“For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today

IC Time: Month 11; Mid Spring. Early Morning.
IC Setting: The dawn is just touching the horizon and the Caldera is slowly coming to life. Coolest day in spring so far.

It was just another day to those in the Caldera; just another ordinary day though it was a cooler spring that normal everyone was going about their business as if nothing was going on. However on this cooler day in the warmth of the hatching sands; an egg wobbled. At first nothing was thought of it; that was until another one wobble and now there were two wobbling, then three. The number kept increasing till a majority of the we wobbling along; it was this that alerted Zharath who had managed to get Gala to leave and feed herself whilst he watched over their eggs. A loud bugle followed from him as he realised they were close to hatching; cracks already appearing in a few of the eggs.

Cy'shen was up early to do a check on the eggs; Thamalth sitting on one of the ledges eagerly watching; he loved eggs. It was much to Cy'shen's surprise when he arrived that he found the eggs shivering and shaking and a few cracks appearing in some of them. With a loud yell he called to the nearest person he saw walk past to go get everyone; namely the candidates..

Mikhael rolled out of bed; up earlier than Adrienne for once, though he knew it was just the pregnancy keeping her sleeping. She had a small bump; though from what he had read he knew she wasn't showing quite that much because of how fit she was. He had also made a guess that it would be about 5 almost 6 months she had been keeping it from him. It was a thought that infuriated him but he guessed she had her reasons and he wasn't going to judge, even though he had known for a long time now. It seemed like she was in denial and he wasn't going to push her over it. However this morning it had been Zharath that woke him and getting changed he leaned over her softly and kissed her cheek; sneaking a rub of her stomach whilst she was fast asleep before he woke her.

"Come on Darling; you don't want to miss the hatching do you?"

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Teleza was among the first of the Candidates there; she had missed out on the candidate program because of her age but one of the nice riders from the future had asked her if she would like to be on the sands and she couldn't help but jump at the chance. Aluna had been "searched" as they called it too; and she couldn't be happier for her "friend", even her twin Kassa had been searched too. Today however she hot footed the sands; waiting for the other to come; eagerly looking out for her twin and Aluna.

Ashur had been up early. For some reason sleep had eluded him and instead of fighting it he gave in and got up. A loud rumble in his stomach had informed him that he required some form of food, so he started his way to the dining hall to get breakfast.

It was when he was about halfway there that he heard someone yelling, "The hatching his happening! To the sands!" Without another thought he hot footed it to the hatching sands.

Much to his amusement and happiness he was the second person to arrive. He gave the girl a smile, he wasn't sure of her name, before turning towards the eggs.
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Tabitha was in between being awake and being asleep. However when she heard the sound of excited scrambling about in the hallway she was awake. Grumpily she got up, went to her door and opened it. She saw some of the others putting on their white candidate robes and running out of the barracks.

Her eyes widened as she realized that the hatching must be happening. Even though she had been slightly depressed the last few days about the up coming hatching, now all she felt was excitement. Sure there was that little voice in the back of her head telling her she would more than likely not impress, but she decided to ignore it. Quickly she threw off her night clothes and put on something a little more presentable.

She rushed to the sands, but not so fast she wore herself out. She was the third one there and she couldn't help but sigh as she realized she was the oldest. Oh well, it couldn't be helped, so she just concentrated on the eggs. She wondered which would hatch first.

Kassa had noticed when Teleza left at some sound from one of the dragons. She rolled out of bed after her twin was already gone and quickly got dressed as it became clear that the commotion was about the eggs on the Sands. Perhaps something was wrong...or perhaps they were hatching! Choking back her excitement, the eighteen year old jogged out of the are where the Candidates were housed and head towards the Hatching Sands, her long brown hair streaming out behind her. Her feet hit the ground of the Caldera with steady thumps but she arrived at the Hatching soon after her twin and a few others.

There were three others there besides herself, staring at the rocking and cracking eggs. Weaving her way past the one girl she didn't know, Kassa punched Ashur on the shoulder playfully with a short, "Glad to see you here so early," before moving just past him to stand next to her twin. Smiling at her fairer sister, the taller twin hugged Teleza around the shoulders with one arm. "Can you believe it's finally happening, Tel? We're actually here, on the Hatching Sands at a Hatching!" Her amber eyes glanced back to Ashur, her excitement finally shining through in a genuine smile.

A fifth Candidate arrived just behind Kassa. Adam ruffled his red hair and skidded to a halt behind the other four. He peered over their shoulders eagerly, wondering if maybe this time he'd find his dragon. There wasn't a thought of light hearted pranking in his mind right now. Too much depended on making the right impression...literally. Readjusting the shirt he'd thrown on as he rolled out of bed, he noticed that it was actually backwards. A fleeting thought was one of regret, but the twenty year old brushed it away. The eggs were rocking and cracking and he wanted to remember every single one as it was born.

