Emergence

[saidaltam]

Kellain nodded, smiling his thanks at the older boy. "Aye, though I wasn't born in Star Hold. ...How do you tell if they want you?" He paused, then decided that he was being unnecessarily rude (because concentrating on etiquette and idle banter with his fellows was much easier than admitting that this was important) and continued. "Ah... which hold are you from, then? Sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."

'I wonder how long it'll be before the eggs start hatching? I'm almost glad they're waiting, though--the more I know, the better my chances of Impressing, right? Isn't that why Candidates always have those classes and what have you? Besides, I wouldn't want to mess this up. Not only do I not want to be maimed, but I don't want to mess up someone else's chances of Impressing, either. They wouldn't be here if it wasn't important, now would they?' he thought to himself.

[Adobe]

Amala was standing next to her sister Nashira on the sands. Usually the girl lacked no confidence, but she looked out of character. The younger girl stared blankly at the eggs. Was this her destiny? At fourteen turns old, Amala was thought to have very little potential. She was often ridiculed for her blunt talk and her inability to show humility. In fact, there had been only two people who she respected enough to listen to was her sister Nashira and the Head Cook at Star, and sometimes she didn't listen to Nashira that well. Now she had to learn to listen to the Head Cook here, but the woman seemed kind enough.

It was surprizing enough that she found her talent in cooking that she found it hard to believe she might be good for a dragon as well. Amala figured she was thrown out on the sands to give the dragonets choice. Ama wanted to go back to her kitchens where she had some domain. Her corner was perfect for the moment. She was talented in the kitchen. She was liked there, she was praised for her talents there. How did she know she'd be just as talented as a rider? Here, she felt like she was drowning, there were too many people around her and she could not hope to stand out. Ama liked attention, and she was in no way getting it at the moment, which made her be in a funny mood...
---
Nashira stood tall next to her sister, her chin slightly raised, her mind open, or she tried. Nashira was really sort of fretting. Fretting for her younger brothers who stood to Impress with the boys, and fretting for Amala. Her sister had such a smart mouth and snarky attitude, she was afraid the younger girl would annoy one of the dragons and cause it to maul poor Amala. Nashira looked out of the corner of her eye at her younger sister, hoping the blank look on the girl's face was due to an open mind. Shards, don't let Ama insult the dragon queen!

Nashira's eyes flickered back to the eggs. Her maternal instincts over her siblings had taken her attention, but she knew as soon as the eggs started to hatch, all other things would be forgotten. Would she be picked? Would she be found worthy of dragon-bond? Chedest seemed to think there was something in her of worth.

What was good about Nashira? She went through a mental list, she was responsible, nurturing, respectful, dutiful, she always knew her place, kind, but she was also not one to let go of her inhibitions. She was easily influenced, and often intimidated by high rank. She was never scandalous, hardly ever exciting. But she was steady, she was dependable, she was loyal. Was that enough to Impress? Surely less qualified people did so in the past. She smiled lightly. Nashira had hope.

[TheDreamerLady]

"They come for you, and they speak in your mind. If you haven't learned the name of the dragon walking toward you, step to the side a little bit, so that he can reach you- or the guy next to you." Filipek was ignoring the fact that girls were on the Sands. He didn't pretend to understand what the mash-up of Weyrs was doing to Igen-style purity, and he didn't really want to know all that much either.

"I'm from Igen Hold." The main Hold, home to the Lord and Lady themselves. But Filipek didn't say that. Bad manners, that. "And don't worry. Everything is a little stressful right now."

He scanned the eggs again, and thought he saw a small one starting to crack a little. He stared at it, fully expecting it to come busting out of the egg at any second.

[saidaltam]

Kellain coughed, nodded, and smiled again at Fillipek. "What was it like? Igen, I mean. I don't properly remember anything before Star Hold. At least, not well enough to matter." He paused, musing to himself that even if he could remeber it better, it wouldn't much matter--he really did have more important concerns than the nature of a Hold. He really did hope everything was going alright without him there to keep the peace.

Shaking his head to dismiss such somber thoughts, he followed Fillipek's gaze to the eggs and furrowed his brow. "How long does it take for them to start hatching?" he asked, his tone much serious than it had been during their idle chatting.

[E]

Chedest had stood in his place of the hatching grounds, his stance seeming confident and unnerved about the hatching that was about to happen. He looked calm and collected as if he simply knew a dragon was there for him; as if some deep secret had been broken and he already knew the cards in the other players hands. With his chin held high and his eyes lost on the eggs before him, the tall and well tanned farmer looked the perfect example of confidence.

