Candidate Barracks

Stone platforms hewn from the volcanic rock line the perimeter of the 
room, each one covered with a cot's mattress for young bones, and a few 
coverlets according to choice. The bedstuffs appear to be sinking into 
the stone, the platforms going gradually hollow from generations of 
anxious bodies resting on them. The walls of the chamber are shot 
through with obsidian streaks from long-ago volcanic activity that 
writhe over the surfaces like striations on an egg. Natural darkness is 
lifted from the cavern with glowbaskets everywhere that provide a 
cheerful light to welcome weary bodies to bed. 

Alanis, Lammas, Eos, Sidhe, Azrianna, Nyzlann, Terrill, and Idris are 
here.
Nakaeri, Oeno, Arilynne, and Garmin are asleep here.
From here you can go:
Bowl    
                                                                       
Kaeden straggles in, dragging his broom behind him. "Ugh. If I have to 
sweep out the living cavern one more time I'm going to go insane."
Leigha nods.  "Well, if you sweep, I'll hold the dustpan... "  She grins 
up at him, suiting actions to words.
Gabrielle sways seductively in from Northeastern Bowl.
Nyzlann glances up at Kaeden and nods, "Can you believe the stuff we put 
up with?" he winks and goes back to watching his bronze sleep. "There 
are worse things than sweeping you know...."
Azrianna blinks out of her trance and looks around sheepishly.
Situated amidst several unkempt cots, Eos' persistent mutter can be 
discerned. "Shards, where are my sandals.." Torso sloped downwards to 
allow her to peer alongside each of the cots, a triumphant hoot 
signifies her discovery. "There they are - besides /my/ cot." Where she 
initially put them.
Swish! Knees fold quickly and precisely underneath Lammas while she 
pushes out legs, falling in a hard smaack to the meat of her palms. 
Agilely, she brings the wooden broom beside her to the misty shadow of 
beneath the bed, it's fingers twining through the broom to sink their 
teeth inside. Swishswish. Lammas moves the broom back and forth, washing 
out the last crumbles of dirt Out!  
Leigha helpfully wields the dustpan for Lammas.  "Here, sweep it all 
here..."
Terrill sews and sews.  What else is there to do?  It has to be 
done...right?
A soft, wracking cough issues from Sidhe's miserable corner, and another 
glare that plainly says that someone's making too much dust. She remains 
quiet otherwise, however, out of mocking respect to Nyz.
Kaeden chuckles and swings the broom playfully at Leigha's behind before 
setting it against the wall.
Gabrielle leans against the doorway watching the candidates with slight 
amusement, "Heyas, everyone having fun?" Her emerald eyes dance as she 
looks around the room a moment.
Alanis hops up slowly ( if that's possible) and starts to shove her 
blankets into place on her cot. Smoothing them out before sitting back 
down, she gives a barely audible sigh and looks around. If she can look 
busy without actually doing something..that would be good..yea...um..
Arilynne flops down on her cotdramatically, dirty and exhausted.  
Pushing a tendril of her recently shorn hair off of her tanned forehead, 
she sighs. "Ugh, all o' this work and waitin' are drivin' me nuts."  
Closing her eyes she ponders a moment of blissful silence she took for 
granted so often back at Crom, and yet she wouldn't trade her hectic 
lifestyle here for anything.
"Depends on what you call fun," grunts Sidhe, coughing s'more.
K'mra jaunts in from Northeastern Bowl.
Sandals discovered, and now clutched betwixt soot-stained digits, Eos 
promptly establishes her perch upon her cot; legs crisscrossed to assume 
the utmost comfort, her ambiguous expression allows for her emotions to 
be indiscernibly, only the occasional rasp of her breath heard. 
Leigha glares at Kaeden, moving her butt away from the broom with great 
speed. "Hey!"  and out spills all of the collected dirt, right on top of 
lammas...
Kaeden giggles madly, scooting across to the safety of his cot to 
deposit the slumbering Squeak there. "Fun is relative," he smiles at 
Gabrielle. Compared to peeling tubers, he supposes, yes.
Alanis swings her legs back and forth off her cot, looking busy with one 
of her sandals...yea...She's busy, see?
Idris sits serenely amid all the flurry, although a frown of disapproval 
creases her forehead as she watches. Someone listening close might hear 
her mutter something about "Children!" and messes and more work, but she 
doesn't actually do anything about it.
Leigha flushes slightly, and tries to scoop the dirt back into the 
dustpan - rather unsuccessfully.  Sighing, she complains:  "Lammas, hold 
still already - ya wanna be dirty?"
Elly-Phant wakes up as he is clobbered by some flying dirt. Hey, watch 
it!
Terrill looks up quickly at the exclaimation, then can't help by 
chuckles. "That wasn't very nice, Leigha," he admonishes teasingly.  
"So, what do you do for an encore?"
Gabrielle chuckles and nods to Kaeden she continues to just lean and 
watch the candidates antics. Finally after a moment she straightens and 
grins at K'mra giving her a wink, then clears her throat and says loudly 
enough to be heard over the din, "I need to see everyone's robes please, 
I was asked to come check on them."
Leigha grabs hers from the end of her bed and pulls it on over her head 
in one fluid quick motion.  Smiling shyly, she offers herself up for 
inspection.  
Flicking a single, golden braid out of her hair; Lammas smiles? Yes, 
smiles, a golden, autumn, rich-as-chocolate-cake smile as she brushes 
and wriggles the gelatin butt. " What? Dust, it's alright. Those aren't 
even /mine/ anyway." A little cheery today? Perhaps it's something she 
.. feels in the air? 
Azrianna tugs on the white cotton floating around her slender form and 
glances over at Gabrielle's words. 'Pon harper's face is a calm fascade 
negated by the stark terror in her sapphire eyes. Swallowing, she bends 
to make sure her sandles are well fastened, then steps in front of her 
cot, shooing away the 'lizards who attempt to congregate around her.
Kaeden slips off the bed and lifts open the chest at the foot of it, 
withdrawing his lumpily-folded mass of white. Draping it momentarily 
over the end of his bunk, he digs around another moment before finding 
his belt.
Sidhe remains antisocially cloistered in her niche; in the din and dim 
it can be seen she's wearing /something/ white, though robe or shroud 
one couldn't tell.
Nyzlann looks up from his rest on his cot and nods, shifting through a 
pile of stuff he pulls it out: White, clean, perfect, clearly not made 
by him. "Here ya are Gabrielle..." They never once said that he had to 
make it....of maybe, he did make it and everyone has the wrong 
impression of him. You make the call.
"Our robes?" Dusky speech muffled by the general clamor of the barracks, 
Eos stiffens immediately. "What for?" she inquires, lithe arms 
outstretched to retrieve the carefully folded bundle before she rises 
from her cot. "Here it is.." Unfolded at a languid pace, she allows the 
pliable cloth to descend against her body, displaying it for all to see.
Arilynne rustles through her clothespress at the end of her cot to pull 
out a slightly wrinkled robe for inspection.  Frowning and nibbling on 
her lower lip, she vainly tries to smooth out the wrinkles of her 
simplistic gown. Still, she's proud of her creation and nervous eyes 
rise to seek out Gabrielle's for approval.  "Here's mine," she tags on, 
rather redundantly.
Terrill just lifts the cloth from his lap, holding up what he has done.  
Not terrible, but...well, not finished either.
K'mra saunters towards the greenrider Gabrielle after a returning grin.  
"Ech, seems we've all had the same idea to stop by the barracks, no?"  
Or something to the similar effect.  Candidates are scruptiously 
scrutinized, next, and she patiently tells a particular Candidate for 
what must be the thirty-second time: "You were supposed to have finished 
them before today -- just cut a couple holes in a sheet, if you must."  
As long as it's white.
Idris arches a speculative eyebrow at Gabrielle. "Final inspection, mmm? 
Mine's from the stores, so should be just fine." She bends and pulls out 
the neatly folded bundle and displays it, though.
Gabrielle glances at Leigha and smiles she steps closer inspecting the 
robe and nods, "Nicely sewn Leigha you did really well." Moving around 
the room she inspects each one by one then smiles to Eos, "Those eggs 
are getting hard, and we have to be sure that you'll all be ready when 
they start hatching, besides, there have been a few rumors that some of 
the candidates have had their stitches removed and other things and I'm 
looking into it."
Amidts chaos within the room, Alanis sits calmly,. observing...
Clear sheen of eyes fogs; where did she put it? Oh, yes ... almost 
bumping into someone on the already crowded floors, people seem to like 
to rest in the barracks, she leans over and pulls out a small, labeled 
box, the quick and easy folds of bright, shining white tucked carefully 
inside. Lammas' fingers pluck and pull, bringing out the clean white 
robe for all to see her marvelous handiwork; or is it hers? 
Kaeden drapes his handmade belt over his shoulder and holds the rest of 
the robe up against his chest, peering down at it. The stitches all look 
fine to him.
Terrill winces as he eyes his robe in comparison to others'.  He was 
actually fairly proud of the thing, but looking around, its low quality 
can be easily seen.
Leigha glances at herself, blushing slightly at the compliment.  After 
all, she was taught to stitch at her mother's knee, back at the 
farmhold. Sighing, she plucks at the robe - now that I'm in it, her body 
language seems to say, what do I do?
Slender lines drawn against the apex of Eos's forehead, rum-gold 
eyebrows uplifted into a trademark, cynical height. "Ready to hatch.." 
she breathes, robe grasped firmly to her chest as she pivots slightly to 
observe her other candidate's handiwork. "Mine is finished.." she 
declares, the robe once more twisted in display.
Gabrielle smiles watching each robe taking a moment here and there to 
check a few stitches a tug here a pull there she nods to Terrill and 
grins, "I'm impressed you did better than I was expecting."
Alanis picks up her robe off the end of her bed and sips it over her 
head, letting the ends fold in rumples about her folded legs.
Still Sidhe sits, stirring slightly.
Nyzlann continues to hold his robe. " I did too...
Eilish tromps in from Northeastern Bowl.
Terrill blushes, embarrassed, and mumbles, "Thanks."  At least he isn't 
disappointing anyone with the results of his needle.
Nyzlann continues to hold his robe, "I did too..." he says to another 
candidate who makes a remark about who made his garb. He isn't a liar, 
though is a lot of other things at times. He glances at everyone else's 
robes. Purty.
Gabrielle steps up to inspect Nyzlann's robe and she nods giving him a 
wink, "Very nice, I'm impressed." She glances to the others and smiles, 
"You all did quite well."
Kaeden beams proudly. Quite a step up from runner-blankets, after all.
Azrianna just stands still, ramrod straight, trying her best to run 
through her breathing exercizes and calm down. It's not working very 
well, unfortunately, and the fear in her eyes grows deeper.
Eilish makes her way into the oddly crowded barracks as quickly as she 
can with a wee babe snuggled against her breast. Cheeks flushed, she 
waves her free hand in the air wildly. "They're... they're /hatching/," 
she calls -- or tries to -- over the din.
Letdown flutters through loud features as Lammas sighs, so softly, but 
Gamma is too busy to count on everyone, she seeing only the best. That 
is lost, she gathers her robe in her arms, wondering right beside Eos, " 
Oh, they're ready? I'll get to go home soon!" breath heaves, a light 
from lips, though something else glitters in constant smirk. 
Leigha surreptiously examines everyone else's robes and her eyes stop on 
Eos' before she ear (hears) Eilish... "Eos - they're what?"
Terrill shakes his head.  Great, now his hearing is going.  He thought 
he just heard Eilish say the eggs are hatching....
Alanis takes the compliment bluntly, still seated on the edge of her 
cot, head in her hands, hands on her knees...you get the picture. A 
pause for a momentm, then. " They're hatching?" Well that's a surprise 
if there ever was one...
"What?" Whisper, barely said and probably not heard, issues from Sidhe's 
suddenly parched lips. The wan face grows paler, eyes brighten 
preternaturally; she gulps.
Gabrielle glances to Eilish and blinks then chuckles as she watches the 
candidates reactions she steps back to the side and leans against a wall 
deciding now would be a good time to be quiet.
Arilynne smiles shyly at Gabrielle and glances around for her present 
for the rider. A frown mars her brow as amidst all the turmoil of the 
barracks, she seems to have misplaced Israeth's present.  Large orbs 
blink at Eilish in confusion, her brain gone soft at the words.  
"They're hatching?  What's hatching?"
Neither thanking nor dismissing the comment, Eos simply holds the 
treasured length of her robe against her chest; and then, at Eilish's 
arrival, the candidate's sky-blue pupils dilate to an immense 
proportion, jaw left agape after the words are said: "They're hatching." 
She pauses, dumbfounded for a moment, "That means we've got to get into 
these.."
Nyzlann drops his robe to the floor, "They're what?" His eyes flash to 
and fro in awe, 'Hatching?" This day was never going to happen. He had 
decided a long time ago. Hatching?
Leigha stands there, hand half out to congratulate Eos, and she blinks 
those large grey eyes of hers before sighing in relief.  "Hatching..."  
She takes seeveral deep breaths, trying to relax, but ends up flushing 
even more...
Idris glances up at Elish, and starts to rise to start herding 
candidates. Force of habit, after all. "/Now/? They're early aren't 
they? C'mon everybody, move, get going, can't go...." She pauses, and 
has a moment's realization. "And neither can I."
"Hatching?" Azri's soft alto breaks through the C register, earning a 
squawking scold from the nearest 'lizard. Harper-candie ignores, hands 
twisting together before her. " No, s'not time, not ready..."
The quirk of brows comes in response to Eilish's announcement, along 
with the droll statement, "Aye, I suppose they are."  Faintest grin 
slips to K'mra's lips, and she makes way for babe-bearing Weyrsecond.
Kaeden nearly drops his robe. "Who's what?" he gapes.
"Put -- hush, Kaeos! -- put on your robes," Eilish instructs the 
candidates, still waving that free hand as she shifts uncomforatbly and 
