Shards on the Sands

Writers: Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 3rd December 2017

Characters: Cyradis, N'vanik
Description: A new queen and her clutchmates are hatched
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 17 of Turn 9

Cyradis

N'vanik

It was mid-morning and Cyradis had just poured her second cup of klah,
tucked her feet under her and leaned against the back of the sofa with
a book. All the preparations were made for the hatching, they just
needed the trigger to tell them it was happening.

She smiled at the thought of the day Panitath had found her on the
Sands at Dragonsfall. That day was burned into her memory as if with a
hot iron. She'd never felt such joy before that day.

}:They come,:{ Panitath announced to her and to her consort at the
same time. }:My children will find their lifemates now:{

Cyradis put down the book and her cup. She walked into her room and
began to pull her clothing and dress. Sapphire blue underdress was
followed by a gold brocaded overdress with tissue thing sleeves from
the elbows down. She swept her golden curls into an updo to make her
look slightly taller and affixed a jeweled comb with a spray of
sapphire feathers on the side. Then she took out a small box and
smiled waiting for N'vanik to appear.

It was hard to get ready with so much excitement buzzing through him
and the hum of the dragons echoing through the Weyr. N'vanik finally
managed to get everything in order and checked himself three times in
the mirror before he left to meet Cyradis. He was dressed in a new
outfit as well: medium-brown jacket and trousers with gold embroidery
running in a line down both sleeves and the outside seam of his
trousers. His shirt was blue to match Cyradis's outfit.

When Cyradis answered the door he greeted her with a kiss on the
cheek. "The big day is here."

"It is," she agreed leaning into the kiss. She put her arm around his
waist for a squeeze and held up the box. "Happy hatching," she said.

He took the box with a smile and offered her an envelope. "Happy hatching."

N'vanik's eyes lit when he opened the box and saw the small ring
engraved with the leaping dolphin. It was Dolphin Cove's badge, set
with sapphires. "It's beautiful." He reverently slid it onto the pinky
of his right hand. "Thank you."

She smiled and then opened the envelope. "Ten crates? Oh N'vanik!" She
could hardly believe it. "I'd thought most of the citrus crop was
destroyed! This is wonderful." Impulsively she pulled his face down
and kissed him.

He kissed her back, smiling against her lips. "I thought you could make
a special batch, name it after the new queen."

"You're right," she smiled and laid the envelope on the table next to
the door. "But I think we need to get to the cavern and watch our
clutch." She turned toward the door and moved down the hall toward the
entrance to their box in the stands. "Here we go," she said.

The cavern was full of activity with voices and dragons dropping off
candidates. A line of white robes marched in from the direction of the
Weyrbowl. She reached for N'vanik's hand.

N'vanik squeezed her hand and looked over at the gold egg. He
remembered the last time Loseth had sired a queen, the first time.
Meledei and Elleth, who had moved to the North. He wondered if they
would come to watch this Hatching. His gaze turned to the hopeful
youngsters dressed in white. There were more girls than usual, many of
them recently Searched to give the little queen more choices. There
was also a handful of Candidates brought over from River Bluff, both
girls and boys, who had lost their last chance at Clutch in such a
shocking way.

There were quite a few more dignitaries in the stands than normal. Of
course, most of the increase was due to their broadened territory but
she was certain some of it was because of the gold egg. Then the
humming seemed to increase in volume. "Oh," she pointed as the eggs
began to rock and the candidates moved forward as they'd been trained.

The first one cracked and then split forcefully, sending a few bits of
shell spinning through the air. A little blue wobbled out of the
wreckage, his steps becoming more sure as he wove through the other
eggs toward the Candidates. Tyselin stepped out to meet him. The young
man and the hatchling stared at each other for a few heartbeats before
Tyselin dropped to his knees and pulled the little blue into his arms.

"Calaroth! His name is Calaroth!"

Cyradis clapped loudly and then pointed as a dark brown hatchling
burst from his egg and promptly fell on his face. Several candidates
started forward to help the little guy but it was young man she hadn't
seen before who got there and froze momentarily. "Noooooo," burst from
a man in the stands and she blinked looking quickly towards the
commotion. A woman hauled the man down back into seat and she shook
her head. The young man didn't seem to hear the commotion and his
face was full of joy as he brushed sand from the little brown
Marlath's face and let him off the sands. "R'fal? Is that his name
now?"

"Browns don't usually get that reaction," N'vanik said. It could be a
relative worried for the boy's safety, though. Being a rider during a
Pass meant facing death and serious injury on a regular basis.

Two greens and a blue hatched in rapid succession. One of the greens
found Neria, her expression changing from confusion to wonder as
Ascath looked up at her with rainbow eyes.

More greens stumbled across the Sands. Many of the female Candidates
hovered near the queen egg, their gazes flicking toward the green
dragonets.

A sigh went up from the crowd as the gold egg began to rock and crack.

A couple of the female candidates stepped forward and Cyradis hand
when to her mouth. "That's not good," she said. "What if she wants one
of the girls in the back. She'll go right through them."

With a pop that could be heard at the back of the stands it shattered
Santhiath stepped delicately out of her egg. She seemed to sniff the
air around her for a moment then she snarled at the girl in front of
her and started marching across the Sands. A second girl didn't get
out of the way quite quickly enough and the little gold walked right
over her.

Meanwhile a brown hatched nearby and ran straight for Kedon. Cyradis
grinned until their lines intersected and the little brown knocked
Dessa down. "Oh Maciath," she heard him say. Her eyes found K'deren
with a smile.

}:Dessa mine:{ Santhiath cried out. Dessa crawled to the beautiful
creature and began picking the shards of egg from her back and wings
talking to her and assuring her she was just fine. Panitath crooned
her approval of her daughter's choice. Healers swooped down on the
pair along with the Weyrling staff.

The cheering was uncertain until one of the healers signaled that the
girl was okay and a roar went up in the Stands. Dessa was a recent
Candidate so N'vanik wasn't familiar with her, but she was older so he
was pleased about that. Cyradis was more familiar with the Candidates,
especially the female ones. He'd ask her later what she thought of
Dessa.

Loseth and the other bronzes welcomed their new queen. }:Our daughter
is strong,:{ Loseth told Panitath, his mindvoice full of pride and
affection.

One of the girls who had been focused on the gold hatchling was chosen
by a green instead. Ashelia immediately forgot her disappointment as
overwhelming love filled her.

A bronze wandered uncertainly before finally choosing an older
Candidate. More greens hatched. One walked by Brinnjura without a
glance, but Okalinath plopped down right at her feet and made herself
known.

There were egg shards everywhere and the Candidates had thinned as the
newly made pairs walked off together. Finally there was only one egg
left. A blue with very dark hide pushed his way out and several boys
moved forward, realizing this was their last chance.

The blue hissed at them and they scrambled out of the way to avoid his
claws. }:Not mine! Where are you?:{

With the way cleared, the little hatchling stumbled his way straight
toward Vatirel. The boy's face lit up as Rymeth declared his choice.

A'kades's happy shout rose over the general cheering of the crowd.

Cyradis chuckled and applauded for the end of the hatching. She bowed
her head in acknowledgement when the crowd turned toward their box
then she stood and took N'vanik's arm. "Shall we?"

Last updated on the December 10th 2017

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Shards on the Sands