Dragon> All sense that Dovath thrums in accompaniment << Yes the little ones come! >> Her thoughts laced with the blue of happiness.

On the sands, Rnayth rises up on his haunches -- nearly standing as suddenly he sounds a tremendous bugle that echoes through the air. His tail swishes behind him before he sinks back into his noble sitting position of a prideful sire.

Telinda smiles, "Ready love?"

Tairene strides over to viewing galleries around the hatching sands.

K'laarn nods his head and says, offering his arm to Telinda. "That I am." He glances down at his weyrmate proudly with warmth suffusing his features. "Lets go."

Alinor walks over from the Lakeside Meadow.

You walk over to the sizzling hot sands.

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

K'laarn walks over, accompanying Telinda with his arm and hers entwined. He glances toward the two dragons, seated on the sands. With a smile he calls. "I could hear you all the way to the cottage, Rnayth." The dragon merely croons his happiness, whirling eyes spinning in the hues of green and blue.

Telinda smiles over at K'laarn. Then suddenly, as if remembering something, she uncurls her hand, the one that's not holding onto K'laarn's, to reveal a small strip of silver that glints in a beam of light from one of the glows, just the size for a hair clasp. Warm smile lighting her features, she proffers the hair slide to K'laarn, "I had this made for you. Meant to give it to you on the way over, but it slipped my mind!" she remarks, eyes glittering with happiness.

K'laarn ahhs with pleasure and reaches over with his free hand to take the clasp. He lifts it up and looks it over. "It's wonderful." He states warmly as his other hand squeezes Telinda's before uncurling so that he can place the clasp in his hair. Then he turns and leans over and kisses Telinda lightly. "Thank you.. I had something for you too,.. but you'll have to see it later." He teases.

Telinda positively beams, her expression radiant. "You're very welcome, my love. It suits you, as I know it would. Atanna's work is always something to behold!" Gently, a finger caresses the curve of K'laarn's cheek, before she grins once more and returns her attention to the sands, shifting her stance to place a hand against Tiarnath's golden hide.

K'laarn smiles fondly down at Telinda and takes his place right beside her, near Tiarnath. "Her work is." He agrees, "But you could give me a rock, probably, and I'd be happy with it." His deep affection for the goldrider wells up in those words. "And here's the day we've been waiting for." He adds, "Are you ready for it?"

The candidates stride over from the Candidate Room.

Kiraya walks fast across the sands, nervosity and the heat making her steps quick. With a wringing of her hands, she bows to both dam and sire of the clutch, including K'laarn and Telinda as well.

Celestial bows to Tiarnath and then to Rnayth, then returns her gaze to the door.

Jeyrmi strides onto the sands, giving dam, sire, and their riders a respectful bow before taking his place in the semi-circle.

Celestial waves her hand at her side for Aislinn to get over here!

Ysanne pays her respects with a carefully executed bow, and moves to join the gathering of candidates.

Aislinn walks quickly across the sands, stopping long enough for a short, graceful bow to Tiarnath and Rnayth. She continues, squinting at the candidates until she spots Celie. She grabs the other candidate's hand "I didn't think it'd be this dark" she says.

Shasta pauses, finding herself on the sands, and wide eyed she bows to Rnayth and Tiarnath, including their riders in the courtesy. Breath caught, and almost as pale as her robe, she heads for the semi-circle.

Andreas enters and drops into a passable bow to queen and sire and riders, then takes his slightly green self into place in the semicircle. That is if he can see the ones he's trying to bow to.

Moira follows along with the line, already taking mincing steps. She bows rather briefly to Rnayth and then Tiarnath, then moves to her place in line, with a jittery grin for those next to her.

Jerel glances at the other candidates and follows their example, giving a quick bow to Telinda, K'laarn, and their respective lifemates.

Aisha hesitates a second, adjusting to the dimness, and executes a polite bow in the approximate direction of riders and each dragon, taking her place in line.

Nerian bows and steps into place.

Celestial nods, "It is....I didn't either."

Tandrum paces in, his sandals making a soft squish-squish through the hot sands. His bow to Tiarnath and Rnayth isn't given with its usual flourish, but with the sobriety due the occasion. Respects paid, he joins the candidate circle, posture straight and proud.

Alix tries her best not to stumble as she moves along. She bows to the dam and sire dragons and their riders, then scurries forwards before she blocks anyone.

Kiraya stops, prospecting a spot among the semi-circle. Looking back, she watches the emerging candidates for some distinguishing feature to locate Kymra and Shadara. "Dark," She mutters.

Xavier bows to Tiarnath and Rnayth and quickly takes his place in the circle

Farin peers out into the darkness, spotting the two huge dragons he lowers his head in a bow in their diraction.

Adrian steps out boldly onto the hot sands and strolls out a short distance before bowing respectfully to the bronze and gold, or at least in that general direction while squinting into the darkness. In the dim light it's hard to make out people, but clearly Adi is looking for just the right place to stand.

Rnayth shifts his stance as candidates emerge, but its only to nuzzle his face up against Tiarnath's neck soothingly. His tail remains neatly curled behind his haunches, and his wings folded against his sides.

Kymra swiftly steps upon the sands, fumbling with robe in attempt to straighten the wrinkled fabric. Fumbling, she directs a proper bow to the dam and sire, including the riders. Moving into an emptish place in the forming semi-circle, she finds herself near Kiraya, and snakes over, reaching for the other's hand.

Kinoa starts as the first heat of the sands is felt against her feet, but remembers to bend at the waist, bowing to Tiarnath, Rnayth, and their riders respectfully. Green eyes widen as she searches for a spot in the semi-circle, sliding in next to Moira.

Moira, squinting towards the galleries, mutters, "Dark. So that's why we're wearing white." She mumbles something about targets, and gives Kinoa a tight grin.

Dyani gives a bow and a smile to Tiarnath, Rnayth, and their respective lifemates, then steps to a place in the forming semi-circle, glancing left and right before concentrating her attention on the eggs.

Several Weyr residents run out onto the sands, arms filled with the dim brilliance of old, worn glows. Like their mother, the eggs cannot choose the right time for anything! It is dark, nearly pitch black. In addition, there's been a glow shortage!

Khyam bows to the bronze and gold before taking a place with the other candidates, his eyes traveling over the clutch on the sands.

Tiarnath gazes suspiciously at the sudden influx of candidates, head lowered as she glances over them in assessment. Snorting, as if something has been said to calm her fears, she eases herself to a crouch, her tail coiling around her flanks. Telinda flashes her lifemate an encouraging smile and then, slightly turning her head over her shoulder, she grins at K'laarn, squeezing his hand, and nodding, before finally turning her attention to the rocking eggs.

Deliya gives a bow to Rynath and Tiarnath, and joins the semi-circle, almost tripping over her own feet in the darkness.

The light of the moon is filtered through the billows of clouds obscuring the night dark sky. The clouds drift inexorably past, covering its silvery face and hiding one of the most brilliant sources of light this very dark, dark night. The sands fall into shadows lit only by faint and widely spaced glows.

Kiraya smiles, hand snatching Kymra's but still looking. "Shadar'!" She calls in a hissed whisper.

Lily walks onto the sands, stepping lightly. She bows to sire and dam and their riders, then blinks in the dim light. Finding Farin and Kinoa she squeezes in.

Most of the glows have been placed around the outer rim of the Hatching Sands, lighting the way to the exits for safety. One of the young girl helpers looks to an older woman, exclaiming that there isn't enough. The other shakes her head. "They'll have to do," She says, grabbing the girl's hand and leading her off the grounds.

Aisha squints blindly across the sands, listening for the tiny whispers of spraying sand as the eggs rock.

N'all nods to the dragon-pair, and walks to his place by Telinda and K'laarn.

As the humming of the dragons intensifies, the shadows settle fully over the Hatching Grounds. Even the proud parents are barely visible -- Tiarnath's golden hide muted in the dim lit depths, whilst Rnayth appears as nothing more than a mysterious dark form by her side.

Shasta's eyes survey the clutch in the dimness, the dark closing in as the semi-circle of candidates grows, blocking off what little light there is. "How'll we see them to dodge them?" She asks, reaching for someone's hand.

Celestial ohs as the moon is coverd in clouds..."now it's even darker!"

Lily *squeezes* Farin's hand -- rather hard, actually.

Flashes of white appear as the Candidates mill around as they arrive on the sands. After they circle the eggs, their robes show a little better in the light that gleams from the glows surrounding the Grounds. The candidates face the dark patch that is the neatly spaced dragon eggs hidden in shadow.

Tiarnath coils her tail around her haunches, gazing over the dimly-lit sands at the gently rocking eggs of her clutch. Possessiveness evident in every line of her body, she hmmmmmms loudly, the sound echoing through her chest and the stone around her as the Southern dragons herald the impending hatching.

Jeyrmi shifts his feet absently, trying his best not to look as nervous as he is. Can't mess up his image for anything, can he? A glance is directed in Moira's direction at her words, though he can't make her out for all she's not too far away.

Kinoa turns to Lily, groping for her hand in the darkness. "I can't see hardly anything," she mutters as she peers around the circle of white bodies and faces, glimmering faintly in the dim light.

Deliya looks around, becoming even more scared than she already was.

Shadara comes out onto the sands with wide blue eyes and she bows to Rynath, Tairnath and thier riders before mincing over to join Kiraya and Kymra, feet lifting quickly to try and keep her feet from getting too hot.

That's not a Moon Egg starts to spin, like it was a planet on an orbit around the sandy wallow where it's been protected for so long. The grey shell seems to gather itself, like it was some powerful object, and then it shatters, debris exploding in a wide radius. Fragments of shell, visible as lighter patches on the dark hide, cover the new hatchling. Standing, confused, the dragonet looks up as someone in the row of candidates giggles. Shaking itself, shards falling off, it makes its way over to the boy who laughed -- a young weaver -- and nudges him, causing the boy to collapse forwards onto the dragonet. A brief glimpse of light gives a hint of molten-bronze hide, covered in arms, as the boy calls out the name and apologises for laughing.

Alix looks towards the glows with a sigh. They seem so far away. She squeezes in with some other candies, not looking to see who, eye moving to the eggs.

Aisha leans forward, listening hard, trying to see as the first dragonet Impresses across the way.

Lily grabs Kinoa's hand then blinks in the light, "Did you see that?" she trys to point.

Aislinn cups her ear "I can't see them...sounds like something is happening" She squints her eyes "An Impression?" she gasps.

Deliya shakes her head, "Wow!"

Farin winces. "Ouch... couldn't you be a bit more... carefvl about that Lily. I really wanted to keep that hand." He peers towards the stands... "I can't see anyone... I wonder if anyone came from home..."

Kiraya peers, face pale enough to likely stand out as well as her robe. "We can't /see/," She protests in the softest of whispers, nervous glance cast towards Kymra and Shadara. "Oh, oh.. That was quick.. Oh.."

Andreas widens his eyes, just briefly, but stays quiet as he tries to gulp a calming breath, stomach twisting a little. That was fast!

Shadara blinks with wide eyes, hands curling into Kiraya's and Kymra's "That was quick, but it's so dark."

Celestial nods, "I think so Aise....That was quick!

Moira, hearing the first egg pop, reaches suddenly for Ysa's hand. "It's starting!" she hisses. Way to state the obvious.

Dyani shifts back and forth slightly, then holds her breath as the crack of a shell sounds loudly in the Grounds. "I think it was a bronze," she murmurs to those next to her. "But I can't be sure in this dark."

Letting out a gasp, Kinoa peers in the direction she /thinks/ Lily's pointing. "Wow that was fast," she murmurs, closing her eyes briefly and trying to take a deep breath.

Ysanne grabs the nearest hand. "Where?" sighing at missing so much already in the dim lighting.

Tandrum leans forward to look at this first impression, setting a name with a face. Settling back, he pulls once on his robe, trying to straighten the uneven edge.

Lily sorries and loosens her grip on Farin's hand...slightly.

No Time for Bravery Egg is suddenly alive with quivering motion. One half of the egg actually seems to bulge out ruining the perfection of the egg's shape.

Adrian's eyes narrow even more, straining against th darkness to see what's going on. Well, at least the young candidate found Ysanne in the group and reaches out trying to find the taller girl's hand distractedly. "did...did it just happen?"

Kymra casts a relieved smile towards Shadara's form, waggling her free fingers in the other's direction. Eyes wide, she squints after the Impressed pair, elbowing Kiraya. "You see that?" she hisses.

As the It was -This- Big Egg shivers several times it seems to set the deep marine blues shimmering, like the ocean was coming to life. Finally, after what seems like endless waiting, the menacing cloud bursts forth to reveal a snout. A murky hatching eventually wrestles itself free from the confines of its shell, and sets off with none of the usual awkwardness, flowing instead from the remains of its shell. As it nears the ring of candidates, its dark colouration is hidden, until one young girl from Cove Hold drops to her knees to hug her lifemate to her, revealing her green colouring in the dim light of the glows.

Farin's attention is brought away from the stands as the first egg hatchs he peers towards the shape.

Aisha mutters under her breath, "I can't see *anything*."

Rnayth bugles his triumphant greeting at his newest, and first 'son'. His tail swishes around cheerfully as his humming begins to intensify.

Lily squints...she *thinks* she's sees another egg moving...maybe?

Kiraya nods, falling silent and doing her best to hear the going-ons. Hands squeeze Shadara's and Kymra's alternately. "This is.. Spooky. And amazing," She murmurs, talking more to herself than anything.

Celestial peers...."Was that another egg I heard?"

Jeyrmi hears the pops, and the cries of hatchlings and candidates, but he can't see a blasted thing! " What is going on?" he mutters to the person next to him, irritation at not being able to see the sights getting the better of his nervousness.

Tiarnath bugles at the first hatchling, lowering her muzzle to inspect the new addition to Pern's fighting force. With a small, delicate, and warmly tinged croon for her newest hatchling, she sends him on his way, watching with cerulean-tinged eyes as he searches for his new lifemate.

Kinoa lifts one foot slightly, replaces it and then lifts the other, starting to breathe a little faster. "Hot and dark," she mutters as she tries to see the hatchlings make the first impressions.

Shasta gasps as not too far from her the cove hold girl impresses. In the shaft of dim light afforded by her dropping down, she can see green, and tugs on her neighbour's hand. "Green! it was green!"

Aislinn answers, her hand clinging to Celie's "I think so"

Xavier crains his head this way and that trying to see over the heads of the taller candidates in front of him. It seems that he is always getting stuck behind someone that is taller that he and blocking his view.

N'all moves closer to the exit to help the new pairs off of the Sands.

Deliya looks around, squinting to see the action.

Shadara shifts from one foot to the other, a look of almost terror on her face as she tries to see the hatchlings, so none will barrel into her, "How are we going to avoid getting hurt in this gloom?"

Kymra manages a tremulous smile, faint at best. "I'd say," she responds, voice edging into whisper's range. "If only it weren't so dark..." Munching upon lower lip, she resumes her peering, hazel orbs narrowed in an attempt to catch details.

Khyam starts at the sound of dragons bugling, wiping his hand against the side of his robe.

I Don't Give a Damn Egg spins idly around in circles as if it didn't really care whether or not it hatched - after all it was happy being on its own! The swirling crown of ebony becomes a blur of movement, coalescing with the draped scarlet of its base, as in gyrates in some Southern dance. It cracks, the fissures undulating across its surface, like the waves of fire crackling as if consuming all things in its path, leaving a large dark patch that can only be a hatchling in the ravaged shards. Emerging, the dragonet methodically studies each candidate before choosing a tall, blond-haired Cove Hold boy. Imperiously, the dragonet pushes the boy over in its eagerness, revealing the green hue of its hide in the dim glowlight.

No Time for Bravery Egg bulges further until impossibly stretched and then falls to its side. The motion sends it rolling, briefly out of view and then back again.

Rnayth digs his large talons into the sand as he leans forward to inspect the moving eggs briefly. A wuffled croon followed by the resumption of humming accompanies the hatching of that next dragonet.

Andreas scoots a bit, trying to drop in the back row as shorter people fidget behind him... he is one of the tall ones, after all. He almost steps on someone's foot in the dark.

Alix rubs her eyes, trying to see. "Why did I stare at those glows over there? Now I can't see I thing...""

Telinda smiles slightly, her expression wistful. It's possible she's remembering her own impression, the way that certain gold came up to her, all washed clean because of her fascination with puddles. A hand gently lies on Tiarnath's foreleg as she reassures the gold as each of her hatchlings finds a lifemate.

No Time for Bravery Egg decides this is the time after all and starts to spin in wild circles. Cracks, like a dry desert, appear around the mountain ridge that circles the circumference, until the egg splits neatly in two, right around the middle. In the midst of this activity a young hatchling steps forth, covered in what seems to be shell shards, but with the dim light it's uncertain. With a plaintive cry, it stands still, uncertain of where to go or what to do.

Deliya peers as she sees an egg go flying by.

K'laarn smiles proudly, glancing over at Telinda and nodding his approval as he says, "Its going well, and a bronze! First!" He says. "A good omen." Then he turns his attention back to the gloomy sands, eyes squinting against the darkness.

Farin glances over at Lily, barely being able to see her, "Can you see anything? I can barely catch more than a glimpse of colour here and there."

Lily tries to peer through the dark and shifts her feet, "No, I can't see a thing!"

Kinoa wipes her hands on her robe, leaving a sweaty spot that no one would notice in the dim light. Quickly regrabbing the hands of those next to her, she starts again as the No time for bravery egg breaks open. "Shards, where /is/ that?" she says, peering around for the source of the noise.

Deliya peers again, "Look, ani=other one!"

Ysanne shuffles her feet with the sand's heat, trying to catch a glimpse of *anything*.

Dyani wrinkles her nose in a grimace, though it's not like anyone can see it. "Of all the times for a glow shortage," she mutters loudly. "We can't even see our hands in front of our faces, much less dodge hatchlings."

Ship of Dreams Egg rolls quietly across a bit of the sands, not making a sound of the struggle that must be going on within to make it shift and move so much.

Aisha tries to nudge Andi back into line.

Moira gives Kinoa a smaller-than-usual grin, visible mostly by the flash of white from her teeth. "Away," she says tersely.

Celestial Smiles as she finally shakes off her nervousness...or at least it is shoved to the back of her thoughts....

Aislinn's head darts left, then right as her ears catch sounds that her eyes can't see. "I think I see something, Celie" she says. "All it is is a shape...but it's moving"

Kiraya listens, another egg cracking heard. "Another one. There's one out there.. Oh, for some working /glows/!" She still whispers, voice falling quiet amid the dark sands.

Telinda smiles, hand resting on her growing belly for a moment, a secret smile playing across her features, before a loving glance gets directed towards K'laarn, a slight blush tinting her cheeks, hidden quickly as she looks through the darkness trying to see a little better. "First, yes, always the best!" she remarks

Shasta starts as another hatchling breaks shell, her eyes searching in the darkness for it, but finding nothing but shadows.

Shadara shakes her head a little, braid moving against her back as her eyes squint, trying to pierce the gloom, "I can barely see, but I can hear them."

An' then I'd Kick 'er Egg rocks ever so slightly. In fact in this poor light you would have been lucky to notice it at all. Those close by to the eggs might have detected a tiny tremor and shifting in position.

Nerian tenses as she watches more dragonet shadows wandering about.

Celestial ohs! "You're right!"

Lily blinks in the dark.. "maybe over there?"

Tandrum keeps his face calm but begins a slow rockstepping to either side, his eyes fixed on the egg mound.

Aisha holds Andi by the elbow, as much to hold him in place as anything else; we're all in this together.

Andreas holds himself still after the nudge, his eyes squinting as he tries to make out the movements of candidates and dragons, but it's hard enough seeing the candidates beside him! Instead he turns his head from side to side following sounds.

Kiss Me Egg is no longer only a study in grey, it is now a study of movement. It rolls in languid circles like a pair of elegant dancers moving to some unheard melody of a bygone era. Then, as if the large storm cloud rained down on the surface of the egg, cracks precipitate the shell, finally splitting open to tumble a shadowy form onto the sands. It stands up, struggling only momentarily with its balance, takes one step, and goes flying head first, landing face down in the sand. It looks up, creeling with embarrassment and hunger right into the eyes of a older boy from Uppsala Hold - impression!! As the two step over to the Weyrlingmaster a stray beam of light reveals the new dragonet a handsome blue.