tries to comfort her babe -- poor Weyrsecond, having the babe but three 
days ago.
Terrill swallows, then stares at his robe for a long moment.  Wear this?  
This horrid rag that he's butchered with a needle?  Taking a deep 
breath, he slowly begins to change into the robe.  
Arilynne fumbles confusedly with her wrinkled robe at Eilish's 
direction, undressing and dressing hastily, the barmaid having no real 
modesty to concern herself with.  Soft whiteness caresses her skin as 
she slips the gown over her nude form and then scrambles around for her 
sandles, nerves making her fingers tremble in uselessness.
Eos, discovering Kaeos within the Weyrsecond's clutches, grants a 
transient smirk to evolve about her features. Breath quickly drawn, her 
incredulous gaze is given to Leigha, lips parted to murmur: "They're 
hatching. We've got to change." And wasting not another moment, or 
modesty, she hastily steps into her gown.
Idris sighs, and gives off her usual herding to pull on her robe. "It's 
still foolishness," she mutters as she starts to pull it over her head, 
and looses the pins that hold her braids on her shoulders.
Nyzlann blinks. His eyes stare at the rider, still not willing to 
believe that those things are ready to /hatch/. Sit there and let us 
touch them maybe, but hatch?! He obediently picks up his robe from the 
floor, dusting it off, wanting to appear in good presentation. A long 
sigh escapes his lips, not a sigh of boredom, or anything else,  just a 
sigh. He puts his robe on, glancing at his fellow candidates. Poor awe 
struck Nyz.
"Kaeden! Eos!" A soft note taints Eilish's rough tone as she waves 
toward the two particular candidates, now her pets. "You two come stand 
with Kaeos and me. /We'll/ be first out there." This said, she bobbles 
the minute bundle and glowers at the rest of the candidates. "Faster! 
They don't wait for you lot!"
" Hatching?!" Gasp stretches through thin mouth as Lammas' brassy groan, 
a gratifying groan. " Hatching!" In a thud, it hits her. Dizzily, the 
girl steps about, side steps, then went into work. Slender, bony, 
fingers slip underneath her flimsy, much to big shirt, she rips it off, 
and in a blink of an eye her robe is over it, after all, she doesn't 
want any of the kids around here to see anything that'll get them 
scared. Pants take a bit more time, but they don't matter because she 
/has/ the robe on. Now for the shoes ... and her hair? 
Leigha stands quietly, heart beating faster with each passing second.  
"I'm ready!" she says brightly, shy eyes sparkling, tho' cheeks remain 
flushed in excitement.
Kaeden's eyes get about as big as dinner plates as he scurries to yanks 
his tunic off and throw the robe on, knotting his belt lopsidedly in 
front. Snagging his sandals from under his bed, he shoves them roughly 
on his feet and stumbles hurriedly across the room through the crush of 
bodies to take his uneasy place beside Eilish. 
"What? Me, him - first?" Overwhelmed by the situation unfolding about 
her, a lengthy breath bequeaths Eos with the energy - and ability - to 
move forward, her robe consciously smoothed against her skin as she 
steps to the Weyrsecond's side.
Alanis shuffles off the bed and follows the other candidates. Moving as 
quickly as she cares to, she keeps up...but doesn't go to fast. No hair 
messing fer 'lanis...nope...it's short and sweet.
Frozen til' now in some nameless emotion - Sidhe doesn't admit to fear - 
the Miner Master finally uncurls through sheer dint of will, stiff legs 
bearing her towards the tail end of the candidate barrage. Suddenly she 
is small, unintimidating.
Kaeden slides a look behind Eilish's back to Eos, eyes wide and jaw 
clenched in a nervous half-smirk, looking for support.
Arilynne locates her sandles and fastens them, only needing a couple 
tries to get the trickly laces right.  Running a stray hand through her 
curls, she bites her lower lip and stands ready for inspection.  "I'm 
done," she announces and waits for instructions on what to do next.
Terrill pulls off his tunic, then throws over the robe.  Afterwards, he 
pulls off his trous, now that he's safely covered.  The boots are last 
pulled off, and then sandals are slipped on to his feet.  Finally, he 
stands, takes another deep breath, then grins his grin.  "Ready."
Idris smooths her robe with her hands, flicking her long fire-embered 
braid acorss her shoulder and down her back, and lifts her chin. "We'd 
best get this over with." As if you can rush it.
Cornmeal freckled feet barely squeeze through her tiny, flimsy, 
practically non-existent sandals. Sandwiched betwixt too much too fat 
others, Lammas squelches, but manages to let out her braids so that her 
loose, undone hair cascades like a fallen sun wash around her rose 
twinged cheeks. " Ready!"   
Eilish gives a bright smile to Eos and Kaeden, tilting her infant 
daughter in her arms to face them -- Kaeos is asleep. "Kaeos," Eilish 
simpers, "say hi-hi to your auntie and uncle." She plays with one of the 
baby's fingers in a rough approximation of a wave, then tilts her heasd 
over her shoulder to bark, "Ready? Now?"
Kaeden grins, albiet still nervously, and gives the baby a little 
waggled-fingers wave.
Eos, jawbone accentuated by the instantaneous clench of her lips, allows 
a sparse smile to be given to Kaden; a subtle hint of nervousness 
emerging amidst the overall sense of self-control, the candidate's arms 
lay listless against her side, devoid of any purpose or movement at the 
moment. For the time being, she waits. 
D'nara half-waddles, boots a-clumping and scraping against each other, 
in from Northeastern Bowl.
Nyzlann has is robe on, no modesty taken in the act. His sandles in 
place on his feet, instead of his clunky boots. He watches everyone run 
about and shrugs with a small, "I'm ready." said as he watches Eos take 
her place to head on out with Kaeden and Kaeos at the head of the pack.
Leigha positions herself behind Kaeden, grinning at the wee babe in 
arms.  
Terrill gets into the line that's forming, then runs his fingers through 
his hair.  Another breath.  Be calm, be cool, runs the mantra in his 
mind.
Azrianna's body rocks with nervous abandon as she looks from person to 
person, cobalt eyes widened to their farthest limits as she quietly 
takes a place in the line, fingers now firmly entangled with each other. 
Breath rings harsh, but slows... exercises finally kick in.
Alanis steps in behind Terril, running her hands along the side of her 
robe. Yehaw...
Eilish settles Kaeos in her swaddling against her breast and tilts her 
head to survey her candidates. Barely a passing glance is tossed to the 
recently-entered D'nara, who is /also/ going to bear a child of F'as. 
Cheeks still flushed, she watches the candidates, keeping sure that 
Kaeden and Eos remain at her sides.
Idris moves to her place in the line, head up, lips set. She's ready.
Lammas short, calm breaths bring a slowness, as if she was moving about 
through molasses. Steps she does in front of another, stilling to 
quietness, soul of softness echoing through her as she stands still. 
D'nara stomps in, pigtails a-flapping as she waves her hands. "Are y'all 
ready yet? Ah don't thank them eggs is gonna wait too long." Cool glance 
(ah! you didn't think Danny was smart enough to take cool glances, did 
you?) is shot towards Eilish, who is lucky enough to sleep on the /bed/.
Eos remains utterly still: neither the apprehensive twitch of her lips 
allowing for movement as she remains in a stoic posture besides Eilish 
and Kaeden, simply waiting.
Arilynne dries clammy palms on the pristine sides of her robe and moves 
to stand in the long forming line of candidates, gulping and trying to 
keep herself calm.  Feet tap and fingers bunch at her sides, revealing 
just how nervous this former 'maid is.
Sidhe mutters softly, invisibly, "Well  let's /move/ then." She really 
is more anxious about this than expected; something tells her that time 
is short, and she can't afford to waste it.
Alanis stands patiently, only sign of anxiousness in the shifting of 
feet every so often. Eyes are a blunt blue as they stare ahead. She 
can't afford to think about much right now...it'd get her all nervous 
and junk...
Kaeden shifts nervous weight from foot to foot, waiting impatiently for 
everyone else to get into place.
Lammas is still, for a moment. Untalkable, " Move, " she does repeat 
Sidhe, but that is barely a speech. Calming blue eyes wash over the 
others, she gives a nod; wishing good luck to them all through stilled 
waters.  
Terrill sighs, already twitching anxiously, his hands pulling at his 
robe.  But he stops  that soon enough, lest he rip his poorly-sewn 
clothing.
"You! Pallie! Take off those boots," Eilish calls to a stick of a girl 
near the back. Kaeos startles, and she returns to comforting the child, 
ignoring the anxiety of the poor candidates.
Azrianna rocks from foot to foot, almost as if the burning heat of the 
Sands has already penetrated to her soles, though the floor is but luke-
warm. Fingers tangle, break apart, grope for braid that no longer 
exists. Half-lidded eyes close all the way, and soft voice travels but 
barely beyond her lips in a run of notes, most calming for the harper 
turned Candidate.
Nyzlann shifts in his place in line. Such commotion in here, imagine the 
stuff out there. Miner takes a sigh and rubs his hands through his 
butchered hair. Disgusting cut. He'll get 'em, he will.
Leigha takes a big breath, and lets it out slowly, trying to be 
inconspicuous amongst the other candidates.  Sighing, she begins to 
shuffle her feet nervously.  Shyness begins to creep into her conscious 
thought, and the flush rises in her cheeks.
Perper, a hyperactive girl, begins to hop around until Danny shoves her 
back in place in line. Don't cross Danny. She was morning-sick again 
this morning. "Ah thank iffen they make us wait around much longer, Ah'm 
gonna hafta use th' necessary."
"Patience, calm.." These words, muttered beneath the purse of Eos' lips, 
are said in mild encouragement for herself and those about her. Fingers 
interlaced before her hips, the candidate's weight rocks slightly - 
anxiousness overwhelming all emotions.
Hands reach up to fiddle with hair which has been cut off long ago and 
Alanis sighs. Shardit. Oh well. With no hair to tug on, Alanis sticks 
her lower lip inside her mout, chewing on it a little as she shifts 
weight from side to side.  Hand fiddles with a fold of her robe as she 
stands and waits.
Arilynne sidles up to Nyzlann as she looks for support amongst her 
candidate friends.  "Can I hold you're hand," she asks, almost pathetic.  
Ayup, this bold 'maid is scared.
Nyzlann eyes Arilynne with a small smile and a friendly glint in his 
eyes. "Course you can....long as I can hold yous." Sudden reassurance 
from his fellow candidate makes him a little more confident. Better to 
face things with many people.....he looks around. Looks like we've got 
enough.
Lammas focuses unrelentlessly on Eilish, tossing a Look, the /worried 
look/, towards Leigha, and Eos, and Nyzlan, and everyone else; all her 
friends. " I hope that you all impress, " is her quiet saying through 
bepucked lips. Once again glance goes to Eilish, one hand running 
through knotted toffee-like hair. 
D'nara half-waddles, boots a-clumping and scraping against each other, 
toward Hatching Sands.
K'mra stays still, arms crossed o'er chest as she primly directs a 
Candidate who's determined to fall into a heap of cloth and bone right 
before the brownrider.  "Stand up," she intones sharply.  "And get in 
line -- right there.  Between her an' him."  And poor Feye can do naught 
be nod and follow directions.
Nyzlann nods towards Lammas, "Hope you impress too."
Leigha grins at Lammas, tho' shyly, grey eyes heavy with worry.  "You 
too."
Alanis sighs, licking her lips, and looking around with people she has 
lived with, but never /really/ got to know. Oh well, that's her fault, 
idn't it... Shuffling one foot she stops and pops a knuckle, holding one 
hand in the other to keep them still.
Eilish tosses a faint smile to K'mra. "Take the rear?" she begs of her 
fellow wingleader as she jostles the infant in her arms. Then, to her 
pets, "Kaeden, Eos, stay with me."
Eos's lips, for a slight moment, twist into a hopeful smile. "And the 
same for you, dear Lammas.." she says from her position, watching the 
candidate for a moment before twisting her regard to the foreground of 
the sands.
Arilynne reaches out to grasp Nyzlann's hand and smiles at Lammas, "I 
hope ye find a lifemate on tha Sands as well," she returns the good luck 
wish before taking a deep, calming breath.  This is the moment, now's 
the time.
Kaeden fiddles with his belt, untying and re-knotting it more securely, 
and rolls his shoulders to settle the fabric over his arms. He nods 
nervously at Eilish, biting his lower lip.
Leigha jumps at the sound of the knuckle crack, nervously swallowing.
 "Lammas, may I walk with you?"
Terrill's hand moves to tug at his 'belt'.  Too nervous to stand still, 
he sighs, and finally says, "Good luck..."
Azrianna stands to one side, as is her normal wont to do. Sapphire eyes 
trail down the line, barely open enough to peer through golden lashes as 
her soft singing continues, calming her as nothing else can.
Lammas cracks a lilting smile 'wards Leigha -- " Of course! I ... even I 
am kind of nervous, " ashamed, Lammas searches Leigha's eyes, then 
gropes her handm, her own, ak, asking then ,  " Can I hold your hand?" I 
wanna hold your hand ...
Aspen shrieks at the top of his lungs, diving at candidates' heads (npc 
types.) Hair gets atacked, furiously. Movemovemove!
K'mra simply nods in reply to Eilish's query, and strides back along the 
semi-orderly line, straightening the troops every here and there. 
"They're all here," she calls up to the greenrider.  "Here and robed."  
The teenage boy in front of her is given a prompting forward, and 
wingleader falls behind.
Leigha nods back, flushing darker still.  "Sure..."  and she clutches 
the hand offered tightly, squeezing as she waits nervously for what is 
about to happen...
Alanis murmurs." Good luck." to all, though it is barely audible 'bove 
the shuffling. Give her hand a final wring, she gives up and allows it 
to hang by her side and fiddle with her robe. Giving another sigh to go 
along with the others she has sighed tonight.
Something is said -- though unheard by the rest -- to Eilish, and she 
glances left and right to Eos and Kaeden. "Stay with me." Kaeos is 
shifted in her sling -- she sleeps, thank Faranth -- and Eilish waves to 
the candidates to follow her.
Oeno just kinda stands there, adjusting her robe every so often. She 
sighs deeply and just waits 'n waits some more.
Eos treks toward Hatching Sands.

