Welcome to the world little ones, may there always be wind u

Soldier and Bronze Tiberiuth

'He's quite handsome too.'

Soldier heard Sashike's praise and he nodded as he said, "That he is." while looking lovingly down at his bronze, who was patiently waiting to be fed by Soldier. Soldier scrounge around the bucket, not caring that his hands got bloody or that he might be dribbling blood all over his clothes and shoes as he handed another piece that he thought wouldn't be too big for Tiberiuth.

When he looked back up again, he noticed that the hatching seemed to be over as he saw a few of the Geneticists were transfering unhatched eggs towards a room. Soldier assumed they would be trying to figure out what went wrong with the eggs but he was more concerned with feeding Tiberiuth.

'I know I did. She is the most perfect person here. Your's isn't bad either I guess.'
Tiberiuth nodded as he said, Mine was the best and the only one worthy. He then quickly nuzzled Delanth, probably surprising the Gold a little. Then he once more had his attention towards His and silently begged for more food.

And then, Tiberiuth heard his sister utter a shriek of pain. He froze where he stood, food and hunger forgotten, as he tried to ascertain what was wrong with his sister. His head swiveled towards the direction of the room where the unhatched eggs had been taken by Geneticists. Before he could decide what to do, he felt her sending of utter pain, and then just like that, his sister was gone.

He didn't know what happened as he lent his voice, keening in mourning for his sister whose life was cut so shortly after hatching. But he didn't mourn for long. He wondered what had happened to make his sister choose death over life. So, when he heard Delanth ordering him to follow her, he obeyed wordlessly and in full accord of her authority over himself.

When Soldier heard Sashike say 'Ow, Delanth.' he was about to ask if Sashike if she was alright, but that thought was forgotten when he heard an awful piercing shriek of pain coming from the adjacent room. Before he could wonder what was happening, Tiberiuth was keening such a mournful wail along with the other dragons. And from their link, Soldier could feel Tiberiuth's feeling of great loss. He could feel tears trying to fall from his eyes but he mastered his emotions as he knelt down beside Tiberiuth, rocking the bronze back and forth trying to comfort his grief-stricken bronze. And when Tiberiuth stopped his keening, Soldier let the bronze go and asked, "Are you alright, Tiberiuth?"

However, instead of being answered, Tiberiuth just followed after Delanth. He looked up at Sashike, an inquiry behind his eyes but she said she didn't know what was going on either. And since she was following after Delanth, then he would follow after Tiberiuth. Hopefully, he'll get an answer soon as to what actually happened.

When they were near where the commotion actually occured, he overheard someone say that it was an accident. Being a soldier, he was used to accidents that resulted in deaths. When he saw Sashike with tear-filled eyes trying to calm down and comfort Delanth, Soldier knelt by the pair and gingerly embraced the tiny woman hoping to give her a shoulder that she could lean on should she need it.

Tiberiuth, noticing how angry Delanth was and not entirely satisfied with the explanation the it was an accident, crooned at Delanth to try and calm the Gold. Even though like Delanth, he was not satisfied with the whole explanation. He wanted to know, why the others would even dare to hurt one of his brethren.

Caesar arrived with a popping sound and dispersing cold-air at his arrival. He promptly landed on Soldier's left shoulder for Soldier's right arm was lightly placed around Sashike's form. Caesar pressed his little head on Soldier's left cheek and he crooned at Soldier. He knew that His was close to crying but His will never be emotional in front of others.

Deran quickly ran towards the hatching grounds. "Stupid, stupid," he berated himself. The night before he had been running all around delivering messages related to the pending hatching and other issues. The young man had gotten in very late, cleaned up, and then passed out in bed. It had taken his little August to bite him on the ear to finally get him up and out of bed, and when he saw the fleeing backsides of the other candidates he instantly realized what was happening and the images August was projecting at him.

Now, after having bolted as fast as he could he entered the grounds with his little green firelizard flying in his wake, he saw the hatching dragons on the sands. His eyes glanced at the broken shells, and realized many of the dragons had already impressed. A sigh escaped the young man's lips as he took in the sight. Had he been too late? But then he heard a voice in his head, something calling to him.

'Deran, Deran come quick.. Look what you Tarath has made. Isn't it nice'

Deran let out a gasp and looked around. He twisted his head and felt himself inexplicably drawn to a rather large blue dragon, playing in the sand. With August chittering excitedly about his head, he walked over towards the blue and leaned down. "Well isn't that just lovely, isn't it? Aren't you creative!"

'Well of course it is! I love making things pretty. Should we show it to my brothers and sisters now?'