What was happening on the outside, however, reflected nothing that was happening on the inside. His mind was in turmoil. Perhaps the only true reason he could hold such an outer demeanor was that he knew exactly what would happen if he did not impress. He knew he would return to the candidate barraks, gather his things and be taken back to Star Hold – for he couldn’t stay here for the next hatching, there was far too much work to be done in planting the fields come spring.

Chedest knew his father would not be bothered by having his son return home, and he knew that his brothers would still be proud of him. He knew he’d still be thought highly of at the Hold for his reputation as a hard working and all of that suited Chedest just fine. At least he knew that if he did not impress he’d be returning back to the life he understood and could live comfortably in. He’d be back to taking life at his own simple pace, one timed with the growth of the fields.

No, the true turmoil came with the thought of impression. What if one of those twenty eggs truly did hold a lifemate for him? What color would it be? Would color even matter? In his short time here as a candidate, everyone tried to let him in on the secret of such a bond, of his duty as a dragon rider should he become one – but it did nothing to ease his worries now. He knew nothing of dragons – his Tain had never taken much care and had always preferred to be on his own if it was not time to eat or sleep anyways.

How much would his world change? If he returned to his old life come spring without impressing, he could at least return here again for another hatching, maybe two before he was too old. But if he impressed today? There was no turning back. There was no more time to ponder the idea, to come to a comfortable decision. His feeling of honor and duty had brought him here when he was first searched – but did he really want to be here? Was this drastic change of reality really what he wanted? Would he be fit for it? Would the Hold be alright; would his father be alright without his set of hands to lend help in the fields?

Most importantly would someone take up the challenge of protecting Risran from cruel reality?

Chedest was brought back to his surroundings as the eggs gave another great shudder again. Glancing to his left, he could not help but relax inside as he found Nashira next to him. After talking to her more and more at the Hold before they were searched, he had come to understand that – at this moment – she would be worrying far more than even he was inside, though knowing Nashira, it would not be for herself but for her many siblings who had come to stand as well.

Looking forward again, he could not help but feel his own worries calming as he began to think of the woman next to him, to think of what it meant for her to be standing here. She too, stood out of duty first. Reaching a large calloused hand over, he slowly and gently took her hand in his, hoping to reassure her as he watched the eggs once more. It was a silent attempt of assurance; partly for himself as well, at least if he did impress there was a chance that Nashira’s familiar face would impress and stay around in this new world as well.

[Adobe]

Nashira had been glad that Chedest had been chosen to stand as well. She could sense him next to her and admired his strength, or at least the appearance of his strength. She wished she could be so confident as he looked. She didn't know what would happen if she didn't Impress. She knew Amala would be staying at the Weyr, her sister was young enough, but Nashira was nearing twenty turns. She didn't think she could go back to Star, but perhaps she could assist the Head Woman here. . .

Instinctivly, she looked then to her other side, where Chedest stood. For a moment she thought she met his eyes before they both turned to look at the eggs again. Then his larger hand met hers, and with out saying a word she gave his hand a little squeeze. Nashira felt reassured and it would be enough to get her through this hatching and suddenly she felt selfish in the fact that she hoped he would Impress so she could keep him at the Weyr. Butterflies filled her stomach a little and she smiled a little.

[katgod]

Destre, upon seeing his brother waved back and offered him a smile of confidence. He hoped his brother impressed more than he hoped he himself would. Although it would be better if they both did. Going back was out of the question but there were many fishing holds down here and he was pretty handy when it came to boats.

He ran his hand though his black hair breifly. He didn't keep his hair long but it wasn't as short as the dragonriders seemed to wear their hair. His eyes settled on the egg that seemed to be doing the most rocking.

----

Laszreen had not gone over and greeted them on purpose, seeing him with another woman even one he didn't love, bothered her. She noticed him noticing her and she tried not to acknowledge his presence. His smile and nod were only slightly less cold than her not greeting them at all. She didn't say anything either and it was probably for the better. Laszreen had nothing nice to say to him.

The Candidates standing on the Sands had begun to move into a semi circle. The white robes could be seen easily but she knew very little about the new Candidates. It would be difficult to say who would impress to what and quite honestly she could care less, so long as the dragonets impressed and grew to be strong and healthy adults.

[sarah15554]

Roscay turned away form the girl when she did not answer her, he shrugged and at look at the eggs. He noticed one of the eggs started to rock which made him smile. He scratched his chin and started to guess what colors they might be, Roscay knew that most of them where going to be green anyway he then thought to himself How could they not be it's one of the most common colors in all pern. He stared at the rocking eggs as if it was going to vanish if he looked away, his heart was now pounding in his chest as he knew the eggs where going to hatch soon.