Hatching Sands

Black and gold, as striking as those of Igen's colors, intermingle to a 
glitter of eye-wrenching brilliance, made all the more intense by the 
undulations of heat that reflect from their expanse. Subtle dunes spread 
their endless waves about the very immensity of this cavern, as wide in 
its width as it is high; the inner walls are made of translucent 
obsidian, thinner at the top so the light beats through in brownish-grey 
pools, and sets it aglow in sometimes-amber brilliance. Hopes, dreams, 
fears: all permeate the aura, and are echoed in the height of the ledges 
and galleries alike that add reverberation to its span.

The following dragons are here: Spectreth, Sandith, and Kayth.
You see Captured Lion Mercy Egg, Misguided Frog Prudence Egg, Shiny-
Pated Man Vanity Egg, Challenged Prince Charity Egg, Winged Man Hope 
Egg, Enchanted Pearl Avarice Egg, Loved Faerie Loyalty Egg, Thwarted 
Father Justice Egg, Vindicated Tortoise Persistence Egg, and Mamma 
Gamma's SunTent with Bubbles, Vowelet, and J'inta occupying it here.
Ul'ric, D'nara, Gamma, Eilish, and Eos are here.
From here you can go:
Galleries                 Stands    
                                           
Spectreth rises into a full standing position, all four limber limbs 
planted firmly in the undulate Sands; neck arched, still she strains at 
the tunnel, the golden tint  of her furiously spinning gaze deepening to 
echo her hide. And then... they come. Another ear-splitting bugle rends 
the air, this holding one small note of triumph.
Idris comes onto the Sands at almost a stalk as she moves to her place 
in the circle, her face a mask of pride and almost-impatience. She's 
lightly pale, nevertheless, as she smooths the skirts of her robe.
The candidates file onto the sands, led by the Weyrsecond and her 
newborn babe and tailed by a wingleader. A row of white robes, they bow 
to the golden Spectreth and sire Kayth, then disperse about the eggs.
Enchanted Pearl Avarice Egg shifts and squirms, digging up sand around 
it. About time!
Sandith tries a soothing croon on Spectreth, sparing a glare for the 
candidates. Tail thumps, soft warble sounds: Leave the disciplining to 
.her. They will regret this. Of course, just how they will regret sucha  
thing as daring to be /late/...who knows, with Sandith.
Kaeden bites back a yelp as sandaled feet touch burning hot sand, and 
keeps his teeth clenched over his lower lip, shuffle-hopping but a few 
steps away from Eilish, not sure exactly how /long/ she meant him to 
stay with her, and taking no chances.
Gamma leans over her beauty, rubbing her neck with the soothing hand of 
of one who loves. "It's okay, Lady. You /have/ to calm, dear. It's time 
they found their lifemates. You can't stop time, lovely one." a flash of 
color catches her eyes and she turns, nodding to Eilish and those 
candidates there.
Eos strides onto the sands, breath withdrawn at the impetuous 
temperature of the sands about her; continuing purposefully behind 
Eilish, dusky sky-blue eyes course about the sands, her jaw clenched to 
withhold the myriad of emotions that threaten to spill forth. Instantly, 
she steers - almost drawn - herself towards the eggs, allowing herself 
to fall into the loose semi-circle about them.
Terrill edges around the crowd nervously, unsure of what to do, in lieu 
of the fact that the eggs are /moving/ now.  Sure, he's seen the eggs 
before, even touched them, but now, movement confirms that they're..that 
they're...that they're alive!
Spectreth has never been, and shall not today be, easily appeased. That 
daunting regard focuses with searing intesity on Eilish's flock, soft 
embers and flaxen shades giving way to a deeper, more primal tint of 
fiery crimson and flickering sunglare. Her hum turns hard-edged; she 
sways over the clutch, menacing, unapproachable.
Enchanted Pearl Avarice Egg bops back and forth. This one! No that one! 
It wants both hillocks of sand! Wrong or right? Right or left?
Arilynne steps lightly onto the sands, the heat already soaking through 
the minimal layer of her sandles.  Twilight orbs widen at the scene 
before her and the audience in the galleries.  Nervously, she seeks out 
Nyzlann and his comforting grip, easily intimidated by the situation and 
the concerned mother.
Gabrielle smiles and salutes Gamma and Spectreth with a nod to Kaythas 
well.
Leigha clutches tightly to Lammas' hand, stiffly lifting her feet in the 
time-honoured Candidate's Dance as the heat filters through too-thin 
soles and the sands spill across her feet.  But nervous as she is, 
excitement is present too. and she bites her lower lip shyly as she 
glances from her peers to the eggs...
Alanis scuffs onto the sand after Terrill, doing almost a jump as her 
feet hit the sand. Ow. Moving quickly after the others, she qinces, then 
squints to see better. Hand clings to the side of her robe, fingering it 
nervously, the only comfort it can find at the moment.
Lammas trips unexpectedly in the sudden rush of white figures, grasping 
onto pale knuckles, bright, bony fingers digging into Leigha's hand 
while she raises up, " Oh, this is ... exciting," she pants, throwing 
her unbraided hair into the hair, flash of eyes once again rising over 
the others. Suddenly, glance goes to the great, lumbering eggs in the 
horizone, " Oooo." Nod goes to the other great, lumbering shape; the 
gold, and she flicks her smile towards them. 
Azrianna shuffles through the sands, still standing apart from the other 
Candidates as her feet lift and fall in that familiar Candie-dance. 
Sapphire eyes once more are closed as she takes up a position not far 
from the flock, but not amongst it, either. Fingers fall before her, 
clenched tightly together as she continues singing under her breath, the 
only way she knows to keep from whimpering with fright. Nothing has 
prepared her for /this/...
Ul'ric stands stock still, arms crossed over his slender chest as eyes 
stare at the Candiates, measuring them: ha. Wet behind the ears, all. 
Sniff. Gamma is given his most charming smile, however; Weyrwomen tend 
to get those. 
Sandith croons again, almost imploring: they must be allowed to 
approach. Not too close, but enough. Eyes spin, swift and wild, flicking 
from gold to candidates, whom she also disapproves of. 
Such../impertinence! She'll deal with that later. 
Oeno moves out upon the sands about as calm and content as any runner in 
its facovorite pasture. Stance carrying a bit of swagger of nonchalance, 
confidence in her proudly held head. Reassuring smile is sent to a 
candidate beside her. Nothing to worry about, Nope, nothing at all.
Nyzlann moves out onto the sands, Arilynne next to him as his feet 
connect with the hot sands. He winces at the feeling of heat through the 
soles of his sandles. He offers a returning squeeze to Aril's hand and 
watches the eggs, standing the the semi-circle as he is supposed to.
Eilish inclines her head courteously to Gamma and Spectreth, then 
whispers to her pets, "Kaeden, Eos? I'll be /right/ behind you. Stand 
just up there, near the eggs." Kaeos -- her babe -- is patted gently in 
her bundle, and the Weyrsecond retreats, tossing a slight glower to any 
candidtes who might be acting up. Isn't this a change since she declared 
Kaeden the Weyr's tuber-peeler?
Spectreth emerges nearly last from the gaping tunnel, by languidity or 
by design. She takes no hand and seeks no company, edging not-so-subtly 
towards the motionless goldden egg. Spectreth's given a wider berth than 
normal; even Sidhe can't deal with the Queen's wrath at the moment.
Terrill lips his lips nervously, brown eyes focused on the rocking eggs. 
Without noticing, his feet begin the dance he recently practice, a 
shifting of weight from foot to foot as the slim soles of his sandals 
fail to shield him from the heat of the sands.
Loved Faerie Loyalty Egg moves slightly, too, with the force of life 
within. Colors seem to shift and warp with the sands' rising heat as it 
tilts to one long side, threatening to tip.
Eos hastily, and consciously, draws scrawny arms across her chest, feet 
spread shoulder-length apart as she assumes a moderately comfortable 
position amidst the candidates: neither on the outskirts nor in the apex 
of them all, she simply remains a figure within, watching for the moment 
with the decisive twist of her gaze.
D'nara is incongruous on the sands: overall-clad, edging to plump, 
tapping her foot impatiently as her pigtails lay limp against her back. 
"It's about tahme!"
Idris gives a preemptory nod to the boy next to her, who moves aside; 
formidable, isn't she? But Idris' head is still held high as she gazes 
across the Sands, that unflappable grey-eyed gaze taking it all in with 
the air of one experience with hatchings, if not from this particular 
vantage.
Kaeden gulps and nods tightly, not relaxing a whit as he scoots 
nervously closer to the outskirts of the eggs, eyes seeking out a few in 
particular. He wipes his hands nervously against his robe and then grips 
at his belt, needing something to do with his hands and having, 
unfortunately, no pockets to hide them in.
Enchanted Pearl Avarice Egg bounces back and forth in a frenzy, seeming 
to dig a hole in the very Sands. Then bounce, and bounce, as shakings 
combine with semi-solid mounds to release far more energy than seems 
possible. Higher and higher it flies...

Rattling back and forth between its two small hillocks of sand, 
Enchanted Pearl Avarice Egg shakes frantically, sure to smash violently 
on the ground eventually. Epileptic fits wrack it, caught in some awful 
struggle that can have no peaceful ending. But eventually even this 
motion must slow, gentled by the sand, and the egg winds up not 
exploding, but gently crumpling into a puddle of egg goo and Valiant 
Calliope Brown Hatchling.

Valiant Calliope Brown Hatchling
Gold he is, but not quite true: tawny stripings, each barred brilliant 
with shade-shifting bronze, overlay a compact frame's carnelian. Low-
slung in the shoulders, but with a catlike grace, he boasts a broad 
expanse of back to the thick-sailed stretch of his wings, each fine spar 
colored a yellow-bright tan; wide-set, rounded eyes affirm the angular 
wedge of his head, headknobs slanting sideways and forward as if in 
attention. Pointed, sun-gilt ridges trail down to the flattened spade of 
his richly brown tail, and the tensile curve of those so-sharp talons 
imply far more danger than his otherwise gentle demeanor allows.

At the first indication of movement amung the clutch, Oeno turns her 
attention to the ggs. Curiosity tickles at the corners of peering eyes. 
Ah, that one. Voice mumbles, "Gonna be a blue..." Shoulders shrug 
unconsciously, causing robe to ripple delicately. Attention shifts to 
the galleries for the briefest of moments, "Wonder if she made it..."
Challenged Prince Charity Egg shudders slightly, the bright crystaline 
colors shimmering softly.
Azrianna sways softly, rhythmatically with the beat of the humming 
around her, body rocking back and forth as each foot lifts, only to take 
its place back upon the Sands as the other attempts to retreat from the 
burning heat. Crack is heard, and eyes fly open in stunned amazement, 
tune faltering on her lips as she sees the brown emerge from the shards. 
" Oh!" A pure note, carrying low to no one, for no one is near enough to 
hear.
Arilynne sighs and leans into Nyzlann, comforted by his presence and the 
knowledge, that if push comes to shove, he can easily be sacrificed to a 
seeking dragonet.  "This is it, isn't it?  I canna believe it," she 
whispers to him before clutching at him harder as the first dragonet is 
revealed. "Ach, what a lovely brown!"
At the emergence of her first child of the night, Spectreth 
instinctively takes a step back, carolling joy to the heavens as well as 
removing her shadow from the Candidates. He, this darling brown, must 
have a clear view.
K'mra, last to step upon the Sands, offers solemn smile and polite nod 
to Weyrwoman and gold, then eyes Candidates scruptiously a moment longer 
before withdrawing.  Wingleader steps back towards Gabrielle, then, 
offering slightest of grins as she nudges attention eggs' direction: 
"Look, Gabi. Told you first'd be brown."
Idris indraws a hiss of breath at the brown, fastidiusly plucking her 
robe away from her legs as she takes a half-step backwards. "Too sharded 
dangerous," she can be heard to mutter if one is close enough, although 
her chin stays up, by and large.
Shiny-Pated Man Vanity Egg fractures, very faintly. Otherwise still, it 
sits and waits for its inevitable destiny.
Kaeden yelps, unable to keep back the cry of surprise even though he 
/knew/ what would be coming out of the ovids eventually. "Oh--!"
Leigha glances from Lammas to the eggs, just in time to see the brown 
emerge from his egg.  A shy smile lights up her features as she admires 
his golden wings - turning to Lammas again, she breathes:  "Oh Lammas, 
look!  Isn't he lovely?"  
Eos jerks at the emanation of Eilish's voice, rum-gold ringlets sprung 
forth with the compliant bob of her head.  Her feet, though protected by 
the sinewy contour of her sandals, trek slowly through the fervent 
sands, quickly drawing her besides Kaeden - and in the background, 
Eilish. Noting the initial hatching, her lips twist into a quick, nearly 
indiscernible smile before she comments: "Lovely.."
Lammas mumbles in soft purr, eyes rising to large, to greatness, she 
gasped and tilts head backwards, simply staring towards spiraling 
heights, " It's ... it's a ... a brown," she gasps. The other dragon is 
glanced at, but the brown, that is her focus. 
Terrill gapes as the first egg cracks and shatters to reveal the golden 
brown. For a moment, he stares, frozen on the hot sands...until the heat 
catches up with his senses again.  "Shards...," he whispers softly.
Feet go up, down, scuffle, scuffle . Alanis stands almost still despite 
the movements automatically done by the feet beneath. Standing next to 
who she came in behind, daring not to move from her spot. Eyes turn 
round to notice the loverly hatching. Mouth open, but not able to 
produce sound, 'lanis watches the brown with excitement. Oh yes, we is 
excited.

Valiant Calliope Brown Hatchling extracts himself from a muddled mess of 
egg-goo and shards, letting out a rather indignant utterance. Yet 
despite his supposed vextation, the dragonet balances with the lashing 
of his tail while he examines the remains of his not-so-humble 
beginnings. After a few moment's ponderance, his regard slides 
elsewhere, and the first-born brown squeakily trumpets contented 
awakenings to sire and dam in a foretelling of the voice that will come. 
But alas, his atention-span is limited, and his scrutinty turns upon the 
masses of fidgiting white.

With the sound of the catalyst *crack* and the sight of the brown, Oeno 
startles in her place. Nervous chuckle in embarrassment at her actions, 
eyes roll upwards briefly as back of hand is swiped across forehread in 
a vain attempt to rid herself of the beginnings of persperation...from 
the heat, no doubt.
Sidhe sniffs, unmoved. Only a brown. Yet is that a tear glimmering in 
her gaze? Naaaah.
Gabrielle glances at K'mra and grins wrinkling her nose, "There are 
still lots to go we'll see who wins this bet." She winks and turns her 
emerald gaze back to the sands and candidates.
Nyzlann shudders slightly as the first egg hatches. "A brown..." he 
whispers to Arilynne, he too comforted by her presense, even if he does 
feel a little suspicious of her normally..
Loved Faerie Loyalty Egg tilts and tilts and does indeed seem to be 
ready to tip. Tip it does, highest point descending toward the sands. 
When that egg's tip touches the sands' heat, a great rift rips through 
the shell's mystical colors, and striations take hold...

Beasts -- rabbit, dragon, serpent -- prowl and lurk, restless movements 
ever-shifting with the turn and sway of Loved Faerie Loyalty Egg. 
Another twist sees to it that monstrous creatures fade into a blur of 
golden-green, the single crack which appears upon tangled surface 
revealing glossed ice. By the next revolution, frosted form has made its 
entrance from split hemispheres: quiet, subtle, graceful -- 
Introspective Polymnia Blue Hatchling.

Introspective Polymnia Blue Hatchling
Iced cerulean swirls into a lacy veil of fragile glass sheen that melds 
his wiry, thin frame into a broad-winged, awkwardly-pieced body of sharp 
indentations and shadowed crooks: indigo plays between the crevices 
here, in his neckridges and brief stretch of shoulders, marks his hide 
in faint touches where dusky cobalt soothes his spindly forearms' elbows 
and hindlegs' kinks. Frost prominantly treads upon his conspicuous 
'sails, though shadowy blue splinters the glassy membrane into 
undersides that flicker with midnight's blue. Upon this same shrouding 
shade slinking up the sleek, curvy sides of his neck, dawn's azure mists 
an attenuated snout into a glinty trail of sky-blue creeping past deep-
set eyeridges to claim headknobs that jut a rowdy tilt into the air.

Winged Man Hope Egg rolls about a bit, its opalescent shadows shifting 
in its thrall, but then lies still again: silent.
Sacrifice! Gamma likes sacrifice. Especially if it's her brother. she 
peers around the throng of those present, nudges Sh'dan. "I don't see my 
brother. Shardling lazy vtol. I'ts /just/ like him not to show." She 
tilts her head. Ooooo that Blue is a pretty one.
Challenged Prince Charity Egg stills ominously as if waiting for just 
that right moment.
Leigha shifts uncomfortably on the sands, pausing only to wipe away 
beads of moisture adorning her forehead.  She watches the eggs spinning 
and rocking and focuses on the brown again - which way is he going?  
Biting her lip even more, she squeezes Lammas' hand in nervouslness.  
"Oh my..."
Terrill jumps a bit as the brown tries to trumpet, then smiles almost 
shyly. His attention is soon drawn away from the hatchling to his new 
clutch-brother, the iced blue.  "Wow," is his next comment as he finally 
allows his eyes to blink.
Eilish's voice is low -- is she whispering to her daughter? "Another 
blue for you, love." No, most definitely for her lifemate.
Vindicated Tortoise Persistence Egg hops into a blur of green and tan 
muddling. Just once, mind.
Shiny-Pated Man Vanity Egg scratches itself. Against some sand, mind.
Azrianna's eyes flicker, once, twice, blue and brown both watched 
intently. "Oh!" is repeated, louder, still pure, carrying to those 
closest around her. Harper-candie pulls back a bit, before sliding to 
her right, and the Candie-group nearest her position. 'Tis true, there 
is safety in numbers, and tonight of all nights, Azri needs that added 
security. Yet still, she joins not, standing alone, 'pon burning Sands.
Sandith warbles to the two new entrants into the world: Go forth and 
prosper. 
Ul'ric smothers a laugh at his dragon's motherly behavior. He pats her 
shoulder, then leans against it, that sardonic glimmer still in his 
eyes. Once they've Impressed, they're /his./ And isn't that...good.
Lammas peers towards her friend, her Leigha, " Isn't that the most 
beautiful brown you've ever seen?" she gushes brightly, spying a 
startling smile towards her. " Oh, look at, it's stripes, it's just so 
... so..." hand runs into Leigha's, she squeezes; she stares through 
layers of gold, blue eyes searching, pallet of color twining in a 
flutter of freckles. Legs crisscross, feet dance side-to-side, she 
simply /stares/ at the brown. 
Alanis now gives an audible sqeak as a second egg splinters. Blushing a 
light pink, she looks back and forth from the  brown to blue, both of 
which are spectacular beauties. Alanis's word for the night,'Yehaw' is 
murmured just below her breath as a smile turns her normally flat lips 
upward.
Thwarted Father Justice Egg shudders perceivably, edging away from the 
clustered ovoids nearby with a singular rocking movement.  A hint of 
silver shard flakes from the shell -- or is it sand?

