Egg Touching: Instructions and Questions (1/2)

Writers: AL, Duskdog, Francesca, Heather, Iluva, Sia, Yvonne
Date Posted: 19th June 2025

Characters: J'nic, K'lin, W'yel, N'mar, D'narion, Riali, T'erin, Thiseta
Description: The Candidates touch Imbeth’s eggs.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 8, day 4 of Turn 12

J'nic

N'mar

T'erin

“Alright everyone,” J’nic told the assembled Candidates. They were arrayed in a loose semi-circle outside the entrance to the hatching cavern. “We’re lucky Imbeth and Thiseta are allowing us to see the eggs. Not all golds want visitors. In a moment we’re going to file into the cavern in pairs. We’ll greet the Weyrwoman, bow to Imbeth, and see if they have any final words to us. Once you have their permission, you can approach the eggs. You can touch them gently, speak to them softly. I encourage you to spend a little time with a number of different eggs, since you never know which egg your dragon might hatch from. While a larger egg might be a sign of a larger dragonet inside, there are always surprises, so keep that in mind. The goal of this is to give you a chance to get more comfortable in the space and in front of the eggs before the Hatching. And, sometimes a dragonet will Impress a Candidate who touched their egg.”

“Most importantly,” J’nic’s voice grew sterner, “if at any moment the Weyrwoman says it’s time to go, we’ll go immediately.” He scanned the group, mentally making note of a few Candidates he wanted to keep an eye on.

“Any questions before we go?”

Kedolin didn’t answer. That wasn’t a surprise to anyone who knew him well enough. Although the sort to listen, he didn’t necessarily ask any questions simply because he took everything as it came, and accepted whatever happened. All instructions were heeded, and if he made a mistake, he would learn from it. If he truly didn’t understand, he would inquire, but he found very little not to understand, particularly since it was all just explained to them. They were to go, be respectful, and follow instructions to the letter.

Briefly, his eyes flicked over to the entrance to the hatching cavern. Although he had been born in a weyr, he had little memory of it. His mother had taken him and his brother away to live with their family when they were little. All he could remember were the voices that rang constantly in his head. He had only a few snippets of actual words, but most of it had been simply noise.

Those had returned, for he had returned. The last few weeks were spent with an aching headache that refused to go away. It pounded in the back of his skull and marched its way to the front, then down his entire face, returned to the back, and started all over again.

As the days passed, he adjusted. Eventually, he discovered he could tune it out. No, that wasn’t the proper word for it. More, it was a way of shoring up his mind, of pushing out the thoughts of the others and closing a door that prevented them from entering unless he opened it. Thus far, he had yet to figure out how to only open it a little, for one voice at a time, and there were still moments he could no longer keep it up, and the voices crowded in against his will, but day by day, he got stronger. At that particular moment, he was all right, and, hopefully, he could keep it all at bay to get through the hatching.

Neymar had no questions at present, none that could be answered by another dragon’s rider, at least. His were more abstract: could this be his clutch? Would one of these dragonets look at him at Hatching day? And that was something only time could answer. In the meantime, he stretched his big arms over his curly head, touching the excitement in the air and readying his fingers while smiling at a couple of the other Candidates.

Wayell shifted nervously from foot to foot, hands clutched tightly in the hem of his shirt. They were going to see the eggs! He had never actually seen one before -- not in real life, anyway, just in pictures in books sometimes. His stomach did excited/uncomfortable flip-flops. This seemed like such a special, reverent occasion…did he really belong here to experience something like this?

To dispel his nervousness, he thought of questions he had. The Weyrlingmaster said they could ask. It wasn't wrong to ask. And maybe he'd feel more confident if he knew more.

“Sir,” he piped up, his voice cracking in the middle of the word. He swallowed and tried again. “Sir, can the baby dragons hear us from inside the egg?”

“They can,” J’nic replied with a smile and a nod. “While they might not exactly be able to understand us, they can at least get a sense of our tone. Dragons have told us that we can speak to the eggs out loud or in our minds; both work. And, while they might not exactly remember you when they hatch, it’s possible the dragonets are able to get some idea of who you are from this visit. At least, it can’t hurt.”

Donnarion grinned at Wayell and raised his own hand. "Sir, what about _us_ hearing them?" He gestured towards himself and his brother.

That was a question J’nic hadn’t heard before. “I’m not sure. My guess is they aren’t developed enough to have a conversation. You’re welcome to try listening though, and let me know what you hear.”

Donnarion saluted back. Oh, he will.

Riali listened carefully to the Weyrlingmaster’s words and the following exchange. While there were plenty of questions she could ask, there was no way she’d raise her hand in front of the whole group. Her goal was to make it to the Hatching and then, if she didn’t Impress, she’d have to figure out what to do.

Temrin just hoped he made it out of this without his father’s weyrmate’s dragon eating him.

Once the questions were over, it was time to begin. The Weyrlingmaster led the way, and all the candidates filed suit. Looking up, Kedolin's eyes followed the ceiling as they all moved forward, the bodies beside him rippling and almost bouncing with anticipation. He felt his own weld up, but tamped it down, keeping a calm and composed outward appearance. As they stepped into the hatching cavern proper, the ceiling of the entryway sharply rose, and he turned his eyes back downward - then froze. There, upon the sands, a beautiful array of eggs lay, and a giant guardian hovered nearby.

She was a splendid dragon, warm gold, glistening hide, and slender head. For a moment, Kedolin couldn’t help but stare at her, mesmerized at the sight. It was then that the Weyrlingmaster’s motion caught his attention and he quickly tore his gaze away to rest upon the greenrider and the rider of the beautiful gold to whom J’nic spoke.

J’nic bowed and smiled as they arrived, then made sure the Candidates fanned out some distance from the eggs. “Thiseta, Imbeth,” he said. “Thank you for letting us visit your beautiful clutch. I gave the Candidates some general guidelines, but anything in particular they should keep in mind?”

“Thank you all for coming.” Thiseta was smiling, although Imbeth looked less than happy where she crouched at the back of the cavern. She stood at the edge of the giant nest that Imbeth had created, with the eggs clustered in small groups behind her. Electric lights gleamed off the mottled eggshells and cast sharp-edged shadows at their feet. The Weyrwoman tried to catch the eye of each of the candidates and wished she’d had the time to meet them before their big day as she spoke. “For those of you who haven’t Stood before, the eggs have hardened and are very sturdy but please remember to walk slowly and keep your voices down, for Imbeth’s sake. I encourage you to touch or speak to as many of the eggs as time allows. The more respectful you are, the longer Imbeth will let you stay.” She nodded to J’nic. “I’ll be with Imbeth, and I will let you know when it is time to go.”

Not only was Temrin entranced by the woman speaking, but the golden dragon behind her. It was the first time he had seen one up close and her size was mind-boggling. How did such a small woman keep such a large dragon in check, he wondered.

J’nic returned the nod. “Ok, Candidates. You can touch the eggs now.”

Last updated on the June 22nd 2025

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Egg Touching: Instructions and Questions (1/2)