The golden beauty's muzzle was steaming with crimson blood as she stood over her recently killed herd beast, gorging with a ravenous hunger. She'd been eating only seldom as she had her eggs to guard, and though she trusted Zharath to take care of them, they were still hers, and only she knew how to best keep them all healthy and content. Quickly Galateath ate, consuming the rest of the edible parts of the first male before leaping into action again, running clumsily before pouncing on a second female, tearing into the beast's spine as she felled it. It tasted wonderful... and the blood running down her throat and smeared across her jaw, though it gave her renewed energy, made her look otherworldly and dangerous, rather than the sweet, compassionate creature she was.

She was just finishing her second course of the meal when she tensed, hearing her mate bugle a call. What... her babies! Instead of flying over the distance, she leapt into the air and immediately blinked between, coming out into the air over the Sands within a second. Without so much as a look at Zharath she landed and immediately wove herself back around the eggs, and once she was settled she again pulled the Elephant egg closer to her body, though it wobbled like the rest. Then, once she was comfortable and somewhat satisfied, she lifted her head and surveyed the gathering candidates, her eyes glittering like jewels while her bloody muzzle gleamed in the rising sun, before looking at Zharath.

Thank you, love, for guarding them while I ate.

Once she'd spoken to her mate, though, she reached out to alert her Adrienne about their babies... and found her rider sleeping. Galateath didn't understand all about the intricacies of human pregnancies, but she knew she'd been tired often while she was gravid, and so the dragoness considered it reasonable that her rider sleep more than usual. Still, she could not afford to miss the Hatching, and Galateath needed her there, so the Gold prodded her bonded's mind gently, saying, Adrienne-Mine...Adrienne. Awake. I need you here when my children hatch.

Rowan had been awake for the last hatching, too.

It was her way; greet the day when it begins, watch the dawn. Meet each small beginning, the start of the day, with a lifted head. No sketches this time, though; nothing at all planned for today. She was having a bit of a break from drawing and sculpting - not voluntarily, but because she was just having trouble with it. Why, she wasn't sure, though it wasn't the first time it had happened. She'd ready herself, pencil in hand and paper before her, and nothing would come. The usual clear mind she had while drawing evaporated into foggy confusion, and any picture she'd had in mind left her head. Same with sculpting: she'd have the lump of clay before her, ready for melding, but when she started on it it just didn't shape right. Nothing came out as she wanted it to.

Writers and poets used the term 'writer's block', she knew. The only thing Rowan could figure was that she had an artist's block. So she'd decided she'd just take a break and wait it out, and let her hands decide when they were reading to hold a brush again. It felt a bit odd to be staring at the rising sun without any intention of marking it down on paper, but a bit relaxing as well. Almost as if a weight she hadn't noticed was lifted from her. Perhaps this break really was a godo thing, after all.

Swirl, settled on her shoulder, suddenly stiffened; Rowan felt the green's tail tighten around her neck. Before she had time to ask her girl what was wrong, a deep humming sound emerged from the firelizard's throat - and Rowan understood. She was out of the chair facing her window in an instant, throwing on proper clothing - after all, she could hardly go Stand in sweatpants and an old shirt! After hastily donning a jacket and jeans and pulling her unbrushed hair into a ponytail, she dashed to the door, Swirl flying in her wake. She had just reached it when a head stuck in, obviously intent on warning her. "The hatching, I know," she interrupted, barely pausing.

Once she was outside, the candidate slowed. A slow stream of candidates trickled out, but she could tell she was one of the first, thanks to Swirl. The artist walked quickly the rest of the way to the hatching sands, excited and nervous and wondering what would become of this hatching...Oh, she hoped she'd Impress. Wouldn't that make a wonderful birthday present? She'd just turned 23 last month - it would be a wonderful present for sure. She wasn't even sure how long the people of the candidate program would be allowed to Stand, now the dragons had started Searching people "properly", as the 2nd Pass Riders referred to it. Would this be her last chance?

Several candidates had already arrived, but there were many more to come, and Rowan was glad to be one of the first. Less crowding, more time to take in the scene. None of the eggs had hatched, thank goodness, but they were rocking sure enough. She nodded to the other gathering candidates, but for the most part her attention was on the eggs, her nerves feeling a bit strung up. She was more nervous than she'd realized; all the suspence and failure was getting to her. Pleas let me Impress.



Something was crawling on top of him....Keith rolled over, opened his eyes, and gasped. A...a dragon! A beautiful hatchling, staring at him, its weight gentle now and not annoying. Keith blinked up at it in amazement, not sleepy at all now, at its swirling rainbow eyes, and felt the presence start to creep into his consciousness...The hatchling was humming, and he was suddenly confused. Wasn't it supposed to speak to him now? Tell him its name, form the bond? Why was it humming like that...?

The image of the dragon shattered, but the humming did not. Keith opened his eyes to find that the weight on him was not a hatchling Impressing to him, but Static, humming in his face. It was too early for this....Static? Whassup? he thought blearily. - the candidate was not the best morning person. The bronze flitter didn't answer, just kept humming at him, looking annoyed. It took several moments for the realization to filter through Keith's tired mind - and by then his door was banging open, and someone was yelling at him about a hatching.