The blue dragon looked up at Deran, and the young man's heart seemed to expand. He just smiled, listening as the little dragon seemed to make a number of small noises at his accomplishment. "Maybe in a bit. It looks like your brothers and sisters are starting to eat, maybe we should get some food first," Deran said. "Tarath. You are wonderful Tarath."

'Is that what smells so wonderful, Deran mine? Lets eat then, and see if we can't get them to make something with us! I bet there is a lot of things we can make, but lets eat first so I have more energy to play.'

The insistence in his voice, Deran scooped up Tarath into his arms, a grin on his face as wide as good be, and walked towards where the food. He was adjusting to the size of the dragon, noticing he was bigger a bit than the other blues, when without warning Tarath threw back his head and began keening. It happened at the same time as the other dragons did, and the sound went straight through him. He staggered, barely holding onto the keening young one. Looking down he said so softly he was not sure he spoke it, Deran murmured, What just happened? Tarath, why are you and the others crying?

'Because they made one of our sisters stop singing, why would they make her stop singing and she would go quiet? She should be here...'

Taranth's mind voice had become soft and seemed unnerved by the events. Deran looked puzzled. "One of your sisters stopped singing? But... why?" He asked the air. With a now troubled heart, the young man carried the dragon towards the meat to at least start feeding him. No matter what had happened, the dragons must be taken care of.

Tabby heard Alex yelling at her his dragon's name and she excitedly ran over to him. "Oh Alex. He is the most handsome thing ever. Lucath, what a strong name. He's perfect, absolutely perfect." She said, trying to hold back her jealousy since she did not impress herself. There was more hatchings though, so she would simply be happy for Alex.

She was about ready to say something else to him, but all the new dragons started keening loudly. It was such an awful sound and so sad. Tabby had no idea what was going on, but something told her it wasn't a good thing. "Alex, what is going on? Why are they making that sad noise?" She asked him, grabbing a hold of his arm and holding tightly.
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Sashike couldn't believe such a sad thing had happened at the first hatching. This was suppose to be one of the happiest days since landing on Pern and now there was a tiny black cloud hanging over the heads of all there. She felt Soldier come up behind her and wrapped her in his arms. Never feeling such a sadness in all her life, she immediately took his comfort and rested her head against his broad chest. "This isn't right Soldier. This should be a happy day." She said through her tears.

'It isn't mine. Not at all. We will find out what happened and get to the bottom of it.' Delanth said, still very angry but the crooning from Tiberiuth was helping along with Sashike calming her down. 'We are not leaving this place until more explained to us.'

Kazuma had been with the other firelizards, but once the keening started he flew down to Sashike. Scared and very sad, he landed on her shoulder and started nuzzling against her cheek. Doing so gave him comfort and gave her comfort.

Lesla and Green Oleksyth
Lesla let her brother hug her when she had told him the name of her little green. Much as she would have wanted to know what was going on at the Hatching, her attention was all for Oleksyth who is currently begging to be fed. Lesla smiled fondly looking down at Oleksyth as Lesla give another piece of meat to her little Green.

She had been enjoying her time with Oleksyth and giggling at Cadmuth's antics of trying to scare her brother. Cadmuth didn't realize that he was just being too cute with what he has been trying to do. And then the world was shattered with a shriek of pain. Lesla looked around with confused eyes wondering who had uttered that horrible sounding shriek. As she looked around, she heard yet another shriek, more horrible than the first and then the sound was cut. Everything was quiet for a few seconds before every dragon in the sands started keening.

Lesla looked down worriedly at Oleksyth wondering what had happened. "What is it? What's wrong, Leksy?" Lesla asked the little Green who was looking towards a section of the hatching sands with her head tilted up to the sky and keening her mournful voice. And as Lesla heard the continuous keening, she felt tears had started to down her face. She felt grief coming from Oleksyth but Lesla had no idea what was going on. Oleksyth was too numbed with grief to give Lesla any answer. She looked over to her brother, but she saw that he was as grief striken as she felt. She even saw that Lilith had gone over to her brother trying to comfort him. She knelt down and scooped her still grieving Oleksyth and she looked around for someone to tell her what was going on. But it was hard to see around her since her eyes were blurry with tears.

Kira
Kira sighed as the Hatching seemed to be over. She was one of the unlucky ones that were left standing. But, she wasn't particularly disappointed over it. She was just glad that the Hatching went without too much blood being shed. And the dragons seemed to have found their chosen riders so all was well with her world. That was until a horrible shriek pierced the air.

Her head whipped out towards where the sound had come from. She had seen a few of the Geneticists hauling the unhatched eggs towards that adjacent room. But she didn't think that the Geneticists would be so cruel as to experiment on a live creature. And before Kira could react, there was yet another shriek, more awful and pain-filled as the first. And when the shriek was cut off, the dragons began keening. She looked from one pair to the next and Kira could see that most were affected by something as she saw that all of the human riders were crying whether they knew of it consciously or unconsciously.