Kymra resorts to squeezing a trifle harder upon Kiraya's hand, spying egg's occupant emerge. "Look!" she notes, tremble of the voice evident. "Look!" Feet shuffle, and a grimace is made, though hardly noticable in the gloom. "Too dark, so hot..."

Jeyrmi peers into the darkness, clenching his hands together as he tries to make out the color of the next hatchling. " Shards," the stablelad mutters. " What color would you say?" Question is directed towards who ever is nearby.

Lily squints. "Another one? Over there with the boy?" She squints more..."Oh shards, can't see..."

Adrian's head shakes back and forth. Is that shadows spilling across the sands, or the form of lumbering dragonettes stalking closer to the group. "Are those dragon eyes? That glowing? it looks--bigish. Maybe."

Farin glances around in the dark. "Where?"

Ship of Dreams Egg hits something in the sands and cracks along one end. It wobbles about a bit more now that nothing can save it from the building pressure from within.

Aisha squints. "I can't even tell what color they are."

Kiraya bends a knee to lift one foot off the sands. "Oh, if only they'd explain /everything/ before we get out here." Though, someone probably mentioned the heat.. "Yuh, I /know/." She twists the hand held by Kymra. "Ease up!" She hisses.

Deliya shakes her head, "Can't see a thing."

Ysanne murmurs, craning her head at glimpses of motion. "Maybe they should have put glows in our hair or something."

N'all smiles to the new pair, blue and his rider, and shows them through to the weyrling room.

Aisha says "Headglows, like miners wear."

Celestial squeezes Aislinn's had as she watches the hatchlings.

Shasta shuffles her feet, not only trying to relieve the scorching heat, but also trying in vain to let some light past her. But right behind her stands a taller candidate, who's movements seem to match hers.

Moira giggles quietly at Ysa's words, straining to see some sign of a hatchling. "Too bad they couldn't put 'em on the dragonets."

Take this Kiss Hatchling steps forth, egg soft claws settling into hot sand and then quickly moving again through the gloom to set down once more. Searching this dragonet makes a trumpeting noise, like a lost ship in the night calling for safety with it's foghorn.

Lily gestures towards some form of light. "There?"

Khyam watches the shadowed form of the newly hatched, and secretly colored hatchling, hands still rubbing the sides of his robe. "could be a blue..." he murmurs almost to himself.

Happier now that the first impressions are over, Tiarnath warbles, shifting her stance from one leg to another. It'll soon be over, but she's intent on seeing whatever she can as soon as she can. Not like she'll remember it, but Telinda will, so that's almost as good. Golden hide sparkles, like mulled cider in one of the fading glows, as muscles undulate, wings rustling with her eagerness for all her eggs to hatch and for the resulting hatchlings to find new partners.

Rnayth's eyes glow in the gloom, two greenish blue ovals high up in the air. His hum resounds through the hatching Sands, a benediction on the newly hatched dragons, and a warm welcome.

Andreas elbows Aisha this time at her comment, snorting a little. "You love the mystique of all this don't you just?"

Alix shifts in the darkness, bumping a few people and muttering sorries She squints as hard as she can, trying to see.

Catching a bit of movement out of the corner of her eye, Kinoa turns, trying to figure out what shape or color it is. She laughs nervously as she hears the bugling of a dragonet. "Sounds like someone's hungry."

Aislinn gives a start at the bugle not too far away...is it? "I can't tell...but he sounds close..."

Deliya shuffles a bit where she stands, but doesn't move much.

An' then I'd Kick 'er Egg is now rolling evenly from side to side, in a wide sweeping motion. Again the gloom makes it nigh on impossible to see the egg's movement, though with perhaps a better view may see changes in the silhouettes on the sands.

Farin peers towards where Lily gestures and shakes his head. "I can't see a thing. Shards, why'd it have to happen like this?"

Shadara lets go of Kymra's hand and wipes the sweat off her face as she steps from foot too foot, "Where?" she says, eyes going wide again as she hears the rustling of wings.

Celestial nods, surprised.

Dyani giggles at Ysanne's words and edges in that direction a bit, hoping she doesn't bump into anyone on the way. "Anything besides what we've got would be nice. This is way different than when I stood at Honshu."

K'laarn reaches over gently in the gloom -- dark enough for a little intimacy here -- and touches Telinda's expanding belly -- as proud a father as his own bronze dragon beside Tiarnath.

Aisha intercepts Andi's elbow with her own and gives him a look, but keeps her mouth shut.

Jerel wathes the rounder sillhouttes that must be dragons as they wander about the sands. He smiles, muttering congratulations to those who impress them. His green eyes travel back to the clutch, and he smiles again as he hears one of the hatchlings, and tries to see which one it was.

Nerian hears the trumpet and takes a firm step away from the sound, as she tries to see the form which made it. "That's for sure, Dyani."

Tandrum's head swivels towards the loud sound, his expression flitting into a new alert one. He goes up on his toes then back down as if preparing to move aside if necessary.

Ysanne shuffles some more. "I can *hear* them.. But there's just so much going on."

Jeyrmi's head swings around at the forlorn cry, trying his best to make out the color of the hatchling. His feet shuffle on the sand, as much from nervousness undisguisable as from the heat.

Celestial wiggles her feet, not quite registering that they're /hot/ since she's concentrating so much on finding the eggs and hatchlings.

Kymra obligingly releases a bit of her pressure on Kiraya's limb, orbs nervously wide, excitedly open. "Over..over there," she directs, pointing with a now-free digit. "I think...iffen th' moons were out, it'd be ever so much easier to tell..."

Telinda grins to K'laarn, then turns her gaze back to the latest hatchings, eyes bright with an excitement equal to Tiarnath's. Easing her weight to one foot from the sand's heat, her smile widens at another Impression, leaning against Tiarnath's near foreleg.

N'all's keen Weyrlingmaster eyes sparkle in K'laarn's general direction then his attention is returned to dragonets.

Ship of Dreams Egg shudders as if its side had been jarred by a large unseen object. Then, after a few moments of relative peace, it pitches forward, like a ship sinking into the ocean depths. Creaking, just as though iron was put under enormous stress, it tries to stay together, until cracks appear in its structure as the pressure increases. For a precious moment more it sustains its precarious dream of greatness, before finally splintering into a million shards, leaving a rather bemused hatchling-shape in its wake.

Shasta nearly wails to herself, "I'd do just as well with my eyes shut!" As she takes another step to the side. A nearby shadow might've been a dragonet, and that means dodging.

Adrian heaves a heavy sigh of frustration, grumbling faintly to the candidates around about being unable to see if 'the' egg is getting ready to hatch or not. "I didn't think it would be like this at all."

Kiraya murmurs quiet reassurances to herself, shifting feet abov the sand. "I know, I know.." She whispers louder. "If /only/."

Deliya steps to one side, imagining something near her.

Celestial hmms, "I think that was another?"

The dull thud of rocking eggs bumping into one another can barely be heard over the sounds of eggs cracking and dragonets finding their mates. A pained screech punctuates the darkness and the flurry of shadowed shapes crossing the sand to attend to a white smirched patch seem to indicate that help has reached an injured candidate.

Lily jumps as she hears the screech and presses closer to Farin with a whispered, "Oh, shards..."

Aislinn nods, her left foot lifting long enough to scratch her right ankle "I think you're right" She points "Over there, maybe?"

Alix leans forward a bit, "What was that noise?"

Aisha leans forward, trying to catch the sounds of dragon feet in the dark.

Deliya looks arounds, "Whaaaaa?"

Celestial bites her lip...."that couldn't have been good..."

Moira, looking rather like a startled runner, turns towards the screech. "Who was it?" she asks quietly, of nobody in particular.

Kiraya jerks her head to the side, her intake of breath louder than any words she might have said. "Oh no.. Oh.." That's all that comes to mind, anyhow. She looks back again, wary now, of shadows moving across the sands.

Khyam points suddenly in excitement, "I saw that one hatch!" he lifts one foot and shakes some sand from the sandal, trying to keep watch on the dark form moving in the sands.

Andreas stiffens up as he hears the high pitched sound, tension pouring into his limbs as he pales, tan skin coming closer to matching the shade of his robe. "Like ghosts."

Dyani grumbles softly, "If wishes were dragons, none of us would need to be here. Faranth only knows we're all wishing there was more light out here." She takes a step backwards as a shadow wavers nearby, hoping to avoid getting hit by something that might be a dragonet.

Ysanne give Adrian, who's hand she holds, a quick hug. "If you see anything, point me the right way" she whispers.

Take this Kiss Hatchling lowers its head and peers around at the softly luminescent white robes as they catch the reflection of week glowlight. Whirling scarlet eyes can not be discouraged by darkness, they seek out despite all obstacles and are drawn over the sands.

Aislinn squeezes Celie's hand "No" she agrees. "I hope he or she is alright"

Kinoa shifts slowly from one foot to the other, and then back as she tries to relieve some of the searing heat on her feet. At the sound of the screech, she jumps a little to the left, dodging just in case. "Who was it? Are they okay?" Breathe, Kinoa, breathe.

Nerian says "someone getting in a dragon's way" even as she steps away from the hapless candidate, as if to ward off the bad luck.

Kymra chuckles dryly, hinting towards the hysteric side of giggles. Startled, she lapses into silence, punctuated by a gasp. "Kir! You hear that?" she hisses, frantic. "Shadara?" Beware: nervousness creates a gripping squeeze.

Tandrum begins a soft grumbling to himself at the candidate's cry as he tries looking into the gloom. "Shards take this. How can I do a right proper job if I can't see what's going on?" He peers back in the direction of the eggs.

Shasta finds herself backing away from the semi-circle at the screech, and stops. That old posture reasserts itself, and her chin goes up, shoulders swing back, and - well, she doesn't plant her feet, that'd be asking for trouble.

Farin sends a glance towards Lily as he continues his general glancing around. "Maybe I'd be better off trying to find them by ear."

Adrian nods to Ysanne, puffing up slightly, "i won't let um get you!" Adi whispers quietly, returning the hug in the darkness.

Jeyrmi jerks at the yell, his own quickly stiffled in his throat. " Oh shards," he murmurs. " They're crazy! We need light!" Nervous, he edges away, but not too far. He'd rather get hurt than one of the younger candidates.

Shadara nods a bit and her head moves, turning from side to side as she tries to find where the hatchlings are. She then gives a gasp and jumps back, "I think one just went by me." She winces a little too at Kymra's squeeze, "I heard it, now ease off before you crush my hand, please?"

Celestial looks surprised as she sees the scarlet eyes of one of the hatchings..."eek...there's onE!"

Red, Red Rose Hatchling gives a creel of suprise, having thought that there was supposed to be light outside of that tight space. Eyes look around rapidly and spot a few white glimmers a bit away that are worth moving towards as quickly as trembling legs will allow.

Aisha looks around her anxiously.

Deliya spies red eyes and moves aside a bit, not wishing to end up like the other candidate.

Aislinn jumps slightly "I see him...her...it?" she says nervously.

Lily thinks she sees red eyes approacing and can't surpress a nervous giggle...*very* nervous.

Andreas moves his elbow from Aisha's and instead grips it almost (shock of shocks) reassuringly in a large hand.

Tiarnath casts her glance over the hatching grounds, peering into the gloom to see what colours are running about out there. She warbles in concern as one nearly looses it's balance over it's shell, which obviously it didn't see in the poor lighting, and cranes her neck outwards a little, trying to get a better view.

Kinoa follows the movement of those crimson eyes with her green ones, her body tensed, knees bent and ready to get out of the way if need be.

Moira, with a compulsive, gulping swallow, watches the approaching eyes, her own gaze darting in search of other nearby hatchlings as well.

Aisha stays close to Andi: safety in numbers, maybe, and squints out in increasing consternation.

Kiraya squeezes back at the hand trying to crush hers, poking with one nail. "Hey, don' squeeze so hard," She mutters, eyes straining into the darkness at shadows punctuated by glowing eyes. Casting a glance back at the galleries, she shivers and turns towards the eggs again.

Xavier stands, shifting first to one foot then to the other on the hot sands. He offers congratulations to his fellow candidates as the impress and are led off the sands.

Ysanne is jostled by other candidates adjusting their positions. "Hey, Adi, over there - eyes?" She points, though the motion is lost in the dim lighting.

Rnayth spreads his wings, a gigantic shifting of darkness in the murk of shadows. They stretch wide as he trumpets again -- gleeful noises against the gloom as Impressions are made.

Kymra guiltily relaxes her clench, murmering, "Sorra." Licking dry lips, she resorts to chewing 'pon lower one, watching carefully -- or as closely as one can, in such bad lighting. "Yell if one's a'comin' by,' she notes to Shadara, adding, "So we can get outta the way."

Jeyrmi takes several deep breaths, regaining his calm as he watches from his vantage point, sapphire eyes scanning for dark shapes moving rapidly in the gloom.

Take this Kiss Hatchling pauses finally, neck craned elegantly upwards in the dim light, muzzle quivering as if tasting the very air for signs of its lifemate. Wings spread and then close halfway in a flexing movement as the dragonet finally locates its chosen one and moves to close the space that keeps it away.

Lily takes a long deep breath, forcing herself to calm.

Kiraya finds enough humor in that statement to giggle. "Too late by then!" She sqeaks on the last word, voice unnaturally high.

Dyani tries to let her eyes adjust to the gloom so she can get a better view of what's going on. It's a vain attempt though, since her eyes just don't want to focus on a single fleeting shadow.

Yes, this egg is a Waste of Space! But it's about to change that. As the golden motes of light chase each other like falling stars around the shell, it spins, increasing in tempo, before it shatters into a million fragments. As the dust settles, a dusky hatchling can be seen curled up on the sands. Cautiously raising its head, it surveys the sands. Slowly, almost nervous, it makes its way to its feet and then heads toward the humans. It looks at the candidates, softly creeling, and inches closer. At last it stops, in front of the smallest boy in the bunch, and nudges him. An incredulous look flashes across the boy's face and he looks at his new lifemate, "Oh, I can see you're a blue! You don't need to tell me!"

Take this Kiss Hatchling pauses in front of Jerel, gently nudging him to get his attention, and as their eyes lock, he croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

Picture the dunes of a hot, arid desert, sweeping into the distance like the waves of a sea, then imagine, hovering on the horizon -- as though it were a mirage -- the opulent shades of an oasis. In a land oddly devoid of life, the lush colours stand out proudly amongst the brown of this hatchling's hide. He is like a dream within a dream -- sandy brown hide eroded by turns of wind into jagged red sandstone that swirls down his flanks to tip his tail in the lush green of a watering hole, a complete contrast to the thirsting earth of his haunches. Golden-browns flow over his leading edges -- like grains of sand creeping through someone's fingers to a surf-tormented shore, which are portrayed by the faint wave of ocean blues that fade over his trailing edges. A parting kiss of rust-brown enfolds over his headknobs -- a parting valediction amidst the flecks of mica that speckle his head, whilst cimmerian and tawny browns curve down his belly in search of the night-black rapacious talons.

Kinoa lets out a yelp as she feels something bump into her from behind. Whirling, she turns to face an equally frightened candidate from Southern Hold. "Aren't you supposed to be in the circle?" she asks, the excitement and scare making her voice harsh.

Khyam's eyes follow the quickly moving flickers of colors that must be the draonnette's eyes. Only as he starts at the loud trumpet the young dragon turns and the glow vanishes in the dark.

Red, Red Rose Hatchling spots a small group of the white things clustered together and rushes over towards them, stopping just a few feet kicking up a fine spray of warm sand. A creel of confusion, there are so many of them right here, which one is the right one.

Deliya looks, "Hey, did he?"

Alix keeps her gaze fixed on the glow of eyes, hoping that they don't turn around. She moves back a little bit when one looks like it's coming close, just in case.

Lily blinks with a whispered, "Jur?"

Shadara tries to locate the nearest hatchling and then she gives a cry of delight as she sees what is a brown pause in front of Jerel, "Yes!. What's his Name Jerel?"

Shasta sidesteps as a dragonet passes closeby, eyes wide for a glimpse of talons, or even colour, but she doesn't drop her affected pose of attitude. She belongs here, and nothing's going to scare her away.

Kymra pulls a face in response to Kiraya's taunt, then releases a hand to point a wavering finger towards the latest Impression. "Look!" she breathes, eyes growing wider by the moment. "Look!"

Xavier watches the hatchlings with a smile on his face.

Aislinn stands on tip-toes, eyes searching. "I think...I think there's another Impression, Celie. Close by too"

Adrian wows, forgetting all about the other young dragons that are hurring around awkwardly and dangerously near as the dragon comes into the light, "look! Look at that one! Did you see him Ysa?" Adi bounces in the excitement of someone she knows impressing. "wow!"

A flash of light, a gleam, and Jeyrmi's eyes flicker to the newly-Impressed brown, locking on his lifemate. Jerel. " Congradulations!" he calls, unable to help himself.

Kiraya glances aside as voices indicate a nearby Impression. "Wow.. Who?" She quieries. "Who was it?"

Celestial nods, peering, "Oh! It was Jerel!"

K'laarn hears some comotion, and turns his head in the direction of it, trying to see. Quietly he murmurs, "Looks as if Jerel has a brown." He strains forward, as if trying to find out mroe.

Dyani gets hit by a spray of sand from close by and backs up quickly, hoping she can tell if it was a dragonet or just another candidate. Shadara's comment pulls her gaze away from whatever is in front of her and the others. "Jerel Impressed?"

Deliya peers, thinking that she makes out Jur, "Congradulations."

Nerian perks up. "Jerel impressed?"

Aislinn asks "Jerel?" The candidate's name voiced so much indicates the answer "Why! He's from Island River! I'm so happy for him!"

Khyam whistles softly in appreciation of the handsome brown when he comes into the light.

Shadara grins and holds tight to Kymra's hand this time, tears going unnoticed as she steps from foot to foot, wincing at both the hand grip and at the heat of the sands, "Jerel."

Celestial lets out a light, "Congrats!" but doubts it's heard/

Aisha squints. "Jerel? Oh, good."

Andreas hears the name spoken again and again and almost smiles for a moment, but those eerily glowing eyes are too much a distraction. He manages to murmur, "S'pose one of the ones I knew had t' go sometime."

"J...Jerel?" Kymra muses, head tilting to ponder. Until she hears the other excited voices calling his name. "Yea. Jerel!" Shoulders shrug in the image of nonchalance, and orbs narrow as she tries to spot the wavering dragonets. Don't wanna be run over, you know.

Xavier says "congratulations Jur."

Ysanne breathes a soft "Way to go Jur.."

Moira, hearing everybody congratulate him, flashes a grin vaguely in the direction she thinks she last saw Jur. "Hope it--he--has a good memory," she mumbles, very softly.

Shasta finally catches the name of the impressed candidate, as it gets muttered down the line of hopefuls. "Jur? Congrats!" She calls out, though it's just a tiny voice in the cavern filled with people, dragonets and adult dragons.

Kiraya grins, nervous clenching of teeth betrayed by the smile. "Congrats!" The higher-than-hoarse whisper is hopefully directed in Jerel's direction. Sand beneath her feet is slowly forming hollows by her shifting, and she wiggles toes to get annoying grains from her sandals.

Alix hears the other candidates shouts and looks at where she is guessing Jerel is. "Congrats."

Aisha surreptitiously nudges Andreas again.

Jerel, or Jur, Kinoa still isn't sure, but whatever his name is it seems he's impressed. "Congratulations," she calls out across the circle, sure that her voice will be lost in the muddle.

Tandrum catches the candidate's voices and smiles a bit although his eyes don't much leave the eggs and dragonets somewhere before him. "Jerel...J'rel? And a brown." He stills himself, except for the shifting of his feet on the sands, not wanting to miss hearing the hatchling's name or get mauled by another hatchling for not paying attention.

Telinda blinks, placing a hand against her brow to shade her eyes a little, peering into the dark. A hand caresses Tiarnath's muzzle, a touch to reassure the gold's worries, and maybe something more. "It's alright Tia, they'll be fine, really. You never saw where you were going after all!"