Introspective Polymnia Blue Hatchling steps free of his once-home's 
shards, delicate talons flicking the bits of colorful shell across the 
sands -- toward the candidates. Birth's damppness still clings to to 
fragile wings, and he extends them, creeling and letting the liquid drip 
from them for a moment before moving.

Idris breathes out, "And a blue," as she admires him with more than a 
little circumspection. But her dignity is still held about her in a 
close-held cloak. she's not relinquishing even a shred of it.
Sh'dan isn't sure where'd he be himself, though eyes do search the sands 
just in case....Towards his lifemate he glances, mild amusement 
flickering across his features as Kayth shifts and twitches uneasily.
Kaeden shoots a look down the ringed line of fellow Candidates, picking 
out a few faces in the crowd for a link back to reality. He hops 
uncomfortably, blue eyes turning back to the eggs in sheer awe as more 
and more start to move. A special glance is given to one in particular, 
but his attention is just as quickly ripped away by the movements of the 
hatchlings.
Arilynne nods towards Nyzzy as a blue emerges next, her blue eyes 
widening.  "He's a rather fine fellow as well."  Really, Nyzlann has 
nothing to fear from Aril, no cause to be worried around her.. well, not 
much of a cause. Yes, she may sacrifice him to save herself, but she'd 
be full of regret later.  A motion is noticed out of the corner of her 
eyes and she nudges the former miner beside her.  "I think I saw my 
favorite egg move," she whispers excitedly.

Valiant Calliope Brown Hatchling really doesn't know where he's going 
either, so he settles for peering under his left forepaw. No perfect 
people there, so maybe the whiterobes are a better choice. Resolving 
this, he totters towards the nearest one, a boy who faints. Braying his 
displeasure (why does there always have to be a fainter?) he tromps on.

Eos's weight transfers assiduously from one foot to another, the 
yielding material of her robe swaying mildly with the subtle movement. 
Her lips, compressed into a minuscule line, never part to comment nor 
whine; but yet, remain absolutely still as she observes the newly 
hatched.
Captured Lion Mercy Egg bobbles in its little hollow of sand, just so 
everyone knows that it's still here.  Waiting.
Nyzlann shifts back and forth on his unsturdy legs. Sand is hot stuff, 
least this sand is. He watches the blue hatch and eyes some of his 
fellow candidates, wodnering who that one is for. "Fine fellow indeed." 
He's not afraid, nah, not much. "Really?"
Terrill swings his head around as soon as the Thwarthed Father egg 
moves. Seeming as if he had an attention disorder tonight, he eyes his 
favorite egg. What will the silver streaked egg reveal when it hatches?  
So very nervous, Terrill swallows again.  He can only wait.
K'mra points out to Gabrielle, "A blue, there -- and is that green, o'er 
there?"  Amused, and just a wee bit smug, she shifts from one foot to 
another: the heat singes, even through thick-soled boots.  Oh, but she 
pities the Candidates.
Azrianna shifts, sways, dances 'pon heated sands as her gaze travels 
'twixt blue and brown, lingering on the frost-covered hatchling for a 
time before returning to their endless trading of glances. Not once does 
harper look elsewhere, all attention is locked on dragonlings, waiting, 
watching, ready to flee at a moment's notice. Terror still lurks in 
cobalt eyes, tempered, though, by a soft wonder. /This/ is why she was 
brought here.

Introspective Polymnia Blue Hatchling takes one dainty step forward 
after a moment's contemplation, lifting that blue-toned paw carefully 
and placing it down upon sand with just as much caution. These well-
thought steps carry him toward the white-robes slowly, but surely. 
Jewel-tone eyes glint -- decisions. He must consider this one.

Leigha watches the silly boy fainiting at the end of the line.  Very 
nervous herself, she lifts one foot to avoid the heat, then the other, 
marching slowly in place as the scene unfolds before her.  "He's just 
lovely, Lammas! I wonder who he'll go for?"  And the lip biting agony of 
the Hatching unfolds...
Arilynne nods once again, her curls bobbing wildly as she does so.  
"Aye," and then she glances again, "But it seems ta be silent now."  
Heartbeat races as she looks between both blue and brown and tries to 
gauge their path.  "Who do ye think they'll pick?"
Muted grey-green eyes track the progress of the blue, with a touch of 
wry caution. Rather relieved that the hatchling seems to be staying away 
from her, Oeno takes a deep breath of the dry heated air. As it is let 
back out, body shifts her weight to one leg, then to the other 
uncomfortably, hoping that this whole thing gets over soon.
Sidhe saw that. She saw the Mercy Egg move. A telltale flash of white 
betrays her stealthy creeping, inch by painful inch, towards the prize. 
A tall, bony boy from Nerat block her way suddenly, quite unawares of 
the plot he's thwarted.
Gabrielle shifts uncomfortably her bright emerald eyes entraced by the 
hatchlings she just nods absently at K'mra watching with awe.
Alanis gives a nervous giggle  and covers her mouth at the browns 
actions. Her eyes swing back to the blue, who seems to be moving  a bit 
slower then the first dragonet. Eyes are sparkling and smile adorns 
face. Watching she blue, she folds her hands in front of her waist and 
smile, her head titled in a curious manner.
Garmin walks in from Candidate Barracks.
Challenged Prince Charity Egg's surface ripples as movement begins again 
impatience perhaps.
Eos never suspends the seemingly perpetual alteration of her weight from 
one foot to another; a mild variation of the candidate dance, the 
angular aspect of her elbow instantly nudges into Kaeden's side. "Quite 
sturdy, they look.." she comments, rum-gold brows elevated into an 
appraising altitude before her expression clears of all emotion.
Nyzlann shrugs, concentrating on the blue, brown, and remaining eggs, "I 
don't know. Hard to say what fate will bring to our friends."  He smiles 
her way, "So yer egg moved?" He becomes a little less scared, though 
still a bit nervous, it is a hatching, something that should make one 
nervous.
Gabrielle glances to see Garmin arrive arching her brow at his lateness 
she just shakes her head and directs him to where he should be.
Lammas bobs her head quickly -- with Leigha. " Oh, probably ... some 
tough guy, " she glances at the not quite there curve of muscle 'neath 
the folds of swirling robe. Shuffle. She once again shuffles 'side her 
friend, waddling to close in on the space between them, " I'm doubt I'll 
impress, it'd be silly of me even to think that. I mean, /me/, 
impressing?? What a silly thought. Much too silly. Unbelievable."

Introspective Polymnia Blue Hatchling takes his careful stalking to the 
fringes of candidacy, passing past a young harper boy and a Weyr girl 
with barely a look. His maw gapes a bit, displaying razored teeth, then 
closes. Contemplation of each he passes does occur, however briefly. The 
Weyr's Headwoman does not get a second glance as the young blue proceeds 
past her and down the line slowly -- /inspecting/.

Idris takes another breath, saying darkly, "If they get too close..." 
Gamma and Eilish will hear about this, oh, they will!
Garmin scurries onto the sands, holding his robe at bay. Nevermind the 
boxers that flash when he bows, first to the gold lump, then the bronze, 
and Sh'dan gets a sort of saluty thing too. To Gamma, he bows, blushes. 
"Sorry i'm late, Sis...er... /Weyrwoman/, ma'am."

Valiant Calliope Brown Hatchling quickly gains something like balance as 
he waddles around clumps of candidates, sniffing this one from the front 
and that one from the back. Something intrigues him and he wanders over 
to tug on braids--D'nara's braids. Indignant, the greenrider snaps at 
the young brown, "Go'n git someone else! Ah ain't givin mah pigtails to 
you!"

Terrill clutches at his robe with white-knuckled intensity, and almost 
reluctantly lets his gaze slip from the egg to watch the toddlings of 
brown and blue.  A smile creeps across his face as he forces himself to 
relax.  
Kaeden swallows hard and nods agreement, unable to formulate a truly 
intellectual response. The hot-hot sand jars him out of his frozen 
contemplation yet again, though, with a stifled squeak and dancing feet. 
His fists close white-knuckled over the hanging ends of his belt as the 
blue draws closer.
Ul'ric grins at D'nara."You're going to have fun with that one, I 
think.."
Alanis clasps her hands together, her feet shifting regularly, though 
the heat is unforgiving. Scooting closer to Terrill, she whispers." 
Aren't they lovely?" A slight smile...the most Alanis has smiled in a  
while.
Arilynne eases up on her deathgrip on Nyzlann's hand and smiles 
beautifically, "Aye, it did.  I wonder what it holds."  Of course all 
the eggs will move and hatch eventually, but Aril's caught up in the 
moment, too busy to worry about trivialities.  Giggling, she points to 
D'nara and the small brown, "Did ye see," she gasps out.  "Tis too 
funny." 
D'nara folds her arms and hmphs. "Sbad enough with Serqueth callin' me 
Strawtop!"
Leigha holds her breath as the brown wanders closer and blinks as he 
goes to nibble on D'nara.  Giggling slightly, more from stress than 
humour, Leigha stops abruptly as the blue passes Idris by, and she is 
suddenly struck by the bigness of the dragonets...
Azrianna continues her continual shuffling, no more noticing her actions 
than she notices those around her. 'Pon Sands she stands, apart, 
seperate, yet somehow connected with the rest of the Candidates, by the 
strength of her white-clad form. Feet lift, fall, shift in rhythm as 
eyes once more flicker to blue, considering most carefully before moving 
to search for other dragonets and dangers.
Eilish watches -- enraptured -- mind completely /off/ of her daughter of 
only three days.
Oeno continues her silent standing...not much else to do but wait. Arms 
cross before her chest as a single foot begins to tap to some unheard 
rhythem, causing a bit of a dip to form in the sands.
Lammas stifles a laugh at D'nara, huddling just beside the dear Leigha. 
Placing a hand on her own hair -- now undone as is common in and on the 
sands -- she sighs. Runs a hand through, thoughtfully, " What a sweet 
brown ... "
Gamma eyes those dragons getting dangerously close to her headwoman. She 
raises a mirthful brow. "Won't it just be /peachy/ if I'dris impresses 
tonight?" she says to Sh'dan. A nice, fat, lazy brown for Idris. Indeed. 
"Sometimes I really /love/seeing the types of dragons that impress these 
candidates." 
Ul'ric chuckles softly."Aww. Poor lady." One may surmise that Ul'ric is 
not in the least sympathetic -- he isn't. Pure, devilish amusement 
swirls in his eyes.
Nyzlann nods, "Indeed I did. Wonder if that hurt..." he glances at the 
brown. Silly thing. He spies the other eggs, "I think wondering what 
they are is half the fun....and half the torture." is all he says as he 
continues to shift his feet off the sands, to relieve that burning 
feeling.
Challenged Prince Charity Egg begins to rock as if the life within is 
becoming restless with it's cramped confines.
D'nara is pregnant! And was morning-sick today. "Hmph!"
Eos, as inconspicuously as possible, cants her gaze towards several of 
the unhatched eggs; pupils fixated onto her particular favorite, her 
breath draws quick into her lungs, it's eventual exhalation granting her 
a moment of meditation and contemplation. "I wonder who they'll go to.." 
she silently muses, weight shifted once more as she keeps her focus onto 
the hatchlings.

Introspective Polymnia Blue Hatchling's eye is caught by movements in 
white, and he takes a careful step toward one who moves quite 
rhythmically. Wings again flutter, drying the liquid of the egg's 
interior. The blue infant cocks his head to one side, considering his 
options at this date and time. Yes, this could be quite nice, really. 
Enough contemplation.

Terrill nods silently for a moment, sparing just a glance for Alanis.  
"Yeah, they are," he breathes in reply.  Soon though, his smile follows.  
Long fingers run through his hair, trying to get some of the copper mess 
out of his eyes.  He really needs to /see/ today.
Idris fortunately does /not/ hear Gamma, or that cool grey gaze would be 
shooting daggers that kill. Instead she lifts her head even and 
sidesteps a green as she charges between her and Herridan next to her.

The careful placement of iced-over talons leads an iced-over dragonet 
towards the one who's drawn his eye -- and melted his heart. 
Introspective Polymnia Blue Hatchling's movements pause -- not because 
of hesitation, for his shining eyes hold only certainty, but simply to 
admire his one, his /choice/: Azrianna. In a soft, praising tone, he 
sings a hymn of love.

Leigha ignores her own hair, short bob stuck to her neck as it is.  She 
nods to Lammas, quickly glancing at her, and sighs, lifting a foot here, 
and there...
Ul'ric still isn't sympathetic."Hmmph." He teases, while Sandith eyes 
him curiously. Odd boy. First Impression is greeted with a /warble./ 

Valiant Calliope Brown Hatchling waddles over to a huddle, ignoring the 
greenrider. That's right, she's already got a dragon, and he's not it. A 
short croon of excitement as he spots someone with hair /just/ as 
tempting--only--not braided! Indignant, he creeps around, trying not to 
alert her. Serves her right! Should've braided her hair.

Leigha blinks as she realizes that Azrianna's Impressed!  "Azrianna!"  
the cry is torn from her lips as tho' in shock, yet she grins and her 
grey eyes happy.
Eos blinks. "Is that.." she utters, standing upon her toes to augment 
her vision, "Could it be.." And yet, as the heralding sounds of 
impression emerge, so does her rapturous applaud. "Azrianna!" 
Alanis peers past Terrill, at  the blue and Azrianna."  Ooh..Azri..." 
she breathes, licking her dry lips and breathing again.
Kaeden claps his hands together, wrenching them from their death-grip in 
nervous excitement. "Oh -- Azrianna!" he blurts, tugging at Eos' arm.
Ul'ric calls softly to Azrianna: "What's his name?" Of course, noone 
knows it, y'se..

Azrianna gasps, staring in shock at blue before her, before voice breaks 
from lips, a song, a hymn, a pure liquid shout from deepest within her 
heart. "Oh, Tirelth." A sigh of pure love.

Arilynne shifts stinging feet as well, trying to be obscure so as not to 
draw any unwanted attention.  "Which is yer favorite," she asks the 
miner and her confidante.  Wonder is paused though as the first of their 
lot is Impressed. "Azrianna!  Oh, good show!"
Terrill grins.  He can't help it.  "Azri...."  He stops himself from 
yelling across the sands though, just grins.  "Congrats," he murmurs, to 
be said properly later.
Sh'dan arches a brow and contemplates that thought, "Idris? On a 
dragon?" He's not overly sure about this idea, but nods towards Gamma 
anyways. "Indeed." Back to the eggs he looks, to the Candidates he 
studies, "More interesting to see the Candidates Impress, I think." But 
then he adds as an afterthought, "Or perhaps the pairs that form."
Sidhe works still to circumvent the rotten Neratian fellow, completely 
numb to the excited cries and gasps of her fellow candidates. Her eyes 
locked on the gold egg, her singularity of purpose might be commendable 
- if it were not so blatantly callous. She does, however, peer Azri-
wards, with a gape at the blue. Hmmph.
Idris allows her gaze to consider Azrianna as she waits -- a name? Is it 
so? One hand brushes back a tendril of embered hair, thoughtfully, the 
sweat sheening the paleness of her face.
Lammas /gasps/, not jealous, it was simply a blue -- she does not care 
much of it other then it impressed /Azrianna/. " Azri! Azri! Oooo ... 
you, you, congratulations!"
Misguided Frog Prudence Egg moves -- or does it? A faint glimmer against 
the sands indicates an egg's movement, jades and aquamarines shifting.
Nyzlann blinks, "She impressed. Look, Azri!" he lets out a small scream 
towards Azrianna, "Azri!" he shrugs towards Arilynne, "I don't really 
have a favorite...realy..."

