The Hatching

Writers: Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 15th January 2007

Characters: K'sedel, Tsaera
Description: Tabanirth's Eggs Hatch
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 13 of Turn 4
Notes: Congrats to all the new dragonriders! :) See a complete list
of who Impressed whom at the end of the post. Yay!

K'sedel

It had been a long day. Threadfall days were always long, and the day after she felt the effects of them. The worry, the Threadscores, the in-and-out of /between/ and the smell of firestone and agenothree...
and being grounded, watching Lenala lead her Wing... that was difficult. And then the hidework; hidework excusing 'Scored dragonriders from drills, documenting their injuries and whether or not they'd be able to fly in the next 'Fall, contacting loved ones (should they have them) outside the Weyr... again with Lenala's help.
Thankfully no dragons keened yesterday.

It was just before lunch when Tsaera pushed open the door to the Hatching caverns and let the heat wash over her. Tabanirth stirred as the draft from the large doors brushed her golden hide, and she looked over her shoulder as her rider entered. ~}Tsaera!:{ "How are they?" the Weyrwoman asked. Any day now the Eggs would hatch.

}:I suspect that it will be soon.:{ "Today?"

}:Soon.:{ The golden queen returned her attention back to her unborn brood, and Tsaera supressed a yawn as she climbed the first two tiers of the Stands. She spread out her hidework and contemplated starting some of it, but the heat and the lack of sleep from the night before were catching up to her. **Just a few moments...** she thought sleepily, **I'll just close my eyes for a moment or two.**

~*~

}:Tsaera!:{ Tabanirth's mindvoice jerked Tsaera out of her snooze. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. **What is it?**

}:It is beginning!:{ The Weyrwoman suddenly became aware of the bone deep hum that resonated through her dragon's chest and into the Hatching cavern.
She looked up, but Tabanirth was still alone. **It must have just started...** "Have you called Nikornath?"

}:He is coming,:{ Tabanirth said dreamilly. Her attention was fixed elsewhere. }:They are all coming. They WILL come!:{
**Good. Great.** Tsaera looked down at herself, at the hides spread across the Stands around her. She was wearing work clothes; plain, serviceable, and utterly unsuitable for a Hatching. Shards. **I'll be right back, Tabanirth,** she said, and gathered up her things.

It didn't take long to run back to her weyr and throw on something airy, light, and shot through with gold. Gold bangles hugged her wrists and loose cut trousers whisked around her sandaled feet as she returned to the Hatching Cavern. It was beginning to fill, and the air was filled with the welcoming hum of dragons. It didn't take her long to spot K'sedel. "Are you ready?" she asked as she came up behind him.

"As I'll ever be." The Weyrleader had taken time to hastily bathe, and hand his newborn daughter over to her mother to soothe. The excitment of a hatching was almost the same as becoming a father again, or that was what K'sedel had used to compare it against when talking to his bronze.

"Are they ready?" he said as the candidates filed in.

"They never really are," Tsaera said, pausing to give Ciara a kiss on the cheek and the baby a soft chuck under the chin. She spotted Felarin amidst the candidates, looking nervous and terribly young in his white robe. He caught her eye, and she smiled at him. "I wish J'an was here."

"Me too."

The Weyrleader watched as the young people formed the loose semi-circle favoured by so many for the hatchings. A hush spread amongst them, somehow being there quietened even the most cocky of youngsters. The feelings of hope, dread, awe rapidly becoming evident on their faces.

"Won't be too long now."

Almost as he said it, the tone of the humming changed. Tabanirth lashed her tail, causing some of the candidates to jump and eye her warily, their attention now torn between the Eggs and the queen who guarded them. Three of the Eggs began to rock and the air in the Caverns took on a tense, expectant quality. Tsaera stepped forward in spite of herself as one of the smaller Eggs cracked, and out spilled a little green. Several of the girls rushed forward, but only one Impressed, calling out, "Zenishith!" joyously as the other got a long, bloody scratch on her shin for her trouble.

A second Egg hatched, revealing a brown who was quickly Impressed by a red headed young boy who couldn't have been more than thirteen turns. Then a green, and another blue. By then the Hatching Cavern's walls seemed to reverberate with joyous shouts and clapping and the humming of dragons. Tsaera lost sight of Felarin, then caught a glimpse of his face through the crowd. He looked determined, frustrated, angry, hopeful. Her heart went out to him, and then she lost sight of him again.

Smiling K'sedel watched as one of the smaller eggs rocked, which seemed to set off a chain reaction. All around them, browns, blues and greens chose their new partners, with looks of joy on the young faces as they led them off for their first meals.

There were four Eggs left. One split down the middle, spilling out a squalling green, almost the same time as another burst and released a little bronze. The green was quickly claimed by a tiny girl in pigtails while the bronze searched the dwindled crowd. The third egg cracked as the fourth continued to rock, then a blue nose was revealed. A boy with freckles rushed forward and began pulling at the shell as the last Egg slowly cracked and out struggled a little green. But Tsaera lost interest as she heard a strong male voice call out, "Seneth!" Felarin had Impressed!

"I don't believe it," she muttered.

"He's got dragonrider blood in his veins," commented K'sedel as the lad led his new bronze dragon off the Sands. "Looks to be a fine one he's Impressed, too. Congratulations!"

"Thank you. But I still can't believe it..." Tsaera glanced up at the Stands. Even though she couldn't see her, she knew Everlyin would be white faced and tight lipped. "My daughter is going to murder me..."

"I'm sure it'll be just fine."

Somehow, Tsaera wasn't comforted.

~*~

River Bluff Weyr's newest Junior Weyrlings:

Belamick (B'lamick) Impressed bronze Latarth (written by Cali)
Felarin (F'lin) Impressed bronze Seneth (written by Yvonne)
Ioporol (I'poro) Impressed blue Foroth (written by Patrick)
Honalyse Impressed green Tibith (written by Eimi)
Rizona Impressed green Ucsonth (written by Heather)

Last updated on the January 17th 2007

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The Hatching