Hatching? Oh! So that was it! The candidate jumped up, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he clambered into his clothes. The hatching...that was now! So early, and he was tired, but he didn't want to be late, so he hurried, Static clinging to him in a way that made it virtually impossible to put his clothes on. Typical; the bronze couldn't bear to let him do anything quickly or easily, after all.

Then Keith was pulling his boots on and rushing out the door with the stream of other candidates, glad he wasn't late, towing a protesting Static. "If you won't fly, you can stay behind!" Keith snapped at the bronze, trailing behind tugging at him. Static let go grumpily, but after a moment was catching up again, flying for himself this time. Of course; he acted like he didn't care, but that was only because he was so lazy, and in reality he couldn't bear to miss this.

He arrived at the sands, out of breath but grinning. Today was the day! Two hatchings he hadn't Impressed but he would today - he knew he would. Or he thought he would. Hoped. Hoped very desperately for the hatchling of his dream, to come and love him.



The chirping of not one, but two loud, insistent greens woke him. Taminy rolled over, blinking his eyes open - very nearly rolled off the bed, but he caught himself. What were Scatter and Terry up to, badgering him so? As soon as the greens saw he was awake they started collaborating with each other, each grasping one of his wrist and tugging so that it was either get up or be dragged off the bed. Taminy chose the former. "What's up with you two?"

There was a lot of commotion outside his room, and now he was up the flitters had stopped their chattering and instead were humming deeply...Ho! The hatching is now!Of course, of course! Taminy crossed to his wardrobe and pulled on clothes, helped - well, a bit hindered ,but they meant well - by Terry and Scatter. Once he was ready he dashed out with all the other candidates, mind racing twice as fast as his body. It had been two months since he'd been Searched, and a good two months, but all waiting for this moment .Was he really good enough? Was Zeonth right? Could he really be a dragonrider? All would be determined soon.

He couldn't help it; he was nervous. Very nervous. he'd never imagined being in this position, and it was amazing, but nervewracking. he glanced over at other candidates, and saw most were looking as excited and anxious as he felt. Which of them would leave towing charges, and which would be left empty-handed? Which group would be be a part of? There was no way to know - he just had to hope.

Tiaholt woke up early, like always. Arikyu was up already and was all excited. She whined and flew around the room in a zig zag and did a flip and landed and jumped up and down and bounded for the door! Tia curious...was trying to figure out what got in to Arikyu. She had just woke up and still in bed. A thought crossed her mind.

"OH SHARDS!!! The hatching!!" she liked that 'shards' word...it was better than the latter. She sprung up and didn't even dress. She did get a chance to trade off some of her goodies for a robe and a pair of slippers. The pair of slippers she got from Max.

Boop was barking exictedly and hopped up and down. "Calm down, love. If I didn't know any better, I would think you were more excited than me, ol' boy!" she chuckled. While she was running, she tried to get her robe on but she couldn't and just threw it to the ground.

She was in her night clothes with her slippers on her feet. She sighed and a sense of excitement washed over her as she gazed at the eggs. They were so beautiful. "May I say that you have such lovely eggs." She said to the Queen Mother. This is it! she told her self. She was so calm, so peaceful. Her past seemed to melt away. She was overwhelmed with happiness and excitement.

Tia felt like a new person. She felt more herself instead of the snivielling, poor soul that she was. She had come a long way. She had been working training Arikyu and she discovered how to cook, making jewelry and sculpting. She was proud of herself and I'm sure that all who had talked to her were proud of her as well.

Adrienne was dreaming.

She was on an island, but the sky was purple and the water was clear and translucent, and the island was in the middle of a sea! She was the only human there, too, although there was a talking wherry that kept trying to convince her it was Mikhael. She would have none of it, though. After all, if Mik WAS a wherry then he would know the best thing to do would be to stay away from her... After all, she hated the awful bird-creatures. She was sitting on the sand (it, after all, was the normal color) and Lynx and Cat were there, playing in the clear water while she watched. In this dream, like most she'd been having, she wasn't pregnant, either. She'd already had the child, and in every dream it wasn't a human she knew as her child; it was a animal. It varied throughout the dreams as to what her baby was, and in this particular one her child was a wild feline, one who was currently sitting in one of the palm trees.

She missed those, sometimes. The big, graceful palms back on Earth always seemed so beautiful to her, as did the beachs and the wide, open sea. Of course, the beaches on Pern were stunning in their exotic allure as well, but still, sometimes she dreamt of Earth.