Jerel blinks, then peers down at the brown in front of him. "Who's J'rel?" The corners of his mouth twitch as he smiles, eventually leading Nionth -- his Nionth, food-wards.

As the sounds of another dragonet freeing itself from its shell is heard, there is a rustle as the candidates as they ready themselves once more. Vision uncertain in the darkness they talk nervously, endlessly dodging hatchlings.

N'all looks towards J'rel, and waits by the entrance to help him and his new lifemate through.

An' then I'd Kick 'er Egg seems to have taken on some of the themes that decorate the surface of it's shell, rolling down the clutch mound just as though it were a young woman searching for the unknown. The henna-red tresses whip around, as it starts to spin once more, before suddenly, as if a key had opened this ovoid, the top flips off and a hatchling's head pops up. Blinking, which is barely visible as two red orbs appearing and disappearing, it stands, two legs pushing through the eggshell to totter uncertainly on the hot sands. Finally, before it looses its balance, it snorts, bored with this game and shakes off its shards. Now that adventure is over with, what's next?!

Aislinn lets out an involuntary ouch as another candidate steps on her foot. She lets go of Celie's hand long enough to rub her toe "As if the hot sands weren't enough" she mutters as she straightens...hand finding Celie's once more.

Red, Red Rose Hatchling gives another confused warble, unable to see anything other than a white blur for each of the candidates. Which one is the right one? Oh wait, this one smells so much better than all the others!

Frock on a Rock Egg rumbles, shell quaking. The egg spins about in place, the inhabitant within struggling against the oppression of conventional shards.

Shadara shivers despite the heat on the sands and she goes back to watching the gloom for the hatchlings that are moving about, trying to avoid any coming her way so she won't get hurt. Her grip never wavers in Kymra's though she wipes her face again as she steps from foot to foot.

Lily blinkblinks in the light, gripping first Farin's hand then Kinoa's, breathing slowly for calm's sake.

Kiraya listens, hoping to catch the telltale sounds of hatchlings emerging. One hand goes up to twist a tiny braid, and she lifts feet in shorter and shorter intervals.

Deliya steps aside to dodge a hatchling, and manages to land on Tandrum's foot, "Sorry..." she wispers.

Celestial eeps, Squeezing the hand that is returned to her grip, "you okay?"

Kinoa turns her attention back to the moving egg and hatchling-shapes, wiping one damp hand across her forehead. She squeezes Lily's hand as gently as she can manage, grinning a little. "Would you have guessed Jur?" she asks softly, her eyes darting everywhichway.

Andreas rubs at his ribs as he is cruelly, oh so cruelly nudged again. "Hey, watch the eyes, not my stomach," he mutters to his neighbor. Hard enough concentrating on his feet and not stumbling on them as he moves from foot to foot.

Dyani sighs softly and looks away from J'rel and his new brown, taking a step forward to resume her place in the group. "Looks like all the dragonets are one color - black," she jokingly comments.

J'rel blinks again. "Right, Nionth.. Of course." He mumbles under his breath, then repeats the name several time to commit it to memory.. Though he doesn't really need to, anymore.

Adrian breaths a huge and content sigh at having really -seen- at least one of the impressions so far in the darkness. Then a moment later the candidate seems to remember the dangerous hatchlings and glances around quickly, looking for thost flickering glowing eyes.

Alix decides to hold perfectly still, the candidates around her getting tired of her bumping them. She only moved her head and eyes now, scanning for the glowing eyes that would indicate a Hatchling that she might be in the way of.

Aislinn nods "I think so" she answers, her eyes not leaving the sands...or the darkness of the sands.

Farin takes Lily's hand peering towards the eggs. "I still can't see a thing."

Moira, after whispers bring the name to her, nods, gaze still flickering. "Nionth. That's a nice name."

Aisha glances at the melodramatic Andreas and follows his advice just in time, scrambling out of the way of a confused hatchling on its way past her.

Celestial wows, "So many hatchlings!" She mutters.

Tandrum about jumps out of his skin, foot hastily withdrawn from beneath Deliya's. Seeing it's only her, he smiles and steadies her slightly before withdrawing. He whispers back. "No sorries necessary. Hard to see in here after all."

Heart racing, pulse quickening, Kymra shakily grins, flicker of amusement emerging as she whispers to the two standing nearby, "Ya see that? It's another! I think..." Uncertainty causes that smile to fade, then disappear, levity unappricated by the Sands -- lifting feet, sne scowls down at sandals.

Shining on the Sea Hatchling stays almost still in the first instance, the proximity to the shards of shell seemingly giving confidence. The same darkness that restricts your view also enhances the stumbling movements as new limbs are tested. Then, perhaps on impulse this hatchling rushes forward with new daring to rest eyes upon the shadowy candidates, testing the young voice with one piercing creel.

Lily grins and nods slightly, chuckling at Andreas - she can hear him, not see him of course!

Telinda smiles, hand wiping across her brow as the heat of the sands starts to effect her. A smile gets directed to K'laarn and then eyes drift back to the sands, squinting to try and see who the newest pairs are. A grin gets directed to J'rel and his new lifemate as they take their first stumbling steps together.

Shasta dodges another shadow, one that's very close by, only to realize with relief that it's just another candidate. Her attitude pose drops for an instant as she takes a deep breath, but only an instant.

Deliya grins at the noisy young dragon.

Andreas ahhhs, and reaches up to rub his ear. Loud one, this! By the end of the hatching they'll likely all be half blind and deaf.

No longer a picture of serenity, It's Full of Stars Egg begins to shake, the sand getting whipped up into a frenzy as the egg starts to spin around. Then, as if a sun just went nova on its surface, it bursts apart, fragments heading towards the candidates. As several duck to avoid the splinters, the brilliant green of a new hatching shows for a brief second. As the candidates reform their circle, she looks up, then stands and heads for the group blocking her limelight! She pauses in front of one, then moves on with a snort, determined to find the right one. Suddenly she stops before a short, red-head girl from Healer Hall, and lets out a rather loud cry, the girl crying out almost simultaneously: impression!

Moira jerks back rather automatically as she hears the creel--more importantly, that she hears that it's moving closer. "Sorry," she mumbles to those on either side of her.

Nerian hears the creel and literally jumps, instinct propelling her away from the creel, fortunately.

Aislinn winces at the piercing creel "Not the sounds I expected to hear...don't know what I expected really" she says.

Jeyrmi curses as a shadow form rushes forward. Unable to tell if it is hatchling or candidate, he chooses to take no chances and dodges to the side, cursing as heated sands spray over his legs.

Khyam murmurs the new dragon's name under his breath, nodding as he smiles into the darkness and resumes watching for signs of dragons coming closer.

Kiraya tugs the twisted braid with the hand she stole back from Kymra, stepping back slightly at the sound of dragon's voice. "Over there," She points, braid still around the finger.

Frock on a Rock Egg spins again, digging a small divot in the sand. The shell turns /just/ the right way, the few and small glows glinting off the shining, brilliantly contrasted colors on its sides. More sand is tossed about as the egg begins shaking with a greater frenzy.

Ysanne jumps nervously at the creel, and then the subsequent cries of impression.

Red, Red Rose Hatchling pauses in front of Adrian, gently nudging her to get her attention, and as their eyes lock, she croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

The colours blossom over this hatchling's hide -- like a rose, slowly unfolding to present itself to a summer's morn, the petals lightly kissed with dew and upturned to the light of a new day -- though, instead of rose-red, her hide is a rich emerald-green. Droplets of peridot trickle in silent melodies over her back, creating a symphony of shades as they sweep down to her tail, to conclude in a concerto of beryl notes, whilst her belly is a study in thorny-greens interspersed with blossoms of greenish-rose that melt down to rocky-brown rapacious talons. Similar hues dominate her wingspars and pinions, a dazzling refrain to the glory of her wingsails where turquoise and aquamarine vie for supremacy in the membranes near her trailing edges, before they ebb from the ebony-black of her leading edges -- like a sea gone dry on a deserted volcanic beach.

Deliya peers at the sound of another cracking egg, "Where!?"

Aisha says "Oh, Adi-- was that Adi?"

Lily cocks her head at the croon. "Who is it now?"

Shadara gives a soft, scared gasp at the loud, piercing creel near her and she almost jumps into Kymra's arms in terror, "It's too Dark for this." she says in a shaking voice, full of the fear she's trying so hard not to show. She then gives a soft sound of delight as she see's the green of the hide of the dragon that stops in front of Adrian.

Ysanne nods to the question, answering with her voice as well "Its Adi! Right beside me!"

Kymra quakes, unexpecting the hatchling's loud voice. "Shards, tha' one's noisy!" she notes belatedly, little grimace timed to the prance of feet. "But..is that Adrian?" she ventures curiously. "It is!" And a dragonet, to boot.

Moira peers around Ysa to beam at Adi. "What's...her name?"

Lily laughs out loud in happiness. "Oh, congrats, Adi!"

Tiarnath warbles brightly to Rnayth as another of their hatchlings finds a lifemate, her tail snaking out to curl and entwine with his, head caressing against the deep molten bronze of his hide. A deep-throated croon increases in crescendo as she proudly watches the new dragonets break free of their shells.

Celestial oohs!< "Adi!!!! Congrats!"

Dyani spys a flash of green over near where she thought Adrian was. "Nice one, Adrian," she calls softly. "Or at least I think it's a nice one. Hard to tell."

Deliya grins, "Congrats Adrian."

Alix keeps herself still, waiting till the person is indentified by somebody else before offering her own shout. "Congrats Adi!"

Kiraya stops her intent following of the loudmouthed hatchling, checking down the semicircle to murmur a likely unheard 'congrats' for Adrian. Her eyes go back to following the other shadow, careful watching to protect herself in the event of.. what? Hatchling charge?

Kinoa blinks as the sounds reach her ears, then smiles broadly. "Congrats Adi!" she calls out to the newly Impressed candidate. A green, hmm.

Farin gives a congratulations although a soft one very likely never finding it's way to Adrian.

Celestial grins to Aislinn, "I wonder if one's for you?" She smiles...obviuosly wondering other things too.

Andreas hears the repeated name cresting from candidate to candidate and turns his head to look a short distance down the line, desperately trying to see before his chest puffs with pride. That's HIS buddy there! But being Andi, well, he just stays quiet.

Aislinn looks quickly at Celie "Adi Impressed?" Her eyes try to pick out the newly Impressed Weyrling. She shouts a *Congrats* toward a group of candidates. "Maybe Adi heard me" she grins at Celie. "Or for you" she says.

Adrian lets out a sharp and shrill shriek as the dragon comes through the dark and virtually out of nowhere. Fingers pull free from Ysanne's hand as the small candidate tries to 'defend' her friend. Oh, and then those harsh square features soften and change as Adi's mouth falls open, "F-f-Faeth....? Y-yess! I hear you! Of course we can be friends!"

Ysanne's voice smiles for her "And you were supposed to tell me if you saw anything, Adi. Congrats..guess you're staying after all."

Rnayth rumbles with pleasure as Tiarnath and his eggs hatch and dragonets begin finding their mates. His head dips toward hers as he nudges her back in fond affection.

Nerian leans toward Adrian. "Congratulations. And tell me tomorrow if you heard that."

Celestial chuckles as she /does/ hear Neri..

Adrian giggles, honestly giggles and reaches out to hug the lovely dragon before grinning back at Ysanne and everyone else. "oh...we-we should go where the weyrlings are...ok Faeth?"

In the gloom, a number of shadows and silhouettes can just be made out. Those dark, unshapely forms could be the candidates or even the riders standing on the sands or indeed even the eggs and newly hatched dragonets. They all tend to blend into one another, the humans only distinguished from the others by the sounds.

Faeth warbles happily to Adrian.

Shining on the Sea Hatchling made a quick journey to where they needed to be, having somehow managed to avoid entanglement with a fellow clutchmate. They place themselves in bold rigidity in front of the hopefulls, bright eyes flicking over those gathered on the sands, just visible through the darkness.

Shadara grins for Adrian as she hears the name of the Dragon, then she gives another faint noise and shifts to her right, away from the moving shadows that fill tyhe gloom of the sands.

Aislinn pulls at Celie's hand "Look! I see some eyes!"

Celestial wows, "Whoa....you're right.....pretty..."

Tandrum follows the dim movements of Adrian and her new lifemate. A quick jerking nod and a slight smile follow them, all unseen in the dimness. The sound of another egg cracking re-focuses his look back on the main sands.

Ysanne sighs, albiet happily, but facing the sands alone now.

Shasta's feet now pick up in quick tempo, a little shake to try to rid the sandals of sand grains with each step. But somehow, despite this undignified motion, she manages to keep her rebellious 'I belong here' stance.

Deliya looks around as she sees more eyes, which just makes her more nervous.

Kymra nudges Shadara with a bony elbow, jerking head in the appropriate direction. "Wha's it doin'? Where's it goin'? Lemme know -- quick like -- if it comes this way. Okie?" The same goes for Kiraya, who gets an extra squeeze of the hand. "Okie?" Rebellious feet hasten to avoid Sand's heat, doing a very poor job, at best.

Lily swallows hard as the number of glowing eyes increases.

Moira gives Ysa's hand a quick squeeze, squinting after Adi before trying to see who else from her group has Impressed. "This isn't working," she mumbles.

Warrior Poet Egg begins shuddering as if the very ground below it were shaken by the pounding of hundreds of runner's hooves. Cracks form over its sides, spreading across the shell and mining it with gaping chasms.

Kiraya sighs, elbow poking at Kymra. "Just watch. For eyes, they tell you where the hatchlings are." Spooky, to. Kir does, however, 'keep watch'; as best she can through shadow-casting darkness.

Kinoa glances down at her feet, making sure she still knows where they are in the darkness. She quickly raises her eys back up to look at the hatchlings, or rather, the glowing eyes, breath coming in ragged gasps. At least she hasn't been attacked yet.

Frock on a Rock Egg spins, the tempo increasing as its inhabitant gets more and more frustrated with the battle to emerge. The crevices portrayed on its surface crack open further, as if rocked by an earth tremor from within, causing the brightly coloured shards surrounding the apex to splinter and disintegrate, just as though the stitches holding some fabric together had been pulled apart. The shards are left clear behind, with no signs of afterthought, as a hatchling -- glistening with egg yolk in the shadowed light -- steps free. There's no shyness here as it steps forward, leaving its former home behind with a loud warble of audacity.

Joslyn's eyes are wide in anticipation as she watches her friends Impress. She forgets to shift her feet and begins again, the candidate dance, shifting from one foot to the other, grinning like a fool as the eggs rock about on the sands.

Ysanne takes Moira's hand firmly within her own "Its getting harder to avoid the bustling."

Shadara swallows and nods to Kymra though her eyes don't move from the gloom, she doesn't want to get injured.

Deliya gets nurged from behind, and almost jumps out of her skin.

Aisha sweeps the sand around her and Andreas with her eyes, squinting into the dimness, watching for hatchlings.

Dyani peers hard into the dusky blackness to her left, thinking she saw a dragonet nearby. When the shadowy form resolves itself into another candidate, she chuckles. "Gah, we can't even tell what's what." A glimmer of eyes far across the sands draws her attention. "Unless they look at us, that is."

Nerian giggles as she hears the bold warble. "I bet trouble just hatched."

Andreas shifts his weight again, trying to hold still on each leg as long as he can. The forelock that had been so well smoothed back begins to wilt and droop towards his eyes again, making it even harder to see.

Life is Like Egg shudders once and stills, taking its own sweet time about hatching. Then, like the hand decorating its surface had squeezed too hard causing the paper to wrinkle and crackle, fractures shoot out across the fragile shell, effectively unwrapping the ovoid. The indistinct lines of a new hatchling stumbles around the sands, a piece of egg askew at a rakish angle on his head. The pesky thing means it can't see its lifemate for the egg but it blunders on, past one group of hopefuls, until, with a happy croon escalating into hunger, it settles for a lad from the Weyr who obligingly removes the obstructing shell. Yelling the name out proudly, the new pair step over to the Weyrlingmaster, allowing the glowlight to illuminate the brown hide of this newest addition.

Kymra spies the latest's eyes, her own saucer-large. "There's one," she murmers, tremor lifting from muddy alto as she spots the dragonet. "See it? It's eyes, I mean." Like Kiraya said.

Kiraya grins, eyes seeking out the warble's source. "Another loud one," She comments wryly, doing her best to track all the nearby dragonets.

Aisha tries vainly to pinpoint the source of the sound.

Celestial smiles as yet another impresses, "Gee."

Telinda's expression is joyous with excitement, the hand resting against Tiarnath's hide trembling slightly from the emotions as she turns her gaze up to the gold, murmuring a few half-heard words to the queen who draws back from offering one unsteady hatchling a word of encouragement, then hmmmms louder, the sound rich and full in the dark of the night.

Shasta's eyes flicker back and forth from one side of the semi-circle to the other, for all the good that does her. Nothing but shadows, unless a hatchling's looking in her direction.

Aislinn grins "Faster than I expected" She lifts one foot...a few grains of sand falling back to the ground. "I'm starting to feel the heat here" she says.

Shining on the Sea Hatchling makes its only other sound, a strained and quite soft warble. As a various clutchmates make their choices it is clear too that the present conditions are no encumbrance to this hatchling making theirs. You can see quick eyes dart from one dark human form to another as a decision comes closer. That impulsiveness comes through again as suddenly they move speedily to one in particular, flaxen hair just showing in the light from one glow.

Rnayth continues huming, a rich, deep cacaphony that reverberates through the air and ground, harmonizing with the thrumming of the other dragons both of the Weyr and not.

Joslyn peers around her and nods to Kymra, grinning widely, and twists her head to try and figure out the source of the sound. She continues to dance on the sands. One foot, then the other. She talks to Aislinn, "I wish it wern't so darn hot, Ace!"

Deliya inches closer to her fellow candidates, hopping from foot to foot on the hot sands.

Celestial nods, shifting her weight.

The Hills are Alive Egg suddenly comes to life and begins to wobble. Spinning on its axis in a pirouette of energy.

Shadara shivers again, loose strands of hair curling along her sweat dampened cheeks. Her steps are getting quicker as the heat of the sands seems to penetrate her sandals even quicker now, "Dark, so dark." she murmurs, dodging out of the way of the dragon that has the egg on his head,

Xavier glances over at Tandrum, who is standing beside him, then back out to the egg mound and the hatchlings. He offers his congratulations to each candidate as they impress.

Ysanne leans in to Moira "I don't know about trouble, but I think at least one hatchling here like the dark."

Alix forgets to stand still and steps backwards a little, almost knocking somebody over. She apologises quickly and goes back to being a statue again.

Khyam follows the motions of the shifting candidates on the sands, watching in wonder as each dragon seems to know whom he or she is going to.

Aislinn grabs Josy's hand with her free one "Me too!" she agrees..."We need a little more light too"

Moira nods absently to Ysa, though her abstracted manner suggests that she wasn't really listening. Her mouth moves silently; if it were light enough, lipreaders could possibly see one word, repeated in a litany: Hot!

What Can Ail Thee Hatchling casts hunger-red, glimmering eyes this way and that, the loud warble turning to fainter, almost piteous, creel. Which way do I go now? Eyes center on one brighter glow on the fringes of the cavern, and the eyes head happily towards the light.

Warrior Poet Egg rolls around, as if a great and mighty struggle had commenced within its confines. Pieces of the egg break off and fall to the ground like dying heros that have lost a battle, slain and still on the sand.

Tiarnath pauses in her deep-chested hmmmming to turn her head and brush a caress along Rnayth's neck, her eyes whirling excitedly at all the activity, even if she can't see everything at once.

Shining on the Sea Hatchling pauses in front of Nerian, gently nudging her to get her attention, and as their eyes lock, he croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

Brilliant golden sunlight shines down onto the vast expanse of an endless ocean, turning the cerulean-blue into a sheet of shiny iridescence. However, before it can overwhelm the billowing waves, it deepens to a dark sapphire that is almost slate-blue in some lights -- as if somehow night and day, sunlight and moonlight, were present in the same sky. Frothy-blue thunders down his neckridges, crashing eventually into pale azure as it reaches his tail, which swims in opalescent currents of cobalt and indigo. His wings are sealed with effervescent turquoises, as if the sea might actually be boiling, and eddied with briny-aquamarines which dazzle the senses into the constant perception of motion, like water scrambling for the shore. Calm soothing blues wash over his muzzle, similar to a freshly scrubbed face, but are disturbed by the presence of a single blue teardrop that trickles down his cheek, bitter in its isolation.

