And the Secret Comes Out (Literally) [Hatching]

[dragoncharm]

Azelle curled up in her weyr, under the thickest fur she could find. Shards, but it was a miserable day. Just past midday, and yet the sky was as grey and thick as pre-dawn, but not nearly so welcoming. A storm raged today, fast and furious; thunder slammed its angry fist onto the world, the grey sky darted out bright whips of lightning, seeking to lash the first unuspecting prey it fell on, and rain pelted down to Pern with a vengeance, thicker in the air than any Threadfall. It was about the most miserable day Azelle could imagine, the kind of day where nobody worked, and everyone huddled inside with hot klah, thick covers, and tried to turn a dear ear to the storm outside.

So, of course, this was the day Emberyth's clutch chose to hatch.

The black queen was nestled as tightly around her eggs as possible without jostling them, and had her wings spread over them so that not a drop of rain dotted their shells. It wasn't very comfortable for her, but she would go to any length to protect her children. There might only be five of them, but they were as precious to her as any gargantuan Gold clutch. And it'd been so long now - they must surely be close to cracking ,to spilling her glorious kin onto the sands.

something brushed against her hide, she Emberyth looked down sharply, fearing that somehow something had gotten past without her seeing, and ready to chase it off. But no - that was just an egg. No sign or scent of danger; all was well. But wait - no! An egg...had jsut moved. She put her face down close to the egg, watching intently, and - yes! It shook again, and now so were the others starting to. The large head shot up again, and she bugled for all the Weyr to hear, before starting the traditional, instinctive hum, a low sound in her chest that filled her with warmth despite the pelting rain.

Everyone! My eggs are hatching! she broadcasted into the minds of all the Weyrfolk, rider, candidate, and worker. Candidates, come! Come greet my darlings! Her voice rang with jubilation: she did not care what her children looked like, or what gender they were. She did not know if her own mother's genes would carry on into her hatchlings, but it did not matter. They were just as good as any other dragon, and they'd prove it.

Azelle shot upward, nearly falling off the chair she huddled in. "Emberyth!" she shouted out loud, sprinting to her ledge. How could they hatch now, at the most inconvenient time? She felt sorry for the poor candidates who'd have to stand out in the rain today. Her lips tightened at the thought; now was truly the time. Emberyth was so sure of the success of her children, but the truth was that anything could happen. If they were Wrathcursed, then the secret would be out. What would Ciri think of that? If she wasn't okay with it, they wouldn't still be here, the Ashrider remidned herself, which calmed her a little. Where the Opalrider was now, she wasn't quite sure, but she hoped Ciri knew what they were getting into...because Azelle didn't. They'd told the Weyrleaders, and, to her credit, Weyrwoman Akri had taken it all in her stride. The thing was, nobody else knew yet, none except the most trusted senior riders. The candidates had been told to expect "unusual" hatchings, but that was it.

At the moment, it didn't really matter, and she needed to be with Emberyth now. Throwing on the thickest, longest jacket she could find, the young woman ran down the slippery stepd to the bowl and then the hatching sands, covering her head. Ugh, what a horrible day for a hatching! The rider sprinted into the Hatching Sands, and almost ran straight into Weyrwoman Akri, who was just arriving. The Weyrwoman looked soaked, her brown hair plastered to her head and dripping onto her shoulders, but she did offer a small smile to Azelle. "Congratulations, Azelle, though I must say that Emberyth has the most unfortunate timing I've ever seen." It was true; a mating flight at night, and now a hatching in the middle of a storm.

Azelel grinned back, excited despite herself. "Thank you, Weyrwoman." Her eyes glinted with the trepidation that her joy couldn't quite snuff out, and Akri seemed to understand; the Weyrwoman put a hand on the younger woman's shoulder.

"Everything will be all right, don't you worry. No matter what happens, they'll be loved, whether Wrathcursed or not. And remember, none of this is your fault, or Emberyth's. Or even Ciri's or Astrafith's. All will be well."

The Ashrider nodded, knowing it was true. She just hoped nothing bad would come of this. After all, those who did remember Wrath hated her, and with good reason...but would they hate Emberyth's children, too, the grandchildren of the hated queen? Would they turn against Azelle and Emberyth, once they were found out? She knew it wasn't their fault - she'd only just found out where her darling came from, and who she was, a few months ago, after all - but would others see it that way?

Nothing she thought could change what was going to happen, though, so Azelle lingered at the edge of the Sands with the Weyrwoman, gleaning every bit of cover from the rain she could, and nodding to the large shadow that was Emberyth encouragingly. The Ash nodded back, before returning her gaze to her children. Lightening raced across the sky, followed by a giant crash of thunder, and the group - two humans, one dragon, five dragonets nearly ready to come into the world - waited.

((And this is it! Get your candies here and watch the drama unfold! And the epic banner is courtesy of the ever-epic draconafin [aka dracie]))

[jester]

Arel raced toward the hatching sands across the wet ground. A grin was spread across her face as she sped up over the slick ground. This is great! A hatching in a storm, I love it! Arel vaulted over a large rock and slid to a stop on the hatching ground sand. Arel stepped up closer to the now rocking eggs. "Yes! I finally get to impress to a dragon!"

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

Kelra side-stepped another puddle as she tried to make her way to the hatching grounds without slipping. She wanted to run but Seri wouldn't let her go any faster. The blue flitt sat atop her head with his wings fanned out to keep the rain off of Kelra. He didn't want her to get hurt so he stopped her from going any faster. Kelra finally made it to the hatching sands just behind another girl. Kelra and Seri could see that the eggs were still shaking and had yet to hatch. "Yay, were not late!"

[dragoncharm]

((well as it's been nearly a day with no responses except for Jester's I'm going ahead and putting the first baby up...here you go...))