Before she could go and ask what on Pern had happened, Kagemusha popped into existance and like the dragons, he was also keening. He landed to perch on Kira's right shoulder, his tail twining down Kira's right arm. Kagemusha pressed his little head on Kira's right cheek and he was sending her what he had felt. And Kira gasped as pain lanced on her chest. She looked down certain she had somehow been wounded but she was fine. She was feeling what Kagemusha had received from whoever or whatever had broadcasted those feeling of pain. Kira caressed Kagemusha and told him, that he was okay and that Kira won't let anything like that happen to the little bronze firelizard. Kagemusha just whimpered and pressed his little body closer to Kira.

Kira walked towards the adjacent room where that horrible shriek had come from. She was going to find out what happened to make all those dragons keen such an awful sounding mourning wail.

Cally
After Sashike had been chosen by that second Gold. Cally lost interest with the rest of the Hatching and what she really wanted was to get down there in the Sands and meet Daddy's new dragon. But she behaved herself and watched as the rest of the dragons hatched and found their chosen riders either from among those Candidates that stood in the sands or other people that were watching from the side lines.

When Hatching seemed to be over, Cally was just about ready to sit down beside Auntie Beth and let the crowd of spectators disperse. But then, the quiet triumphant air was ripped apart by an awful shriek of pain. Cally brought her hands up to cover her ears to try and stop the sound from registering in her brain but it was no use. She knew from that shriek that whoever it was, was suffering under duress and she had no idea who it was.

Cally looked back at her Aunt Beth, her eyes asking the older woman the question if her Aunt Beth knew what was going on. And then, Cally's head whipped back towards the sands and she heard yet another shriek, more awful sounding than that of the first. And then there was blessed silence for a few seconds before all the dragons started keening. Cally once more tried to stop the sound from reaching her ears but it was no use. And to make matters worse, Hunter started keening too and he was sending Cally such a feeling of utter grief.

Before Cally could ask what was wrong, she felt a tear drop down her hands and she was surprised to find herself crying. She looked back at Auntie Beth, her face with a look of worry for her Dad who had managed to be with a Bronze. She was torn between staying where she was with Auntie Beth and dashing down and jumping down into the sands to run towards her Dad.

Zander
Zander having found a seat near the front had a clear view of who got picked by which dragon. He didn't really know them personally, but some he knew of by their reputation. There was Mikhael, the Black Squadron Leader. Adrienne, the Mechanic and whom everyone tried to avoid as much as possible. Soldier, that tall intimidating bald guy. Sashike, their resident Geisha who had been teaching other girls how to become Geishas. Jason, that doctor who was just too good looking in Zander's opinion. The others, he didn't know about and hoped that he would get to know a few of them soon.

When the Hatching seemed to be over, Zander stayed where he was and was witness to the Geneticists carrying the unhatched eggs towards a room that was adjacent to the hatching sands. He wondered what the Geneticists were planning with those unhatched eggs but then, a shriek of pain was uttered from inside that room where he had seen the unhatched eggs were brought into. Before he could voice out his question regarding the matter, another pain-filled shriek came from within that room and then, after a few seconds of silence, the dragons began keening their cry.

Zander had no clue what was going on and with eyes showing concern for those newly hatched dragons and their chosen riders, Zander asked aloud to anyone who might know the answer, "Does anyone know, why those dragons are crying?" as he became emotional himself and was crying with those poor little dearies.

Elegance suddenly popped out of nowhere and landed to perch on Zander's left shoulder. She pressed her little head against his cheek as she whimpered a cry feeling the grief that the dragons were feeling for the death of one of their own brethren.

At the opposite end of the scale there was the newly hatched brown, bleached tan in colour he was not to be confused for anything but a brown though. Eagerly he crooned greeting to everyone before he headed straight for the doctor near the side lines. With loving eyes, he knew exactly who he wanted as he spoke.

'Ranth I am called. It's a pleasure to meet you John, is there anyone needing out assistance?'

There was silence from the man for a while, but soon a grin spread across his face and he had a bucket and was feeding his new found partner. With a physicians eye he watched each slick hunk of meat slide down his friend's throat, assessing its movement and the dragon anatomy. He noted with great satisfaction the strength and surety of Ranth's swallowing. That had to be a good sign in a new born, no matter what the species. His coloring was good too, he noted as Ranth bared his gums to accept another piece. The brown skin there was fleshy and a little pink. He was a fine, strong little fellow.