[headwoman]

Tarilayn stood near the front of the Candidates. She was anxious for the eggs to hatch. She could see a bit of movements from the clutch. She'd noted the other goldrider had made her appearance. She wondered which egg would be the first to hatch. And would a bronze, brown, blue, or green hatch first?

OOC-failed post, I know. *hits head on desk*

[Zenniel]

Zen was standing there, too immersed in her own imagination to follow that anyone was talking to her. Poor girl was so worried she wouldn't impress that she was practically wringing her robe to death. And why weren't they hatching? The first should have hatched by now! Where they all duds? That would be horrible, but nothing like that had ever happened in the history of all Pern (what she didn't know was the first batches of eggs did just that).

So, when someone talked to her, she didn't notice. She was just wondering what egg would hatch first--and if she were to Impress this hatching.

---

Live, on the other hand, was perfectly calm. She watched as some of the other candidates talked to each other while hopping from foot to foot. She, on the other hand, was extremely fine on this wonderful warm sand-filled ground. And she smiled. It didn't matter that the eggs were taking their time, it was fine. She could wait for her life-mate to hatch.

"I don't really know." She answered the boy's rhetorical question with a shrug of her shoulders. "I suppose whenever they're ready to hatch, they will. There's no huge rush, now, is there?"

---

B'oone smiled at Jinet, and then at Manna as she pointed to the eggs. "Look, Daddy! The eggies are hatching!" She said, singing and clapping her hands together. "They're hatching, they're hatching!"

"I wonder if a Bronze will hatch first. It's always lucky for a Bronze to hatch first, you know." B'oone said, turning to look intently at the eggs.

[saidaltam]

Kellain looked over at the girl -- 'Nice hair,
' he noted passingly -- and cast a quick, considering gaze over her before nodding. "True enough," he conceded, head thingyed pensively toward her. He pursed his lips for a moment, thinking, then looked back towards the eggs. It was rude to stare. "Suppose I just feel a little overwhelmed," he admitted. "It feels like I don't really know what's going on."

That much was certainly true enough. He did hate vague instructions for situations that called for specific modes of conduct. Indeed, the only time he didn't mind being given vague direction was when he was told to improvise, and he sincerely suspected improvisation on the hatching sands would not end well, and it was important to him that such things ended well. He was just grateful Filipek had taken the time to give him the overview he had. It was a tremendous ease to his mind.

Shaking off such somber thoughts, both metaphorically and with a literal shake of his head, he looked back over at the brown-haired woman who'd spoken. "You seem awefully calm, considering," he observed with an impish, friendly smile.

[Zenniel]

Live replied in kind to the man who had replied to her rhetorical question: with a smile. He seemed nice enough, and she wondered if he, like her, was a good enough candidate for a dragon. Even if she had just stated that the eggs could take their time for all she cared, she did wish the eggs would hatch soon. Then Live laughed, "I don't think anyone knows much about what's going on. This is Nova Weyr's first hatching, so it should be a hatching to remember."

It was Nova's first hatching, which seemed to be sad, too, because there was no Gold egg. This hatching would surely be overshadowed by the other Gold's hatching if the other Gold produced a queen egg when this one did not. Poor queen, maybe the flight back in time and making the Weyr out of nothing had taken a lot out of her.

"What's that?" Live asked, having caught the whole question, but telling the boy that she'd heard him. "Oh, I'm calm because I know what's going to happen." She said, and waved her hand at the impending eggs. "They will hatch, and they will Impress. Sure, they may maul a couple candidates if that happens, and if it happens to me, I probably wouldn't care all that much. It's life. And if I Impress or if I'm left standing, that's what happens." It seemed like she was resigned to her fate, but inside, and in her eyes, she was secretly hoping she'd Impress today.

[saidaltam]

"That's an aweful lot of 'ifs'," Kellain mused aloud. Kellain did not like 'ifs'. He liked 'wills' and 'will nots'. He especially did not like 'ifs' that held major significance in his life. For a fleeting moment, he wished his sister could be there. He always felt calmer when she was around.

This was not the time for idle wishes, however, and so he shushed that particular train of thought and opted instead to continue his little chat with the pretty brunette. "Well... surely you want to Impress, though, don't you? Or you wouldn't be here."

[katgod]

(Normally I would not God Mod like this so please understand that I do this out of neccessity. Anyway I am terribly sorry about the wait. The Hatching will continue with myself playing it out)


The first egg to Hatch came bursting forth with the formidable air of a confidant and sturdy dragonet. He was large but he was no Bronze. The deep mahogany of his wet hide revealed him as a brown. Even as he began to approach the Candidates another egg began to quake and little by little the shells of the dark blue dragonet fell to the ground below him. He moved much faster than the sturdy brown to impress to a fourteen turn old boy, A’mri, from Star Hold. Whilst this was going on, the brown continued to pace in front of the Candidates, who did he want?

