Crowded Stands: The Shards of Shells

[Dizzy]

The stands were crowded with the parents of rider hopefuls and those just plain curious... or those there for the wine and food after. Either way it was a happy occasion when the echo... the vibration of the dragon's humming began the welcome of Sodalis' newest.

The tiny bronze, his tail wrapped tightly around his mistresses throat, added his voice to the cacophony. He hummed so loud the young woman thought he would split himself.

Kyparla clapped loudly as the first egg hatched, 'A bronze...' Rico ruffled his wings, upset... it only made him tighten his grip, his welcoming song never interrupted.

"That's a great sign." The redhead leaned close to the tall Lateo Weyrleader as she spoke. Absently she unwound the firelizard tail.

"I agree... A nice sized clutch as well. Caliath out did herself, Still don't think you should have been so generous with all those candidates though... Zramuth will rise soon." The blond man kept a smile on his face but his voice tinged on irritation.

"We will have plenty to present to Zramuth's clutch..." Before Kyparla could say more, another egg split shell.

[Memorie]

O'myron made his way up the Stands to watch th Hatching. He spotted the Lateo Senior Weyrwoman, and approached her. "Greetings, Weyrwoman Kyparla. Thank you fro honoring us with your presence." Seeing the Lateo Weyrleader next to her, he gave a short bow. "Weyrleader," he said, using the title as a greeting. "If there is anything Sodalis can get for you, please come to me. J'ren is currently occupied on the Sands." He took a seat not too far away from the visitors, and appropriate to his rank.

~~~

P'resh sat nervously in the Stands, keeping his eyes only on Amoare. She was, of course, his favorite for the Gold egg, a sentiment that Kaunth vociferously echoed. Hearing the bronze's shrill whistle, he looked up to where he was sitting on the Cavern's ledge with the other bronzes. He smiled and waved, and Kaunth winked at him.

She'll do fine, Kaunth told him, sensing his feelings.

I know, I'm just nervous for her.

Excuse me, you do not know, or else you wouldn't be so worried, the bronze said reproachfully. Kaunth was always so literal, P'resh thought.