Looking around, Emberyth was disgruntled to see the low turnout for her hatching; so what if it was storming? It was just a little rain, that wouldn't hurt anybody! There were plenty of dragons around the Sands, but it appeared that every rider who could was taking advantage of their Lifemates' presence, looking through the dragons eyes while they stayed safely inside with a mug of something hot. Well! Huffing, the onyx dragoness bent over her eggs again, which were all rocking now, some harder than others.

At least the candidates had all arrived. Emberyth wished there were more for her children to choose from, but she knew that there weren't very many candidates at Black Obsidian right now, so these would have to do. They huddled under an overhang, much too far back in the Ash's opinion, but she supposed that was acceptable. At least they were here, even if most did look distinctly ruffled at having to Stand in the rain - though she did notice one girl who appeared quite excited. Good for her.

Despite the clutchmother's adamant joy, it was a miserable time. The spectators that did dare to venture out into the storm couldn't help a creeping sense of foreboding. The most practical of them wrote it off as the dank setting and tried to focus on being happy for the soon-to-be new dragonriders down there, but it was difficult. Others wrapped arms around themselves and wondered if they should have stayed home after all, wondered if something bad was going to happen here.

One of the eggs gave a tremendous rock and tumbled over on its side, half-sinking into the sand that, even with Emberyth's protection, was quickly becoming mud-like. The dragonet inside could sense the worry from around her, and it was scary. Crashing noises came from all around it, loud angry booms. What was making such a sound? It wasn't quite sure it wanted to come out now after all - whatever was out there didn't sound very welcoming. But it was so, so hungry, and it hurt. There was nothing left in here for it to consume - it knew it needed out.

So it threw itself against the shell that kept it, and let out a startled squeal when, instead of breaking, the egg tipped over and left the hatchling on its side. What the - what was it going to do now? It pushed against the pearly shell to no avail. But it was so hungry - had to get out...Letting out a growl the dragonet bucked at the egg with all its might, and swelled with triumph when a crack appeared, spread, and the shards fell inward. But wait - what was this? Hot, grainy, sticky stuff spilled in as well, and the dragon scrambled to the other side of the egg, trying to get away. What was this? Where was it? This wasn't the world, this was - this was - gross! Not what it had wanted at all.

Beginning to get scared ,the dragonet creeled, and pushed frantically upward, scrabbling with its claws. It jumped - or tried to, in the limited space - towards what it could only hope was an exit, because surely it wouldn't be buried alive...And the shell gave way, and the head of Emberyth's child erupted into the air. The first hatchling blinked and climbed out of its prison, into the world. At first nobody but Emberyth seemed to realize that it had hatched; then lightning split the sky and they saw a flash of blue on the sands. Then darkness descended once more, and, in the next second, a clap of thunder made the blue jump.

The blue stared around, trying to get its bearings in this dark, wet world, and as lightning illuminated the scene once more people were able to get a quick, clear look of the hatchling. It was a blue, all right, a light blue one might have called cyan, that might look something like the morning sky on a day much clearer than this one, with darker blue socks. But there was something...odd...about this blue. The proportions, the shape of its muzzle, the gracefulness with which it stood.

Were they wrong? They had to be; this must be a teal, not a blue. Because blues weren't female; that was impossible. But it looked like a blue and was sized like a blue - "And," people whispered to the spectators beside them, "Look what it comes from: a female Onyx." Emberyth's eyes became tinged with red when she saw the looks her daughter - yes, her daughter, and she was proud of that - was getting. Shock, yes, but also disgust, anger - even fear. How dare they look at her daughter that way? She is a sapphire! the dark dragoness bellowed suddenly, silencing the mutters; Emberyth remembered that Astrafith had said that was what female blues were called. She is a sapphire, and just as good as any other dragon here!

The sapphire turned to look around at the figures watching her, confused and dismayed. What did her mother mean by saying that? Did someone think she wasn't good enough for them? Why? And where was she? Somehow she'd thought the world would look...different. All bright and pretty and perfect. But it was dark and the grey sky rolled like the sea, and she was nearly pushed sideways by the wind, which blew rain into her face. And there didn't seem to be any food anywhere, but her stomach hurt so much! And now she became aware of another void, another pain: this one was in her head, or maybe it was her heart....or maybe something much deeper. She needed something, someone to feed her and care for her and make the awful emptiness go away.

A bolt of lightning gave her a view of a group of humans all staring at her from where they were pressed against the wall, under an overhang of rock...why were they so far away? She lurched forward, towards them, because somewhere in that small midst she could feel something, something that pulled her onward. Yes, yes! Oblivious to the howling storm now, she bounded forward, through the warm sand. In her mind's eye she was already imagining what her lifemate would look like - beautiful, of course...She'd fit the sapphire utterly, there was no question about that...And when she'd found her, they'd go and get food! Wonderful, delicious food...warm and juicy...The dragonet's head filled with fantasies that drove out thoughts about the real world, dark and unpleasant as it seemed to be.

In fact ,she was so distracted that she didn't even noticed she'd reached her destination; candidates automatically moved out of their way - whether by instinct, because of how different she was, or because they'd been told not to get in the way of a hatching - and she just kept bounding along...until she smacked right into someone. Blinking her way back to reality, the hatchling crooned with joy - for this, this was exactly what she'd been looking for! Burena! she exclaimed triumphantly, Burena, look, I've found you! I'm Chaieth. Burena, is the world always like this? she asked as an afterthought, gesturing with her tail at the storm. It seems awfully drab, doesn't it?

Wrathcursed Sapphire Chaieth [Ch-eye-ehth]
Rider: Burena
Base personality: Imaginative (likes to make up her own ideas of the perfect world), cheerful, good at ignoring things she dislikes
Text color: 46C7C7

((Book, I know you wanted Natian to Impress a Wrathcursed, but I forgot until 3/4s of the way through and really didn't want to go back and change it all...hope you like her anyway...))