There is new movement on the sand, no doubt a Weyrlingmaster attempting to retrieve a newly bonded pair.

The colour of the dragonet and the identity of its human mate are not visible due to the dimness of the cavern, though immaterial to the sounds of happiness that the new pairing creates.

K'laarn stands in a relaxed pose beside Telinda, occasionally offering quiet comments to the goldrider as his gaze sweeps through the shadow shrouded sands. However, excitement is evident on his once in a while glow lit face.

Lily squint, squint, squints then gasps as she sees the new impression. "Neri!!!!!"

Now that her feet have gotten accustomed to the heat, Kinoa's feet pause in their little dance, allowing her to steady her gaze at the moving orbs in the middle of the circle. "What color is that one?" she mutters, squinting and trying to see anything at all in the darkness. "Oh, blue!" and she grins suddenly at Nerian. "Hooray for Neri!" she calls out, hoping to be heard.

Dyani bends down slowly to pick a tiny pebble from between her toes. A whisper of air near her makes her jump back and almost fall, and she blinks in shock as a blue dragonet seems to have appropriated Nerian. "Way to go, Neri! You did it this time!"

Aisha chuckles under her breath.

Tandrum takes his eyes away long enough to swipe an arm across his warm forehead, his feet stepping on a sandy unmoving treadmill. Forcing himself to remain still, he looks about. Seeing Xavier and another few friends with him, his slight nervousness fades back into serenity, watching the impressions around him as best he's able.

Andreas moves in to close ranks a little as one by one the candidates are dwindling, but always so many pink things, so few dark splotches of movement. He murmurs something to Aisha.

Jeyrmi glances as light illuminates a blue hide and grins as he sees the newest Impressee. " Nerian!" he calls in congradulations, hands clapping once, twice for her.

Deliya grins, "Congradulations, Nerian!"

Ysanne turns towards Lily's call, squinting to no avail. "Neri? Hey, congrats!" A hand swipes at the back of her neck as she shifts, joining Moira in murmurs of 'hot'.

"Nerian! Congrats!" Kiraya murmurs, seeking out the Impressee while eyes follow the hatchling. "Wow," She mutters, back to watching other nearby hatchlings in relative silence.

Celestial cheers, "go Neri!"

Aislinn looks around "Did I head someone say Neri?" A few more shouts convince her "Congrats Neri!" she says in a soft voice..."though it's so noisy I doubt she's hearing me"

Nerian moves forward and reaches out tentatively "Tinneth? And what's the next verse, then?"

Moira can hardly miss the congratulations tossed Nerian's way, and turns in an attempt to see. "Where is she?"

Rnayth bugles loudly as another Impression is made. He sits up to extend his neck in this joyous trumpet, letting the brassy sound ring through the cavern before he once more settles beside his golden mate and rubs his neck against hers happily.

Farin calls out, "Congratulations, Nerian!" In the wrong diraction, but he calls it out none the less.

Lily grins as she hears the name and claps her hands with another laugh and another loud congrats to Neri that *anyone* should be able to hear!

Joslyn grins wide, "Congratulations Nerian!" she says into the dark almost too loudly, so anxious now.

Kymra peers, trying to catch a glimpse of dragonet -- blue's chosen, frown hinting at mouth's corners. "Ohhh," she breathes, spying the Candidate. "Tha's Nerian, right? Lucky..." Voice tapering away, her gaze returns to presuing hatchlings as they emerge.

Aisha casts Andreas a small one-sided grin in the darkness.

Shadara tries to watch the eyes but her head turns at the sound of Nerian's name being called and she smiles in congratulations before looking back to find the eyes in the darkness once more, steps a bit ragged as the heat and nervousness tires her.

Alix hears a couple shouts and adds her own in a general direction, hopefully the right one. "Congrats Nerian!"

Warrior Poet Egg shakes, just as though a regiment of runners were thundering over the surface, endurance pushed to the limit by their riders. As if this wasn't enough, the egg is pounded from within, like a million men running to meet their fate on the untouched field that spreads over the camber. No way to defeat destiny, the two opposing forces meet in the middle, a line neatly splitting the egg, between the bright reds and golds and the mottled blues and tans, leaving only a single survivor -- a caliginous hatchling -- in a midst of shards.

Deliya peers, "Is that another set of eyes?"

An orchestra of sounds -- tapping, bapping, hammering -- sounds out from the Feather in his Hat Egg, like the drums on its surface had been brought to life. As it tips back and forth, a high screech -- just as though the pipes were played wrong -- resounds, followed by a crack that stretches around the whitened curve of the drum to spill another hatchling onto the sands. The young shadowy dragonet struggles to its feet, then lurches precariously towards the Candidates. Fortunately, the awkward little fellow impresses to the first Candidate he meets, a young Smithcraft lad, who cries out, "Yes, you're a beautiful blue!"

N'all grins when he hears Nerian's voice call out and waves her towards the Weyrling Room.

What Can Ail Thee Hatchling continues to trudge dutifully toward the light, tenaciously clingling to the one light bright enough to draw the attention of the hunger-glinting eyes. Conveniently, there's an entire row of white things reflecting the smaller light-sources directly in the path it seems to have chosen.

Aislinn squeezes both Josy and Celie's hands "I think I heard another shell breaking..." Her eyes search out the dark for the tell-tale sight of eyes coming their way.

Nerian ahs. "So the next verse is the refrain of "feed me"? I think we should go that way." She begins walking toward the weyrling room.

Kinoa nods her head at the question, then remembers that it's /dark/ in here. "I think so," she calls out, narrowing her eyes and leaning forward a bit to try to see better. Smart girl that she is, she stays where she is in the circle.

Joslyn cranes her neck forward, awkwardly, trying to figure out if that's a new set of eyes or an old pair, her eyes beam, "Yeah Ace, I thinkin' so too..."

Kiraya jumps, slightly off balance while lifting her foot. Egg-cracking noise nearby causes her to peer into the shadows, watching in silence. That is, until she remembers the proximity of other such emergers. "Oooh." She's back to tugging her braid again.

Lily cocks her head again, thinking that she sees eyes...maybe? Oh, shards, how can she tell!

Shadara nods a little as she watches the glimpse of a hatchling headed for the glows and she tugs on Kymra's hand, "Kym, there's one coming."

Deliya steps aside as she sees a shadow come sloser to her.

The List Is Life Egg wobbles experimentally, dispelling all doubt that it was devoid of life -- the monochromatic overtones shaking at the spray of bleached white sand that briefly covers its side. Slowly, inexorably, it starts to spin, the stone-grey road on the shell's surface winding around and around, just as though it had a place to go, but wasn't sure which direction to take.

The Hills are Alive Egg dances in a chaotic pattern-- to a rhythm only it hears. The tremendous energies that the Hatchling inside is exhausting finally comes to fruition as the egg violently trembles.

Ysanne moves, her litany of 'hot' changing to "oh-oh, eyes.." And nearly collides with Moira.

Shasta drops her chin-in-th-air pose for a moment again, seeing a pair of red eyes heading in the direction of the group of candidates she stands with. Shifting from foot to foot, she prepares to jump out of the way.

Celestial shifts her weight, lookin' for that new hatchling Aise and Jos Are talkin' bout.

Andreas lets his attention move back to the shivering eggs and the moving eyes, shivering a little. "How many do you think are left," he asks Aisha.

Aisha shakes her head. "I can't tell... I think a dozen or so have Impressed, but I can't see..."

Caught in the middle, Kymra can do naught but nod frantically. "Yah? This way? Should we move, Shaddie? Kir?" Reflective, she shifts from foot to foot, attempting to spy the one Shadara noted. "Where?"

Dyani finally gets that sharding rock from her sandal, now that she seems to be safe from incoming dragonets for the moment. She straightens up quickly though, not wanting to be cought unaware and trampled by a dragonet or another candidate.

Moira starts away from Ysa with a soft gasp, then lets out a weak little giggle. "Thought you were a hatchling," she murmurs to her friend." She lifts one foot, shaking the sand from her shoe. "They don't call these -sand-als for nothing," she adds.

Tiarnath bugles proudly, the tones loud and ringing, as another of her eggs hatch and the dragonet finds a lifemate, her eyes gleaming emerald in excitement and her wings half-unfurling as she watches closely aiming to see as much as she can.

Khyam shuffles to the right slightly, running a hand through his hair to get the locks from his eyes. Not that it helps the vision in the darkness however.

Ysanne giggles along with Moira.

"I'm not movin'.. I like it over here." Kiraya gives her input in a hushed mutter. "Over there." Free hand disentangles itself and she points to the general direction of glowing eyes. "See?" The braid she once twisted ends up in her mouth, convenient for chewing on the end of.

Lamp is Shattered Hatchling yawns hugely, stretching its jaws in the gloom, as if seeking to swallow it up. Wings spread like shadows against shadow, a light behind it making it appear huge. Slowly it takes a few careful stumbling steps forward, heading toward larger, dim shapes and nearly knocks its head right into Tiarnath. Its worried creel sounds small in the huge darkness of the Hatching Grounds.

A loud scream comes from the sands but is quickly cut off. It's not the sound of a newly hatched dragonet, but the frightened voice of a female candidate. As the light and shadows shift, a shape can be seen to pick itself up from the sands. It is impossible to tell what exactly happened to the girl, though a dragonet is seen nearby with another girl where an Impression just occurred.

Alix keeps her body still, swinging her head around. "Oh! What was -that- sound?"

Aisha winces sympathetically. "Is she okay?"

Deliya points at the scream's direction, "Ohhhhhh....."

Shadara raises her hand and points in the direction she saw the movement from and she backs away from the moving eyes, "Where's it going?" she mutters, using her free hand to once again wipe the sweat out of her eyes, 'What was that?" she asks, eyes going wide.

Ysanne's giggle breaks into a gasp of surprise at the scream.

Lily jumps once at the scream then gets a concerned look as she hears the creel, "Is that one okay?" She's more worried about the dragon then the girl...

Celestial looks quite surprised and squeezes Aise's hand.../hard/...."Um....."

The scream was enough to prompt Shasta back into her attitude pose - only now it's more of a defiance of her own temptation to turn and run. But her feet keep shifting from side to side.

Jeyrmi runs a hand through his golden hair, looking about nervously as he hears the whisper of feet in the sands, the murmurs of warning as a hatchling approaches. He shuffles his feet, moving closer to the one beside him. As another scream sounds, her jumps, cursing softly. " Is she ok?" he asks concernedly, peering towards where the girl had cried out.

Moira's hands tighten rather convulsively on those of her neighbors as she hears the scream. "That wasn't Sarisa," she murmurs. "Nope, not at all."

What Can Ail Thee Hatchling skids to a halt, setting up a spray of sand. Red eyes scan the line of subtly reflecting whiteness, trying to find a way through. The line, however, seems fairly solid--but red eyes meet deep blue ones, and the hatchling heads forward joyously.

Farin blinks towards the scream. "I'm not sure... I don't think so though..."

Aislinn glances at Celie, swallowing hard "I hope she's alright...it looks like she's getting back up"

Andreas tightens his grip on Aisha's elbow again, as if the spirited candidate needed his support. "We'll know later," comes the fatalistic murmuring. The eyes demand watching though as they skitter across the sands.

"I see...but..but what's that?" Kymra flinches slightly, attention refocusing; head pivoting, she peers in the scream's direction. "Tha's what happens when you don' get outta the way," she notes, voice somber -- and a tinge frightened? No. Never.

Kiraya stiffens, teeth clenching on the small plait serving as her stress remover, for now. Resolutely, she keeps her eyes ahead. Away. Not looking.

Rnayth dips his head toward the outline of the small dragonet so very near him and Tiarnath. His gently nudge brushes it slowly around, pointing it into a better direction along with a soft croon of encouragement.

Spinning around in circles, the vaguely human shape on The Hills are Alive Egg seems to dance for joy amongst the brilliant white and yellow flowers that blanket the grassy-greens. Cracks creep down from the baleful red patch, bisecting the figure neatly into two and destroying what seemed to be happy gyrations. For a moment, it sits there, unmoving. Then, in a blink of an eye, the pieces fall apart and leave a dark patch - the shape of a hatchling backlit from the dim glows.

Aisha's mouth tightens, and she turns to look into the darkness of the sands again.

Dyani starts badly at the scream, freezing in place against all warnings not to do just that. "I hope she was just scared by another candidate," the senior apprentice healer murmurs quietly.

Khyam starts at the scream, his hand moving to clutch at his heart as he looks around for the screamer, "oh shards! I hope the healers are ready for all the hurt candidates."

Joslyn blinks wide at the scream, holding Aislinn's hand tightly, "I don't think I want to be knowin' what that was...sounded bad." despite the scream, she continues to do the candidate dance on the sands, while all the while looking at the glowing eyes of the dragons that seem to beam through the darkness.

Kinoa winces as she hears a cry of pain, remembering to keep an eye out for eyes heading in her direction. A few stray locks of hair get pushed back carelessly into the leather thong. She twitches a bit as she hears another crack, "Great, more eyes," she mutters to herself as she tries to make out a shape in the darkness.

What Can Ail Thee Hatchling pauses in front of Shadara, gently nudging her to get her attention, and as their eyes lock, she croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

Imagine a hillside, cold with the freshness of a dawn's embrace, that causes opalescent droplets of moisture to form on the lush grass; then picture this green, kissed into glistening splendor with those same dewy colours. Moss-greens slumber over her neckridges, tipping each one delicately before concluding in the cerulean-blue of her tail, rippled like the waters of a lake. Upon her cheek is a fading blush of reddish-green, whilst her headknobs are brushed with saffron-yellows, as if a lily had been swept across her brow. Garlands of flower-shapes decorate the vanes of her wingsails -- the soft yellow of sunflowers and delicate pale-greens, reminiscent of apple blossom, entwined like two lovers as they dream in each other's arms. The gentle curve of her belly is harvested with sumptuous berry-blues that enfold downward towards ebony-black rapacious talons, resembling the shiny and glossy coat of a prancing steed.

Aislinn picks up her feet...first the left, then the right, both hands keeping a tight hold of Celie and Josy's. "I don't either..."

The mists that surround the Stick to the Road Egg deepen in the gloom of the hatching sands, intensifying in whorls as the egg begins to ripple with movement. Then, as if someone had just raked nails down the shell's surface rending it apart, it splits, sending out a glistening caliginous hatchling onto the sands. It wobbles to its feet, and spreads its wings, then sets off to find a lifemate to protect it from the outside world. Suddenly it stops in front of a girl from the Harper Hall and the girl gives a soft cry of delight and wonder before calling out her lifemate's name. As the two move away, a glowlight illuminates the verdant-green of her hide.

Deliya shuffles on the hot sands, looking at her fellow candidates, and the approching hatchlings.

Farin frowns, still focesed on the scream. "Perhaps I ought to..." his voice fades.

The List Is Life Egg spins -- faster and faster -- the tempo and speed pushing the ovoid down further into the protective confines of the sand rather than out of it, almost as if the ominous cloud were oppressing the rising struggle of it's inhabitant. Inevitably, the alabaster sand trickles down the mound, away from the shell, fleeing from the dictatorial might portrayed so avidly on its surface.

Lily looks around, wildly trying to make out who and where and red eyes and everything else.

Tandrum winces at the scream, the sound indelibly impressed on his mind along with the sound of eggs cracking and the joyful cries of candidates meeting their new life partners.

Kymra slowly, reluctantly, hastens from Shadara's side, not eager to be in the way of the green. "Shaddie," she breathes, awed. "Shaddie! She's for you." Stolid, the Candidate sticks with Kiraya, nudging her, almost happily. "Lookit Shaddie."

Kiraya fairly shrieks as Shadara, right next to her, ends up face-to-face with a hatchling. A green. "Shadaaara!" Forgetting to be quiet, the squeal escapes. Kir quickly drops the girl's hand, squeezing both of her own together.

Shadara blinks and her hand goes to her head before she drops to her knees in shock, "Saith? Oh Saith..." is all she gets out as tears run down her cheeks.

Dyani is brought back to awareness of her surroundings by a glimpse of green hide. "A green? Who's she by? I can't tell..." A few words reach her ears and she grins into the blackness. "Shadara? Oh, nice name!"

Alix peers harder, trying to see who impressed. "Shadara? Oh, congrats!"

Ysanne adds her congratulations to the general chorus.

Lamp is Shattered Hatchling begins heading toward the whitish gleaming candidates, wings dragging beside it in the sand. It werbles softly to itself, a melodious partial trill, as if to cheer itself, reassure itself that all is alright. It tramps awkwardly forward, head craning around as glowing red-tinged eyes search fruitlessly through the ever present and disturbing darkness.

Deliya grins, "Shadara! How wonderful!"

Lily looks up at Kiraya's scream, then grins widely. "Congrats, Shadara!"

Joslyn blinks again a couple times, "Who? What? Where, where??" she looks around and hears the cries of the congratulations, "Shadara! Congratulations!" she says in her usual slow drawl, grinning wide again

Telinda steps from one foot to the other, the heat making it uncomfortable to stay still in more than one place at a time. She giggles at something, hand reaching out to touch her belly, and then laughs, "K'laarn, please don't tell me that the other one wants to 'hatch' as well?!" she says, half-joking, half-concerned.

Shadara blinks a little and stands up, "Come Saith, we'll get you some food, okay?"

Andreas turns as one of the other Southern Hold group impresses, startled for a moment. "If I'm the only one from th' hold not t' impress," he says warily. Then he smiles a touch for Shadara.

Shasta hears the name yelled, and her attitude pose is slightly marred by a wide grin - for those close enough to see it. "Shadara! Wonderful!" The girl calls.

Aisha squeezes Andreas' elbow supportively.

Shadara does look back at Kiraya and Kymra, "Thanks." she says before heading off the sands.

Kiraya grins, single tears squeezing from her eyes as she waves a hand after Shadara. "Ohh, congratulations, girl.." She murmurs.

Celestial waves a congrats to Shar,...hope sh....sees. it...

Moira's face lights into a quick grin as she hears the name of Shar's new lifemate. "S and S," she murmurs.

Kymra beams towards her friend, newly Impressed. Squeezing Kiraya's hand, she manages to drag her attention to another, pointing. "Look! Watchit for /those/ eyes..."

On the sands there seems to be some sort of commotion, various figures and shapes having quickly moved to one side. The sounds of excitable chatter from candidates, though that is no way certain, resounds as they move out of the way of a particularly boisterous hatchling.

"Huh?" Kiraya elbow-nudges Kymra, turning back to the present, and the hatchlings. "Oh, oh.. I know."

Lamp is Shattered Hatchling seems to be on the right track perhaps, because its soft little sounds begin to sound a lot more promising. Its trudging waddle carries it through some of the candidates, though it nearly rakes its claws toward one lad who was just fast enough to move out of its way on its way to another -- his chosen.

Deliya backs away a bit, bumping another candidate.

Alix turns slightly, towards the commotion. "Anybody see what's happening now?"

Kinoa waves enthusiastically to the departing Shadara and Saith, grinning in spite of herself at Andi's words. "I'm still here," she calls out to him, attention briefly diverted from the moving eyes.

Jeyrmi shifts nervously on the sands, eyes on the moving shapes around him, careful to dodge contact with any who near him, be they human or hatchling.

Walks in Beauty Hatchling with a grace uncommon to fresh hatched dragons this one knows exactly what limb moves-- and when it moves. With unswaying confidence it strides in a determined line towards someone.

Xavier looks over at where he heard Alix's voice adn says, "Cant' see a Sharding thing. too many tall people in front of me."

Ysanne manages to catch sight - finally - of a hatchling, and tugs on Moira's hand. "Over there, see? Where everyone is moving?"

Shasta finds herself boxed in by two nearby candidates, and freezes momentairly. But they head opposite directions, leaving her free again.

Deliya looks around, "Can't see, are those more eyes coming this way?"

The scarlet shading on the side of The List Is Life Egg seems to blur and cover more of this monotoned egg as its inhabitant struggles for release into the world. Somewhat happier, now that the grey and black are muted, the stone road splits around the circumference of this egg, sending out ashen fractures to web over the ovoid. Without further ado, it hatches, depositing a darkly hued dragon onto the sands. Dark? Well, everything's dark tonight!