~~~

M'larain sat over by the tables, greeting the newly Impressed of Sirin class. Smiling, he waved to those he knew, and winked at those he didn't. They would come to know his gruff nature in time, and now was not the time for him to ruin their newfound happiness by being his usual hardass self. "Ah, Dyalos...well, Helliath tells me you are now Dy'los? Congratulations, son. He's a fine bronze, to be sure."

~~~

This was a bittersweet moment for H'mei. He had come to know most of these candidates over a few turns, some in only weeks. And now, he wouldn't see them again until they were placed in wings. Oh, there was Luem Impressing! Well, maybe her dragon would mature...unlikely. And Dyalos!

Dy'los, rider of bronze Sewrinath, Sarith told him wistfully. The blue would miss his little friends too.

Have you been bespeaking the hatchlings? H'mei asked, surprised. Dragonkind were always surprising him.

We all do, he replied, the pronoun referring to the dragon community at large. H'mei watched a little green jump and look around, as if looking for someone. Of course, H'mei thought. There are dragons talking to her. The golden queen was crooning to her hatchlings.

[hrsegrl245]

Attending the Hatching had not been the top priority on Morelia's list of things to do. She had plenty of other things that needed to get done. Berelia had never been to one and lately Morelia had been wanting to spend more time with the child. The little girl's piercing blue gaze ended on the gold dragon with great interest. "Oh mommy, isn't she the most wonderful thinig you ever saw?"
"Other than Naraleth..." Morelia agreed adding only that little side remark in. Naraleth in her eyes would never be less than any other dragon.

Catching sight of the H'mei, someon she knew and thought wouldn't mind sitting near an anxious five turn old, she sat down next to him.
"H'mei, how are you?" She smiled and Berelia looked up at hima dn smiled too, very like her mother. Soon though her attention was on the sands. "Look at that one momma, isn't he beautiful." She spoke of one of the blues, he did have a beautiful coloring.

---------------

Z'rion decided he better go to the Hatching. All this celebrating, he knew the next few sevendays would be a bit of a let down. He fudn a nice seat to himself around a bunch of people he didn't know and began to watch the HAtching with interest. Well, there would never be another dragon like Viderieth but at least there seemed to be a lot of very choosy, and outgoing dragonets out there. He tried to spot Kaminari but he realy couldn't tell who was who all that well...why were they all in the same robes anyway?

[dragonmenta]

D'len smile,d he had finally taken his mind off of his fdaughter and now his son had Impressed a Bronze. He was positively shining as Sodali's newest Bronzer walked over to the tables, "Good job boy, Dy'los is it? Sewrainth looks to be a fine bronze. Now pay attention to what M'larain tells you, you don't want to overfeed hi mand have him split his hide." D'len nodded to the boy and turned to help one of the other new Weyrlings with the feeding. He wasn't really sure if he could deal so well with bringing another of his children through Weyrlinghood, even though he was pleased. He just hoped D'ylos would behave himself in front of M'larain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dy'los nodded to the Werylingmaster and the asst.Weyrlingmaster, "Thankyou Sir, thankyou father err sir. I will." He was too happy to be disobedient right then. "So how much do i feed him Weyrlingmaster?" He asked the Brownrider. I could eat it all. Dy'los laughed. "I bet you could." He said aloud. The Bronze had looked around and spotted many of its older brothers and sisters. Will i be that big one day. You'll be the biggest!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

L'kel slipped into the stands a little late. He never missed a hatching. He just caught the thrid Bronze impressing to ya younger boy. It was certainly a fine clutch. He spotted his weyrmate and made his way over. "Gooday H'mei. You enjoying the hatching?" He sat down beside the greenrider,

"Hello, love," He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "And hello to you too Berelia. Is this your first hatching?" He asked her politely. He was just getting used to speaking with Moerlia's young daughter, it was a little wierd. "How has it been going so far, Relia?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

K'ton's eyes scanned the crowds. He wasn't one to usually attend hatchings. But he was looking for someone in particular. A certain Jr.Goldrider in fact. He had been thinking about Safiya since the Lateo hatching, and he was sure he could find her at this one.

[hrsegrl245]

Morelia let her arm slip around L'kel as he sat down. "The hatching is going well already there are three bornzes hatched. Caliath has done wonders this time." It was true this was one of the largest clutches in a long time.

Berelia looked up at L'kel smiling she moved to sit inbetween him and her mother. Her eyes sparkled in excitement. "Yes, this is my first." She wouldn't mind being a candidate someday though very few women impressed dragons, she knew she wanted one one day, her mother had a green why couldn't she? Regardless of what she thought now the five turn old was sure she would feel teh same in the future.
Speaking to both her mother an L'kel she asked, "Do you think I could have a dragon someday?"

[dragonmenta]

L'kel smiled over at Morelia, leaning ino her, until they were sepaerated by Berelia, "Excellant, we can always use some healthy bronzes." He watched the hatching silently for a second, he had really hoped it would be Mnemozyth's clutch to sire, but Beodith had done well.

He grinned down at Berelia, "I'm sure you will, do you want to ride a Green like Naraleth or a Queen like Calliath over there?" He asked her. He peeked over her head atr Morelia, eyes twinkling knowingly. It was tess likely for girls to become dragonrider, but some did; Relia did. And he would bet Berelia would as well.

"So do i either of yo have a prefernce on the candidate to get the Queen?" He asked, waching the rocking golden egg. He didn't really know any of them, although he'd met two of them briefly during a stint in the infirmary for a broken arm. They both seemed pleasant girls.

[hrsegrl245]

Morelia felt comforted to know that the two got along so well. "I ahve not met any of them myself. Though it seems it will be a hard choice as they have brought some candidates over from Lateo Weyr."
Morelia had heard that bit of gossip and though she despised gossip she knew it to be true and therefore had no qualms telling it to L'kel.
"If it were my choice it would be the one person who isn't haughty enough to deserve one." Morelia also didn't want one that would possibly seduce him.

Berelia was watching very intently. "Greens are fun because tehy get to work with all the boys... and fight thread. Naraleth is the best green." Berelia added. She loved that dragon, and the dragon had always had a soft spot for the girl. "I am to impress a Gold though." She said it in such a way that Morelia almost believed the girl could get one on will alone. " She will be the best, most beautiful Queen ever. Naraleth will even like her."

[fallinrayne216]

Safiya finished her last run-through with the Headwoman to make sure the Kitchen preparations for the Hatching Feast were in full order. It appeared everything was running smoothly, meaning she could finally relax. The entire Weyr seemed void of life as she wandered the halls on her way to the Hatching Sands. It was so quiet that her footsteps echoed with such volume she cringed with her every step. But luckily everyone was in the Hatching Sands and wouldn't be able to hear her noisy walking.

She entered the Hatching Sands, slipping in actually, while the first egg hatched. A beautiful bronze! That was a marvelous sign, and she was sure that the Weyrwoman was delighted by the outcome. But now she needed to find herself a seat among the rest. There were so many familiar faces that she had seen at the Lateo Hatching Feast, and yet she knew not their names. She had seen them, but never spoken with them. Well, that may come in due time.

For now, the seat which lacked as much activity would do. It was better to be able to see the Hatching than to miss the miracle with others constantly whispering in your ear as a private and unwanted commentary. No, this would do just fine. Taking her seat, Safiya scanned the Sands and the abundance of candidates. This was indeed a good Hatching. So many eggs and candidates ready and waiting to Impress. Her hands clasped together in her lap to try and hold in the excitement as she held her breath once the next egg began to shake.

[Memorie]

"Good morning, Morelia. I am well, and yourself?" H'mei asked the younger woman. A scant two months before the Hatching, her green had risen in mating flight, and Sarith had given chase. "I trust Naraleth is doing well?" The man smiled. Morelia's little girl, Berelia, was there. She began to speak of her goal of Impressing the best Queen ever. He smiled at the little girl. "Of course you will, my dear," he told her in his best grandfatherly voice. He was, after all, a grandfather.

L'kel came over, and H'mei nodded at him. "L'kel, good to see you. What a clutch this is, hmm?" he said, gesturing to the eggs.