As she watched her flits play, Adrienne smiled, then grimaced as the wherry squawked at her, saying once again, "Adrienne Denae! I told you, I am-" It abruptly cut off as she back handed the creature, knocking it silent. Then, to make things more interesting, Galateath arrived in her dream, gliding down to land on the beach nearby. "Gala, baby, what are you doing here?" Her gold, her eyes whirling a vivid green, replied, Adrienne-Mine...Adrienne. Awake. I need you here when my children hatch. Confused, Adrienne faltered, asking, "I am awake, Gala...? The eggs aren't here..." Then, she stopped, and the dragoness didn't reply, she merely looked at her. Bewildered, Adrienne went to get up, and then the wherry that kept saying it was Mikhael spoke again, and this time it's voice perfectly mimicked her lover's as he said, "Come on Darling; you don't want to miss the hatching do you?" Adrienne was shocked... Maybe it was Mikhael....

....and then she woke up, jerking awake. The first thing she saw when she woke was Mik's face, and while it was a glorious idea on any other morning to pull him down into bed with her, she blinked twice before realizing what was happening. It was the day she'd been waiting for. Gala's eggs were hatching! Throwing back the covers, she kissed Mikhael soundly on the lips, biting a bit at the end before grinning triumphantly and dashing to her chest where she kept her clothes, and before a whole second had passed she was stripping, then throwing clothes back on over her body. Once glance at her belly, though, made her rethink her shirt, and after a moment's thought she reached for one of Mikhael's brown flannel button-up shirts. He'd said before he loved her in those, and well... it was loose enough to hide her pregnancy.

Quickly she buttoned the shirt and she then turned to Mikhael, her blue eyes alight with excitement. "You coming?" Behind her, Lynx and Cat flitted about, their mistress's excitement tainting their thoughts.

Rocking against the Black Antelope Egg, the Red Panda Egg violently shook itself, small crack racing across its stunning red-brown surface. Further away from the Candidates than many of the other eggs, this medium sized egg continued its labor for quite some time unnoticed by those watching the larger eggs that tried to break free. When its mother arrived there wasn't even the barest pause in its shakes before it suddenly exploded! Flying from the center of the shattered ellipse, an averagely sized blue hatchling rolled across the hot Sands.

When he'd staggered his way to his feet Fyrimith looked around with swirling rainbow eyes. Bouncing across the sand playfully, he leaped at his mother like a small kitten would in fun. Rolling off her shimmery hide, a bit of egg goo still stuck to his wings and a small shard hanging half off his right hip, the dragonet bounded towards the Candidates. Are you Mine? You can't be Mine! Where are you hiding her! I know she is here somewhere. I can feel her! Mine where oh where are you? Playing hide and seek with your Fyrimith? he asked, peering around at all of their faces. No, none of these were His.

Sniffing along the line of young folks, occasionally pausing to growl at their shoes or tear playfully at their clothes, Fyrimith nearly passed a pair of girls by. Stopping he literally walked backwards and sat down, plopping his rump in the Sand. The blue's whirling eyes first examined Kassa, who watched him with a furrow between her brows, but his gaze did not stay on her for long. Scootching himself sideways he stopped in front of Teleza.

Chirping brightly he cried out Teleza-Mine! Here you are! You hid from your Fyrimith! We must play this hide and seek again some other time! Right now I am huuuuunnnnnggggrryyyyyyyy! My belly growls and eats at me like a ravenous dragon on a wherry! Where is my meat, Teleza-Mine? He head butted her hand and danced up onto his feet again. I love you, Mine! Fyrimith is yours forever and ever and ever and ever! The young blue professed profusely, bouncing around playfully like a puppy.

Ashur wasn't even watching the Red Panda egg when it exploded into thousands of little pieces. However the little thing sure made itself known soon enough. He couldn't help but laugh at the bright blue's antics. He was kind of hoping to be the first to impress, but of course luck never worked that way. Which was fine. He watched with joy as the blue found the girl he wanted. Hopefully his dragon would come soon....
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Tabitha was betting that the Red Panda egg would be the first and indeed she was right. From it was the cutest little blue she'd ever seen and the way it acted only made him more adorable. She couldn't help but smile and giggle at him. Her heart lept in her throat as he passed by her, but as normal she was not to impress. She sighed loudly, but told herself that thankfully there was plenty more eggs on the sands.

Aluna's bright blue eyes looked around in contoled excitment. The hatching was starting, and she was already running late. Aluna put on the white robe that went with her hair so well. She stumbled onto the sands just as the first egg hatched a gorgeous blue.

"Oh Teleza! He is so gorgeous." Aluna said not short of breath at all. she had not ran but walked quickly as to make sure nothing happened to the robe she was wearing. Her hair had bounced a bit into her face so she brushed it out of her face then gave a small but sweet hug to Teleza. Then with a smile on her lips she went and took her place.


Ayana ran as fast as she could and accidently ran into Adam in her haste. "Sorry Adam." Ayana panted as she rested her back on the sands and then curled her legs up to her chest and pushed of the ground with her hands and moved her feet under herself before they touched the ground so that she was in a crouch and then stood up straight. "Hope I did not miss too terribly much." Ayana said as she rested her hands on her knees and tried to cacth her breath.