[vine409]

((Kytes is there just watching; but these are wrathcursed, so if they choose someone they find them. So really is up to Charm for whatever happens))

Rain, and lots of it. Kytes waited, huddleing under the protection his cloak offered as the tithes from Delesia Hold he had just dropped off were tallied. He wasn't really looking forward to the return trip, the rain made the paths muddy and left countless opertunities for the carts to get stuck, well at least they were empty on this leg of the trip. He just had to hope no trees got felled across the path. They could always delay leaving and wait for the storm to pass though, he was almost positive that Wyerwoman Akri wouldn't mind them staying at the wyer an extra day or two.

A dragons bugle cut through the howling winds of the strom, followed by a sharp crack of thunder; it was almost omenious. Then the humming began. Kytes had heard it once before when his aunt had taken him along to see the hatching of Violet Lunith's clutch. Interesting timing for the eggs to decided to hatch.. I heard that Emberyth had a night flight as well.. oh well, this may be innconvinent timing for others, but it is conveniant for me. I get to witness another hatching; a day or two later or earlier and I would have missed it.

"Hey men, you guys get the oppertunity to go and witness a hatching if you wish, We''l be staying here for the night instead of setting out in this storm." Kytes informed the wagonmen who had come with him from Delesia.

"What do you think about going to see a hatching Sand?" Kytes questioned the bronze flitt to be greated with a happy excited chirp. Ok, well lets get going then. He Spotted Wyerwomna Akri watchin and walked over to her, "Mind if I watch the hatching in your company?"

[Shiftergirl]

Ersken heard the smooth rumble of the hum that ran through the weyr. So the hatching was starting. Emberyth's children were hatching. The Weyrwoman had told everyone to come and watch, the rain didn't help any of his curiousity, but then dragons did pick the oddist time to hatch didn't they. Quietly as he could, he snuck from his room and down the hall. He wasn't going to go and impress, but he was going to go and watch.

Once in the hall he made a beeline to the sands and fell when his foot slipped on water that had leeked into the hall. "Ouch." Rubbing his ankle he felt for anything broken and came up with nothing. Figuring it was just twisted, he got to his feet and felt a jolt of pain. He'd sprung his ankle, but then, his curiosity was stronger, so the pain dulled and he made his way to the hatching sands.

Inside the hatching sands he saw that the place was becoming mud. He couldn't see the clutch all that well and couldn't even see Emberyth at all, her black hide was keeping her hidden and her eggs didn't glow all that much. With the few he could see, he was sure nothing was happening. He made his way up the stairs of the stands and plopped into a seat not far from the ground.

In the stands he heard people whispering about something, looking closly he saw a blue on the sands and gasped. This blue wasn't shapped like it should, almost like an agile female. He was awed by the way the little dragonet searched and was even feeling a little pity for the creature, being born in a storm.

She is a sapphire, and just as good as any other dragon here!

He felt like covering his ears when Emberyth yelled at them all. He didn't think she was anything else but a beautiful creature. In fact he wished he could have one, but he was waiting for a Violate or even a red to clutch or even just seem like it. In fact he'd asked if candidates had to go to this one and was told that only if they had too, sense there was only five eggs on the sands. The creatures were so cute, he didn't think such things could happen, but then, people didn't think their five original colors would become anything like what they had did they. So Ersken sat in the stands and watched as the eggs hatched and the storm ragged outside, even if he couldn't see all the well.

[dragoncharm]

((ALL credit for this EPIC baby goes to draconafin, who most epicly helped me out with this hatching ^_^ Thanks so much, dracie! Links and full credits at the bottom of this post.))

Over head the rain rattled louder and louder with each passing moment; sending of the many would be spectators running for cover, away from the sands and the possible joy that they could have held. It was barely midday and the sky was darker than a normal night, any rider wroth their stones would have been huddled on their ledge with the dragon almost praying that the storm didn’t herald a dramatic change to any Falls that might follow in its wake. Still, despite the rain and its overbearing nature the Weyr’s candidates had been ushered into the sands, clad n white robes that were now so wet as to cling to the young ones with an icy vengeance that not even the heated sands could shake. Something was wrong came the quite whisper through the stands... even though they were nearly empty, something was very wrong and the dark looks on the faces of the Weyr leaders did little to shake the growing feeling of despair. Perhaps ironically enough the only light that penetrated into the world of the sands was the crack of lighting over the sands – forking out in a manner so akin to thread that it had a few seasoned riders jumping to the feet.

It was dark, wet and depressing... had any scribes had the stones the phrase ‘it was a dark and stormy night’ might have been hastily scrawled across their hides... despite the fact it was day. The far side of the sands saw Astrafith pressed against his Emberyth; a desperate bid to keep her dry even though the dark dragoness’ attention was on her brood. The collection of eggs nested under her protective wings; keeping what she could of the sleeting rain off them. Already one of her little ones had hatched and stumbled out into the waiting world of rain and hail. It was alive and well though and had been guided from the sands alongside its rider; with relief on the faces of those who had offered to help the Weyrling pair; they had at least escaped this terrible storm. Emberyth huddled closer to her brood, feeling the four remaining shells butt up against her breastbone, the safest place in all of Black Obsidian Weyr right now. Their rhythmic thumping was like her heartbeat, but it didn’t pause with fear each time the thunder rumbled a little bit closer, or when a fork of lighting struck the edge of the sands.

Candidates jumped; and Emberth snorted quietly to her brood, they would prove all the nay-sayers wrong. Unusual of not, these were her children, proof of her existence and proof that she mattered. She rumbled softly to her rider who stood beside her, despite the rain coming in heavy sheets that would knock many off their feet. This was their moment; and it would not be spoiled by the horrified and indignant cries of riders who were too hidebound to take a dragon for being a dragon. Her children were not whers or tunnel snakes, they were dragons and even if the colours should be unusual then so be it; they would still fight thread like the rest of the kin. Her blue daughter had already proven that even cursed kin knew how to find their riders; even if the ripple of general disappointment had been unable to be masked by the storm. These eggs were her hope, and the future of Black Obsidian Weyr. Lowering her head between her wings she nuzzled each of her brood, counting them to herself, four more little ones to change this Weyr. Against her breastbone one of the clutch’s larger eggs wriggled with a vengeance, a faint tapping emitting from within; but only the mother dragon could hear it over the thundering storm.