Moira shakes her head rather impatiently, dark hair lifting and then falling against her cheeks in an erratic rhythm. "I don't see. Nobody sees!"

Joslyn says "And Ah'm still here too.." Josy shifts her feet again, grinning so wide at the darkness, knowing her friends are here at least, "I hope I'm still holdin' Ace's hand too.." she squeezes the hand she holds, peering through trying to find any other glowing eyes."

Khyam gulps, hearing more than seeing the dragons who is raking his or her way along the sands. Have to be ready to bolt out of the way when they come at you, right?"

Ysanne gestures vaguely, then chuckles. "Well, its moving, whatever it is."

Corruption seems to be in the mind of the All the More for Us Egg as it moves perilously close to the Spit Spot Egg. It's as though the chaos of this egg wants to some order for itself. Spit Spot Egg rolls away though, wanting none of it, but another *THUD* and it's all over -- both eggs fracturing apart, leaving two bewildered dragonets. One shadowy hatchling falls, tripping over its own tail, and lies on the hot sands for a moment, tangled in its wings. Twisting around, its eyes fix on a starcrafter lad, who cries out the name and rushes to help it up. The other totters around, taking only a few steps at a time. Finally, it nudges a girl from Karachi Hold and stares into her eyes. The girl bends down, touching the young dragonet and revealing her forest-green hide and that of her tumbled sibling - a magnificent auburn-brown.

Aislinn looks back and forth "I can see so many pairs of eyes...none are getting too close though" she says. "Sometimes one pair starts moving this way, but veers off." Her eyes are squinting "I think I see some shape close..."

Underwater Flying Object Egg rolls off the mound of eggs into it's own hollow - shuddering as if in preparation to lift off from the warm sands.

Kymra watches closely, attention caught by a shadowy form dumped upon the Sands. "Look, Kir," she informs, waggling fingers towards the appropriate dragonet. "Look."

Andreas turns his head to look at the commotion to one side, to the tangle of green and brown and eggs. "I bet this'd be pretty stunning if we could see it all."

Amid moving eyes and talking candidates, Kiraya silently watches for the approach of eyes. Almost wary, yet erlaxed in the darkness, she nudges Kymra again. "See any nearby?" She whispers, about the same time as the other speaks. "Look, look what? Oh."

Lamp is Shattered Hatchling pauses in front of Andreas, gently nudging him to get his attention, and as their eyes lock, he croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

A lamp shatters against a hard stone floor producing a million glass splinters that dazzle and reflect the image of kindled flame -- liquid bronze bursting into radiant life as the heated glow of oil is set alight over the hide of this hatchling. The fire is smothered into naught but dust along the charcoal smudged path of his neckridges, but revives in the brilliance of his belly - burnished golden light spilling, but still flickering as if alive, down towards deadly talons of sooted-black. His tail is kissed with ruby-reds, like the falling leaves of autumn, sweet tones that are often forgotten when the green-bronzes of summer arrive in the final curve. Dark-grey, almost black, storm-ridden clouds scatter across the translucent membranes of his wings allowing the ochroid sun to shine luminously in a cold winter's sky, creating an iridescent rainbowed glory that refracts from spar to spar to highlight all the hollows and shadows in between.

Deliya peers "Bronze? Bronze! Who is that with him?"

Aisha jumps back from Andreas' elbow as the dragonet approaches, and can't stifle a tiny noise as she sees what's going on. "It's Andi!" she cries back to Deliya.

There is a brief flash of glow light as someone takes a step out of its way. It illuminates several green hatchlings standing near their chosen. One tries to bugle at the light, it being an unusual thing to see tonight, but before it gets to perfect the attempt, the light dims, blocked by the shadow of another candidate stepping back in front of the glow's light.

Ysanne claps her hands at the news, or would if it weren't for the fact that she's still holding to one of Moira's. A muffled sound ensues and mixes with ehr words of congratulations.

Celestial cheers, "A bronze!!!! Wow! Congrats Andi!"

Dyani shifts into a spot that looks to be pretty clear of other candidates and dragonets. When nothing bumps into her, and she doesn't bump into anything, she grins and relaxes a bit. The nearby shouts of congrats make her laugh and call out, "Andi, is it? And a bronze? Good for him!"

Lily cheers. "Congrats Andi!"

Rnayth rumbles loudly, that sound turning into a stunning bugle as yet another bronze dragon Impresses. His wings fan the air, stirring sand and further obscuring the shadows.

N'all smiles towards A'dreas and bronze, and waits to usher them to the next room.

Alix looks over at the mention of bronze, seeing the hatchling and calling, at least to where she knows is the right spot, "Congrats Andi!"

Walks in Beauty Hatchling ends its determined march right at Ysanne's feet. As if to prove who the graceful one is, it rams its head against the girl, causing her to fall squarely on her butt. This young dragon trills delightedly. It has made its point.

Aislinn jumps sideways into Josy at Celie's yell. "Andi got a bronze??"

Deliya smiles, "Andi! Congradulations!"

"Don' think so," Kymra delays, glancing for flickering shadows that might herald a dragonet's arrival. Gaze falters, however, as Andreas' name is shouted, and is turned on the pair. "Ohhh!"

Ysanne lands flat on her bottom in the sand. "Huh?"

Celestial nods, "Yess!"

Kinoa cheers as she hears Andi-A'dreas's-words, beyond thrilled for the Southern Hold boy. "Congrats Andi," she practically shouts, followed by, "Josy, you still here?"

Kiraya smiles absently, the "Congrats," murmured while she slowly glances in that direction, only to see- "Ysanne, too?" Double-take. "Congrats!"

Moira, tugged by Ysa, turns wildly to see. "Andi? Oh, a bronze!" And then, seeing the hatchling stop by Ysa, she shies out of the way, face splitting into a smile.

Walks in Beauty Hatchling pauses in front of Ysanne, gently nudging her to get her attention, and as their eyes lock, she croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

Like the cool promise of a perfect summer's night that is filled to bursting with starry constellations, so this green hatchling is beautifully dark, her midnight-green hide dusted with golden-green motes that seem to sparkle in certain lights. With tender and nameless grace, tendrils of ebony-black are lightly brushed between her neckridges, reminiscent of the raven tresses that might fall in a silent river down some Lady Holder's back. All that's best of dark and bright meets in the cloudless clime of her wings -- shaded verdant-greens and light grassy-greens providing the perfect melody and harmony to one another, sheltering and revealing each wingbone and membrane flawlessly -- just as though a face had been tipped to a softened glowlight to receive a lover's caress. Her muzzle has been kissed with tints that glow in malachite-green, which pales even further to emerald, like a smile that had lightened and warmed those same delicate, almost fragile, features.

Alix ohhs at Ysanna, starts to ask her if she's okay, then stops. "Oh, congrats!

Shasta steps quickly to avoid stepping too close to a shadow passing by, missing the bronze's impression entirely. But a shadow nearby, one of the two-legged ones, falls to her rear. "Ysanne!" She yells.

K'laarn smiles over at Telinda who's very close and can probably see the expression in the gloom. "Look over there." He points. "And.. A'dreas now.. He Impressed." He informs his weyrmate.

N'all smiles widely as Ysanne Impresses. An eager smile it is.

A'dreas's uneasy stomach suddenly rumbles instead of turning over with raw nerves and his expression moves from slow uncertainty to confidence, as if everything is suddenly just obvious. And for once he doesn't have a scowl or a slouch for anyone as he touches the dragon confidently. He sounds almost tender as he says, "Well then we'll feed you right up, Quirath!"

Joslyn grins wide, "Yay Andi!" she claps once and nods in the wrong direction, "I'm here," she peers through the darkness again for more eyes in the dark.

Itty Bitty Living Space Egg was small enough before, but now that its inhabitant has grown, it's far too cramped! With a few shudders, the egg starts rocking back and forth, fractures starting to web the shell like the stars were falling over it's surface. The air-flowers burst outwards, as the living space shatters, tumbling a dusky hued hatchling onto the sands. The dragonet looks around, wobbling as it gets to its feet after a moment of confusion. As it peers into each candidate face, its wings droop a little with rejection, until it pauses in front of a boy from Ista. With a triumphant warble, it nudges the lad, making him look down. As the new rider kneels beside his lifemate, calling out his name with joy, a brief flash of light proclaims him to be a finely boned blue.

Lily hears Ysa's name too. "Ysa?!!" She claps again, shifting her feet on the hott sands. "Oh, congrats!"

Ysanne gets up and dusts her bottom off, then trails loving fingers along newly hatched hide. "Well, Beith..aren't you a brave and beautiful soul.."

Deliya grins, "And to you also, Ysa!"

The Day is Dark Hatchling straightens it's wings, straightens it's legs and then sees to the business of getting itself upright -- not easy when the light doesn't show you which way is up, which way is down. A few wrong starts -- head bashing against the sands (ever thought what a dragon would look like doing a headstand?!) -- eventually get it pointing in the right direction, the rest getting easier from then on. Now what? Light, light, no where is there..ahh, wait a minute, what's that? Precariously, with tottering steps, like those of a two turn old, it wanders towards something.

N'all smiles as he waves Ysanne towards the Weyrling Room, K'laarn and Telinda might hear him say something about a "special friend" as he waits.

Telinda strokes one hand along Tiarnath's hide, her expression bright as she follows the various hatchings and Impressions. She nods to K'laarn, "Another bronze, aye!" The gold curves her neck around to touch Telinda gently on one shoulder before she turns back to the clutch, bugling exuberantly.

Ysanne murmurs "Lets get you out of here...and wait till you meet N'all. Its gonna take both of us.."

Celestial cheers at another impressee....but who was it?!?

Khyam murmurs an excited congratulations to the newly impressed pairs, relaxing somewhat from keeping such a close eye on the roving dragons.

Aislinn answers "I think I heard someone yell out Ysanne's name"

Kiraya sighs, something akin to happiness, though she still watches the shadows intently. "Kym," She whispers, elbowing at her friend. "Kym? See any eyes?" Being as there's eyes everywhere, that's an odd question.

Celestial nods, "Ah....Neato!" She turns back to the other eggs and hatchlings....

The Day is Dark Hatchling bumps into something -- *THUD* -- stumbles and goes sprawling -- legs and wings getting tangled in each other! Oh shards what the..? It looks up, and up, and up. Well, it was glowly -- sort of! _It_, however, is Tiarnath -- the gold's presence outlined in the soft glow light. Alright. Not there! Beginning the labourious task of getting itself upright it nearly falls again as the gold gives it a helpful directional nudge. Hey! It's going! Tail whips around and woah -- that's a useful piece of information to have -- it's make a great balancing aid!

Another cry is heard just as a dragonet is seen to impress. A rustle of shapes hurries to the summons of injury. Apparently, on these dimly lit sands it is difficult to see when a dragonet comes near in order to move out of the way.

Underwater Flying Object Egg quakes visibly - shuddering with such strength that if this were an aqueous environment, and not warm sand, the resultant tidal wave would destroy many dragonlenths of beach. Small cracks begin to ripple across the surface of the shell.

Dyani claps for Ysanne, or she guesses it was Ysanne from all the calls to the newest Impressee. "If only we could see who's getting what," she comments to a white blob that's hopefully a fellow candidate next to her. Only thing that could be that white, anyway.

Moira calls over to Aislinn, with a bright grin, "Ysa, yeah. A green!" As Sarisa appears at her free hand, she gives the younger girl a relieved smile.

Joslyn grins wide, "I think Ysanne Impressed, Ace!" she watches the glowing eyes, "See any new eyes, Ace?"

Kymra's expression melds into one of curious wonder, inquisitive gaze cast towards tumbling, fumbling dragonet. The head-long motion of its eyes indicated so, at least. "Some over there," the Candidate dutifully replies to Kiraya, fingers flaying. "An'... is there one, over there?"

Tandrum merely stands, marking names and colors from what he's hearing, the occasional smile lighting his face as he hears fellow candidates, now weyrlings, names called out.

Deliya peers around more and looks to be a bundle of nervs, as the hatching progresses.

Aislinn shakes her head "Well...a few Josy...I think that's a pair just over there. I think...not sure cause my eyes are dazzled by the glows..."

Tiarnath surveys the hatchlings with a proud gaze, wings furled along her back as she eases into a more comfortable crouch upon the sands, rumbling to her lifemate, who calls back a few quiet words over her shoulder. Tilting her head to better follow the hatchlings with aquamarine-tinted eyes, her hide gleams in the dimly glow-lit cavern.

Lily rubs her hand across her eyes, as if that will help her see.

Do Doo Do Doo Doooo Egg rols out seeming to pulse with some inner rythm as it comes to a stop. The pulsing slowly getting more intense as it rocks back and forth.

Kiraya nods, stifling a snicker at the first pair of eyes Kymra mentioned. "They could use some balance," she comments. "At least, that one could." Another stifled snicker, and she crouches to dig hot sand from inside her sandal. "Grph.."

Let us Smoke Egg begins to spin around, producing colours that could only arise from a delirium for none of them were on its shell previously. Faster and faster it goes, until suddenly, it stops. It shakes a little, as if testing for something, then stops. Finally, a vehement shudder racks the shell and splits it neatly down the middle, depositing a dimly lit hatchling onto the sands. It gives itself a little shake and pieces of shards fly off, then teeters precariously before stepping away from its shell. It heads towards the candidates, its tummy rumbling, and looks around, at all of the faces, finally spotting a tall girl in the middle. The dragonet butts a young girl from Ierne Weyr with its head, unintentionally pushing her down onto the sands and revealing his glorious wooden-brown hide.

Alix looks around, noticing that there aren't as many candidates here anymore. Not sure if it's cause they impressed or cause they got trampled and taken off, she decides to play it safe and backs up a little more. After only bumping into one or two people, she stops, standing still again.

The Day is Dark Hatchling seems to have gotten the idea of this now. One way is down, one way up, legs stay down, wings up, oh, and don't forget the tail for balance. Right. It pauses, taking stock of the situation and moves towards the light once again -- hopefully heading in the correct direction this time! Light would be good and oh, wait a minute, what's that?! It seems to be reflecting a lot of light. Very interesting. Have to investigate!

Shasta finds a location where a gap caused by the departing of a candidate allows some light in - enough for her to momentarily see shadows again before it closes. And enough to give her warning to take a step back to avoid one shadow that's a bit too close.

Underwater Flying Object Egg comes alive - the black-metallic structure on it's surface rippling as though it was set to collapse and topple over in the abyss. Saved somehow from this fate, it soon becomes webbed with tiny cracks, as if the water pressure was too much for the fragile shell and implosion was imminent. Instead though, the ovoid shatters outwards, dropping a dragonet unceremoniously onto the dimly lit sands.

Kinoa listens, eyes wide, as impression after impression takes place. She shifts from left to right leg, beginning that nervous whistling again, and stilling herself in an act of sheer will. "How many are left?" she asks curiously, shading her eyes with her hand before realizing that won't help much in the dark.

Khyam winces at sounds of candidates being hurt and glances around for dragons nearby. He happens to move back just in time to avoid a quickly moving dragon heading for his or her lifemate.

Aisha says "It can't be that many..."

A resounding crack echoes through the glow lit cavern, as if two eggs had collided. The subsequent cracks split the air, only to diminish in sound as other noises take precedence, including those of newly hatched dragonets.

Tension is released, somewhat, at Kiraya's odd exclaimation; giggles insue, slightly hysterical. "I'd say," Kymra gasps, resolving to watch the shadowed form make its way.

Aisha, a bit lost without Andreas' elbow to hold onto, looks across the sands doubtfully.

Farin frowns, peering and blinks. "I think I finally caught a glimpse of something."

Celestial hmms, "Another?"

Do Doo Do Doo Doooo Egg rolls around a bit more, still pulsing with life. It digs itself a bit deeper into the sand before starting to spin.

Jeyrmi rolls his shoulders nervously, trying to remain as calm as possible. It's not working too well as glints of things; robes, shells, dragonet eyes; keep flickering at him, sending shivers down his back. He never did like the dark. Wary, he moves to the side again, absently bumping into someone. " Sorry," he murmurs to the person he inadvertantly touched.

Lily grins slightly with a whispered 'have to see about those eyes of yours' -- teasing of course, she can't see anything either!

Kiraya straightens, tugging the robe down and stretching the loose seam in a bad way. "I should've gotten someone else to re-do this." Is this semblance of normal conversation a cover-up for her nervousness? Likely so.

Alix jumps at the loud cracks, coming close to smacking somebody in the face but instead just flailing her arms about. "The noises wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so dark..."

Joslyn grins wide again as she spots another pair of eyes, "Did 'nother dragonet hatch?" she shifts her feet again,

As if it participating in some unknown race, the Move your Blooming Egg rolls out of its protective confines -- the monochromes merging with the richer colours -- as it rolls down to knock smartly into the Ocean of Violets Egg. The collision causes this egg to start spinning - the threads disappearing from its sides, as the entire surface becomes washed with lavender. Impacting once more, the second sharp contact causes them to split apart, depositing two dimly lit and glistening hatchlings onto the sands. Almost immediately they stumble toward a group of candidates, a brief beam of glowlight showing a moss-green standing in front of a boy from the Weyr, and a sea-blue in front of a girl from the Minecraft.

Somewhere Over Egg sways uncertainly like a tree caught in the beginnings of a terrible storm. Small shivers build up to larger rocking -- is that a crack in the sky? It's certainly shaking enough.

K'laarn continues to smile, reaching over to circle Telinda's shoulders with one arm, and squeezing her affectionately. "Not much longer now." He tells her warmly. "Look how quickly their finding their mates. Another good omen." He insists.

Tiarnath rumbles softly to Rnayth, tail-tip flicking restlessly as she watches the last remaining eggs and hatchlings, gaze swirling brightly.

Aislinn answer a 'yes' to both Celie and Josy. "Sounds like it"

The Day is Dark Hatchling pauses in front of Tandrum, gently nudging him to get his attention, and as their eyes lock, he croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

Day and night become as one, interchangeable -- from dark to dawn and back to dusk again -- neither gives way to the other, instead they wrap veiled fingers around the swarthy-bronze of this hatchling until he is a mass of wild shadows. Savage, stormy clouds hover along a saturnine neck, the caliginous copper tones showing in places where sunlight attempts to illuminate the ethereal stratus before finally it manages to escape the everlasting dark and tips his tail in the bright-bronze tones of morning's song. The burnished-bronzes of his wing membranes shine amongst aquamarine and turquoise -- making it seem as though gazing through the depths of the ocean into the unknown -- and patterned with tendrils of obscuration -- like the sky was leaning on the water's surface. As the sea continues to sing it's ageless song, foamy cimmerians crash down his belly to bathe his talons in inky-black notes, a melody of waves with a harmony all of their own.

Deliya looks beside her, "Tandrum! A bronze!!!"

Xavier says "T'drum?"

Kymra smirks in Kiraya's direction, chuckling, "I bet yer not helping any." Pausing, she returns to watching, waiting. As the hatchling approaches another, she beams Tandrum-ways, though her smile is hardly noticable in the enveloping darkness.

Kiraya turns, light's flash catching her eye. "Bronze!" She pounces on the word, glancing closer. "And Tandrum? He Impressed! Congrats!" The last word is pitched a bit louder.

Play for Me Egg wobbles, the golden filaments covering its surface seeming to extend out, webbing through the crystal blue that flows over this ovoid, causing the top to shatter and send a mosaic of colour across the sands. A dragonet peers out the top of its shell, still spinning in the bottom, and stretches out wings for balance. Somehow it manages to slide to a stop, right at the feet of a boy from Cove Hold. It croons piteously, and the lad tries to valiantly call out a name, but is laughing too much. Instead he bends to help the hatchling from the shell and, in doing so, finally reveals its brilliant azure colouring.

Alix looks around at Deliya's shout, calling out quickly. "Congrats!" to where she hopes Tandrun is.

Farin grins. "Oh really, Lily. I doubt you can see any better. Oh, congratulations, Tandrum!"