Kassa smiled and laughed when the playful blue Impressed to her twin sister. "Oh, Tel, he's gorgeous! I'm so happy for you!" She threw her arms around her twin before turning her gaze back to the other rocking eggs. She seriously hoped her match would be among the eggs today, but if he or she wasn't, then there was always the next Hatching. After all, hadn't Delanth risen just the other day? Rising up and down on the balls of her feet, Kassa squinted at the Clutch before them, hoping to spot the next egg to hatch first. When Aluna finally arrived, and Kassa peeked around Teleza and her new dragon to offer the younger girl a small smile before returning to her egg watching.

Adam felt a solid thump hit his back and turned to find Ayana on the ground. Offering her a hand, he grinned genially at her, remembering their snow ball fight during the winter. "Hey, Ayana! How are you doing?" Patting her on the back he surveyed the eggs and the other candidates. "No, not too too much. The first egg hatched. A blue. He's over there with the girl he Impressed. She's one of the Searched ones, I believe. Possibly Teleza? I can't remember. I just know there're the two twins." Ruffling his hair again, the young man tugged on his forelock and hoped for the best. He'd been through two Hatching already and still hadn't Impressed. Hopefully he'd make it this time, otherwise he'd need to be Searched by any of the Searchdragons that had been uncovered by the future riders. Adam wasn't sure if they'd pick him now that they knew some sort of thing to look for. Maybe he didn't have it and that would stink. Still, only one egg had hatched and there was still plenty of hope left.

It was the White Tiger egg that moved next; swaying and rocking before in what seemed to be a very energetic move it cracked open. Out tumbled a most bright green; who rolled several times before she seemed to leap to her feet in a eager and enthusiastic manner as she viewed everyone around her. With an upbeat and cheerful manner she curiously sniffed about those who had arrived; sniffed the other eggs around her; her mother and the blood on her which she tentatively licked at before deciding she liked it very much. A growl from her stomach caused her to stare at in in wonder before turning back to everyone she bounded forwards..

With a great leap for one so young; a spray of sands and a cheerful perky voice she slid to a halt in front of Tia. There was a few brief moments of silence before she finally spoke..

'Can we get some of that stuff that's on mummy; it tastes really good and my belly likes it. Please? Please can we Tia.. Arienyth is staaarvving... Then can we go exploring; I want to see everything.'

At one point one wondered if the excitable; curious and cheerful dragon would even take a breath through her wonder for everything. There was nothing but pure joy in this dragon and nothing could rain on her parade.

Ayana was still trying to catch her breath. "Very excited, and nervous, and scared actually." Ayana had to admit. "Two dragon hatchings and a wher hatching and I still have not impressed. So I think I have a good reason." With that Spring popped in from between with Raimu not that far behind. Raimu instantly entangled herself in Ayana's hair gave Adam a hiss as Raimu curled around Ayana's neck an bit at him. Then she took Ayana's very shiney necklace into her mouth and hissed at him again. "This is Raimu, she is impulsive and loves hari and shiney things, and you have already met Spring." Ayana was happy though that she left her hair down. Raimu pulled a hissy fit when it was up. Literally. She would hiss for a very long time until Ayana pulled her hair out of the ponytail. She looked back on the sands as a green hatched.

"Now isn't she pretty?" Ayana said, meant mostly for herself but she tended to think out loud sometimes.

Max

Max hurried down the tunnles towards the hatching sands. He had heard the new like every other candidiate, A hatching was occuring. He was almost jumping with excitement. He couldn't wait to see what he dragons looked like.. Sketchbook in hand he burst onto the hatching sands, Falling on his face as he did so.

Tobias

Tobais Sat down in sands, excited. He had been waiting for the hatching to commence and now it finally had. He watched as other candidates impressed and more came. He noticed a boy of about his had flail onto the sands, falling on his face. He laughed and then turned his attention back to the dragon eggs.

"Are you okay?" Aluna asked Max quietly as she picked up his sketch book and held it to her chest as she offered a hand to help the lad up. Her eye could not help but look down at the drawing the page had flipped too. Then she handed the book back to it's owner. "You are good at drawing." Aluna commented just as quietly as she did before.

Max

He took the shy girls hand and brought himself to his feet. He started to laugh at his own clutziness, and the fact that he had made himself look like an idiot.

"Thank so much. Aahahaha, I bet I looked pretty silly didn't I? I always fall when I try to hurry. Thanks, Would you like me to draw you something?"

He smiled cheerfully as he took back his sketchbook and closed it up.

A tail thrashed through the shell of the Bengal Tiger Egg and the egg complied falling into pieces around the light goldish figure that swirled around to face everyone regally. He was fearless; he was large and bulky and he was not afraid of anything. With what seemed like a toss of his head he surveyed everything around him with a brutal honesty that made even the most confident person shrink back and second guess themselves. He was not going to sugar coat anything for anyone in his honest looks and finally pushing himself up from his seat at the insistence of his stomach he stalked across the sands; muscle normally unseen in a hatchling rippling beneath his hide as with confident movement he stalked through he candidates with precision and grace. Taking a graceful hop over the candidate that had fallen over he made his way over to the boy sitting in the sands.