~~~

((Menta, let's take Dy'los and M'larain to the Feeding Tables. I'll start it.))

[hrsegrl245]

Morelia smiled genuinely at H'mei, " Never better." Which was true for her. She could not remember being this happy in the longest time. "Naraleth is quite happy too." She added, knowing her dragon was all too happy to have a Bronze after her attentions.
Berelia liked all the support she was getting about the gold dragon comment. She watched as a boy got run over by a green, eyes widening. "Mommy...is he hurt?"
Morelia turned her attention to the sands momentarily to figure out what the girl was talking about, though as they watched the boy impressed another green who seemed to be taking care of him. "I would say he is going to be just fine." Bera smiled up at her mother and inching closer to her gave her a hug. Morelia wrapped on arm around the child. She was thoroughly enjoying this hatching, Naraleth too loved Hatchings. The dragonets were always appealing to her...Sometimes Morelia wondered if she spoke to them after they hatched. No doubt the green had a favorite.

[dragonmenta]

L'kel nodded to H'mei, "Indeed, an excellant count...and three bronzes so far."

He watched the hatching, "See Bera. One green didn't want him, and hurt him accidently, but there was another one just right for him and she will take care of him. That's why hatching are so special." He pointed the new pair out to the little girl.

He looked a Morelia to her daughter and back. There was an obvious resemblance, and not just in the way they looked.

He looked up at the blue rider, "So H'mei, it must be tough letting go of all your charge each hatching, even if they are Impressing dragon?" He asked conversationally. "But i guess you're always getting more in."

((Sounds good, thanks )

[Dizzy]

“Thank you O’myron, we wouldn’t have missed it.” Kyparla smiled warmly, before exclaiming as another bronze hatched. She couldn’t contain her joy.

“Yes, O’myron thank you.” G’llahar set back, smiling though not as expressive as the gold rider beside him.

“I see Amoare. Oh I hope she does impress the Gold.” The young Lateo Weyrwoman clutched at the edge of the rock seat, she murmured to herself. Amoare would make a good Weyrwoman to the gold.

“Who is Amoare? Point her out… I don’t think I know her.”