With single, deeply resounding, ominous notes, the shell of the Do Doo Do Doo Doooo Egg is bombarded from within by it's occupant. Then, after a period of silence, tiny fissures chase each other around the circumference, like tiny motes of dust set to sparkling by the sunlight. The diminished glows hide the actual hatching, but a rare beam of light illuminates the outlines of a dragonet sitting on the sands.

Dyani catches sight of a flash of brown next to her and jumps back with a yelp, only to giggle with relief as it resolves itself into the runnertail of a brunette from Honshu. "Thought you were a hatchling," she murmurs apologetically as the other girl turns around. Both girls then turn to the calls partway down the semi-circle. "Congrats, Tandrum!"

Lily looks around at the shouts. "Tandrum? A bronze?!! Congrats!" Then she grins, "Can too."

Rivulet to the Sea Hatchling peers through the dimness searching everywhere for the one. After watching the moving shapes for several second the hatchling picks its way over the shards setting off to greet the world.

Xavier grins over at his friend, "congratulations.

Moira beams over to Tandrum, lifting a hand that she's sure he doesn't see. "Tandrum," she murmurs. "Andi. Must be an 'and' thing, getting a bronze."

In one of those moments in which everything seems to fall silent at once, a small chipping is heard in the midst of the darkest part of the sands. As the noise of the hatching resumes, the chipping is once again obscured by the sound of hatchlings searching for lifemates.

Celestial says "Tandy!!! Congrats!"

Somewhere Over Egg shakes more violently, caught in the full force of the storm struggling to get out. Cracks spread over the yellow and the red, spreading and branching like lightning from the clouds in the gray sky. The egg wobbles its way in small circles as its occupant struggles to escape.

T'dru blinks down. "I was trying to get out of the way Duirath. Really." Tears glisten although he holds them back, nodding as he looks down into his new lifemate's eyes, caught now somewhere between a joyful laugh and a keen of sorrow. "I know you're hungry. Shells who wouldn't be stuck in an egg all that time." He reaches a hand to gently scritch an eyeridge then nods towards where everyone else is gone he thinks. "Food must be thataway." He sets off with a purpose, side by side with Duirath.

Duirath blinks three sets of eyelids and follows this one -- it knows all!

A Nice Chanti Egg wobbles precariously, like a glass of fine claret knocked by a careless arm. A moment more, and it topples over -- smashed to pieces in that inadvertent act -- spilling a darkly hued hatchling onto the sands. Gathering itself, it stands, it too wobbling as if drunk, but more likely disorientated, and heads towards the circle of white-robes. Heedless of its tail, it continues onwards, until a squeal from behind makes it turn -- a young lad from Fort Weyr lies sprawled on the ground, hugging knees to his chest. The burgundy brown -- for his colour can be seen in the gap of candidates -- croons and nudges the boy, who's tears of pain turn to joy at his joining with his lifemate.

Alix frowns, trying to decide what the sounds are. She mutters to herself, "I'm...not sure..imagining or...really hearing..."

Kiraya fidgets, fingers playing with the hem of her robe, back to chewing on the braid. "Ooh, oh. More, see." She gestures with her free hand at the moving eyes.

Joslyn grins wide, "'nother bronze, yay Tandrum!" she shifts her feet again, the excitement is evident in her eyes if one could actually see her eyes. She grins, "Ace, you still here?" she asks in her usual slow drawl.

Aislinn tugs a little on Josy's hand, her voice loud enough for Josy to hear her say "Still here..."

From the Weyrling Room, Ysanne doesn't precisely wimper..its too amused a sound for that. "Right..." She heads back to the bowls of meat, taking one and moving it closer to the oil vats. "Problem solved" she declares in firm tones as she begins offering more food.

From the Weyrling Room, Shadara smiles softly and offers Saith more meat, "Do you want more food, or a better Oiling?" she asks in a tender voice. She then looks up and grins at T'dru, "Congrats Tan."

Shasta endlessly steps from foot to foot, from side to side, dodging whenever a shadow nears, or tell-tale glowing eyes reveal the location of a dragonet.

Farin's eyes take a moment away from peering about as Farin rolls them. "I'm sure."

From the Weyrling Room, Nerian waves happily. "Hihi!"

Celestial chuckles as she hears Aise and Jos and peers toward whats left of eggs and hatchlings.

From the Weyrling Room, Beith rests her head on Ysanne's nearest body part and just croons a soft sighing sound. She's happy, but, shards, as she butts Ysanne again, she must be still hungry.

From the Weyrling Room, A'dreas reaches to touch Quiarth again - have to make sure he's real, you know! - with the hand that doesn't quickly feed more meat to him. "I just don't want you to be hurt. Not ever."

Kinoa's voice is happy if muted as she says, "A bronze to T'dru, perfect!" trying to catch a glimpse of the pair as they head off the sands.

A sudden gust of wind whistles through the cavern, pushing the clouds to a thinness that allows the moonlight to filter through weakly. There is just enough time for members of the audience to exclaim hopefully as the shapes on the sands become clear outlines of hatchlings instead of just dark patches before the wind thickens up the clouds and leaves all in dimness again.

Kymra's forgotten, by now, to lift and drop feet; and so she stands, motionless, for a moment. The heat reaches her tender soles, however, and she quickly takes up the dance of the Candidates, grumping to Kiraya. "Will th' heat ever stop?" But abate it does not, and Kymra obligingly prances in place.

Aisha fidgets from foot to foot as the heat begins to get to her.

From the Weyrling Room, Duirath bumps into T'dru, at least he did if T'dru's in his path. A high bugle-squeak happens as the hungry hatchling demands food.

Celestial sighs, "Stupid clouds..."

Moira digs her toe briefly into the sand, with another murmur of "Hot!" She squints upwards suddenly at the wind, then quickly glances towards what little she can see of the hatchlings.

Lily chuckles softly as she peers again, shifting from the heat.

Rivulet to the Sea Hatchling investigates several dark forms, moving past them as none are quite right. A voice from the opposite direction causes a somewhat awkward turn, but as it moves, the hatchling becomes more sure of its goal.

The One Landscape Hatchling lifts itself from the sand and shakes loose some snad. Then looking about and seeing light it moves off, the sand scrunching under carefully placed talons, looking for that one. Seeing light and then shapes and deciding to move towards them, slowly.

From the Weyrling Room, Quirath croons soothingly at A'dreas and nuzzles his head, while he quickly eats whats offered, into A'dreas' belly. His eyes whirl a pleased blue-green of happiness.

From the Weyrling Room, T'dru nods at J'mis, stunned and actually at a loss for words. "Meat...I see." He heads for the bowls with a look on his face now as if he might just eat some of those things himself if he could. Grabbing a couple of handfuls, he turns and offers the juiciest bits to Duirath. "Don't forget to chew and swallow. 50 times or so my mother told me."

From the Weyrling Room, Ysanne caresses Beith with one hand, the other dutifully offering food. "Yoiu, my love, are terribly demanding." Fondness marks her tones, however.

From the Weyrling Room, Adrian looks up from wing-rubbing, "congratulations!" Then a startled glance at Faeth, unbelieving and squint-eyed, "I am? But you'll never /ever/ be ugly! I'll take such good care of you you'll never /not/ be shinny!"

From the Weyrling Room, Nerian watches as Tinneth passes from stuffed and oiled to "drowsy".

Kiraya snorts, head shaking, as she holds up first one foot, then the other. Hands twist together as she glances up towards the momentary light, but then resumes her shadow-watch.

Aislinn ohs as a few figures...nearer than she'd thought...appear in the brief flash of moonlight "Oh!" she exclaims as they are engulfed in darkness again.

Alix looks up at the faint light, over at the onlookers at the noise, then back to the eggs quickly enough.

Deliya lloks toward the hatchlings, "Threes sets, two sets? How many eyes are out there?"

Aisha says "Two.. maybe more."

As if blown together by the winds that play over their surfaces, the Paint the Wind Egg and the Whip the Wind Around Egg begin to wobble -- bumping into each other like two left-footed people partnered on a crowded dance floor. Raven tresses whip around the one egg, merging with the lightning bolts on the other, almost as if they were trying to find their lifemates whilst still in their shells. Eventually they crack, leaving two, somewhat dizzy, dragonets that shake off their shells. Stumbling over to their chosen lifemates, they butt their heads in identical gestures against a surprised, but now joyous, set of Candidates who were holding hands -- a lissome lass from the Beastcraft and a burly boy from Big Lagoon Hold. As each one kneels, it's just possible to make out a blue and a green hide, before the darkness swallows all once more.

Xavier shakes his head in answer to Deliya, "Can't tell."

Dyani shivers slightly at the gust that blows through the grounds. "DId anyone see how many are left," she queries to those nearby. "I've lost count." As negative responses are given in answer, Dyani just sighs and goes back to shifting from foot to foot.

From the Weyrling Room, T'dru grins at Duirath. "Ok. Not that many times. Maybe just a few. But chew and don't choke on it." He says that pretty firmly.

From the Weyrling Room, Faeth turns a happily whirling eye towards Adrian and croons to her happily, rubbing her head against her and getting her more oily than she already is.

From the Weyrling Room, A'dreas holds the dragon's head in his arms for a few seconds, eyes half closing before that eerie stomach rumbling feeling returns and he reaches the fourth cut of meat towards sharp teeth fearlessly.

Shasta pushes now damp curls of hair away from her face, and sweat from her brow that now and then might catch what scarce light there is. In the heat, her defiant pose seems to droop a little.

From the Weyrling Room, Adrian giggles and throws her arms around the green's neck, oily or not. "Do you need anything else beautiful-one?"

From the Weyrling Room, Duirath would never choke, he's a bronze! But no sooner said than done, he starts to splutter, a large goblet of meat stuck in his throat.

Some of the glow lights surrounding the cavern fade into insubstantiality. These must have been some of the older glows for them to diminish in brightness so quickly -- not that the illumination afforded by them was very much in the first place. The shadows increase, casting more of the Grounds into darkness.

Aislinn ohs as a few figures...nearer than she'd thought...appear in the brief flash of moonlight "Oh!" she exclaims as they are engulfed in darkness again.

Alix looks up at the faint light, over at the onlookers at the noise, then back to the eggs quickly enough.

Deliya lloks toward the hatchlings, "Threes sets, two sets? How many eyes are out there?"

Aisha says "Two.. maybe more."

As if blown together by the winds that play over their surfaces, the Paint the Wind Egg and the Whip the Wind Around Egg begin to wobble -- bumping into each other like two left-footed people partnered on a crowded dance floor. Raven tresses whip around the one egg, merging with the lightning bolts on the other, almost as if they were trying to find their lifemates whilst still in their shells. Eventually they crack, leaving two, somewhat dizzy, dragonets that shake off their shells. Stumbling over to their chosen lifemates, they butt their heads in identical gestures against a surprised, but now joyous, set of Candidates who were holding hands -- a lissome lass from the Beastcraft and a burly boy from Big Lagoon Hold. As each one kneels, it's just possible to make out a blue and a green hide, before the darkness swallows all once more.

Xavier shakes his head in answer to Deliya, "Can't tell."

Dyani shivers slightly at the gust that blows through the grounds. "DId anyone see how many are left," she queries to those nearby. "I've lost count." As negative responses are given in answer, Dyani just sighs and goes back to shifting from foot to foot.

From the Weyrling Room, T'dru grins at Duirath. "Ok. Not that many times. Maybe just a few. But chew and don't choke on it." He says that pretty firmly.

From the Weyrling Room, Faeth turns a happily whirling eye towards Adrian and croons to her happily, rubbing her head against her and getting her more oily than she already is.

From the Weyrling Room, A'dreas holds the dragon's head in his arms for a few seconds, eyes half closing before that eerie stomach rumbling feeling returns and he reaches the fourth cut of meat towards sharp teeth fearlessly.

Shasta pushes now damp curls of hair away from her face, and sweat from her brow that now and then might catch what scarce light there is. In the heat, her defiant pose seems to droop a little.

From the Weyrling Room, Adrian giggles and throws her arms around the green's neck, oily or not. "Do you need anything else beautiful-one?"

From the Weyrling Room, Duirath would never choke, he's a bronze! But no sooner said than done, he starts to splutter, a large goblet of meat stuck in his throat.

Some of the glow lights surrounding the cavern fade into insubstantiality. These must have been some of the older glows for them to diminish in brightness so quickly -- not that the illumination afforded by them was very much in the first place. The shadows increase, casting more of the Grounds into darkness.

Aislinn ohs as a few figures...nearer than she'd thought...appear in the brief flash of moonlight "Oh!" she exclaims as they are engulfed in darkness again.

Alix looks up at the faint light, over at the onlookers at the noise, then back to the eggs quickly enough.

Deliya lloks toward the hatchlings, "Threes sets, two sets? How many eyes are out there?"

Aisha says "Two.. maybe more."

As if blown together by the winds that play over their surfaces, the Paint the Wind Egg and the Whip the Wind Around Egg begin to wobble -- bumping into each other like two left-footed people partnered on a crowded dance floor. Raven tresses whip around the one egg, merging with the lightning bolts on the other, almost as if they were trying to find their lifemates whilst still in their shells. Eventually they crack, leaving two, somewhat dizzy, dragonets that shake off their shells. Stumbling over to their chosen lifemates, they butt their heads in identical gestures against a surprised, but now joyous, set of Candidates who were holding hands -- a lissome lass from the Beastcraft and a burly boy from Big Lagoon Hold. As each one kneels, it's just possible to make out a blue and a green hide, before the darkness swallows all once more.

Xavier shakes his head in answer to Deliya, "Can't tell."

Dyani shivers slightly at the gust that blows through the grounds. "DId anyone see how many are left," she queries to those nearby. "I've lost count." As negative responses are given in answer, Dyani just sighs and goes back to shifting from foot to foot.

From the Weyrling Room, T'dru grins at Duirath. "Ok. Not that many times. Maybe just a few. But chew and don't choke on it." He says that pretty firmly.

From the Weyrling Room, Faeth turns a happily whirling eye towards Adrian and croons to her happily, rubbing her head against her and getting her more oily than she already is.

From the Weyrling Room, A'dreas holds the dragon's head in his arms for a few seconds, eyes half closing before that eerie stomach rumbling feeling returns and he reaches the fourth cut of meat towards sharp teeth fearlessly.

Shasta pushes now damp curls of hair away from her face, and sweat from her brow that now and then might catch what scarce light there is. In the heat, her defiant pose seems to droop a little.

From the Weyrling Room, Adrian giggles and throws her arms around the green's neck, oily or not. "Do you need anything else beautiful-one?"

From the Weyrling Room, Duirath would never choke, he's a bronze! But no sooner said than done, he starts to splutter, a large goblet of meat stuck in his throat.

Some of the glow lights surrounding the cavern fade into insubstantiality. These must have been some of the older glows for them to diminish in brightness so quickly -- not that the illumination afforded by them was very much in the first place. The shadows increase, casting more of the Grounds into darkness.

Somewhere Over Egg wobbles around in a wildly exotic dance, twisting and turning -- like the howling winds of the grey funnel on it's surface -- gathering speed in a dazzling whirl of activity. What seems to be a leg pushes it's way out of the shell, first though the red flowers, and then through what was once the yellow stone road, almost making it seem like it was wearing ruby shoes, before finally the rainbowed apex goes spinning off into the distance. No shell left to hide in, the caliginous hatching peers around the sands -- only the glowing embers, of its hungry eyes, visible in it's dark outline.

Rivulet to the Sea Hatchling moves toward the one human who stands out among the rest, crooning softly, as if testing the choice.

Deliya eeeeps! "It got darker!"

Khyam looks from one shifting figure in the darkness to another. It's a wonder more people aren't getting hurt!"

Lily hmps, blinking once, twice. "Did it just get darker?"

Rivulet to the Sea Hatchling pauses in front of Kinoa, gently nudging her to get her attention, and as their eyes lock, she croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

Starting as nothing more than a trickling, cold rivulet, a river begins its course high in the mountains, flowing softly across lawn and lea on its way towards the sea to deliver a wave of aquamarines, like a tribute to the depths, over the hide of this hatchling. Never moving fast, the river is more a study in growth than movement, swaying reeds of sage-green wavering down her back on the way to her tail, which is dipped in brilliant chartreuse. Her wings are a dazzling blaze of iridescent beauty - emerald and peridot sparkle amongst the vanes of her leading edges, almost as if a thousand suns streamed down on them, whilst jade and beryl quiver at her trailing edges, just as though a thousand moons had set them shivering. The silent stream eventually washes cool aqua blue-greens down her belly, the surface rippled with leafy-greens that intensify towards the tree-trunk brown of her rapacious talons.

From the Weyrling Room, A'dreas puts the pile in front of Quiarth and says quickly, "I'm going to grab you some oil, but I'll be right there," he says, pointing. "And I'll be right back. Eat slow!" And he makes a mad dash for some oil and a paddle, moving back more carefully so as not to spill.

Kiraya produces a whimpery kind of noise, glancing around as the shadows deepen. "Oh, just what we need," She murmurs sarcastically.

The One Landscape Hatchling warbles softly towards the light and figures. They are always moving and shifting. Still slow methodical movements as one talon is placed here and another there. It will reach the shapes eventually and find that perfect one that's left, just waiting.

You Old Poop Egg wavers in its place, as if the water covering its surface was rippling in effect to some other force -- and indeed it's likely true, in a manner of speaking. Cracks undulate outwards, like dehydrated leaf veins, until the egg breaks apart to reveal another shadowy dragonet. This one takes a moment to confer with dam and sire before making its way towards the hatchlings. Cautiously it inspects several, before it notices the light between one tall Igen lad's legs - light? It bugles and heads for the light, unheeding of the candidate now tumbling down its back. A moment, as eyes adjust, and then he blinks, turning a sapphire-blue neck to regard the lad and croons softly: Impression!

From the Weyrling Room, Adrian smiles dreamily at Faeth, everything else forgotten completely, "I'm glad -you- found me! I couldn't even see you in the dark!"

Farin shrugs. "I don't know... it does it seem it though but I can't see why. I couldn't see anything before and I still can't see anything.

Joslyn blinks twice, "Why's it gettin' darker Ace?" as if Aislinn would know. Josy shifts her feet again and peers through the increasingly dark Hatching Ground, "I don' like this one bit, I cain barely see anythin' Ace!"

From the Weyrling Room, T'dru starts looking panicked and like he's having trouble breathing now. The meat gets dropped on the floor as he kneels down frantically. "I told you..." He starts to reach into Duirath's mouth but drops his hand, instead stroking the neck hoping that'll make the meat go down. J'mis remembered, he yelps. "What do I do?"

Alix suddenly stops moving her head as the light gets even fainter. "And I thought it was bad before..."

Lily jumps as she hears the croon *right* next to her! "Kinoa?" She breaths, then claps. "Oh, a green!"

From the Weyrling Room, Quirath naturally doesn't eat slow. He tries to choke down the left food as quickly as he can to fill his starving belly to fullness as A'dreas leaves for the oil.

Kymra simply watches the dragonets unfold, eyes wide, like many a Candidate. But Kinoa's Impression catches the gaze, and she pivots in the correct direction, happy -- if somewhat envious -- smile cast in her direction. Not for long, however, and she returns to staring at wavering shadows, brow furrowing with irritation. "Where're they all going?"

Shasta takes a step back from where the shadows of hatchlings were, as the light wanes even more. Her course causes her to collide with another candidate of the same mind, and with a yelp from them both, she resumes her pose, even if nobody can see her.

Moira groans softly at the small-but-perceptible dimming of lights, but her irritated noise turns much more cheerful as Kinoa, just to one side of her, seems to Impress. "How grand!"

Deliya peers, "Kinoa? Congradulations!"

Nerves color Aislinn's normally steady voice "I'm not sure" She looks around "Maybe the glows..."

Xavier grins, "congratz, Kinoa.

From the Weyrling Room, Duirath warbles and swallows. Hey, the lad has the magical touch!! He croons, headknobs rubbing against T'dru and eyes still whirling with hunger

Farin looks around Lily trying to make out Kinoa's outline at least. "Congratulations, Kinoa."

Alix bumbles about confusedly for a moment, then stops at all the shouts from the candidates. "Congrats Kinoa. Green is it?"

Dyani gives up trying to see as some of the glows go out and make it darker. "Great. Just sharding great. Are we supposed to *smell* the hatchlings coming at us now?" The sounds of congratualtions down the line get only a tiny smile. "Whomever just Impressed, congrats!" she calls out.