'Nothing can stop us from doing what we want to do. Nothing can hold us back Tobias. Together you and I Sevvanth will be the best.'

He wound himself around the young boy; a boy many of the future would think too young to impress such a glorious bronze as Sevvanth. However they would also know that the dragon knew best; and if Sevvanth wanted Tobias then there was obviously something about him that would make them succeed.

Tiaholt laughed when she burst out of the shell. She was speechless when Arienyth came bounding towards her. The feeling of love that washed over her at that very moment was overwhelming. She wrapped her arms around her neck and carefully hugged her.

"You are so beautiful, my Arienyth." She started to cry she was so happy.

'Oh, Mine. Don't cry, please?'

"They are not sad tears, love. They are happy ones. Come and I will feed you." Not used using her mind to talk to Arienyth, she used the other method. She was from Earth and didn't know how to portray her thoughts into words, yet. She was eager to learn all she could about the hatchling and how to take care of her.

She always remembered what Aria said about her green and her impressing a possible sickly one. Pushing all the negative thoughts aside, she led the small hatchling just outside the Sands, watching her every step. If she stumbled or fell, Tia would be there to help. Once there, she did fed her the same way as Arikyu. She saw a pail and a slab of uncut meat. She approached it and looked at the meat. Tia sat and so did Arienyth. She cut up the meat in irregular shapes and began feed her lifemate.

"Now, chew and then swallow." She told the hatchling.

'I will try.'

Tia dropped a piece in her mouth and the dragonet purred. It tastes so good and she was so hungry. Arienyth wanted to swallow her meat whole but she took her time to chew and then swallow.

"Very good. Very well done and on your first try? Oh, that's even better!" Tia praised her. Arienyth purred and gave out a little warble of excitement.

Aluna

"Yes, you did look a little funny, and you have some sand right there." Aluna said as she quickly brushed the sand from the boys face. Aluna smiled at his question. "Maybe if we imppress you could draw me with my dragon."

Ayana

"Shhhhh." Ayana whispered to Raimu who kept hissing as each egg hatched. "They are not going to steal your shiney or your hair. One though may want me with them like you wanted to be with me. In that case you need to share." Ayana was petting her not-so-little green dragonet and without Raimu noticing pulled some of the hair from her dragonet. She knew that hair cut still cut and did not want her little lime to get hurt. Spring was being good and was sitting on Ayana's head, crooning down at her bonded. Which was helping Ayana's nerves since she was scared that she wouyld not imppress yet again.

Max

"Of course~ I would glady draw you and your dragon if you inpress, Im sure you will. How could a dragon pass up such a kind person? Thanks, Im a bitz of a clutz...In case you hadn't noticed already"

He sat down on the sand and began to quickl sketch the dragons that already hatched. His face was lit up and you could tell he was excited

Tobias

He watched as the Bronze made his way over, His heart beating rapidly. He was such a amazing colour, He reminded Tobias of the Savanas back in Africa.

'Nothing can stop us from doing what we want to do. Nothing can hold us back Tobias. Together you and I Sevvanth will be the best.'

When he heard the voice resound in his head, He was amazed. The Bronze had chosen him. He spoke in a hushed, but extremely happy tone.

"Yes, Sevvanth. Nothing will stop us, Me and you. We will go for it."

Tabby watched as a bright little green dragon hatched from the White Tiger egg. She hoped maybe the green would choose her, but instead it chose one of the others, Tiaholt. She wasn't familiar with the girl, but she cheered for her anyways. After that the Bengal Tiger egg hatched and at first she thought it was a gold that had hatched. However once the little dragon righted itself it was obvious he was a bronze. A proud one at that.

Ashur couldn't help but smile like an idiot at the three little dragonets that had hatched so far. He wasn't too sad that none had chosen him, but that was okay. He was still very hopeful.
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As if trying not to be to flamboyant and gawdy, the Peacock Egg slowly began to rock back and forth harder and harder. Finally when it seemed it would rock so hard it would fall over it stopped and remained absolutely still for a few minutes. Almost as if the little dragon inside needed a breather. Then without another movement the shell cracked and fell almost perfectly in two pieces.

Inside was a grayish looking blue, like slate almost only faded in color. He looked about him calmly and seeing his mother got up on all fours. He was a bit wobbly, but slowly he got his balance and went over to Galateath to give her a loving nudge on the forearm. After that he began looking for the one he wanted.

As he passed by the candidates he made sure to bump, nudge, or even lick in a friendly manner. None seemed to catch his eye however until he got to one boy in particular. 'Ah yes, you are most certainly the one for me, Taminy. Not that there is anything wrong with the others, but there is just something about you that I love more. I hope that you feel the same way about your Cendiriuth.'