Valiant Calliope Brown Hatchling ahas! Time to make his move!

Alanis runs her hand through her short hair, not really thinking, just 
doing as she watches Azri and the blue. Feet scuff up and down, lifting 
in the alltime fav dance, the Candie Shuffle.

A fatuous gleam suffuses Valiant Calliope Brown Hatchling's eyes as he 
catches sight, /finally/, of the one. In about a millisecond, he's 
obviously fallen so deeply in love--and amazingly, with someone other 
than himself--that wild watch-whers could never drag him out. Besotted, 
he grovels up to Lammas, and proceeds to give her a resounding slurp, 
fixing her firmly in place with his heft and his foot in order to 
snuggle more effectively.

Winged Man Hope Egg shimmies again, dislodging sand that rolls away. 
away, and down.
Oeno blinks once, twice, again as Azri is captured. Sh e winces just 
enough to be noticed and her head slowly shakes from side to side in 
amazement. "Congrats, Azrianna..."
Spectreth greets this first Impression with another triumphant croon, a 
pointed glance of satisfaction passing towards Kayth. Lammas' luck is 
also heralded in the queen's awesome voice.

Jades shift and Misguided Frog Prudence Egg shudders, bulbous knobs that 
mar its surface bulging with the writhing of confusion within. 
Aquamarines stretch and crack, ovoid sides straining -- life wants out, 
but it can't figure out which way to go. Deciding at last, it rocks one 
way, only faintly resisted, and thuds mightily on the sands. One pale, 
bronze wing emerges through a wide rift, and it is soon followed by the 
rest of a small, liquid-covered form: Inquisitive Clio Bronze Hatchling.

Inquisitive Clio Bronze Hatchling
An unyielding sheet of cold copper wraps a trim torso as rigidly cast as 
plated armor, lightens as it sweeps his slender midsection, fading to a 
pale straw on his underside.  Never quite resting, chilled champagne 
bubbles over wings' pinions to weave across the expanse of iridescent 
sienna membranes in haphazard rivulets that catch light when correctly 
angled, graces ridges' tips and protracted tail's flat fork.  Reedy 
limbs gangle from his lank form, ending in splayed paws, tarnished to 
antiquity and chiseled into charcoal talons as indeterminate as the hint 
of brass that polishes his blunt muzzle, encircles and defines his 
sunken eyes with fibrous tendrils. The exact hue of those orbs, near-
invisible in deep-set sockets, changes with every shift of mood.

Kaeden laughs, his nervousness starting to ebb as his friends pair off. 
"Oh, look out, Lammas!"
Alanis oohs, eyes lighting up once again. "Lammas!" she sqeaks happily. 
OOh...she's so /happy/.

Shiny-Pated Man Vanity Egg fractures more noticeably, faint scraps of 
shell pattering into the sands. Is it ready? Is it not? Stretch, arch, 
crack: yes.
Shiny-Pated Man Vanity Egg's forehead creases deepen. Staying together 
is hard, and it has to remember how to do it. Forgetting, it shakes 
itself in resignation, allowing contrasting forces to pull, to push, to 
pluck off tiny pieces of shell, black and gray. Shinier and shinier it 
throbs, snarled with the mother of all migraines, and then comes relief: 
a ridiculously large bronze-brown hindpaw crashes through the forehead, 
kicking and squirming until it reveals all of Jumbled Euterpe Brown 
Hatchling. He is, of course, upside down, but with a playful wiggle, he 
straightens himself, bright eyes peering around at this brave new world.

Jumbled Euterpe Brown Hatchling
Natural grace in movement lends a certain beauty to the overlarge, 
tarnished paws and lithe, sunburnt body of this wheaten brown, all in 
all an ill-matched assortment of playful parts.  His spindled legs crook 
all knob-kneed slimness before swelling into the muscle of his shoulders 
and the length of his serpentine neck with its overbalanced, heavy-
jowled head; lengthy, narrow wings stick out at untowardly sharp angles, 
the duller right one always crooked at a slightly different angle from 
the left. Excess energy sparkles in the whimsical facets of his eyes, 
infuses the line from shoulder to talon in a pounce's preparation, while 
the constant flick of his sun-drenched, stubby tail promises play, as 
well as fair warning.

Leigha blinks at the little brown (you could hardly call him little, 
actually), and steps aside as he Impresses to her dear Lammas.  "Oh 
Lammas! I'm wonderfully happy! What is his name?"  And the candidate 
shuffle becomes more than that - a happy bouncy dance, as she let s her 
happiness for her friend overcome her shyness and excitement and 
nervousness all at once.
K'mra intones cheerily, "That blue -- Tirelth -- he chose well, no?"  
She hardly waits for Gabrielle's response, but beckons to Azrianna as an 
assistant weyrling master scurries out to escort.  "Come over this way, 
dear."
Eos's unanticipated emotions swell with delight, hands clasped together 
for a distinct moment before lowered to her side. "Kaeden, it's amazing, 
Azrianna impressed!" Repeating what everyone already knows, she too tugs 
onto the healer's elbow besides her, "And look at the brown.. he's going 
somewhere.."
In Eilish's arms, Kaeos sets up a thin wail, but is quickly silenced by 
Eilish's gentle noises: "Hush, Kaeos, I want to watch Uncle Kaeden and 
Aunt Eos impress."
Terrill grins again, his smile trying to split his face, it seems.  
"Lammas!," he explains.  And there goes another...Brown eyes fly wide 
again as the bronze emerges, and then blinks as the brown comes out.  
"Wow, oh, wow."
Arilynne shivers with glee as yet another one of their lot is taken.  
"Lammas," she calls out across the Sands.  "Ach, he chose well!"  Her 
eyes stray and fall to a new pair of dragonets that grace the Sands.  
Heart in her mouth, she can do naught else but stare gap-mouthed at the 
bronze and brown that've made their appearance.  "A right nice pair they 
be," she mentions to Nyzlann, distracted as she watches thier every 
move.
Nyzlann has little time to think as he spots Lammas impress, "Lammas!" 
he turns to Arilynne, "I had so hoped she'd impress Aril....Oh my...." 
his eyes blink rapidly as a bronze emerges and takes its place on the 
Igen sands, "A bronze Aril, look, a bronze....."

Quiet. Absolute quiet. And then, then, all the sound she'll ever need to 
here; all the sound *Lammas* will ever want to here again, " Bal/inth/! 
Oh, oh, oh! Balinth!" Slender arms sweep the creature, or, at least try 
to, into her arms. " Balinth!" To the others, finally, she smiles; 
smirks, radiantly grinning to ear to ear to ear, " Thank you!" 

Idris murmurs, "Bronze. brown. another!" That towards Lammas.  But she's 
cautious, so cautious, and wry o them if they get too close; one can 
never tell what will happen.

Inquisitive Clio Bronze Hatchling casts one quick glance over the 
prospects of impression then steps free of his egg's shards with one 
long, wobbly pace. Spindly limbs end in those oversized paws that make 
motion so utterly difficult.

Azrianna drags her eyes from the blue at the sound of K'mra's voice, one 
hand still resting 'pon dragon's neck. Slowly, carefully, harper turned 
Weyrling and hatchling turned lifemate approach the Wingleader in 
silence.
Captured Lion Mercy Egg struggles against a neighboring egg, shadows 
rippling over its shell as its occupant tests the seams.  Not yet.  
Nono.
Head swivels towards the bronze and brown. Grin calms to a small. 
lopsided smile as Alanis watches the pair." Such breathtaking colors. 
Stunning on the bronze and just as dazzling on the bronze" Alanis 
murmurs to herself. Splendid pair...just splendid. 
Oeno's eyes seem rather heavy lidded. Well, they are. Shoulders slump 
downwards as hand lifts to cover a bit of a ywawn...all just waiting for 
this thing to end. Once more it is time to blink as Lammass impresses to 
that brown. A noise exhale and that is all.

Jumbled Euterpe Brown Hatchling wriggles and tumbles over one shoulder, 
wings fouling in the sand, but hops up, undaunted, bright smile plopped 
on his face. Warbling wobbling trumpet voice is tossed jauntily at sire 
and dam as he hops, skips, and jumps off at the crowd. Gangway!

Spectreth's eyeing of the bronze hatchling holds a tint of the dubious: 
whereever did he get those enourmous paws? Xandrath had nothing to do 
with /this/ clutch!
Challenged Prince Charity Egg rocks a bit more as it's nudged by it's 
neighbor knocking back as it tries to break free of it's small indent in 
the sand.
He didn't, did he?
Winged Man Hope Egg jerks, decisive. Is it time? No. But /close/. The 
egg rolls about a foot and a half to the left.
Leigha watches as Lammas and Balinth are led off the sands to the sdide.  
In doing so, she misses the hatching of the bronze and catches only the 
playful entrance of the brown.  "Wow..." offered up to empty air, as she 
stands, only now realizing that she's alone at the edge of the sands, 
and edges closer to a small knot of boys for comfort.
Terrill chuckles slightly as the bronze finds it hard to move.  "Poor 
thing...hope he grows into it," he unconsciously echoes words spoken to 
him once upon a time.  
Eos is confounded into silence: cranberry hued lips remain in a gaping 
part as she simply stares towards the newly impressed, one hand 
precariously held before her chest as the other taps against Kaeden's 
ribs. "Kae, Kaed - Lammas impressed!" Her voice grows louder with 
excitement, "Lammas, congratulations!" This said, another soothing 
breath is drawn, her gaze pinpointed onto the newly hatched brown and 
bronze. "Ah" is all she says.
Alanis grins, biting her bottom lip tto keep from laughing. Such a 
/happy/ dragonet.
A spicy green rushes up to Perper, unable to restrain herself, and girl 
and dragon hop around in a mess. "Jalapenoth!" screams P'per somewhere 
in there, answered by Jalapenoth's happy bugle.
Sidhe's greedy, grasping eye is captures by the glimmer of - metallic, 
yes, metallic. Only - "Bronze," she mutters in disgust; but she pauses 
in her search for gold, to see who the shimmery fellow might choose. 
Kaeden scatters sideways to avoid a too-excitedly-charging blue, 
narrowly missing having his head thunked by a flailing wing. Wobbling to 
keep his balance on the hot sand that shifts beneath his feet, he cranes 
his neck to try and watch /everything/ at once.
Arilynne tightens her grasp on Nyzlann's hand as the bronze emerges and 
she wills the best for the candidate beside her.  "Aye, I know, I saw 
him.  He's grand."  Words cannot describe the wonder and the experience 
of being on the Sands, of being one of the chosen few.  Her breath 
catches as her favorite egg moves again and she puts a hand to her 
heart, not sure if she can take the suspense.
Garmin gapes and just stands a little dumbstruck as his friends impress, 
forgetting his feet for only a moment before he begins the dance again, 
and a happy smile lights his face, "Congrats Lammas!"

Inquisitive Clio Bronze Hatchling bumbles his way across the sands now, 
intent upon reaching his goal of the white-clad candidates. Lifting his 
bronzen head slightly to ponder those there, he steps forward -- and 
nearly tumbles, chin-first. Catching himself with awkward paws and a 
quick outstretch of finely-membraned wings. A squawk of distress is 
given.

Jumbled Euterpe Brown Hatchling bouncy bouncy bouncy--hey, what's this? 
She's got an air of somebody /important/ about her, and so he promptly 
sticks his head up the Headwoman's robe and takes a deep sniff, and what 
sounds like a slurp, spreading a large amount of saliva all up and down 
the back of the robe. Satisfied, he bounds off in another direction, 
nearly running over P'per and Jalapenoth.

Idris' expression ceases into a frown as she watches. "Shards," she says 
with minor disgust. "/That/ one is a handful." Her look regards one of 
the newest weyrlings, and she sighs.
K'mra adds in a beam for Lammas and her brown lifemate, as well.  "This 
way, over here," she summons; stepping from amidst the bustle of 
weyrling masters and flustered pairs, soon to be expanded.  "You too, 
P'per."  Smiles all around.
Nyzlann's eyes watch the clumsy, or shall we say gifted, bronze make its 
way closer towards the group of white robed candidates. Such a clumsy 
thing, yet, cute. Just like Nyz....sort of. Um.. Hmm. "Whatcha think of 
him Aril? Or that brown over there." he points, visual aids always 
handy.
Leigha gasps as the bronze hatchling falls into the sands chin-first, 
then giggles at the antics of the fun-loving brown.  Suddenly, the heat 
is too much for her, and she begins shifting in earnest, lifting feet 
high to cool them before plunging them back into the pool of sand.
"Try and get that bronze's attention," Eilish hisses to Kaeden over the 
sling-held child who is the candidate's namesake. "Swish your skirt or 
something," she advises. Catching the gaze of one of her younger 
wingriders, though, she returns to her poise.
Alanis hasta giggle this time. Idris got slurped! Wrinkling her nose in 
humor, she turns back to watching the bouncy brown. Certainly is 
happyperkyhyper! Cute too...
Idris lets out a most unheadwomanly shriek as she's /slurped/. "What in 
Faranth's great golden.....!" She goes ashen as she spies the retreating 
brown. "Oh /shards/. Where did he /come/ from."
Ul'ric shakes his head at the bouncy brown -- /this/ is gooing to be an 
interesting group. Really.
Lammas beams towards P'per, the flashes a smile at her own wonderful, 
beautiful, beautiful, wonderful .. Balinth! " Ohohoh .. Balinth. My 
darling. My darling." Together and over and over again. Almost bumping 
into the other -- P'per, was it? -- she sh-bumbles across the sands.
Garmin dares to watch the little bronze, though he keeps well behind his 
fellow candidates, blocking his sisters view of him. If she cant see 
him, hes not here, its not /Gamma's/ brother impressing, oh no.

Jumbled Euterpe Brown Hatchling, you could almost swear, made a 
raspberry sound at Idris in retreat.

Eos winces at the brown's ferocious approach towards the headwoman, sun-
bronzed cheeks nearly puffed with laughter as he explores the 
innerlinings of her robe. "Oh, my.." is whispered, head shaking wiry 
curls from their pin against her scalp, several tendrils collapsing 
forth to cloak her gaze. 
Oeno manages to hide her giggle at Idris' little fun with a hatching. As 
hand moves from her face, she bites down on her bottom lip, though eyes 
crinkle slightly in mirth. 
Winged Man Hope Egg shivers again, and /this/ time, a crack does craze 
its surface.
Terrill winces slightly as the bronze falls onto the hot sand.  Ouch.  
Still, his attention is eventually drawn back to the Thwarted Father 
egg.  Come on, come on...it's gotta hatch, right?
P'per is almost bouncing into /everything/, but she beams happily at 
Lammas. "Isn't Jalapenoth the cutest little thing?"
Alanis sqeaks again, halfheartedly trying to look serious. But a giddy 
rush overcomes her and she giggles as she watches the antics of the 
bouncy brown. 
Thwarted Father Justice Egg shifts solemnly; nary a fissure or crack mar 
the impervious shell as the oviod rests in its indenture upon the Sands, 
stonily silent.
Kaeden ohs softly, his expression falling slightly at the bronze cry of 
distress. He doesn't even hear Eilish, really, as he edges nervously 
sideways a bit closer to the... err... paw-ily gifted? ungainly 
dragonet. "Y'okay there, guy?" he whispers under his breath, hardly 
believing his own audacity.
Inquisitive Clio Bronze Hatchling trundles in his awkward gait across 
the sands, bumbling about and nearly knocking into some poor Miner 
Master. His wings barely brush her, though, and he turns a curious gaze 
toward a small clump of hand-holding candidates. Perhaps. Let's /see/.
Leigha finds herself staring over towrads the littlest of eggs - the one 
which just cracked, and leans forward in her dance to get a better 
look...just what will emerge?  "I wonder.."
Arilynne studies the bronze thoughtfully and then the brown, considering 
both not for herself, but for her fellow candidate.  "I think that 
they're both wonderful.  The brown ever so playful, and the bronze," and 
here she giggles, "Rather cute in his bumbling."  Hop, step, hop, Aril 
continues her energetic candie dance.
Challenged Prince Charity Egg knocks hard into his neighbor tiny 
hairline cracks covering the shimmering surface of it's hardened shell.
Sidhe tries to look upon her brush with bronze as a sign; perhaps next 
time, the shiny ones won't ignore her?
Azrianna is off in her own little world, eyes locked with Tirelth's as 
the rest of the Sands is tuned out. Softly, quietly, she hums, a sound 
of intense pleasure, unable to articulate her joy in any other way. Blue 
waits with her, in silence, awaiting the rest of his brothers and 
sisters 'pon the edge of the Sands.