One of the candidates is knocked over by an over eager hatchling that seems to be desperately searching for light of some kind. Other candidates soon block its way as they inadvertently fall over their comrade, not noticing him in the dim illumination provided by the failing glow lights.

From the Weyrling Room, Ysanne pauses in feeding duty, nudging the bowl away with her foot. "Shall we attend to the itch, dear?" Whether or not she's answered is unclear, however the girl gathers up a paddle of oil and makes another attempt.

Rnayth swishes his tail back and forth as his eyes, glowing darkly, observe from his position. He looks like a molten statue -- so still does he sit for some moments. But then he shifts, and reaches over toward Tiarnath with his neck, nuzzling comfort and support.

Kinoa drops to her knees in the darkness, arms reaching out surely to encircle the green hatchling before her. "Oh, Luiseth," she calls out in a joyous voice, tears beginning to form at the corners of her eyes. "You're absolutely right, I was waiting for you all the time." She raises her green eyes in the darkness, "We're going to be hungry, she says," is added with an incredulous giggle.

From the Weyrling Room, A'dreas is back quickly, but not quite quickly enough. Apparently they're going to have to work on slow and fast a little! The paddle is put down and what's left of the pile tucked away before Andi as he makes a worried appraisal to make sure they're not going to have TWO choking bronzes.

Long Afternoon Hatchling takes a few hesitant steps toward the dwindling line of candidates, wings -- stretched out for balance -- gleaming ever-so-faintly in the dim light.

Joslyn blinks again, "Who Impressed??" she asks, loud enough so that at least some people could hear her, still looking about her.

N'all grins at Kinoa, and motions that she is to go to the Weyrling Room.

Tiarnath croons at Rnayth, dipping her head to nuzzle him before glancing back to these, her last hatchlings, and watching them impress.

Deliya looks in the direction of Joslyn's voice, "Kinoa did."

Celestial turns, looking, "I don't know, Jos...."

The One Landscape Hatchling reaches the shapes and softly croons. This is the one and moves purposefully, if slowly, towards the figure.

From the Weyrling Room, Nerian waves happily as she sees Kinoa.

As the last few candidates shuffle to fill the gaps in the circle around the eggs, the No-one Quits Egg finally starts to show signs of hatching. The colours on its surface are quickly blotted out by long shadows, which make the foreboding tones deeper and more ominous. Sinister cracks form, splitting the egg in two and depositing a darkly hued dragonet on the sands, who moves straight for the shuffling candidates, uncertain now that there are so few of them, and peers at a girl. As another candidate moves away, it allows a brief flash of shining-bronze to be seen and the sight of a tail curling around the boy from Lemos who was standing next to the girl. The boy's eyes follow the tail and he barely manages to remain upright as he calls out the dragon's name.

Jeyrmi curses under his breath as the light dims further, hands clenching into fists as he stands apart from the crowd. Now even shining eyes are heard to make out as the chances of reflection grow less and less. His ears strain, searching for the sound of sand on hide that would tell him if one was too close for comfort.

From the Weyrling Room, J'mis smiles, "Congratulations Kinoa, there's meat along the back wall, give her about ten good pieces for now. And oil against the side wall for when she starts to itch."

From the Weyrling Room, A'dreas reaches for itchy spots, pausing to dip his hands themselves in the oil as he tries to follow the lines of the dragon as if they were his own body, seeking the suddenly scratchy parts of himself on bronze hide.

Kiraya tucks hair the color of the shadows around her behind her ears, waving at Kinoa on her way by, though it's unlikely the girl and the green saw. Instead, she searches the darkness again, trying to make out shapes.

From the Weyrling Room, Shadara smiles at Saith again abd then follows Ysanne's example, moving the bowl so it's by her lifemate and she goes about oiling Saith's wings, "dearest, can you spread your wings out for me?"

Aislinn repeats Kinoa? Excellent choice!" she says, her eyes still searching for dragonet eyes.

K'laarn glances around the sands and notes as he squeezes Telinda gently -- he and she looking little more than a large shadow next to the larger ones of the dragons, "I think most of the eggs have hatched now.. and there are only a few to impress, left."

The One Landscape Hatchling pauses in front of Shasta, gently nudging her to get her attention, and as their eyes lock, he croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

Above lush green valleys a huge natural limestone cliff peaks, reaching for the sky, to form a scar along the landscape -- the delicate sandstone-brown smoothed as if shaped by a river, the water having long since found an alternative route through a subterranean passage deep underground. So to do the colours shade the rocky outcropping of this brown hatchling, darkness mottling his haunches that flow with sinuous muscle down his back before cresting, arching toward the sun, as a proud ridge of limestone might. His proud, sunbleached, granite-tinted head contrasts with the weathered outcropping of his hide, as do the dusty mahogany-browns that brush down his neckridges, weathered by drifts of a crepuscular wind. Sun-touched leading edges guide darker, earthy-brown wingsails before they dissolve into calciferous-umber, nearly transparent in hue at his trailing edges, whilst his belly is a secret system of cave-browns, the conduits allowing the dark depths of water to wash down toward murky-black avaricious talons.

Celestial cheers, "Congrats Kinoa!"

Joslyn says "Kinoa! Ooooh congratulations Kinoa!"

From the Weyrling Room, T'dru's panic lessens and he picks out a smaller piece for Duirath, still maintaining the stroking motion with his other hand. "Think you can try to just chew it and swallow it this time?"

From the Weyrling Room, Kinoa stumbles into the room, her eyes bright with tears and happiness. "Yes, sir,"

she says to J'mis, making her way back to the wall. "Come on, Luiseth, if you're hungry. And no," she adds, giggling. "It's not always so dark here."

Shasta raises herself on her toes, whether to get her chin further in the air, or to be ready to dodge again is hard to discern. Whichever purpose, she's ready for anything - anything but THIS!

Long Afternoon Hatchling warbles plaintively. How is one supposed to find the right person when they're all hiding? Still, there's got to be *someone* out there. The hatchling wanders farther out to the vague white shapes, taking small steps less uncertain by the minute.

Shadowy tendrils extend further into the gloom of the Hatching Grounds as yet more glows flicker out of existence. With the newly hatched dragonets stumbling around it almost seems as though there are other lights out there, though closer examination would only reveal hungry hatchling eyes.

From the Weyrling Room, Quirath warbles in abject pleasure as his bronze length stretches to its fullest, wings extending as oil is soothed into some of the annoyingly itchy spots on his hide. His tail swishes about frantically in delight as his snout roots around for more food around A'dreas.

From the Weyrling Room, Saith warbles sweetly, and obligingly spreads her delicate, hilly-green wings.

Kiraya peers, in the midst of those shapes she's trying to discern.. "Shasta?" She takes a moment to recall the other candidate's name. "Congratulations!" She calls out, pushing hair behind her ears again.

Lily hears the sounds of another impression but can't tell from where...and she hears those plaintive warbles too with a sigh.

Celestial grins, "Who's that one there? I can't see!"

Dyani cocks her head, reduced to listening to how the hatching is going. "Sounds like there aren't many hatching any more. Must be about over." She bites her lip, then brightens as happy shouts reach her. "Shasta Impressed? Oh, that's great!"

Joslyn says "Oh shells and shards...It's a-gettin' dark again, ain't it? Shasta what? Where?"

Celestial lets out a "congrats" Anway...

From the Weyrling Room, A'dreas nudges a hunk of herdbeast to the gaping maw as he tucks himself in under a wing to get some serious oiling action started on the expanding underbelly.

Deliya looks around, "Shasta? Really! Ohhhhhh!"

Shasta gasps, dropping to her knees in the hot sand. "I'd've noticed you anywhere, Muinyth!" She shouts, reaching to sooth an itch on his neck.

From the Weyrling Room, Shadara smiles and oils Saith's wings, "You have such a sweet voice dearest, I bet some of the Harper girls would be jealous if they could hear you."

Aislinn peers "I think I only see one pair left" she says, gripping onto Josy and Celie's hands. Her feet become still as she gazes into the darkness.

Jeyrmi grins for his friend as Shasta Impressesm, calling out his congradulations from where he stands, apart from the others. Seems safe enough. Most of the Hatchlings appear to be frequenting the crowd, so in order to be safe... you stay outta the pack. Not that Jey enjoys being alone. But it's better than the alternative.

From the Weyrling Room, Nionth makes a huge stretching yawn with his mouth and then looks about blinking more than one set of eyelids. Moving to one side the brown leans against J'rel fondly.

Tilting head, Kymra attempts to peer, taking a slight step forward as hazel orbs search for the Candidate's face. "Shasta?" she wonders, then firmly nods to herself. "Must be...Shasta, that is." A smile ventures, quickly lost in the all-consuming darkness.

Xavier smiles over at Shasta, "Hey Congratulations."

The eerie dimness suddenly flickers and deepens as one of the older glows finally gives out, pushing the shadows out just that much further. Unfortunately, that glow had been placed in an area currently bustling with activity, and several creels sound in the darkness as two of the hatchlings decide to occupy the same space, confused by the darkness.

Lily grins then, a "Congrats Shasta," breathing out.

Alix finds herself able to move without bumbping into anyone, now that the group is even smaller. "Did somebody else impress? Oh, congrats Shasta!" She also uses her new space to move back again, after all, more darkness means more danger.

Moira murmurs softly, "Oh, he's lovely. What, a brown? Muinyth...what a nice name." Murmured, her somewhat jittered commentary doesn't stop until she gets a sharp nudge from the young Candidate directly to her left.

From the Weyrling Room, J'mis smiles, "Congratulations Shasta, there's meat against the back wall, and oil against the side wall for when you need it. Just grab a bowl and give him something to eat, about ten or so good pieces."

Khyam frowns, though who could see it in the blackness. Good luck trying to avoid many of the oncoming dragons now! He steps closer to what sounds like a candidate and trying to watch for the young dragons as they race forward.

From the Weyrling Room, T'dru looks bemused as he gazed down into Duirath's eyes. "Of course I will. Lots of secrets. Every one I know. But you have to tell me yours first." Smugness crosses his face as he hands up another chunk of meat, opening and closing his mouth several times as he mimics chewing.

The shadows overwhelming the Fat Lady Sings Egg lighten a little as tendrils of glowlight filter through from the now incomplete ring of candidates. As if it were waiting to be the last egg on the sands, and so make some kind of statement, it wobbles, its first sign of movement. Cracks web its surface, creating more destruction, before it explodes outwards, leaving a dragonet still curled up on itself on the sands. Standing, this intensely shaded green, for the illumination proclaims her true colour almost immediately, heads unerringly for a young lad from the Winecraft. She croons and nudges the lad, who looks down in shock and disbelief, crying out a name in the moment of impression.

From the Weyrling Room, Muinyth follws closely behind Shasta, crooning very softly.

Long Afternoon Hatchling warbles again, this time in jubilation. There *is* someone out there! One step, two, and the newborn's front legs falter, sending a delicate muzzle plowing ungracefully into the sand. Oops. Pause. It takes a minute of careful untangling to get legs and wings and tail and neck sorted out again, then it's back to finding the Right Person.

From the Weyrling Room, Adrian sighs softly and looks up at the new sets of pairs coming in, waving in congrats while keeping one hand protectively on the young green.

From the Weyrling Room, Kinoa plants her hands on her hips and looks at the selection of meat. "What do you think, Luiseth, herdbeast tonight?" Reaching out, she grabs a couple of large pieces of meat and holds them out in offering to the green.

From the Weyrling Room, Ysanne smiles over Beith at Adrian.

From the Weyrling Room, Quirath rumbles deeply in his chest as his jaws gnaw on the herdbeast. His slowly drying wings spread further, wacking A'dreas in the chin and just as quickly are lowered as a worried trill sounds from the dragonet.

From the Weyrling Room, Luiseth nuzzles Kinoa, accepting the meat with a satisfied croon.

From the Weyrling Room, Shasta gazes down at the lovely Muinyth beside her, and bobbs her head up and down. "Hungry!" Is about all she can get out. "Food? Yes, food, we'll get you some!"

Kiraya ponders, locating only one eye-pair. "Is that one it?" She wonders aloud towards Kymra, wincing as the eyes dissapear into the sand and then reappear again. "Must be the unbalanced one again, I think.." She wiggles her toes in one sandal, dislodging sand.

From the Weyrling Room, Adrian beams at Ysanne and looks down at Faeth, "you want to meet my friend?"

Deliya squints in the ever increasing darkness, trying to see where the hatchlings are.

From the Weyrling Room, Muinyth nudges Shasta softly and opens his maw, a hungry creel given.

Tiarnath watches this, her last unpaired hatchling, try and determine if there's anyone suitable on the sands. As she wanders around, she nudges her lifemate gently, directing her attention towards the little green, and croons as both her, and Telinda, watch eager, hopeful with anticipation.

From the Weyrling Room, T'dru lowers his voice to a murmur. "It's dark because there's no light in there. That's all."

Long Afternoon Hatchling pauses in front of Khyam, gently nudging him to get his attention, and as their eyes lock, she croons, and you know that impression has just been made. As another hatchling stands out of the way, you get to see this one's colour in the dim illumination provided by the glow lights.

An afternoon sun, in the midst of summer, shines though a canopy of trees, dappling the wooded-path far below -- fragrant with feathery-green ferns and shadowed from above, it appears dark and mysterious, an image that continues to play in the twilight colouring of this green's hide. Bayberry-green leaves entwine themselves like threads of waxy cotton around her neckridges and tail -- making them stand out like the blunted thorns of a rose stem, the shade darker, and the texture different, than the rest of her back. Delicate wing membranes are lined with the faintest tracery of dusty-browns and faded heather-blues -- reminiscent of the winding track that lies beneath the thick greenery -- and touched by the shadow of twilight's embrace, as daylight lingers on the horizon. The opalescent mist of summer's dew kisses the bright yellow-green of her belly, a colour which deepens in a gradual gradient to the vine-greens that climb and creep around her legs, like they might wind their way up the strong trunk of a tree.

Kymra bumbles over a longish edge of the robe, unconvientently tripping. Catching her balance, she glowers down at the ripped fabric, giving a moment's notice before glancing up to stare about. "I only see one," the Candidate assents to Kiraya's query, stifling a giggle. "Hope it's okay."

Celestial shifts back and forth, watching the last...few....? hatclings

From the Weyrling Room, A'dreas makes sure that the meat keeps finding its way to Quirath's needy mouth, even as he works at the task of getting oil onto the top of his *WHACK* -ohhhhh- wings. One hand strays to oil his own chin as he rubs at the very slight ache. "No, no... you'd never hurt me, Quirath."

From the Weyrling Room, Shasta leads the way through jostling hatchlings and thier newly chosen lifemates, finally finding meat. Obligingly, this is popped into the gaping maw that is Muinyth's mouth.

Rnayth rumbles happily, wings rustling against his sides as his neck stretches forward to encourage the newest, and last pair to Impress. His hide gleams darkly in what is left of the glows.

Alix stops again. She sure has been doing that a lot, hasn't she? She moves her head towards the direction the hatchling sounding noises are coming from. "Did another person impress? Congrats!" she yells to where it sounds like a hatchling did.

Kiraya watches, following with her eyes the progress of the last hatchling, she thinks. "Oh, green." She murmurs, identifying the color. "Aaand.. A candidate! It Impressed!" Her voice hovers between excitement and resignation. "Khyam, looks like."

From the Weyrling Room, Kinoa reaches up and brushes at her eyes with her hands. "My eyes leak because I'm so happy you found me, love," she says to Luiseth, reaching down with one hand to gently caress the hatchling. "And there's more meat if you want it," she says as she grabs another armful.

Lily looks around the dark cave. "Is that it?," she says softly, but her voice takes on a tone of joy as she calls out the last congratulations to Khyam.

Dyani listens carefully for the shuffling of anything coming towards her, completely at a loss without being able to see. A scuffle of sand about a dragonlength away turns out to be a green dragonet and Khyam. "Nice going," she calls to the new pair, then falters into momentary silence as no other sounds besides calls from other candidates reach her ears. "It's over, isn't it?"

From the Weyrling Room, Muinyth takes the meat and swallows it in one gulp slowly, no chewing here.

Celestial lets out a last congrats!

From the Weyrling Room, Shasta drops to her knees again, another glob of meat poised and ready. "Friends? Oh, Muinyth! We'll be more'n just friends!"

Aisha listens a minute. "I think that's all," she says doubtfully.

Deliya waves her congradulations.

From the Weyrling Room, Nerian giggles as she listens.

Joslyn blinks, "Who Impressed again? What's going on, I can't even see no more, who Impressed?" Josy blinks, "Khyam? Ooh, Congrats," she still grins at the Impression and blinks, "That's....all?"

"Tha's it," Kymra notes reluctantly, wavering smile sent towards Kiraya. "Unless one's hidden..." Eyes search, but nothing is uncovered to support the Candidate's hope.

Celestial squeezes Aislinn's hand, letting out a sigh of....relief?!?

From the Weyrling Room, Luiseth eats what she is given, her eyes whirling into green-blue patterns now that hunger is being taken care of.

Aisha accepts this with a philosophical shrug.

From the Weyrling Room, Ysanne nods to her lifemate, fingers quickly catching on to this oiling business - or, at least they aren't as tentative as they started out. "How's this feel?"

Kiraya nods. "That's all." Arms cross before her, too proud to show anything other than congratulations for the Impressors.

Aislinn squeezes Josy and Celie's hands one more time "I think that's it..." she says, her voice tinged with a int of disappointment. But she smiles...a smile of genuine happiness "Congrats Khyam!" she calls.

From the Weyrling Room, Shadara chuckles and then Peers out, "Is that it?" she asks and then looks at Saith, "Anymore itches or hunger pains love?"

Eliora steps out on to the sands, hand resting lightly on R'lien's arm until she has to let go to keep her balance walking across the sands.

N'all waits for the last pair, K'yam and his green to come with him as he turns towards them weyrling room.

K'yam gasps in amazement as the green dragonete comes to him out of the darkness. "Ruisth? Yes! We are together--for always!" He smiles broadly at the dragon, leaning forward to enfold his arms around her in a hug.

Alix looks around, trying to find an answer to the question. "Have they all impressed now?"

R'lien leads Eliora up halfway onto the sands until her arms slides away and then he walks along with her.

Lily lets out a tiny sigh. Well, *this* is better the second time, at least. They'll be hides to write up on the new pairs tomorrow.

From the Weyrling Room, Shasta hands her new lifemate the glob of meat, saying, "Chew..." just before she bobs her head again, a grin spread wide across her face. "Of course, everything! We -belong- together!"

Celestial waves as K'yam and Ruisth wander off.

Jeyrmi glances around. That it? Cool, now he can sleep in a real bed again. And not worry about rules. Chuckling under his breath, he moves towards the other Candidates gathered nearby.

Telinda smiles over at K'laarn, then nods to Eliora and R'lien. "All over with I think. I certainly can't see any more eyes!

From the Weyrling Room, Muinyth takes the secong glob of meat and swallows this one whole as well in his hunger.

Moira puts a bracing arm around young Sarisa's shoulders, murmuring something to the child. Then she lifts her chin slightly, gray eyes wavering only a little.

Farin glances around although not being able to hear the noise of hatchings and impressions is what really gives it away. He quietly says, "I guess that's all..."

Deliya shrugs, "All done? Ah, well, maybe another time."

R'lien looks about, "I can't see any either...

Eliora smiles through the gloom, "Yes, I think that's all for this clutch." she comments and then moves with R'lien to speak to the remaining candidates.

From the Weyrling Room, N'all walks in; his face set in a wide smile, "Okay, everyone congratulations! Please proceed to the Weyrling Barracks."

Celestial watches the two other riders come towards them.

Dyani shakes her head as her guess is confirmed. "No more," she murmurs, then swallows hard and turns towards a noise that's probably the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman coming out to offer condolences.

Alix hmms and nods, "Well, it was fun anyway!"

Xavier nods and sighs.

Aisha waits, politely, shifting from foot to foot.

Tiarnath croons and nudges Telinda in concern, watching the exhausted weyrwoman carefully. Telinda smiles, "Oh yes, Tia, of course I'll be fine. And the hatchling will be too!" A hand reaches up to caress the golden muzzle, "You go off and get something to eat, alright? K'laarn will look after me!"