It was without warning and preamble that the egg in question lurched itself away from its mother’s protective shadow… barreling out into the rain; stopping only bare seconds before lighting struck the ground before it leaving singe marks up its once cream mottled surface. Now like the sun it was as dark as night… lost in a sea of rain and covered in a cloak of darkness. A frustrated keen escaped Emberth as she strained to find where her egg had gone… as even its movements had fallen silent. The lighting smear over the surface of the egg had caused both riders and the minimal spectators to voice something of a fear for the little one inside… would it live through something like that? More importantly would it be normal? Although the answer to the second question would have been decided long ago… and it was this question that kept the low numbers riveted to their seats. While it hadn’t actually been hit by the bolt of lighting the egg in question had not escaped completely unscathed… its new coloration was only part of what had happened. Where it had licked the surface ever so briefly began to grow hot; the point of impact was soon leering out over the sands like an anger red dragon eye, before forking downwards and outwards, not unlike a threadscore.

Inside the shell it was getting so hot… and the egg itself began to wriggle backwards… away from the candidates…or more correctly away from the heat. Combined with the lighting mark, the pounding rain and the shaking the structure of the egg finally gave away and collapsed…a shower of burnt shell tumbling into the sands. A flicker of lighting gave those gathered around the sands and stands their first look at the new dragonet, an impression of brown was left in their mind as the sky lights turned off again, dropping them all back into the heavy storm. Mummers rose from the stands, a brown was a good solid dragon, they were good fighters, good leaders and were emotionally stable; a brown was a welcome edition. Although… counter whispers rose… what if it was… different, like that blue… what would they do if the beast was female… it just didn’t seem right. It was with that the mutterings turned slowly negative adding their own ominous rumble to the already rattling storm. So loud was the contesting rain that most of the rumors from the stands didn’t reach the sands, but if they had there was nothing they could have done to change what was about to unfold.

Thunder rumbled again and for the first time since the storm had drawn in it was answered; by a shriek. Riders with eyes well adjusted to the dark might have seemed the frighten dragonet leap sideways and kick up the sand in a desperate attempt to flee the sky that seemed to be closing in all around them. Another flicker of lighting descended around the sands, laminating the sky long enough for people to witness the frightened young dragonet that was laying belly pressed to the sands under foot. Brown… was the utterance that rose from the stands… but what an odd little brown… the tone seemed mottled… but so consistently that it uniform. It was a mix of a nutty brown… bronze and what would later be called copper. Even so there were faint variations to the little one’s hide… most of its legs were covered in a darker tine of its overall tone, and running down its back were lighter toned browns in the form of stripes… not unlike the lighting that was still flickering in the darkened daytime sky. As the lighting faded from the sky the dragonet was on its feet again, bolting towards what appeared to be the relative safety of the far overhang, which was sheltering the candidates.

Slick, precise and ladylike… were the best ways to describe the little one’s movements despite the speed at which they were achieved; it was as if the dragonet was a high strung runner-beast. It was the feminine slant of the brown’s features that had people sighing in what could have been disappointment or anger… the dragonet was cursed… just like her mother… just like her sister… Even so; this didn’t matter to the dragonet herself. Her back was raised like a ridgeback canine as she slunk slowly towards the drenched candidates… seeking comfort... She jumped again and wheeled around, shrieking as thunder cracked through the sky again. Cowering she backed up rapidly and knocked over a candidate, catching their leg with her talon’s accidently. The following crack of lighting had her backing up father, digging her talons in more until the candidate’s scream of pain had her jumping sideways away from him. Her startled movements almost had her colliding with the protective wall as she redoubled her efforts to find the person she was meant to find; although this time they were backing away from her… didn’t they understand that she was scared? Whining she tried to burry behind another candidate but was forcibly shoved aside.

She hit the ground outside the overhang and was pelted with rain again which caused her to run, shrieking back under the rock… shaking in fear… This time though something was different… she could feel a soothing presence and turning around slowly – even though she was still shaking every time the storm sounded out – she came face to face with a female candidate; who was perhaps the only candidate standing in the storm itself.

Arel… the voice was tentative at first, but rose to a frightened high at the next crack of thunder. Arel; make the loud noises stop! Make them stop now! Stop the loud noises! came the babbled demands as she buried her head into the candidate’s chest. Make the noise stop for you Kendrith! the last plea came out in a high shriek as the storm voiced its presence louder than before.

Wrath Cursed Topaz Kendrith [Ken’d’rith]
Rider: Arel
Base Personality: High-strung, demanding, hates loud noises
Text color: #CD6600

[/b][/color]

Kendrith was written by Dracona-fin and presented by Flaco spam.
Flaco spam; dancing in a can
Pixel base (free to use) by Khiitan of dA; Modified by Draconafin
This dragonet was written at the request of Dragoncharm for Jester
This dragonet is now Jester’s to use as she sees fit.
All her writer asks is that you please love her and RP with her
Dracona-fin co-admins at Baikal Weyr , and can be found on dA

[jester]

Arel watched in awe as the first egg hatched. She had hoped it would be hers and was a little disappointed when it went to another girl. She quickly focused back on the others eggs, she knew another one of them would be hers. The storm continued all around her, but she didn't care, she loved it all. She watched as one of the eggs rolled way from the rest and was almost struck by lightning. Arel had to stop herself from running to the egg, knowing she wasn't aloud to help. She watched as the egg hatched and the frightened hatchling began to stumble about. Arel tried to stay out of the hatchlings way as it ran into the other hatchlings, thinking the dragonet was going to one of them. Arel's grin grew wide as the dragonet rushed back out at put its head in her chest. Arel wrapped her arms around the brown colored dragonet and pulled her closer. Don't worry my beautiful Kendrith, only hear me and the loud sounds will fade. I wont let anyone or anything ever hurt you.