Jumbled Euterpe Brown Hatchling peers over towards his brother and 
frowns. He's getting all the attention, especially that /one/ person who 
looks so /tasty/. Well, maybe not tasty, but it's true that the brown 
does get that go-for-the-raw-meat look in his eyes as he skids over 
towards the clump of candies around the bronze. Hey! Make way! Comin' 
through!

Eilish keeps a rather hawkish gaze on Eos and Kaeden. They /will/ 
impress. Even if she has to drag the dragonets to them.
Captured Lion Mercy Egg breaks out into a full shudder.  Forget this 
bobbling stuff.  Much too tame.  The public awaits and its certainly not 
one to disappoint.
Arilynne blinks as the bronze comes closer and deftly steps behind 
Nyzlann, preparing to shove him forward as a distraction.  He definitely 
doesn't want her, and she definitely doesn't want to get in the way of a 
dragonet and his chosen.
Nyzlann continues to bounces from foot to foot, hand clutching despretly 
to Aril's. then relaxing a bit. Nothing to be scared of, when you have a 
charming talent show before you. He lets a grin escape him towards that 
bronze and then towards Arilynne, "He's cute, he's not bumbling /that/ 
much."
Eos observes and memorizes the scenery before her: what to do and what 
/not/ to do. Parched lips condensed into an invoilate line, the 
candidate's weight begins to shift at a accelerated pace, the scorching 
heat below grounds for her pending discomfort. Yet, as her gaze 
refocuses onto the sands, and the bronze and brown, she simply halts in 
her movements to watch, in silence.
Terrill is going to drive himself crazy if he continues to stare at that 
egg, so tears his gaze away.  What's the bronze doing now?  Another 
wince crosses his features as the bronze bumps into Sidhe.  Not a person 
/he'd/ want to bump into.
"Kaeden!" Eilish hisses, now. "Swish the skirts so he'll /notice/ you," 
the Weyrsecond advises again.

As if rodent's nimble teeth and claws raked along its binding shell, 
Captured Lion Mercy Egg's seams split, shard by shard, falling away with 
contemplative slowness.  With a sudden jut of golden head, Meditative 
Urania Gold Hatchling steps into the world with a thoughtful glance 
taking in her surroundings.

Meditative Urania Gold Hatchling
Darkest rum-gold wavers light to dark in a supple discernment of hue 
over her hide's lithe curves, succumbs to the rooted serenity of her 
impertubable height and length, maiden-taut and seraphic.  Sharp-edged 
and pale, her neckridges sustain the slip of lissome neck's coiling, 
trail the arch of spine's spicular scurl into long tail's spatulate 
trident; tarnished bronze swathes the slender withers, shadow-spent near 
the belly and secret, meandering under-swirls, eclipses the eccentricity 
of ribs that soar upward to stain the spars of wings' canopy, 
translucent and hued by cinnamon's spice.  Talons dipped in startlight's 
thrall rake scythe-sharp in their habitual flex, cunning reflection of 
the fiery pensivity of her gaze, or the subtle, head-cocked 
contemplation of her fire-storm calm.

Sidhe forgoes all niceties, shoving past Mr. Nerat as she sees the Mercy 
Egg finally shift in its seat. "Yes, yes, yes," she hisses softly, eyes 
alight with a fire that's not /quite/ healthy - but then, it's Sidhe, 
and she's not known for being, well, normal.
Alanis does a hop jump as the heat coming through her thin sandal soles 
finally registers and Alanis stops giggling. /Ow! Oh well. Continuing to 
shift feet, though no longer hopping on the sands, she watches the perky 
brown crash through the sands. Cutie Patootie....
Lammas's attention span runs through P'er -- her glance lasts for only a 
second. Then washes over the others, yet again. " Oh. Oh. Ba/linth/, ' 
she burbles, as if unable to not control saying that word. Then, " Oh, I 
hope my father isn't too upset with me. He won't, will he? No ... of 
course he won't ... " she smiles, lost in perfect contentment as she 
peers o'er the area she is -- towards those on the sands. Gold? What 
gold? 

Inquisitive Clio Bronze Hatchling has almost reached his destination -- 
the clump of candidates -- when the /gold/ hatches. Suddently, his gaze 
is caught by that luminous flesh and his wedge-shaped head swings to 
nearly 180 degrees. Ah, what beauty! He pauses, candidates momentarily 
forgotten to indulge in the moment.

Sh'dan hears something and turns with a curious gaze towards Eilish. A 
shift or a shuffle and he inches closer, "What? What's wrong?" Yeah, he 
can still have those dense moments...
Leigha glances towards the Entrance to the Sands, wishing that she could 
just escape the heat, the tension...everything.  Hopping on one foot 
while she adjusts her sandles, she spares a long look a tthe bronzy 
again before taking a long look at the brown.  Suddenly she stops her 
dance, frozen by the golden head snaking out from the bright egg - 
"Ohhhh, a gold..."
Idris keeps her gaze focused on the dragonets the decorate the Sands, 
one new-hatched, and two older. all a danger to her, oh yes, bu the way 
she keeps wiping her hand son her robe and leaving grey-streaked stains.
Winged Man Hope Egg shakes. Rattles. Rolls. /Goes/.
Terrill can't resist, now can he?  Gold, the gold has hatched.  And what 
a gold she is.  "Well," he sighs.  "She'll be quite the lady," he 
predicts to Alanis unnecessarily.
Eilish tilts her head toward the Weyrleader, looking almost innocent as 
she rocks her babe. "Just advising a candidate." She pauses, then leans 
toward Eos. "Shake your skirt at the gold, like Kaeden should be doing," 
she commands.
Arilynne gasps and clutches Nyzlann's hand /hard/.  "Oh my, do ye see.  
It's the gold!"  Eyes blink, lost in the luster of her and only when 
dizziness assaults her sense does she remember to breath.  "I wonder who 
she's meant for?"
Oeno sort of stands in her own little pocket of sandy boredom. Feet 
shift slightly upon the sand, and the eyes that were about to simply 
stare down at those tired feet, spark up at the sight of the gold 
hatching. Features cringe...gotta stay away from that one.
Kaeden glances back startledly on hearing his name. "What -- oh... uh," 
he looks back uncertainly at the bumbling bronze, nervously gripping the 
hem of his rob to obey, but in turning he somehow manages to get tangled 
up in it instead. Urf -- he stumbles to his knees, quickly scrabbling to 
get back up in a flurry of brushing sand, hoping no one noticed that.
Sidhe echoes unconsciously the thought of the bronze, enraptured by the 
sheer - fierceness - of the golden dragonet. A wince, a grimace of 
something that looks very much like pain crosses her face; her creeping 
steps halted in sandy tracks. Someone close might hear a  "Please."
Eos halts; everything around her suspends in the solitary moment of 
inspection of the newly hatched gold. "Kaeden.." She reaches for his 
arms, immediately missing and brushing her own leg instead. "She's 
lovely.." is all she can articulate, head shaken as she immediately 
attempts to free her facial cast of any discernible emotion.
Nyzlann lets out a flat out chuckle, "Arilynne, look at that bronze work 
his glance out there at that gold. Regular rt already." He clutches her 
hand still, "I know, a gold...." he just watches. Too many interesting 
things to watch to take your eyes away for long.
Sh'dan ohs? thoughtfullly and clears his throat. "But...to who?" It's 
the white robes that gain his attention for the moment while hands are 
folded behind his back. 

Jumbled Euterpe Brown Hatchling sees his chance! Darting through the 
people, he takes a long whiff of upturned hiney, then dodges back out 
before its owner can see him, right? A blue bounds by and sniffs at 
Kaeden as the brown pads around, then galvanizes him to action:

Aha! Jumbled Euterpe Brown Hatchling sights the perfect person, nose 
twitching as he examines from afar. Yes, yes, must not reveal to the 
poor boy that he's perfect. Not yet. Gotta spring it on him. Surprising. 
Relishing his knowledge, the dragonet literally smirks, relishing the 
secret he alone knows. Except... That blue is /looking/ at that perfect 
human. No, Jumbled Euterpe Brown Hatchling can't allow that. Hindlegs 
bunch as he readies for a spring, while sparkling eyes check this way 
and that. Nobody sees him. Nobody sees him about to ambush this perfect 
boy. *sproing* *pounce* Poor Kaeden...he must make him better.  *slurp*

Self-satisfied voice makes itself known inside your head, accompanied 
with a cloud of smugness. A pause, and the speaker continues to hide 
from you. << Nanny nanny boo boo, you can't catch me. >> More smugness, 
more smirking. << But I'll catch you! >> And with a mighty thud, a 
dragonet slams into you. Not hard--he does damp it a bit--but definitely 
a jolt. << Oooooops... Kaeden? Kaeden? Hellllooooo? Are you there? I'm 
Kohath. >> Indecision, confusion, chagrin, and a scratchy-wet tongue 
against your face: your first experience of many with Kohath.

Alanis snaps head toward Terrill. Hmm? Ohh...Gold? Lady?..." Umm, 
yea...you might say that..." Golds do have a reputation, o course. 
"Gotta respect 'em though..." Yupp.... She ain't sayin' a gold ain't a 
lady, she's just sayin' they also have a reputation for some 
stuff...yea...

Inquisitive Clio Bronze Hatchling is sated: he has seen the gold and she 
is gorgeous and he will woo her one day. Really. He'll be back to the 
sands, you bet your bottom mark. That blunt-nosed head swings back to 
the clumped candidates, and one is spied who might appreciate such 
treats as women like he does. Perhaps? Oh, yes, it is there.

Winged Man Hope Egg burns with its own light, wave-worn but opalescent, 
battered into beaten gleam by the frantic life within. Another moment, 
only, does it craze with cracks, each wrinkled line and wire-bound shard 
fracturing simultaneously; then a talon, dark yet ambered, breaks free. 
The remaining crumpled shroud falls away, heedless, leaving a darkling 
brown revealed, dazed but poised, for all to see.

Chimeric Terpsichore Brown Hatchling
A lush medley of chocolate drenches him, ample and soft-angled in his 
own subtle brilliance, sparkled from cocoa sweetness by the bite of 
nutmeg and the warmth of amber.  Cinnamon dusts the trailing edges and 
spars of broad-sailed, cloaking wings and trails along his underbelly 
until it darkens into the tenebrous grey of darkling shadows; iron-hewn 
talons curl sharp daggers, gilded by the same smoky honey that adds 
light to the slope of his withers and the coil of his tail.  A dissonant 
mixture of grace and distinguishment, he's remarkably bulky for all the 
light-footed ease of his carriage and the rakish sparkle of transfixing, 
faceted eyes.

Research pays off:  Inquisitive Clio Bronze Hatchling finds /the/ 
perfect person. Solemnly, he lifts his wedge-shaped head to focus dark, 
gleaming eyes upon a pair of golden ones, then creels, a thin 
vocalization of immense pleasure; and he steps forward, champagne-dashed 
wings extended. Forever, Nyzlann will be his, and he will be Nyzlann's.

Meditative Urania Gold Hatchling takes this moment, right out of shell, 
to promptly sit back on her haunches and consider the remaining shards 
of her egg.  Nostrils twitch and flare as she noses through each one, 
tail-tip kept high--away from the ticklish grains--as she ponders their 
existance. Fascinating.
Challenged Prince Charity Egg shudders, the life within fighting to 
break free of it's snug home wanting to see what it can only feel the 
excitment going on beyond the confines of it's shell.

It was the skirts! It was the skirts!
Lammas gets sunken in the brunt of wonderment, partly from Balinth, 
partly from herself; as she gazes at the gold. Crossed fingers intangle 
with ridgety blonde locks, lighting the beautiful cheerry hinden(hidden) 
in the depths of gold ... once again she spies the wonderful, beautiful 
Balinth. Towards Nyzlann -- she gasps, and nods to Balinth, " Yes, he's 
my /friend/. He's like you and me, of course we're more together, but 
look ...!"
Alanis looks up. OOh.../another/ brown. Were just brown happy today, 
aren't we? Smiling, 'lanis watches the Gold and the brown both, 
wondering who will be the lucky ones... *hop, scuff, skip, lalala...*

Chimeric Terpsichore Brown Hatchling shakes his wings, ever fastidious, 
as the lads of the shards slide from his hide. Orientation first; 
searching is second. He lifts his head, though, to gaze about, ever 
shadow of his darkened hide reflecting a scattering of amber.

A muted croon rolls from Spectreth's throat, directed at her daugher; 
the Queen of the Weyr leans in soft contemplation towards Kayth. It was, 
indeed, a fine flight.
"Ah!" Eilish lets go a brief exclamation as that brown approaches Kaeden 
-- Kaeos' Uncle Kaeden -- and impresses! Smug, the Weyrsecond just 
smiles. She did that, really.
Terrill grins, and does yell now.  "Nyz!"  Miner buddy to miner buddy 
call. Grinning almost wickedly, he smirks.  "Well, that was to be 
expected.."
Leigha hops first on one foot, then the other then - a delicious brown 
emerges from that egg - and she actually smiles!  "Ooooh, just the right 
mix..." she says, cook getting the better of her as she rakes her gaze 
down his cocoa'd features.
Garmin watches,  the brown and bronze seem to have found something... oh 
but now the gold, "Wow..." is siad, but then the tall miner lad he was 
hiding behind bends to a struggling little green with crys of joy. A 
bee-line view of Gamma is opened and Garmin epps and quickly jumps to 
another cluster of candidates.

K'den yelps and goes right back down as /something/ pounces him from 
behind. "Ack! Yes, Kohath, I'm here, I'm here..." he sputters, "You can 
stop licking me now..."

A bit more awake now, Oeno takes account of her surroundings. A quick 
tally of eggs left, then the ghost of a smile graces her glistening 
face...she may just get through this. She chuckles and spots Kaeden with 
a brown, should have figured he would impress.
Eos, deficient of any eloquent response, nearly blinks at Kaeden's 
impression. "Kaeden" she whispers, pupils enlarging in suspense, 
"Kaeden. Oh, this is amazing!" And yet, a sudden realization hits her: 
solitude amidst the sands, her feet delved into the very outskirts of 
the group as she watches her fellow candidate - and then Nyzlann - 
impress. "Nyz, Nyz!" Proceeding her comment, her decisive gaze is lured 
once more by the gold's presence, scrawny arms immediately crisscrossed 
about her chest.
Leigha watches Kaeden and Nyzlann Impress, and eagerly awaits to hear... 
"Oh Kaeden!  He's perfect!  "
Arilynne releases Nyzlann's hand and steps back, her hands clasped in 
front of her heart as she can do naught else but grin broadly at her 
fellow candidate, now a weyrling.  "Oh Nyzlann!  Congratulations," she 
whispers to the newly Impressed man beside her.  Sighing, she returns 
her gaze to the sands, ever hopeful.  "It's gone," she blinks and looks 
again, "My egg is gone and there's a brown there."  Moving over the 
Leigha for support, she just shakes her head.  "A brown in my egg."  
Well, not her egg really.  Never was /her/ egg.
Idris shakes her head; high gear! She takes another cautious step back, 
though, and looks much like she'd far rather be anywhere else. she 
steadfastly ignore's the gold -- Gamma's Search threat -- and instead 
tries to focus on all, in caution.
Apparently taking his lead from Kohath, a brawny brown sniffs up a busty 
girl's robe. "Tee hee, Monroeth!" M'rilyn giggles.