Joslyn nods and sighs, "Too bad," she says.

Kiraya kicks more sand from the sandal, standing otherwise silent where she stood for the whole ordeal. "I'll never say /that/ wasn't interesting," She finally murmurs.

Eliora gives another smile, "R'lien and I wanted to thank you all for answering to the call of search and standing for Tiarnath's clutch. As you have all heard before, not everyone finds their lifemate on the sands. Those of you who wish are welcome to stay on with us at the weyr. We'll be happy to provide rides home for those of you who want to return your former crafts, holds, or weyrs. All of you will be welcome to stand the next time we have eggs, provided of course you are still within age and not handfasted."

Celestial shifts on her feet again, waiting for a word or something from the riders....ah...

In the Weyrling Barracks, Muinyth lumbers after Shasta and settles down beside her.

Xavier nods as he listens to the WeyrLeaders.

Aislinn nods mutely, once again alternately picking up her feet as she listens.

In the Weyrling Barracks, Shadara grins and walks in with Saith, "What shall we do love? Are you sleepy, hungry or itchy still?" She then takes a deep breath, looking around at all the faces she knows, "We'll have to remember to try and cheer up those that didn't impress. I want to introduce them to Saith."

Celestial nods.

Alix listens silently, shifting a bit, eager to get off the sands and to change her clothes.

Dyani nods slowly to the Weyrwoman, though she probably can't see it in the dim light. "I'd like to stay, ma'am, if Master Kylric says it's okay." She scuffs the sand with one sandal-covered foot. "I'm sure he can post me to someone here instead of at the Beastcraft."

Lily nods, whishing she had a hide now to make notes on. "There's plenty of help needed," she chimes in with an apologetic grin at the Weyrleaders.

Eliora smiles, "We are always delighted to have posted crafters." she smiles to R'lien and then says, "You've all done proud today, you're welcome to come to the weyrhall and enjoy something to eat and soemthing cool to drink, it's always so hot on the sands."

Aisha nods and waits.

Kymra manages a grin, shrugging shoulders in the semblence of nonchalance. "I'll jes' stay here," she decides with a wry quirk of the face. "Dunno where I'd stay, iffen it wasn't here." Won't her cousin be delighted?

R'lien smiles back to Eliora and nods, "Yes please, come an' cool off in the weyrhall with some of our best wine, you have all done yourself proud out here."

Xavier takes a breat and pastes on a 'Harper Smile'. "I think I'll go back to the hall and continue my studies, if you don't mind, Ma'am."

Deliya shrugs her shoulder once again, "Back to the garden."

Aislinn smiles at Celie "Back to my plum trees, I think"

Farin nods silently.

Alix nods, "Is it okay if I still help in the kitchens? I liked it there in a way..."

Aisha announces thoughtfully, "I'll stay. Should I just get my things from the barracks, or can we sleep there tonight?"

Moira nods as she hears Deliya. "No mucking," she announces, with a sudden grin.

Celestial grins, "I'm heading back to the hold....my parents wanted me back."

Kiraya snickers at Kymra, nudging her with an elbow. "And... And I'll stay too. The kitchen aunties need me, too." She grins.

Jeyrmi gives a lopsided grin. " Since all my stuff is here, I figure I might as well remain." A grin, and a wink. " Don't wanna lose all your stablehands, anyway."

Aislinn nods "I miss my plum trees" she says, though she sighs "But I think I'm going to miss everyone here"

In the Weyrling Barracks, Ruisth warbles dreamily up at K'yam.

In the Weyrling Barracks, Quirath waddles up behind A'dreas and hides behind his legs -- at least that is what it looks like. He nuzzles his new lifemate and tries to duck under his legs.

Celestial nods, "Definatly....me too!"

Deliya grins back at Moria, "Right!"

Xavier nods to Aislinn, "I'm gonna miss my friends here, but I need to get back to my studies."

Telinda smiles warmly at the candidates and caressing Tiarnath's muzzle, "Go on love, you're looking pale!"

Tiarnath soars to the open sky above.

In the Weyrling Barracks, A'dreas looks at the dragon that wants to be ridden already. "You're probably going to want to fly tomorrow aren't you?"

Dyani exhales long and slow, nodding once again. "Something cool sounds good. And hopefully somewhere a bit brighter as well." She waves a hand at the dark around her, a tiny smile showing itself at her joking attempt.

Lily cocks her head, mind 'whirling'. "I'll get the klah going, and the harper's will have music...." she starts ticking off things to do on her fingers, then looks up. "I'll have to get back to the hall and make sure everything's working right!"

Aisha nods slowly. "May we go?"

Aislinn flashes Xav a smile, then tugs at Celie and Josy "Let's go get something to drink" she says cheerfully.

Celestial grins and nods, following Aise off the sands.

Moira, tugging Sarisa with her, heads for the tunnel.

Farin walks quietly along with the general flood of candidates.

Telinda smiles and tugs K'laarn's hand, heading towards the barracks.

Kinoa knows next to nothing about controlling dragons, so she's gonna need a lot of help.

Weyrling Barracks:

Adrian looks down at Faeth, "do you want to sleep? Of course you can! I'll be sure nothing gets ya!"

Shadara grins a little and scritches Saith quietly.

Shasta settles down next to Muinyth, her fingers finding itchy locations on his newly-hatched hide. scritch-scritch-scritch.

Beith rests her head in Ysanne's lap and just croons.

Luiseth nuzzles Kinoa, whuffling the girl softly.

A'dreas looks at Quirath and grins. "Stay as long as you like... just let me know if you're leaving me, hunger boy."

Kinoa grins and pats Luiseth's muzzle with one hand, still grinning like the idiot that she is. ;)

Telinda smiles. "Shasta? Please step forward."

Muinyth croons in delight and lays his head down next to Shasta.

Adrian peers at sleepy-green and hmms.

A'dreas looks at Quirath curiously, steady concern written on the weyrling's face. "Do you need more food, more.." He drops his voice as the gold rider speaks, and murmurs, "Oil?"

Shasta scrambles to her feet, giving Muinyth's shoulderblades one last scritch. "Yes'm?" she inquires, stepping forward.

Faeth warbles quietly and rests her head against Adrian's leg.

N'all looks at the assembled 'lings, his gaze stops on Ysanne, "Guess there's no figuring a dragon's taste." A smile flips his lips briefly upward.

Telinda digs into a leather pouch, peering at something before handing something over, "For you"

You give Shasta the Vine Brooch.

You say "Ysanne?"

Kinoa's mouth forms an 'o' as she looks at Luiseth, tipping her head to one side. "Well, we can fix that," she murmurs as she looks around. "She says she itches," knowing there's a way to fix that.

Adrian runs a soft finger along Faeth's muzzle, watching the other new weyrlings.

Shadara grins down at Saith, "I'll oil your hide again in the morining dearest, when I can see what I'm doing better." she says, scritching her lifemate's eyeridges gently.

Shasta smiles, dazedly, taking a step back to her new lifemate's side as she looks at the brooch. Resuming scritching, she shows it to Muinyth. "It's a pin, in the shape of a vine." She thinks a moment. "Y'know, oil might help th'itching."

Telinda rummages around in the bag once more, handing Ysanne something this time

You give Ysanne the Birch Brooch.

Adrian looks up at Ysanne, and then at N'all, then 'ohs' quietly under her breath before glancing away.

J'rel's green eyes twinkle as he fondly scritches his lifemate. "I'll never forget /you/, love." ...Himself though, that's another story.

Luiseth moves her head back and forth beneath Kinoa's fingers to relieve the itching *there*.

You say "Andreas? A'dreas, sorry, please step forward."

A'dreas steps forward, but not far from Quirath as the bronze rests tiredly. Hatching was hard work. "Yes'm?"

Kinoa ohs as she sees her /smart/ lifemate show her what to do. "Here?" she asks as she scritches at the spot with her fingers, watching Telinda and the rest out of the corner of her eye.

You give A'dreas the Redfruit Brooch.

Ysanne watches Beith wander a short distance away.

Telinda smiles, "Adrian?"

Adrian huhs? And gets up, careful of the sleepy dragon and hurries forward, "yes'm."

Luiseth twines her neck, moving another itchy spot into position.

Telinda smiles, "A gift for you."

You give Adrian the Alder Brooch.

Telinda grins, and looks around the room, "Shadara?"

A'dreas pins his brooch to the robe, still dazed... redfruit on red meat blood. Charming match.

Shasta scurries to find some oil, unobtrusively, and returns to Muinyth's side. In a hushed voice, she tells him, "A vine's a kinda plant, that climbs and twines." as she pours a glob of oil on the sandstone ridges.

Ysanne watches Beith return quickly to her side.

Adrian grins a the weyrwoman and then hurries back to Faeth, looking down at the Brooch as she sits down, "See." She says to her new lifemate, holding it up so the young dragon can see. "It's to wear."

Shadara grins and steps forward, "Yes ma'm?" Not quite loud, but definitly louder than it usually is, her voice seems filled with something new.

You give Shadara the Willow Brooch.

Muinyth bumps his head against Shasta but settles down as she starts to oil him.

Faeth warbles and peers at the brooch curiously, with half sleepy eyes.

Telinda chuckles at the antics, and then wanders to another part of the barracks, "Tandrum or should I say T'dru?"

Shadara grins as she takes the brooch, "Thank you ma'am, it's very pretty."

Kinoa obediently scratches at the proffered spot, watching the brooch-giving curiously.

T'dru scrambles up from his spot against Duirath and bows a little. "Ma'em."

Adrian rubs Faeth's headknobs and sits back down so the dragon can rest her head again, "you can see it better in the morning."

Shasta holds the pin in one hand, within easy sight of the brown's eyes so he needen't move to see it. "Sure, here it is." She says with a grin, her other hand smoothing the oil over Muinyth's shoulders.

You give T'dru the Oak Brooch.

You say "J'rel? Kinoa? Please step forward"

K'laarn smiles warmly as Telinda hands each and every new weyrling a brooch from her bag. He then lets his gaze wander through the barracks, looking at the shapes of the hatchlings.

Tinneth mercifully sleeps.

Kinoa stands from her spot on the floor, stepping towards Telinda respectfully. "Yes'm," she says softly.

You give Kinoa the Rowan Brooch.

T'dru runs his fingers over the brooch's surface and bows his head again. "Thank you ma'em." And quickly returns to Duirnath's side.

J'rel? Oh, that's him. He stands and wanders Telinda-wards, grinning like the three-quarter-wit he is.

You give J'rel the Ash Brooch.

Quirath stares wonderingly and then nuzzles against A'dreas' legs again gently.

Telinda grins brightly. "Nerian!? Step forward please."

Luiseth peers at the shiny thing in her lifemate's hand.

A warm smile touches Shasta's features at some comment made by her lifemate. Now oily fingers caress Muinyth's sides, appreciating the colour variations there. "Not half so beautiful as you, love," She murmurs.

Nerian bounces over, not even tripping.

Kinoa accepts her brooch silently, returning to Luiseth's side and holding it up so she can see it properly. "Pretty, isn't it?" she says softly, turning it over in her hands.

Telinda grins, "Last but not least, K'yam?"

You give Nerian the Ilex brooch.

Duirath nudges T'dru. He wants to look!!

A'dreas scritches at the head knobs and behind the eye ridges. "Finally fed hmm? Not so hungry now?" The concern is so warm. Why can't he be this way about people instead of runners and a lifemate?

Shadara rubs her fingers over the Brooch and then looks at Saith, "It reminds me of you love, willowy and slender."

K'yam steps forward, smiling tiredly at Telinda.

K'yam watches Ruisth wander a short distance away.

You give K'yam the Elder Brooch.

Kinoa laughs softly and shakes her head. "Me, pretty?" she says to Luiseth, eyes shining bright green. "You're the one with all the looks."

T'dru holds the oak brooch up hurriedly at the nudge.

Shasta dribbles more oil on her fingers, obligingly moving around to stroke the itch-relieving stuff down

Muinyth's back, between his wings, and working her way further down.

Muinyth settles down, looking a bit lazy as he lets wings droop. Eyes starting to lid tiredly.

Quirath gives a soft croon of affection in return as his eyelids close at the return strokes.

Shadara grins and rests her head on Saith's, "Not as lovely as you dear."

K'yam bows his head in thanks and takes a step back to join his lifemate.

T'dru holds the brooch in his hand, closing his fist around it. "It's an oak. A tree." He sighs a little, "Like this." He gets up and does his best imitation of a tree, arms spreading upwards.

Adrian giggles at Faeth and rubs under one of her wings. "oh...." a little startled by the new feelings being recieved from her lifemate. Not one to normaly blush at all, Adi is blushing at the moment.

T'dru isn't even going to try to explain leaves on trees yet.

Kinoa fastens the brooch to her robe to make sure she doesn't lose it, then turns to look around at the others. "Well," she says slowly, "It's oil. For your hide." She shakes her head at Luiseth, grinning, but a little unused to all of this devotion.

Faeth warbles and nuzzles her head into Adrian's lap.

Shasta chuckles softly, shaking her head. "I think I've got lots of oil on me already, thanks. Besides, oil is for hide, not skin."

Duirath warbles at his lifemate. Hey, that's pretty funny. He attempts something along the same lines himself, but ends up falling over, wings and legs getting tangled together.

Adrian smiles at the little green and leans forward to hug onto her possesively.

Shasta watches Muinyth wander a short distance away.

Adrian sighs happily and rubs the soft green hide, "in the morning when it's light outside you will see everything." Then a little worried tone, "I hope you like what you see. It'll be different."

N'all stands in front of the assembled Weyrlings, "Okay, listen up." He waits for people to stop what they're doing and pay attention.

Shasta turns her attention to the weyrlingmaster, Muinyth's sleepy head in her lap.

Kinoa looks up from her oiling and focuses her eyes on N'all, hand still moving to rub the oil into the fresh green hide.

Duirath croons. Pay attention? He nudges T'dru, just in case he's not noticed the weyrlingmaster.

Shadara listens to N'all, eyes widening a bit. She's still shy even with her confident lifemate beside her.

Adrian looks up, pausing before speaking something to the young green in her lap. it takes a moment, her attention being wholy consumed by the new and growing bond with Faeth.

T'dru quits making like a tree and listens, but he keeps a hand at all times on Duirath, scritching here and there.

J'rel finally tears his attention away from Nionth, and looks up at N'all, blinking.

Duirath oohs. Scritch and scratch! Is that like scratch and sniff? Nope. Lets hope not. He croons, nuzzling his new lifemate when he gets the chance.

Shadara watches Saith wander a short distance away.

N'all's smiles is brief,"Okay, people. I am .not. your friend. I am .not. here to be nice, I am not here to be friendly. I am HERE to make you become a member of the finest fighting Weyr on Pern. Southern Weyr. I will be frank, some of your peers will die." He looks around, his gaze impaling people as he does so. He pauses briefly.

Ysanne pats Beith reassuringly.

Shadara watches Saith return quickly to her side.

Nerian listens, sitting by her conked out dragon.

Kinoa withdraws her hand from Luiseth's hide, face paling slightly as N'all's words sink in. She swallows and lifts her chin slightly.

Adrian frowns and wraps her arms tighter around Faeth as if to shelter her from knowing such harsh things at such a ripe young age.

A'dreas reaches up and rubs his chest where the eyes fall, his concern grazing against Quirath's certainty that it certainly won't happen to -them-.

T'dru looks down, accepting the inevitability of N'all's statement, though he mutters "Not if I can help it" under his breath.

Shasta's fingers linger on the granite chin of her new lifemate, brows furrowed.

Shadara blinks a little and watches N'all. Saith of course nudges her lifemate to keep her from shrinking back.

N'all resumes, "I will, however,help you in any way I can. I will NOT tolerate disobedience. if you thought Candidacy was rough; the next 18 months will challenge you physically, mentally and emotionally." He looks at T'dru, momentarily allowing his slip to pass, this is after all first night, "Now,that being said, once your dragons are sated you may go visit your friends and family. The next sevenday you will spend getting you used to your Hatchling and to each other. I offer my heartfelt congratulations; working together you will become effective wingriders, you will make me proud, and you will make a difference to save Pern. That is all."

Some of Kinoa's confidence seems to return as she hears Luiseth say something reassuring, reaching her hand back down to scratch the itchy spot on her wing. Eyes still focused on N'all, she nods her head a little.

Saith nudges her lifemate again, crooning gently as she gazes at N'all with interested, though she looks to be getting a bit sleepy.

Duirath gazes over to T'dru. Effective. Yes. Proud. Yes. Big. Yes. All Duirath. Yes!

K'laarn chuckles softly as he listens and then walks back over to his weyrmate. His arm surrounds her protectively and affectionately as he mentions "Why don't we get you something to drink Telinda, and somewhere to sit." He adds.

Adrian murmurs a strangely respectful, 'yes sir", to the weyrling master and then lets out a happy sigh, eyes flashing with excitement of the challenge. She strokes Faeth's neck, resting her head aginst the dragon's

Shadara looks at Saith and she straightens up as her confidence is boosted some by her beautiful green.

N'all looks at all of you, "You will be all receiving Harper tuition to read charts and" looking at J'rel, "Memory techniques that will help when we start the more advanced training. For without memory to get you into and out of *Between* you will surely become lost to us. I will .not. like that. I might even get to like you lot. But I doubt it."

Telinda grins at K'laarn, leaning into his embrace momentarily, "I want to listen a moment, love" she murmers, "N'all's being" she pauses, "wierd!"

J'rel blinks at N'all, looking only vaguely offended. Memory techniques? Hmph.. He doesn't have a bad memory... He does nod emphatically at the Weyrlingmaster though, adding a, "Yes sir."

T'dru smiles at Duirath, rubbing under the eyeridges gently. He looks about, offering quietly. "I can help with some of the memory techniques sir. I haven't forgotten my harper training."

N'all looks at Telinda, smirks, then looks back at the Weyrlings, "One final thing. NO visitors. The only people allowed in here besides yourself are the weyrlingmaster staff, and the weyr leadership; not wingleaders, nor wingriders are allowed. He looks at T'dru, "You will not. You will learn; not teach."

T'dru catches himself halfway through an eyeroll and nods. "As you wish."

N'all looks at T'dru, "You will remain in the barracks this evening."

Saith gives another deep croon, eyes whirling a bit more as they start to lid over into sleep. Something she says elicts a deep blush and a startled look from her lifemate and stunned, "What? Saith Don't even consider that!"

Telinda grins, "N'all, he has parents to visit, or at least the harper master."

Ysanne keeps her thoughts and comments to herself - likely wisely all things given equal merit.

Kinoa watches Luiseth wander a short distance away.

N'all nods to Telinda, "Agreed." He looks at T'dru, "You are lucky I'm feeling generous. One more thing, if it has a knot you salute it. Except for in here; this is your place."

N'all shakes his head, muttering obviously to be heard, "Why me? Why did I happen to get this particular lot."

Kinoa watches Luiseth return quickly to her side.

Nerian giggles -- once. When N'all is busy yelling at someone else.

T'dru looks up at that fully. His jaw drops a little and he's got a What'd I say wrong now? Stiffening up, he nods fully prepared to take the punishment, but there's a little bit of relief evident as N'all relents.

Adrian glances over at the 'boys' with narroed eyes, they're going to get all the weyrlings in trouble!

Shadara shakes her hear at Saith and then blinks a little at N'all before nodding "Yes sir."

N'all says "Okay, Weyrlings. Once your lifemate is asleep, join us outside. Food is served in the weyrhall."

Saith yawns deeply and soon drifts off to sleep, eyes totally lidded over and tail twitching lightly.

Shadara uhms a little, "Can we slip off for a bath before going to visit? I really don't think people want to be near me with the way I smell right now."

N'all nods, "You may do as you wish."

Adrian sits up a little more, looking around for Ysanne.

T'dru's glance goes to Adrian and he raises a brow. Looks to him as if he's the only one in trouble here.

Adrian misses T'dru's look while looking back at Faeth, "you want to go to sleep then? Not itchy? not hungry?"

Luiseth whuffles gently at her lifemate.

N'all turns on his heel and marches out, saying as he leaves, "Wake up is sunrise tomorrow."