[Shiftergirl]

Ersken Gasped with the rests of the stands as the egg seemed to skid across the sands and look as if it was struck by lightening. Jumping to his feet, he made to rush to the egg, but saw it was fine and sighed when cracked.

The brown that came out was so stuning, it reminded him of a stray cat, so sleek and elegent. He was sorry the creature had to be scared of the storm, but at least it was safe. He watched as she, now that he could tell, ran across the sands and into the area of the candidates. He couldn't see from there, but he knew she must have found hers.

~~~
Sonia was sure Josi was fine, she'd snuck away during the day and she couldn't find her. Sure that the pups were coming, she went to the sands to watch the hatching and had asked the cooks to contackt her if Josi came up. No one on the way here had seen her and she was a little worried, but she guessed that that dog had finally gone into labor and was now having her beautiful pupies.

Sittng on the sands she watched as the hatchig unfolded. First a Sapphire, as her mother called her, hatched then a Brown. She was a little worried, it had never happened to have oppsite colors to the wrong sex. She'd been told that things had been happeneing, like a green male taking a ash for a mate. Apparently, this was her proof. She'd never ask again, it was all true.

[dragoncharm]

Two of Emberyth's eggs had hatched successfully, even if what they contained hadn't been what most had expected to see. Still, two candidates had Impressed to th Wrathcursed dragons, and they seemed quite happy for it, and that had appeased some of the sharp looks on spectator's faces, and worry for the poor Topaz that had almost been hit by lightning had changed the hearts of still more. There were still some, though, that wore displeased frowns - they fit most of those faces very well, mind you. Either way, two of the eggs were nothing but shards quickly buried by wet sand, and only three were left to hatch.

One of these eggs split open with a sharp crack just as thunder boomed from the sky; it seemed like the lightning was getting closer and closer, and more than one member of the audience had hurried off back to the safety of their respective quarters, muttering that watching a hatching wasn't worth getting shocked to high heaven. The dragonet that spilled oud looked distinctly ruffled at its sloppy entrance, as it was dumped unceremoniously into the sand by its own momentum. Snorting, it stood up proudly, trying to retain its dignity, and lightning flashed across the sky in time to let the remaining spectators get a view of Pern's newest dragon.

It was a teal - or was it odd, different, like its father? It looked just like a teal, except for its two-toned hide, spots of pure blue dotting it, but the way things were going it was probably another oddball. With such an obvious, angular slant to its features it was certainly male. The dragonet looked with distaste at the sand sticking to him all over, but seemed to proud to lick it off himself, and instead strode forward, regal as a lord, towards the candidates, paying no heed to the rain, which was woefully beneath his attention.

He continued this stately walk until he was most of the way to the overhang, then stopped, disobliged to continue. A girl suddenly broke free of the sodden huddle, and dashed towards the hatchling, the tears on her face masked by the downpour. "Wenreth!" she cried, jubilant, and the dragonet nodded graciously.

What happened next happened suddenly, and at first nobody could understood what had just taken place before their eyes. Lightning struck, so close that onlookers could actually see the bolt itself, though if anyone had blinked they would have missed it. There was a sudden unearthly sound, a terrible earsplitting keen filled with an infant's pain. In one confused glimpse the crowd could see a tiny body on the sands, no longer teal but black, charred, burned alive - and, worst of all, the faceted eyes, still glowing.

Then thunder roared above them like a demonic monster, and it was gone.

"No! Wenreth!"

Another scream broke out, so filled with unspeakable pain that everyone shivered in their seats. The girl who had been so happy moments before had slumped into the sand where she was, beating the ground and wailing with misery. "Wenreth! Wenreth! Come back, don't leave me! WENRETH!" Something inside her had broken, and suddenly everything that mattered was gone, snatched away from her before she'd gotten to enjoy it. She howled and screamed like an animal, great sobs heaving her small frame. Finally, at a word from the Weyrwoman, two dragonriders came forward to bear her away as gently as possible, the girl still wailing, whimpering, begging to stay with her Wenreth.

A great, sad keen rose from the throat of every dragon, but none as loud and grievous as Emberyth's. No...my son... she moaned, as Azelle leaned against her, hugging her neck. She couldn't believe it - it had all been going so well, and then...and then...he was gone. Azelle was crying to, smothering her face in her Ash's hide. It wasn't fair; the poor Opal, and that poor, poor dear who had Impressed to him. How could this hatching have gone so wrong?

Wrathcursed Opal Wenreth
Rider: NPC
Base Personality: Haughty, proud, loves teaching
Color Code: 669999
DECEASED

Akri glanced over, and nodded her assent. "Certainly you may, Kytes. It is going quite well." She watched as two hatched, a female blue and female brown, both Impressing successfully. Wrathcursed, as they'd suspected, and she would be sure to give the new weyrlings the full story after the hatching. She could see already that she'd have to do the same for everyone else, judging by the angry looks on some faces. And soon; it would be better for everyone to hear the truth from her than a distorted rumor from others, considering the amount of people that didn't actually come to watch the hatching.

Then the Opal hatched, and the poor thing got hit by lightning; Akri's breath caught in her throat. Now, that was such a shame, and right after he'd Impressed. Terrible, simply terrible, and after things had seemed to be going reasonably well. The poor girl who'd Impressed him went on screaming for her Wenreth, and Akri understood, imagining how she'd feel without Lunith. How horrible; she'd met a dragonless ex-rider once, Akri had, and he was a poor wreck of a man, even Turns afterward. She wondered if the girl would live till the next day, or commit suicide before then.

Tragic though it was, the Weyrwoman did what she did best: she kept her head. If that young woman didn't stop soon, the whole place would be in hysterics, and they couldn't have that - and she didn't show any sign of slowing. The Violetrider beckoned two other riders over, and spoke to them briefly: "Take her to the Infirmary, and tell them what's happened. Tell them to dose her with fellis so that she can sleep." They went to do so, and Akri watched, expressionless. She felt bad for the girl, and the hatching, but pushed the feelings away. They did her no good.