Thank you Ranth said seriously in John's head. The doctor fumbled with a hunk of meat as he tried not to drop it out of surprise. The little brown had heard the thoughts in his head, he realized, hearing the sentiment if not the precise words of hi train of thought. "You're welcome," he said, automatically. "Are you feeling full? You should not overeat." The brown tilted his head thoughtfully, giving the question its full weight. I do not know what full is, yet. But I feel need less. Perhaps I am full.

John smiled, scratching behind Ranth's tiny horn buds as he silently appreciated the hatchlings earnestness. "I see. Well, I suggest you think about it, and meanwhile we go to our own quarters and get settled in. Perhaps you can find someone to assist along the way." Ranth shook himself and settled his wings over his back in a precise way, despite their disproportionate oversizing due to his age. That is a good idea, Mine. Let us go. But... bring the food. John outright laughed at this, laying his hand on the brown's head as they walked together off the sands and into their new lives as a dragon and his rider.

Hesper wrote:Tabby heard Alex yelling at her his dragon's name and she excitedly ran over to him. "Oh Alex. He is the most handsome thing ever. Lucath, what a strong name. He's perfect, absolutely perfect." She said, trying to hold back her jealousy since she did not impress herself. There was more hatchings though, so she would simply be happy for Alex.

She was about ready to say something else to him, but all the new dragons started keening loudly. It was such an awful sound and so sad. Tabby had no idea what was going on, but something told her it wasn't a good thing. "Alex, what is going on? Why are they making that sad noise?" She asked him, grabbing a hold of his arm and holding tightly.

Alex and Brown Lucath
Alex, tears falling down his face, he looked towards Tabby. He shook his head for he really wasn't sure what was going on. "I don't really know what happened or how it happened. All Luc says is that one of his green sisters was dead." Alex said in reply. Then he added, "But how can that be, Tabby? How could a dragon die just like that?" he asked her, even though she probably didn't know the answers to his questions. He looked around then wondering if they could find the answers to his question.

Lucath looked up as he heard a feminine voice, he looked at her and instantly, Lucath knew that Alex clearly had feelings for the woman. To Tabby he said, My Green sister, Eridyth, has gone Between and died. I don't really know why, all I remember is the pain that she initially felt, and then the grief she felt for her Rider was dead. trying to let Tabby and also His know what he knew. He still wasn't really sure how it happened but he sure would like to know. To His, he said, Is there someone somewhere who we can ask, Alex-Mine? I would really like to know what really happened. as Lucath looked imploringly up at Alex.

Alex nodded as he heard Lucath's question. He replied with, "I'm sure we can find someone who knows what's really going on." as he looked down at his Lucath. Then he looked at Tabby his eyes asking the question if she wanted to look for answers with him and Lucath as well.

Then Beloved and Warrior popped into existence and quickly perching on Alex's shoulders, Beloved on his left and Warrior on his right. They pressed their little heads against Alex's cheeks. They whimpered and then crooned alternately as they each wanted to be comforted by Alex and then each wanting to comfort Alex regarding the death of first dragon and rider pair.

Hesper wrote:Sashike couldn't believe such a sad thing had happened at the first hatching. This was suppose to be one of the happiest days since landing on Pern and now there was a tiny black cloud hanging over the heads of all there. She felt Soldier come up behind her and wrapped her in his arms. Never feeling such a sadness in all her life, she immediately took his comfort and rested her head against his broad chest. "This isn't right Soldier. This should be a happy day." She said through her tears.

'It isn't mine. Not at all. We will find out what happened and get to the bottom of it.' Delanth said, still very angry but the crooning from Tiberiuth was helping along with Sashike calming her down. 'We are not leaving this place until more explained to us.'

Kazuma had been with the other firelizards, but once the keening started he flew down to Sashike. Scared and very sad, he landed on her shoulder and started nuzzling against her cheek. Doing so gave him comfort and gave her comfort.

Soldier and Bronze Tiberiuth
Soldier nodded in agreement as he let Sashike rest her head on his chest. "I know..." was all Soldier said at first. He wanted to add an endearment at the end of the sentence, but they weren't at that phase yet. They were only very close friends after all. After the pause, he added, "But I'm sure someone can and will explain to us what happened, and why it happened." he said making it a declaration that he, well they, would find out the necessary information that they wanted to know.

Tiberiuth nodded in agreement with Delanth. Indeed we are. he said in response to Delanth making sure to let Sashike and His hear his response to Delanth as well. He was still crooning at Delanth trying to make sure that the Gold was indeed getting calmed down.

Caesar just kept nuzzling and crooning at His. Besides, the activity also comforted him because he had never felt such overwhelming emotions coming from other firelizards or dragonets, not even coming from His. In reality, Caesar needed the comfort more than His needed to be comforted.