Of course another egg had hatched while the blue had partnered off. The green was beautiful, simply put, the prettiest green most could recall seeing in quite some time. She exited her shell with a grace known only to her color and that pleased her quite well. Not taking long at all to find hers, she stood blinking her blue swirling eyes at the young woman standing there. I am Naraleth. As if that should mean something to the dark haired beauty, she paused. Falia, come and we will be wondrous together. The green was not afraid of rejection for who would reject someone as lovely as herself?

The brown was still taking his time and beginning to worry onlookers. If he didn’t find a Candidate he would Between and that was always a horrible thing to witness. Although most people were paying attention to the Brown, many of the Candidates took notice when two blues burst from their shells at the exact same time. Seeing one another as competition they raced toward the Candidates. Unable to stop himself one of the blue knocked over a young woman and a small boy. Neither of whom were seriously injured. This clumsier one found his lifemate in no time. The boy whom he had his heart set on was standing just an inch to his left. R’cay, I am Corunth. Where’s the food?

The other blue had taken just as much time to reach his destination and while some were focused on the other blue, this one seemed to have shocked many onlookers. He had at first scanned the boys but he knew almost instantly he wanted HER. The blonde seemed to not notice him at first but he was going to make himself known. Nudging her white robes softly, his eyes met hers for the first time. My Zenniel! He was a rather calm for a blue and nudged her again lovingly. He wasn’t bouncing off the walls like his other blue clutch mates. Evenoth is a little hungry, by the way.

Just as the two blues were leaving to be fed, the brown had finally chosen. K’lain, mine, I’ve been looking for you everywhere… the brown spoke accusatorially. After all it would be K’lain’s fault. Mnemoth is very hungry. He added hastily. Since he had taken so long to find K’lain it was only natural that he would be exceedingly hungry.

[Zenniel]

Live looked back at the boy and shrugged. “There are a lot of ‘ifs’ in life.” She stated blankly. And then, when Live heard him ask the next question, she laughed. “Everyone wants to Impress. Me, I guess I want to Impress to show the other girls that girls can Impress colors other than a queen.” She laughed again, and then gestured to the eggs, “When they hatch, of course.”

As she waved her hand over toward the eggs, it seemed to be what they had been waiting for. An egg burst, revealing a dark-colored skin, but nothing as close to dark as a Bronze dragon’s coloring should have been. ‘Oh, not a lucky clutch,’ Liv thought absentmindedly as she focused her eyes on the Brown. Nevertheless, she was fine with it. This clutch was automatically made lucky because it was the first clutch of Nova Weyr. “The best of luck to you!” Live said excitedly, nearly bouncing, as she noticed other eggs hatching. “Oh, and before we get too caught in this hatching, my name’s Live.” She would have extended her hand to him, but it didn’t seem to be the correct time.

Then an extremely hyper blue bowled her over. Live tumbled twice before ending up on the ground three feet away from where she had previously been. Before standing up and shaking it off, she checked to see if she’d gotten hurt. She felt her arms, then her legs, and then her chest. Nothing was seriously hurt except for a scratch from where the blue’s wingtip had clipped her face. The scratch would heal, but it would sting for quite a while.

The other blue, meanwhile, was headed for a girl. Live stood and watched as the blue, very calmly, nudged the girl. Liv wondered if the girl knew what was happening---

---

Zen didn’t know what was happening. Rather, she knew what was happening, she was just zoning out. She transferred herself from one foot to the other as the heat of the sands soaked into each one in turn. One moment of cool on one foot was overtaken by intense burning on the other. Then she switched feet and, for one moment, that foot was cool. She was so preoccupied with not losing her focus that she didn’t notice the first dragon hatch.

Or the next.

Or the one after that. The two after that.

But she did notice, finally, when something nudged on her white robes. The girl looked down. Into the most glorious blue eyes she had ever seen. The most glorious blue eyes she would never ever live another day without. Evenoth is a little hungry, by the way. And instantly she knelt down next to him and hugged his wonderful little head into her chest. “Evenoth! What a wonderful name, little dragon!”

Which prompted a: What other name would I have, Zenniel? That only made her hug him more. I am rather hungry. Evenoth replied again, and head-butted her patiently. Zenniel finally realized what was going on. “Of course, little dragon!” And she stood up, rested her hand upon Evenoth’s small satin-blue head, and smiled. She was happy, and not at all shy to show her happiness, for once.

The two followed the experienced riders toward the food.