[vine409]

And'r watched the hatching, but from a distance with his scope. This storm was bad, it was dangerous to be out in it. He was still suspicous of Ciri and her dragon though... there was just something about them that didn't fit... something that just wasn't right.... He had been keeping an eye on the strange teal rider since she had shown up the night of the flight and hadn't been able to shake the feeling that there was something she was keeping hidden. He had no proof of this besides a feeling though.

Why must you keep obsessing over his girl Ciri? Do you like her or something? She is taken mine.

No, its not that... its just there's something not right about her, something thats off... that doesn't fit... I just can't say what....

Are you sure it's not just because she's from another land?

I've been to a lot of placed and grew up with preformers... strange doesn't bother me.

Whatever you say mine

And'r watched as the first egg hatched, its a blue, but wait a second... its either a feminine looking blue or that dragons female... the genders switched; just like its mother.. interesting genetic mutation there... wonder how it happened....

who knows mine... but that is strange.

And'r watched as the second egg hatched this one a female brown.

Wonder what happens if two of the same colors mate....

I really have no idea mine, must you keep asking me these rediculous questions?

sorry, just thinking aloud.... hey it choose Arel, cool she got a dragon now

sure... oh, I'm happy for your friend.

Now the tealish one hatched.

Hey, a teal.. I think and its male, we could finally have another female rider with a male dragon!

Is mine fanti-............. OH NO... the poor dragonet..... that poor girl..... thats horrible truely horrible....

That....that...that... how what why.... And'r mumbled in shock after the lightning strike.

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

Kytes mumbled a thanks to Akri's approval to join her. The storm seemed to be picking up, looks as if they'd have been taking shelter here anyway. "You won't mind me and the others staying here through this storm will you? Traveling the mountain pass in this could get pretty dangerous." Kytes asked the Wyerwoman, wanting to get that out of the way so he could just watch the hatching.

Kytes watched as the first egg hatched, it was a blue, just different somehow. Someone near him comented that "That blue looks female..." Now that he really could see the dragon he could tell that the commenter was right, the dragon did look female and it was confirmed as it went to impress a girl. "Interesting, first new fire lizard colors and now new variations on dragons. Wonder what will happen next?" Kytes commented half to himself, half to the wyerwoman.

The storm was becoming even worse, if it wasn't for the hatching he would have been taking shelter inside. It wasn't that he hated the rain and wanted to get out of it; in truth he didn't really mind it, he'd traveled trough it enough before; but the fact it was at or near the point where getting struck by lightning became a real danger, he worried about the safty of everyone out here at the hatching. Another egg hatched, this time a brown, who was once again female. The poor brown was terrified by the storm and rush to her new rider, mauling one of the other candidates in her fright, before calming down, if only slightly; it was enough to get her out of her panic.

The winds howled the lightning flashed and the thunder boomed. Ktyes noted that this was the worst storm that had been seen in years, and it was still building. Another dragon hatched, this one a teal it seemed, and male. The Dragon went to the candidate, found its rider a young girl, then a blinding flash of pure white filled Kytes eyes, the contrast of the light then dark momentarily blinging him, the deafening boom causing even him to jump. His site returned and a horrible sight greeted him, the poor dragonet had been hit and was now a charred mess, it was a sickening site. The girl who had impressed him had been thrown back by the burst, with some burns having been minorly zapped; she was in pure agony over the loss of her dragon she knew for only mere seconds. THe other candidate who had been near the strike look startled and shock, ample word there, both in expressions and the strike had been close enough to zap them minorly through the ground, though not causing them any harm. "That....Thats terrible... this hatching needs to get over fast..... we're all in danger of getting struck out here... we're lucky that the lightning wasn't any closer to that nitch where the candidates are or you might have just lost most of them with the others injured....."

two eggs to go......... how much longer can it take.... hopefully the storm won't get any worse or we'll all be in trouble.....

((had to make the lightning strike more realistic, you had it a bit under-powered to the surrondings, you got to remember the charge can travel trough the ground for yards zapping things... I've had experiance with that once...))

(thanks shifter, yeah feel free to go on really, glad you did. this part is reactionary anyway, and don't want to hold up the story.)

[Shiftergirl]

((I'm going to go ahead and post. But not W/o realizing that you still have to finish vine.))

Ersken was watching the little teal walk across the sands. He felt a little joy, they had a male on the sands, our of five so far two female and now a male. The girl that was only a little ways from him ran to the dragonet. He clapped but stopped when lightening struck the creature. He all but screamed when the little dragon roared out in pain. He could tell most of the stands was in shock, becuase he himself was in shock.

This happened so fast that even he couldn't tell what really happened. He whimpered and couldn't stop from crying as the girl screamed for her Wenreth. Emotions and something else made him stand up. He walked quickly down to the sands and would have run to the girl, but she was taken by the riders and he couldn't help her. He hoped she would live. He turned for the stands again but took the steps slower then when he went down. It was sad, he'd been happy and clapping one minute, then the next, crying when the only male was struck down by the weather.

~~~~
Sonia watched them all as she thought about her dog. She'd left Josi alone like she was tought, that all dogs would know what to do. But, josi was a first mother and she couldn't help but worry about her. Trying to become distracted, she looked out to the eggs again and froze in place when the little dragonet was shocked. She covered her mouth and felt like throwing up. A painful roar went about the weyr and she couldn't stop from covering her ears.