Ny'lan blinks as the clumsy, yet completely and utterly charming thing 
finds his way to him. He lets go of Aril's hand and takes in a huge 
gulp, "Oh Dharzeth!, yes, yes. I am yours!"

Sidhe's eyes flare widely. The bronze - to Nyzlann? She would not have 
guessed. A Miner sensibility takes her for a moment - a Miner, yes, that 
would explain it. Now if only... if /only/... Drained grey orbs fly to 
the gold. So near - nearer than she'd hoped.
Kayth shifts then pauses. The rum of Igen's newest gold catching his 
crystalline eyes and ensnaring him. A softer bugle, though perhaps loud 
for this bronze, defines Kayth's pride. It's to Spectreth he turns then 
and bobs muzzle in agreement, indeed.
Leigha smiles up at Aril, nodding, her eyes shining.  She swallows 
nervously again, biting her lip before she answers.  "Our egg..." she 
says softly, smiling shyly.
Meditative Urania Gold Hatchling sifts through shard after shard until, 
finally, something in the heat-enshrouded distance captures her eyes.  
Sitting up, her head nearly twists all the way upside down as she 
considers the white things.  What... are... /those/?  Talons dig in and 
she's off, tail-tip still held high.  These things simply must be 
investigated.
Terrill is still nervous however, even if proud of his Miner bud.  Eyes 
slide back to Thwarted Father..."You're alive, right?" he questions 
under his breath.  Right?

Chimeric Terpsichore Brown Hatchling' s fingersails quiver and he 
wobbles for just a moment before settling his footing firmly. Grace does 
it, oh yes, and dedication, too: those swirling eyes quicken as he 
begins his search, every musle taut but controlled, ever look taken with 
a seeking vein.

Challenged Prince Charity Egg shifts in it's nest, as the life within 
continues it's fight to freedom knocking against the hard confines that 
hold him.
Eos's inquisition swells to the brink of excitement, the condensed line 
of her lips nearly stretched into an enticed smirk at the gold's 
inspection. "Interesting.." she notes in a low monotone, her head cocked 
marginally to allow her ringlets to momentarily be removed from their 
sweaty brush against the nape of her neck. Sand's scorching heat 
ignored, she simply observes from her vantage.
Tired, bored, hot...Oeno both feels and looks these things as she sifts 
her sandled feet upon the sands. Sweaty hands wipe down the delicate 
white material of her robe, marring the fabric with the colors of sand 
and grime. Stains aren't given a second thought, she doesn't plan on 
wearing the robe again.
Vindicated Tortoise Persistence Egg shifts again, then lies still once 
again. Silence in surrender. For /now/. Entrance comes later.
Alanis lifts a foot, downs a foot as she watches the new brown. Eyes 
sweep 'cross the sand and she smiles, reaching down to scratch her ankle 
and watching the other candidates. Now don't we look funny, hopping up 
and down....
Terrill does the little dance, hopping from foot to foot.  Work-honed 
hand rubs at his forehead, wiping some of the sweat away from its 
precarious position poised above his eyes.  Swallow, breath...
Leigha sighs in tension, watching as the brown comes closer and the gold 
makes her way towards the knots of candidates.  she scuffles her feet in 
an effort to keep in motion, if for no other reason than to try and keep 
the heat banished for just a few more hours...or so it seems.  She takes 
to biting her lower lip again, and the flush, once gracing only her 
cheeks, spreads like wildfire to her throat and neck too.
(Kohath) [-] Kayth reflects overtones of Savannah's crisp gold and 
alluring warmth. Entwining thoughts for but a moment he offers his 
robust pride and joy as he greets for the very first time.
K'den scrambles to his feet awkwardly, disentangling himself with 
difficulty from one brown wing and gripping a muscular shoulder for 
balance. "/Yes/, you got me. You can stop gloating now," he grins ear to 
ear.
K'mra allows a smile to caper 'pon facial features as she remarks aside 
to Gabrielle, "A lull, then five at once: dragons are apt to pull that, 
eh?"  Louder yet, she congratulates newly Impressed, then motions them 
over as one of the weyrling master's assistants hurries to direct 
various pairs over to the growing bunch of Impressed pairs.  "Kaeden!  
Nyzlann!  M'rilyn?  Do come this way, please."  Upon hearing M'rilyn's 
breathless query, the brownrider allows an indulgent smile to blossom.  
"Yes, yes.  He's simply gorgeous."
Meditative Urania Gold Hatchling bustles straight up to Idris, her all 
too-thin form casting minimal shadow as she plants her muzzle right in 
the candidate's face. You ignoring me?  Curious.  She sways, wingtips 
rustling as she peruses the woman.  Could she be the one... or... 
*twist*.   With a sudden jerk, she slips over to Sidhe's side, tail 
flopping carelessly into Idris' arms.  Here hold this.
Ny'lan tries to keep himself sane, or as sane as a newly impressed 
partner can be. He beams at Sharzeth, "I am yours indeed. Do you have an 
eye for that gold one over there...." can be heard as he herds over to 
where the other impressed are waiting...the side of the sands. 
Arilynne dimples at Leigha as she amends, "Our egg, then."  A brief 
glance is given to the golden child, but she daren't hope.  Stretching 
her hand out in hopes that Leigha will accept the other end, she nibbles 
on her lower lip.  "I wonder who she'll go to?"
A green stops to examine twin boys, digging her rear end into the ground 
as she tries to tell the perfect one apart from the dorky one. Think, 
think, think. Muse, muse, muse. As she reaches for one, having finally 
come to a decision, a small blue barrels past and snatches the boy right 
out from under her nose. How rude! Sniffing in disdain, she settles for 
the other one, deciding that he was perfect all along.
Challenged Prince Charity Egg stills again as if resting to gain 
streangth before once again beginning it's fight.
Sidhe's expression twists definately into an agony, the sweat on her 
face mingling with tears, very definate tears, in her eyes. A sob rips 
from her throat, though furiously fought against. "Please?" she croaks 
again to the gold, hands clenched in tarnished fists.
Idris' features twist with outright fear, horror, panic! No, no, /no/. 
She lets that tail /go/, trying to step back, but it is awfully close, 
isn't it? And she's paranoid. Despairingly, she looks towards Eilish, 
towards Gamma.
Leigha accepts the proffered hand and smiles at Aril.  "I - Idris? 
No..." she squints through the heat, attempting to catch a glance at the 
drama unfolding halfway across the sands.

Chimeric Terpsichore Brown Hatchling inspects every candidate with 
deliberation, his light-footed step not stumbling nor even tripping; he 
holds his wings up high, keeping them from dragging the sand for the 
non, each introspective inspection given its due course, its due time.

Eos doesn't deviate from her current position, only the brisk dart of 
her vision denoting her presence amidst the very outskirts of the sands. 
"Oh my.." she nearly chuckles, one hand immediately clasped against her 
lips as she observes the gold's progression. And, as she is apt to be, 
her expression stiffens slightly, this time, with unadulterated 
inquisition.
But Idris can't step back, noooo, because two greens are sniffing very 
intently at the slobber left behind on the back of her robe. Giggle-
crooning, they waddle off to find teenybopper lifemates.
"Eos!" After a moment of checking and cuddling her daughter, Eilish lets 
go another one of her hisses. "Make sure you keep swishing your skirts!" 
Lips are licked against the drying heat of the sands and sharp, dark 
eyes remain upon the younger candidate.
Thwarted Father Justice Egg feints to one side of its shallow cavity, 
then snuggles still deeper into sand's warm embrace.
Alanis gives a glance toward the gold, the looks back over toward the 
brilliant brown. Standing up straighter and streching a hunched back, 
blue eyes watch the hues of the brown as he inspects.
Arilynne holds her breath, watching Sidhe and the gold in agony and 
hope. "Please," she whispers an echo of Sidhe's plea as well, caught and 
trapped in the other woman's plight.
Oeno feels a bit of a cramp in her back. Twist to the left, twist to the 
right. Arms stretch high up in the air and then down she comes to brush 
the heated sands softly with extended fingertips. As she somes back up, 
cramp seems to have stretched intesf out and eyes sweep over to that 
gold hatchling...wouldn't want to be inthose candie's sandles.
Idris wobbles and flails her arms, almost falling over in the process, 
but she keeps her balance, if barely. Bu this point. some of that ember-
dark hair has escaped from the braid and straggles about her face, and 
she tries to push it back vainly.
Leigha dwatches the gold's projgress, and then blinks at the brown.  "I 
think he's coming closer, don't you?"  Hope springs into her eyes as she 
watches carefully his progress once more...
"Squishing my skirts? Must I.." Roughly groaning at the suggestion, Eos 
sways /slightly/ from side to side, the pliant material of her robe 
catching the exposed margins of her legs. "Ah, I don't think that'll 
attract a dragon, Eilish.." she mentions, swishing stopped as she 
resumes her stoic posture.
Terrill rubs his neck, frowning slightly.  It won't hatch, it just 
won't, will it?  With a sigh, he looks away.  He had at least hoped to 
see what was inside of it....
Kohath happily whuffles Kaeden's hair, slobbering as he bouncy-bouncies 
on his new friend's heels to the edge of the sands.
"Just do it," Eilish advises /her/ candidate calmly. Doest thou doubt?
Nydelon, a distant cousin of Nyz--er, Ny'lan's, is just innocently 
scratching the back of his neck, when a green pokes him in the back. 
"You've got a run in what, Stockinth?" Ny'lon asks blankly.
Arilynne squeezes Leigha's hand gently and she bobs her head in 
agreement, curls twisting about her tanned visage.  "Aye, I do believe 
ye're right, he does seem ta be comin' closer."

Meditative Urania Gold Hatchling looks from Sidhe to Idris', indecision 
marking her features with a distinct draconic frown.  What's a girl to 
do?  Circling the Miner'ish one, she takes a big whiff and noses the hem 
of her robe.  Could be.  But wait... that sound... her head flicks up 
and around.  Where is it?

Across the sands, a brown stops to admire a girl's sock-tan and 
underthings, and thus H'ose and Pantyth are united, now and forever.
Eos moans once more, but do to a lack of another option, she sways once 
more. "I look silly though.." is muttered immediately under her breath, 
her robe's cloth once more catching between her legs. Sighing, she 
refuses to relent in this interesting pursuit of lures, the material 
grasped betwixt her fingers as she sways it once more.
Sidhe, in a moment, notices Idris' nearness, and her expression contorts 
again to a fierce, almost primale and completely unfounded jealousy. 
"No," she mutters aside, lips stiff and cracked, only to snatch guiltily 
back to the gold. Did that pause cost her case?
Idris makes a slight shooing gesture. Go. Go! To.. Sidhe. someone. 
anyone. Just not her.
Balinth pushes one toasty, tiger stripped cheek up to Lammas', snorting 
through horse like whuffle, " Love... " coo's Lammas, eyes radiant with 
it. "Oh, /oh/, I'd never leave you ... "
Leigha admires the cinnamon dusting that sprinkles hthe bron (browns) 
wings, and squeezes Aril's hand tightly.  "here, " she says, and her 
feet lift again in that marching dance she's come to know so well..

Challenged Prince Charity Egg rocks hard finally once again rested 
enough to fight the cracks growing bigger, longer and deeper until..
Striations disrupt the lake's calm placidity, upheaval from within 
rocking Challenged Prince Charity Egg with unprecedented vehemence. 
Besmirched grey imperfections crack silvers and golds into instability: 
forgotten is passive slumbering as a strong limb punches out a piece of 
shell in vigorous escape. Talons trace lethal lines as they twist 
through the opening, revealing the entirety of thickly muscled  bronze 
forearm. A moment's pause allows the hatchling a respite, then thick 
shoulders split apart the egg, and flying shards explode about strong 
Righteous Erato Bronze Hatchling.

Righteous Erato Bronze Hatchling
Bulkier than most by far, whorls and dribbles of burnished bronze 
annoint his torso in well-rubbed hues of metallic shadows. Copper 
drenches the angular slant of his headknobs and marches down his back's 
serreted ridges, brilliant counterpoint to the dark antiquing of his 
severe, wedge-shaped head and vaulted expanse of wingsails stained by 
verdigris and moss; two dashes of pale olive-oil glint at the very 
corners of his mouth, as well as giving slick color to the sabered curve 
of his talons and the whiplash coil of his tail. Warm gold and brass 
glimmer all along the underbelly and sides of this ascete, the fluidity 
of his earthen-born form only distracted by a moment's passing whim.

Eilish's lips purse into a smile at Eos' movements. What a good little 
candidate -- she can deliver a baby /and/ sway her skirts.
A pudgy little bronze with the physique of a guinea pig waddles up to 
Idris and slurps longingly at her feet.
Tirelth wirbles, musically, as he nuzzles against Azrianna's shoulder, 
whirling eyes till watching her face as the Weyrling looks over the 
others, watching the Impressions with shining eyes.

Chimeric Terpsichore Brown Hatchling moves gracefully, still inspecting, 
but approaching the groupings of girls, now. Each step's a dance, a 
gift, an invcation: and he's coming closer now, he knows it, head up and 
eyes starting to swirl with brilliant blue.

Alanis scratches at her arm unconciously as she watches the magnifique 
brown. Giving only a sidelong glance to the bronze, she turns her focus 
back to the forested dragonet.
Idris barely resists the urge to kick. "I am /not/ male," she hisses at 
the bronze. "Go... over there."
Poor bronze. He gazes adoringly up at Idris, no doubt wishing he'd been 
brown or green or something.
Idris buries her face in her hands with a shuddering groan. "Oh shards," 
she sighs. "What did I let myself get into here?"
Arilynne's gaze flickers from gold to brown to gold as she watches the 
drama unfold before her.  Dark eyes blink in wonder as only the heat of 
the Sands convince her that, aye, she's here and not some phantom 
watching the dance of life sway around her.  Eos and Sidhe are studied 
as she's torn, both would make wonderful weyrwomen.  Leigha is given 
another smile as the brown does indeed seem to be coming closer.  "Oh 
please," she utters again, not really sure what she's wishing for.
Could that be a sigh of relief from Spectreth's towering form, as her 
shining daughter passes Sidhe by?

Righteous Erato Bronze Hatchling straightens to his full height 
streaching his wings with a triamphant croon as he is finally free of 
the remains of his egg. He steps forward decicively in search of 
perfection for only perfection will do.
Terrill blinks as he hears another crack, and a small smile comes to his 
face. Another bronze, beautifully-colored.  "Who do you think he's 
looking for?" he asks Alanis, conversationally.  Assured that he won't 
Impress now, assured that Thwarted will not hatch, he's relaxed back 
into his real personality.
Leigha kneads her friends' hand as though she were preparing another 
loaf of bread for the morning meal.  Her other hand reaches across 
suddenly, and she takes her hands together, gently working them 
together, as she hopes and skips and hops, sweat now tearing down her 
face to mingle with dusty grime from the sands...
Oeno continues her stoic silent stance. Her head cocks to the side as 
she reaches a finger up to loosely coil about one of her rare locks of 
rust amung the dark brown curls, pale eyes watch the tiny dragons and 
remaining eggs with near indeference. Tongue moistens parched lips as 
wieght shifts once more to her right leg...waiting, watching...