Aluna

"Nobody knows who a dragon will pick till they have already picked." Aluna said simply but still quietly. She was actually suprised that it was so easy to talk to this young man. She was shy and normaly talked as little as possible to people she had not met. She looked over his shoulder at the dragons he was drawing. "Aluna." Aluna said silently, letting the boy know her name sincethey had not been introduced. Then she looked at the blue that hatched. She loved that color of blue.

Ayana

"Now that is a cute blue." Ayana said to herself, not caring if anyone overheard her. She still did not know if she could immpress let alone what color would pick her. Two greens had but that was because she was there at the right time. That is all.

Three more dragonets had hatched and Kassa had still not Impressed. Of course there really wasn't anything to worry about. After all, there were plenty more eggs in the sand and plenty more golds to lay Clutches. Twirling a lock of hair between her fingers, she eyed the dragons who had hatched and Impressed. Sure, she was happy for them. The other candidates. They were all in this to find where they belonged in this new world of theirs.

Kassa still remembered coming to Pern when she was only eight, her and Teleza. They're mother came as a sled pilot and still did her job. 'Course at eighteen, Kassa had decided she wanted a bit more freedom, to try and find her place. She'd been odd-jobing it since a month after her birthday. And then she'd been Searched and everything became a bit more clear for her. A place awaited Kassa in the skies, she was sure of it. Hadn't she always loved plane rides on Earth and then sled rides on Pern?

Adam smiled at Ayana, taking her hand and squeezing it in consolation. "A wher hatching? I may have heard of it, but wasn't that months ago? Plus no one knew about them at all at the time. Don't feel too torn up over that." Blinking as the green dragonet hissed at him, the red head backed off, a half smirk on his face as Ayana comforted her pet. Nodding, Adam extended a hand to his friend's firelizard. "Hey, there, Spring. I remember your good aim," he said, winking both at the green and at Ayana.

"Yes it was a few months ago but I remember it like it was yesterday." Ayana had to admit. Spring gave a chirp and looked at the han that had come into her vision, then she looked at Ayana and gave a little snort and hopped onto the hand. Good thing she was small and light. "She does have good aim." Ayana smirked. That was a good day back in winter, the snowball fight. That had helped bring her out of the deppression she was in. The other thing that helped was the dragonet and firelizard hatching at the litchens, where she impressed Raimu.

"The first egg that hatched had twin golds in it. Both golds impressed to guys. Then a blue hatched and impressed to another guy. Then a bronze impressed to a girl and the other two went wild. I think the names where Azrael, Jonas, Zachariah, and Sobi. In that order." Ayana gave Adam the run down of what happened at that hatching. "Landon was with me." The name almost brang tears to Ayana's eyes. "He died in the blizzard."

Rock, rock, rock....crack. One of the eggs was hatching! Rowan looked closely, trying to see which one....and then one veritably exploded, raining egg shards all over its siblings, and some sticking to the dragonet that bounded out of the mess as well. It was a standard, if bright blue, and very handsome, in Rowan's opinion. She knew she probably wouldn't Impress to it - they seemed drawn to boys more than girls - but he was amazing to watch, anyway. So enthusiastic! She couldn't help but grin as he bounded his way over to the candidates.

Are you Mine? You can't be Mine! Where are you hiding her! I know she is here somewhere. I can feel her! Mine where oh where are you? Playing hide and seek with your Fyrimith?

Rowan blinked in astonishment at the unfamiliar voice entering her head, though to her advantage she'd heard quite a few dragons before. Not so the boy beside her, apparently; she saw the lad with the mousy brown messy hair start in bewilderment, staring at the blue. What was his name? Taylor. Something...Taylor.

Keith, for his part, was astonished and amazed at the presence bursting into his mind. He felt immediately that it was only visiting, not staying, but that was all right, because it was reeling just to have that glimpse, though when the blue's voice was gone he felt oddly alone, and wished all the harder for his dragon to come, and quickly. he saw a woman, some years older than him, casting an amused glance his way; he managed a smile back, but his eyes couldn't be kept from the blue. He literally walked backwards, which made Keith laugh, and Impressed to a girl. That was unusual; not very many girls had Impressed to blues. He couldn't help being disappointed that that hadn't been his blue; it had been so bubbly and nice.

The next to hatch was a green, who was clearly just as exuberant as her blue brother, and also quite bright. Rowan leaned forward eagerly to see who it would go to; it seemed like greens Impressed easily to either gender, and she could be the one it found. Of course, the blue had Impressed to a girl after all....you never really knew. In the end the green did go to a girl as well, one whose name Rowan didn't know. She couldn't help her brow furrowing in disappointment, and thought she heard a small sigh from the Taylor kid beside her.

A noble bronze hatched next, one Rowan knew she had no chance for but one Keith couldn't keep his eyes off of. What a regal creature, rather unlike Static, hanging off his arm and grumbling at him. Keith chose to ignore him; Static always stopped eventually. He did love the dear bronze, but...he wasn't like that marvelous creature that Impressed to another boy that the candidate didn't recognize. Congrats to you, whoever you are, Keith thought, trying to smile. It felt false on his face.