[jester]

Arel was doing her best to keep Kendrith calm. It was a little hard since the storm was still ragging. Kendrith refused budge nor pull her head away from Arel's chest until all the loud noises had stopped. Arel kept trying to convince Kendrith to move while keeping calm. It's alright Kendrith, the loud sounds will soon stop. Let's go and fill that empty belly of yours. Kendrith pulled her head back slightly when she heard the prospect of food but quickly returned it to its previous spot when another boom of thunder echoed around them. No! There are too many loud noises! Arel let out a sigh as she held on to Kendrith's head. Ok Kendrith, you can keep your head in my chest and we'll slowly make our way out, ok? Kendrith nodded her head slightly and began to follow as Arel slowly followed where the other girl that had impressed had gone. They were nearly there when Arel saw something terrible. "No" Arel whispered, she had looked up at the sands just in time to see a new hatchling be struck by lightning. Arel quickly took Kendrith out before she could see the horrible site.


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


Kelra watched as two of the other girls impressed, one of them being the girl that had stood out in the storm. She and Seri were glad the two dragonets had found who they wanted. Kelra turned her eyes to the other eggs and saw another hatch. She could tell this one was a boy and wondered who he would impress to. She was as shocked as the rest when the poor thing was struck by lightning. Kelra felt so bad for the poor thing and the girl he had impressed to that had been taken from the sands.

[amielle]

Ciri watched from high in the sands, purposefully avoiding everyone and not quite wanting to be seen. Hatchings had never been a happy time, for her or for anyone who knew the wrathcursed. The more she was around normal dragons, the more she and Astrafith felt different, almost dirty. She was terrified of what Astrafith's children would do to Black Obsidian. Of course, it would probably be just as her mother wanted, with the whole place soon covered in the same gloom and tension that filled their own Weyr. She reached out mentally to Astra, comforting herself with him.

The first egg hatched a pretty sapphire. Ciri recognised her instantly, keen eyes well used to picking out the distinctions between a normal blue an the icy, dangerous maidens that were the lowest ranked females of the cursed. Small, stubborn and fierce, they could be fearsome fighters and she had seen one fully grown sapphire challenge a Topaz and win. They were, however, usually the most easy-going and were harder to anger than most. This made them plentiful at Sunset Weyr, since they were less likely to fight or challenge authority. The opalrider breathed a small sigh of relief as the Impression went well, with no bloodshed and no destruction.

She winced as the terrified topaz hatched, though not at all because of the pain the dragonet caused to the unfortunate candidate that was not hers. Such maulings were common, to Ciri. No, what concerned her was the young thing's fear. Topazes, along with Rubies, were the dragons Ciri, and Astrafith, by extension, trusted the least. Conniving and vicious, the mid-ranked females could be the worst backstabbers of the Weyr. When terrifeid like that, Ciri had no doubt that there would be dragon fights and bloodshed the likes of which Black Obsidian had never known. Well there goes the neighbourhood, she muttered to Astrafith, feeling his agreement. Chaos would prevail, of course, just like Luci wanted. maybe now she would be proud of her mostly ignored daughter, since Ciri was the one who had caused the mayhem.

The lightning bolt almost tore a scream from Ciri's lips. She made a small sign to ward off evil that she had learned from her father in her youth, shivering and drawing her ratty cloak closer around her shoulders. The first dragonet to die had been killed by nature itself. That was never a good sign. Astrafith made a keening, mourning sound, truly hurt by the loss of his son. He had expected half of the hatched to die, somehow, such was the fate of the cursed, but never in such a random fashion. The opalrider almost made her way down to Azelle, but resisted. Somehow, she could never bring herself to be happy at hatchings and her mood would ust tell the sensitive ashrider that something was wrong. Astra, you watch Kendrith closely. She will need disciplining, more than those here know how to give. The opal rumbled his assent. Ciri's green eyes flicked back down to Azelle, watching the ashrider's reactions closely.

[dragoncharm]

((thanks Vine...never had much experience with bad lightning, so...yeah))

Nobody had expected the hatching to take such a turn; yes, things hadn't exactly been dandy, what with Kendrith barely escaping lightning herself, and, above all, the turnout of the dragonets. All Wrathcursed, every one of them, though of course the crowd didn't know that; they just knew that for some reason the hatchlings had inherited their mother's strange gender switch. Either way, it was nothing like the hatchings Black Obsidian Weyr was used to. But to suddenly become house to nature's indifferent harshness...That was something nobody had signed up for.

But despite everything, the hatching wasn't over yet. As much as it seemed to Emberyth and Azelle as if it should just fade to black now, there were still two eggs left...and one of them was rocking quite fiercely. The pair looked up at it at the same time, Azelle's eyes sparkling with tears, Emberyth's slowly fading from their dangerous grey tone. Wenreth would be mourned...but there were still babies to look after, to protect. The hatching wasn't over. Azelle agreed, though she was seemingly in shock from the death...she understood her Ash's reasoning. They must watch to see what became of the two remaining eggs.

It was the smaller of the two eggs that rocked now, with vigorous, though methodical, movements. Back and forth, back and forth. The dragonet inside was aware that most of its clutchmates had probably hatched, but it didn't mind; all in due time. It was doing its best to hatch, and any minute now the shell would split open...Any minute...One more push...

And then it did split, all of a sudden, leaving the dragonet to tumble out into the sands. If it were possible for a dragon to look embarrassed, this one did, in the chagrined way it pushed itself up and licked at its sandy hide. Lightning struck - Emberyth winced, but it was farther away now - and the hatchling jumped, looking up in alarm. It appeared confused to find nothing there, but after a second gave a shrug of its small shoulders and stepped forward. In the stormy darkness it was hard to make it out very well, except for an impression of cloudy lightness; this dragonet had the palest hide of all so far.