Meditative Urania Gold Hatchling is certain now.  Yes.  The sound.  
Offering a little hip-nudge to Sidhe, she heads back to Idris, whorling 
orbs increasing in speed.  One step... two step... three step... four... 
and right past the headwoman she slinks, coming to a stop in front of 
the one.  The one with curls that match the color of her hide.

Ny'lan gazes into the eyes of his new lifemate. "Oh you clumsy, 
wonderful, charming, perfect thing." Look everyone Nyz..Ny'lan, getting 
mushy! He smiles towards his friends who have impressed, "Isn't he 
wonderful?"
Alanis shrugs, glancing over at Terrill." Who can tell?" She looks back 
up at the brown who seems to keep a steady pace.
Some overly bouncy young green bounces her way toward Sidhe, pert little 
tail bouncing along behind. She reaches the older candidate and pauses, 
cocking her head to the side and making rather vacuous expressions at 
the woman.
Eos can be a diligent, compliant candidate when need be. "I try.." she 
mentions to Eilish, a sidelong glance given to the Weyrsecond and her 
child before instantaneously tracing the gold's abrupt deviation. "They 
must like Idris.." she mentions, a hint of mirth caught midst her breath 
as she continues to sway - slightly - from side to side. And then, with 
a tinge of amazement, she simply states. "Hmmm?"

Chimeric Terpsichore Brown Hatchling stops dead in front of a pair of 
girls, holding hands, his voice a flute of inquiry for the time being. 
Gaze shifting between both Leigha and Arilynne, he considers them both 
with great interest. Decisions, decisions.

Righteous Erato Bronze Hatchling swaggers across the sands luminous 
wings drying quickly in the heat they reain spread fully as he ventures 
forth toward the billowing white of the candidates.

Leigha hops there, kneading, and suddenly realizes the brown is closer, 
and she bites her lower lip in sudden waves of shyness, but grey eyses 
fix on him, mentally willing him to look at her...

Cocking her head to one side, Meditative Urania Gold Hatchling regards 
Eos in silent contemplation, the hypnotic whorl of moonlit orbs taking 
in her awkward form from short tresses to sand-scorched feet.  A 
decisive breath from velveteen nostrils whips about rum-gold strands as 
petal-soft wings move to enwrap her chosen within the completeness of 
her love.

A saccharine pink-highlighted green bounces up to Sidhe, staring up at 
her with a vacant smile before pouncing on a short boy. Sweeth 'n' L'ow,  
inseparable forever.
Sidhe's eyes are sightless, dimmed now that the sun of gold has been 
taken from them. As the gold drifts away, her legs tremble, knees give 
way; the scorching sands cradle her.
Idris lets out a drawn-out sigh of relief as she's passed by.
The green gazes disappointedly at the collapsed Sidhe for a moment and 
jaunts off.
Fat little bronze clomps over to the nearest person, waddling on top of 
Sidhe as he checks her out. Snf? Snf? Shouldn't somebody do something? 
Squeakcroon?
Spectreth's crowning bugle caps the Impression of her glorious daughter 
to her Lifemate.
Arilynne bounces, brown registering but not.  "Eos!  I knew ye could do 
it," is called across the Sands, her joy for her friend undoubtable.
Thwarted Father Justice Egg releases a definate shudder; the dragonet 
inside tarries no longer as exaggerated fissures rent the egg from 
zenith to foundation and the embrace cannot hold any longer.
Leigha grins to, realizing suddenly that Eos has found her lifemate.  
"Oh, Eos..."

Backdrop becomes forefront as the Thwarted Father Justice Egg takes its 
turn on the stage, cracks and fissures enveloping its surface as if 
rising curtains to the occupant within. First a talon, then a winghook, 
and then it all crumbles into a fall of fine, glittering shards and the 
Comedic Thalia Bronze Hatchling presents himself to the audience at hand 
with an awkward flourish, promising a performance for all -- and for 
/one/.

Comedic Thalia Bronze Hatchling
A rippling mosaic of creamy bronze weaves its tale from mild slope of 
muzzle to finely-tipped tail, molding his contours long and lean with 
stamina's stamp of strength.  Subtle platinum dashes from headknobs to 
ridges in a precarious game of hide-n-seek, while a mirage of silver 
wisps along shoulder and haunches' silhouette.  A silvery halo reflects 
tail's end, mirrored only in the cloak of translucent sails where 
elongated spars stretch beyond his lithe curves, emeralds and forests 
kissing crevice and joint alike: here, stout legs define a path to 
ample, active paws which host soft coal talons, flecked with iridescent 
mirth.

Garmin peers out again, still doing his best to keep out of Gamma's line 
of sight, but the candidates are starting to thin, not enough to blend 
in with... his hands go to his robe, wiping the sweat off of them and 
trying to act like hes nobody, just another white robe picking up his 
feet so that they dont burn.

Righteous Erato Bronze Hatchling belines straight to Idris giving her a 
long look and sniff with a soft snort he moves down the row of 
candidates pausing to nudge a rumpled looking blonde boy from his feet 
deciding he is not the one either, his search continues for perfection.

Oeno idly digs her toe deep into the sands...and is immdeiately punished 
for her disgression. Face contorts and mouth opens in a silent *ouch!* 
as the burnt foot is quickly retreeved. A hop her and there for a bit on 
but one leg...balance is a percarious thing, but she keeps it.
Eilish's jaw drops and she nearly chokes on her own saliva. "Kaeos!" She 
tilts the sleeping infant up jerkingly. "Auntie Eos /impressed/ a /gold/ 
just by swishing her skirts like I told her." Forever, the Weyrsecond 
will take credit for anything she was even remotely involved it. 
"/Lookie, Kaeos."
Kohath peers about happily, planting a forepaw on K'den's shoulder to be 
sure he stays /right there/ as he trumpets awkwardly. Lookit me! /I/ got 
him first! Kae, for his part, jumps happily when he spies Eos with the 
gold. "Eos!" he cries happily, wincing as the movement inadvertently 
puts a claw in his ear.

A moment of absolute serenity fluctuates across Eos's sun-bronzed 
features, her lips moved several times before a single, cherished name 
is called: "Sivadath!" And for once in her life, an unadulterated beam 
captures her expression, arms unfolded to brush against rum-gold ridges 
in a moment of absolute adoration. "My Sivadath.."

Chimeric Terpsichore Brown Hatchling finds the partner to his dance, the 
one who matches step for step, the one who promises home, all in one 
grey-eyed package.  Wide wings spread to enfold her, cloak her, even as 
the lift of his head nudges her slim stomach: Leigha, his heart and soul 
forevermore.

Lammas under through and -- wrapped -- with her beautiful Balinth, 
Lammas un-unders herself to *grin*, to stare, to ... to ... gasp. " Good 
luck?" Why, gosh darn, her lucky day is here to say. " Eos!"
Terrill chuckles.  "Well, guess," he suggests, continuing to hop around.  
Again, he pushes back hair, trying to get it out of his eyes.  And then 
it comes..."Oh, my..."  Thwarted has come.  A grin of pure delight comes 
to his face.  "Beautiful..."
Alanis watches the green bounce away and the bronze crawl on top of 
Sidhe and surpresses a giggle. Don't we all just love Sidhe? " They seem 
to like Sidhe." she says to Terril, pointing over toward the bonced and 
slurped miner person.
That poor guinea pig bronze--he doesn't know what gender Sidhe is, 
obviously, so he attempts to find out by chewing on her robe. Mmmm, 
tasty robe.
Alanis' eyes turn back to where Terrill is looking at and smiles. Ahh...
Ny'lan looks up from his own wonder of Dharzeth, upon his wonder's 
request. "Eos!!" he sends a silly look towards his friend, "Yes, I know 
she impressed gold, yes she is my friend, yes, yes, oh you!" He looks up 
just to spot Leigha impress, "Leigha!....yes, I know she didn't impress 
gold..."
Idris says darkly, "Why do these /bronzes/ keep looking at me. Are they 
trying to /tell/ me something?"
Eilish's just fit to burst. /Her/ candidates are now, well, /her/ 
Weyrlings.
Check your underwear! Otherwise they just think you smell good.
Garmin peers over at all the cheering and beams! "Eos!" other dragonets 
are for gotten for a moment as he yells across, "Congratulations! Leigha 
too!"

Righteous Erato Bronze Hatchling makes his rounds looking carefully over 
each candidate on the sands but not finding his perfect one. He rumbles 
loudly belowing his displeasure for all to hear and again turns to 
inspect each again moving slower more carefully through the crowd of 
white robes.

Arilynne blinks as tears of joy over Eos' Impression nearly block 
another one from view.  "Leigha," she schreeches happily, backing off 
from the pair.  "Oh Leigha, I knew ye could do it!"  And do it well.
Vindicated Tortoise Persistence Egg shivers, more decisively. There's 
time, and then there's /time/.
A soft whimper scratches from Sidhe's throat as the guinea pig bronze's 
talons do the same to her already dry skin. A closely searching eye 
might detect a glimmer of red on the whiteness of her robe, but anything 
is concealed as she rearranges herself to glare at the bronze. "Go 
away," she grunts callously.
Leigha blinks once more, grey eyes suffused in joy, a joy which spreads 
over her face and transforms the once shty girl with a glow of 
something.  She throws her arms about his neck, burrowing her face into 
his chocolaty neck.  "Murath!" she sobs, tears of joy running black 
streaks down her face as the sand dust commingles with them.  "Murath!!"  
The cry is triumphant and the dragonet echoes it with a whuffle of his 
own...
Hmph! That little bronze has better people to play with. And bumbling 
along the sands, he alights on...Alanis...and sniffs her for a minute 
before bumbling off in another direction.
Alanis waves to the little bronze. Sorry, she's definately female...
The bronze pouts.
Garmin then bites his lip, glancing out of the corner of his eye at 
Gamma, did she notice? Maybe... maybe not. Eye go back to eggs and 
hatchlings, he's just a regular ol white robe... keep thinking it, and 
it will be true, easy.
Vindicated Tortoise Persistence Egg decides: there's no time like the 
present to make a grand entrance, after all.
Oeno manages to ignore the heat of her foot to stand just long enough on 
her tippy-toes to get a good look at the eggs...to find that nearly all 
are hatched. Smile widens from ear to ear...yeah, almost over.

Comedic Thalia Bronze Hatchling takes the stage, once free of his former 
enclosure, flaunting an impeccible wing as his balance wavers slightly.  
A felicitous croon heralds his first few steps, and he promptly reels 
towards the nearest cluster of female Candidates.  After a moment's 
quick inspection he moves on, albeit slightly off-keel.

Righteous Erato Bronze Hatchling nudges past one candidate to find a 
hidden one and gives a nudge then another as he sniffs muzzle dropping 
low to start at the bottom and working his way up, white robe lifted 
higher and higher as the inspection continues, brightly colored boxers 
get a snort of approval making the robe fluff even higher over the 
candidates back.

Again Vindicated Tortoise Persistence Egg shifts, a hint of movement 
that builds to a frenzied shake. Patience has won out and the quick 
movements end for a breathless moment. Now stilled, the cracks are 
apparent and the green foliage begins to slowly part. Silken brown form, 
haughty even in his emergence, appears. 

Egocentric Melpomene Brown Hatchling
Sienna-dark shadows crest in oil-slicked waves across the fathomless 
depths of his otherwise russet hide, the whole of it sparkled by 
sunlight's topaz kiss. Fluid despite the bulk of his bones, he's mighty 
haunches and aristocratic bearing, from the lift of his heavy muzzle to 
the coil of his over-long tail; the broad sweep of his wingsails glint 
gossamer-frail with spider-webbed veins, iridescent undertones lending 
them a burnished beauty that borders on greened bronze. The tidal pull 
of charismatic emotion infuses him in a steadfast torrent, each step 
well-placed, and his very essence full of cavalier pride.

Leigha encourages her brown lifemate to walk with her towards the 
weyrlingmasters and the other Candidates - now Weyrlings.  "Well, we'll 
see to your hungry belly soon, Murath..." And her face lights up at the 
saying of his name...
Waddling myopically about, the fat little bronze stumbles up to make 
another pass at Idris's ankles.
Balinth brushes Lammas' arms in kiss, as Lammas one last good luck'd is 
'pressed, " Oh ... oh. Yes, I know I'm smart ... Leigha!" she waves 
brightly, hurriedly, to get attention, then looks *at* that last brown 
who came upon the sands, just like her first brown. Her first /onerful, 
wonderful/ brown. 
Terrill grins.  "You're perfect," he tells Thwarted, with a firm nod.  
With a sigh, he takes a step back, his heart beginning to race again as 
his eyes remain fixed on the bronze.
Idris dances out of the way, all composure lost, now. "Shards!"
K'den waves madly at Leigha. "You got your brown!" he grins. Duh, as if 
she needed to be told that.

Egocentric Melpomene Brown Hatchling tosses his head, an arrogant 
corsair, with pride to boot. Time, oh yes. Those glorious wings shimmer 
in the half-light, held high even as he tries to make himself more 
graceful despite his ungainly bulk.

Garmin's eyes go wide as a muzzle is suddely feeling him up, nostrils 
flair and he looks down, "What are you doing?" robe goes higher and he 
tries to push it down, "Heeeey.... hehe."
In Eilish's arms, Kaeos begins a slowl, regular whining -- it is not yet 
wailing. Mother, when was the last time you fed her?
Oeno seems to bounce just a tad on the sands -to the rhythem of 
...almost over...almost over...almost over. Fingers pulls at the sides 
of her robe insistantly as she bobs up and down. Voice mutters, "I'm 
gonna make it outta here alive..."
Confused now, the fat bronze waddles a long loooong way to Spectreth and 
croons mournfully. Where's mine?
Arilynne falls back and silently makes her way to Sidhe, laying a hand 
on the miner's shoulder in support.  She saw how brave the woman stood 
up and she admires the other woman's strength.  Knowing words could not 
convey her feelings properly, she just stands in silent support.
Eos is, apparently, indulging in the rapture before her. "Sivadath.." 
she breathes the name once more, head raised to catch glimpse of 
Leigha's impression. "Look, dear, Leigha impressed!" she mentions, yet 
the young gold is more interested in other objects at the moment: 
namely, her empty stomach.
Ny'lan smiles Leigha-wards, "It's a lovely brown Leigha...yes Dharzeth, 
I am aware that Eos got the gold. Such a card." he chuckles towards his 
friends, "I've got a silly Dharzeth type....see?"

Righteous Erato Bronze Hatchling's head comes from beneath the robe so 
that whiling eyes meet emerald and a whuffle is given to the carrot top 
short hair mussing it more seeing if indeed he has found perfection.

D'nara eyes Kaeos warily. Do all babies cry like that? Somehow she 
thought her baby would pop out with two miniature pigtails, and she 
probably won't be persuaded otherwise until it actually comes out.
Leigha smiles happily at K'den.  "Yup, and so did you!"  She gasps as 
Murath snuffles at the chem of her robe, sending it flaring.  "Hey, stop 
that..."  She beams, at Lammas too, and then gets a rather far-distant 
look... "Well, these are my /friends/, Murath...No, I am not ignoring 
you.."
Sidhe flinches from the touch, unmindful of feelings hurt or chafed. Her 
own blistered self remains her top priority; speaking of blistered, 
these Sands are hot. With excruitiating care she picks herself off, 
spitting out sand, brushing off sand, wincing where sand grinds into the 
scrapes torn open by that guinea pig bronze.
Garmin