leave? Besides, I want to talk to you, if I could?"

K'laarn senses "Telinda nods, "We should, Tia's getting restless" she lies"

Ysanne sighs and mutters something to herself. She excuses herself, nodding respectfully in parting, and heads out.

Ysanne walks down the tunnel.

K'laarn watches as some of the people filter off. He nods at Telinda and then says more loudly. "Wheever you like, Telinda." He agrees.

Aislinn pulls herself away from the purplish egg. With a small curtsy to the parents she slowly makes her way out of the sands.

Aislinn walks down the tunnel.

Telinda smiles, a little more pleasantly, "Well, I think I might go something to eat" she says.

Nerian scoots, after half-bowing to the parents and grinning at the riders.

Nerian walks down the tunnel.

K'laarn glances over at Telinda and smiles faintly. "Shall we head back to the cottage?" He mentions nothing about her captiulation to his previous desire. He just looks glad she's going to take his suggestion and use it.

Telinda nods to K'laarn and heads out

You walk down the tunnel and off the sands.