Lightning illuminated the scene once more, giving the dwindling crowd a view, and the color of the hatchlnig was made clear: Green. A very light green, to be sure, but a green nevertheless. "That means it must be male," people were already muttering; any hope for a 'normal' dragon seemed to have been abandoned by now. And indeed, they were right: the green was male. The green - now marked an Emerald in Emberyth's mind - had sat down in the sand again, looking contemplative. It was very easy to imagine him wearing round glasses and holding a book.

After a moment, he stood up and walked towards the edge of the Sands. The void in his stomach was very uncomfortable, and he felt an emptiness inside his chest of an entirely different nature, growing stronger by the second. He understood that to ease it he needed to find someone, someone he belonged with. He cast his mind out to the people around him, but none of them felt right. It was raining and he was getting very wet, which wasn't so bad except that it was freezing, and he was hungry and couldn't find his Lifemate. Where was he?

Something suddenly sparked, and the emerald looked around. His gaze settled on someone climing the Stands - away from him. Why was he leaving? E'ken, mine! he called after him, breaking into a run. Where are you going? I'm right here...I am Olevarth, and I am yours.

Wrathcursed Emerald Olevarth [Ah-leh-vahrth]
Rider: E'ken [Ersken]
Base Personality: Mild, inquisitive (would be called 'bookish' if human), quietly flirty
Text Color: "lightgreen"

((I feel really bad for such a short post after the other long ones...sorry Shifter...hope you like him anyway...))

[Shiftergirl]

((I LOVE HIM. *hugs Olevarth*)) ((I'm going to bring in N'lon to give out food to the dragonets and help get them settled.))

E'ken, mine![/i] he called after him, breaking into a run. Where are you going? I'm right here...I am Olevarth, and I am yours.[/b]

Ersken stopped in mid step as he suddenly heard someone. E'ken? That wasn't his name. In fact, only a rider had a name like that. His head shot up as if being slapped when he realized that he'd not heard out loud, but in mind his name. Turing around, he saw a green blur running across the sands. "Wait." He called. He didn't want his Olevarth, yes, Olevarth, to run up the stairs and hurt himself. "Don't climb the stairs." He called.

Olevarth skidded to a stop and looked at the bottome step. Why must he stop. Looking up, he saw that his was in fact making his way down the step. Carefully of course, seeing as the steps had water on them and were vary slick. If i'm not to climb the steps, then why should you. You went up and into those seats. His belly rumbled suddenly and he looked about for something to consume.

"I think a good meal will help us. And as for the climbing, i was finding a seat when your sudden voice startled me." He came to a halt in front of Olevarth. "As you can see, i didn't fall..." *BANG* He jumped when thunder suddenly startled him. Olevarth jumped as well and turned his head to the rain that was falling into the sands and soaking his kin.

"We should go." Walking up next to Olevarth, he took him by the chin and pointed his head towards the door he'd seen two people walk through already. "That way for the food."
Food. Let us get food then, this emptyness in my gut tells me to fill it. Does yours.

"Yes all the time." E'ken chuckled.

OH look, kin. Siding up to first his Sapphire sister Chaieth, then Kendrith. Hello my lovely sisters. how are you.
Suddenly E'ken felt that Olevarth was more like him in a way, flirting with these females. "hello." He said getting a bowl of meat from one of the other mature riders there.

~~~~
N'lon had been awakened from his slumber when Iskrath's nose was suddenly there. He'd been told that many of the folks had gone to the hatching and they were needed as backup for just about anything. Seeing as he was a bronze and his duty to see other dragonets. So, Getting his riding gear and warm clothing, he'd gone to the feeding room where he was to give food to the dragonets.

Inside the room with several blakets for the wet new riders and many towels for the dragons. He watched as first a blue then brown entered the room. He was stunned to find that they were both female.

Hello little sisters. Welcome. I'm Iskrath and mine is N'lon, he has the food and i've the answers.[/i] Iskrath purred and tried to make the new dragonriders feel welcome. Iskrath suddenly made a keening noise as saddness took him over. Even for a moment the small dragonet had lived it was still tradgic. Fly forever Wenreth

Iskrath my dear. He stopped when Iskrath simply purred and looked at him. He would ask later, first he must attend to the new riders. "Well, seeing as Iskrath has made himself and i known, here are bowls for the two of you." He handed out the bowls first to the Blue ridder, then the brown rider. "May i ask you your names." He looked up when a green suddenly walked in. A bright green, and male. It was strange, first a green male catches their ash, then the eggs are oppisite sex creatures.

Handing the new rider his bowl, he smiled when the little green seemed to try and make friends with the others. sure they would be busy with filling their bellies, he quickly looked to Iskrath for help with them.

I believe you want to know that the blue is a Sapphire, the brown a Topaz and the green an Emerald. Yes they are of different sex then color, but then, so this weyr has also gotten strange colors, do not forget that your friend Lez is impressed to a hot tempered red.[/i] Blud suddenly appeared and landed on Iskraths head chirping his dissapointment and filling N'lon in with images of the hatching. When the image of a chard hatchling appeared, he looked away from the others and sighed. To be killed by mother nature itself was strange enough.

~~~
Sonia was having enough of this wheather. She'd left her dog long enough. Sure by now that none of the eggs remained, she stood up and carefully walked down the steps. She had no reason to stay, and she had a dog to take care of. When she reached the bottom step, she felt her foot slid and grabbed the seat next to her, but wasn't quick enough. She fell and hit the sand with a sickining thud. Sure she had broken something, she sat up and groaned as a sharp pain raced up her left arm. She'd most likely cracked a bone, seeing at it wasn't pain from something broken.

After a inspection, she got to her feet and headed out of the sands. She would head to the healers first, for salve and maybe a rap for her arm. But first, she wanted to check on Josi.