Then another blue - for a moment both candidate's breaths caught in their throats, for they were thinking of the same thing: the sickly greens of the last hatching. Could this one be...? But no; he seemed quite healthy. The slate tone was natural, not because of ill health. He took his time Impressing, examining each candidate in turn and giving each a friendly gesture; Rowan got a lick, Keith a small nudge. Finally he stopped before one that Keith didn't know but Rowan recognized as the Searched writer, and Impression was made. Keith felt something of a sinking that another marvelous hatchling had passed him by, because that one was so friendly and loving, but seeing the elated beam of the lad's face he couldn't feel too bad. Besides, the hatching had only just started! If things continued on this way he'd be weeping by the end. Must be stronger.



Minutes passed. Candidates filed in around him, and Taminy saw the clutchmother's rider slip down as well. The eggs were shaking with vigor, but none showing the inclination to hatch first. Then...with such an explosion of shard, Taminy was almost surprised there wasn't an audible boom. A beautiful bright blue burst out, and Taminy was surprised to hear the blue's voice projected into his head - into everyone's head, judging by the expressions of the candidates around him. He remembered well what Zeonth's voice had felt like, and this was similar, yet much different at the same time. So filled with youth and exuberance; he was adorable.

He Impressed to Teleza. Then a green to Tiaholt and a bronze - magnificent creature - to Tobias. He knew their names only because they had also been Searched; not at the same time or place, but they'd all arrived about the same time as him, and he recognized them all, if not really knew them. He knew and recognized some of the other candidates - he saw Tabby in the crowd - but not nearly all of them. He was pleased that they had all Impressed successfully, though felt it a bit unfair that all the eggs were promptly hatching dragons that Impressed to the people who were newest. Didn't the others, the ones Standing in vain for two hatchings, deserve them more, after all their waiting?

But maybe it only proved that the dragons knew much better than the Geneticists.

At any rate, he couldn't change their choices, and nor did he really want to, seeing how happy it made the new dragonriders. The writer's eyes flicked back to the clutch as another egg announced its hatching with a sharp crack - the egg falling in halves away from the dragonet inside. This egg, Taminy realized, had been rocking back and forth with steadily increasing vigor for a few minutes; he hadn't seen it stand still so suddenly.

The blue that spilled forth was pale, almost grayish in color; Taminy thought of the sickly greens he'd seen around and sucked in his breath for a moment ,watching the blue get to its feet, but once it had steadied itself it seemed quite all right. No, that was just its color, slate-like, not a sign of sickness, thank goodness. Taminy watched hopefully while the blue went over to his mother and gave her an affectionate nudge before wandering over to the candidates. He was very friendly, nudging each one amiably before moving onto the next. Clearly he was finding none he liked - Taminy couldn't help but let the hope swell inside him as the blue got nearer and nearer, rejecting each candidate in turn. Would he be dismissed as well? Or would he...?

Ah yes, you are most certainly the one for me, Taminy. Not that there is anything wrong with the others, but there is just something about you that I love more. I hope that you feel the same way about your Cendiriuth.

For a long moment Taminy stood, uncomprehending, until the blue nudged him again, blinking up at him with rainbow eyes...Oh. Oh, oh, oh! Comprehension sped in all at once, and he was suddenly overwhelmed, dropping to his knees and hugging the blue. "I do, Cendiriuth, I do!" It took him several moments to feel the water dripping down his face, and realized he was crying, tears of pure happiness. "Cendiriuth. Cendiriuth!"

Now he understood the smiles that lit up their faces; now he knew why the dragonriders couldn't live without their dragons. This was wonderful, this was amazing. Having this presence inside him, filling a darkness he hadn't realized was there with warm, loving light - he'd been missing something from the day he was born, Taminy knew now, without ever knowing it. What he'd been missing was Cendiriuth, and he was here now.

Taminy... Cendiriuth ventured after a few more moments. Taminy, I'm hungry. He'd stayed where he was for a minute, nuzzling his chosen affectionately while he cried, because the blue felt Taminy's joy and knew these were not of grief, but of happiness. "Of course, Cendiriuth," the new rider said at once, wiping his face and standing it. He felt his blue's hunger so acutely now - separate, but still strongly there - that he wondered why he hadn't noticed it before. "Of course. The food's over there, we'll get you some. I'm sorry."

It's all right; I don't mind, the blue forgave easily, following his own to the food. Taminy began to cut up the pieces and hand them to Cendiriuth, who gulped them down ravenously, with so much exuberance that after a few minutes Taminy slowed, bade Cendiriuth chew slowly, so as not to choke. Of course I won't, came the answer, but he consented. Cendiriuth was interested in the hatching, watching what was going on, but Taminy could not keep his eyes off of his new charge. First try, and he'd really made it, really proved himself! That blue dragon had been right after all. He haddly even noticed when Terry and Scatter, who had disappeared, presumably, to find a better viewing spot, appeared by him, chattering loudly to each other. He had eyes only for Cendiriuth.