A Hatching

Writers: Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 21st July 2008

Characters: Tsaera, K'reyel
Description: Tabanirth's clutch hatches
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 10, day 14 of Turn 4
Notes: Congratulations to our new Weyrlings!

Vykor, now V'kor and blue Wavenith (written by April)
Onesime, now O'sime and blue Terekith (written by Yvonne)
Ivane, now Ivane and green Jilith (written by Amanda)

K'reyel

Tabanirth surveyed her brood with pride... and a little annoyance. The instinct to guard her eggs was stronger than her desire to feel the wind singing beneath her wings, or to bathe in the cool waters of her lake... but that didn't mean that she didn't long for the shells to crack and release the little dragons she could feel inside.

Today, she thought. It was going to be today. The shells were hard and dry, made solid by the heat of the sands and by time. She crooned to them softly, gently, so low that the other dragons couldn't hear and take up her call.
Not yet, not before she _knew_ the time was right. }:Come out,:{ she told them, }:Come stretch your wings.:{ Blue, bronze, green, and brown, they began to stir... and answer her call.
Tabanirth began to hum in earnest as she called her rider to witness the birth of her brood - and her mate.

~*~

Tsaera was in the bath when the call came. She was stretched out and contemplating the cellulite that dotted her thighs beneath the water, wondering where the firmness of youth had fled and wondering if it would help if she cut back on the pastries and cakes. The problem was abandoned as soon as Tabanirth summoned her, and she began to thank her age as she toweled her hair dry: a young goldrider, like Lenala or Ariata, tended to be self-conscious and hyper-aware of the eyes that judged her. Tsaera was old enough that as long as she looked presentable, nobody cared what she wore.

A light ocher tunic was pulled from her closet and paired with a pair of black trousers, which she belted, and a pair of sandals to protect her feet from the hot sands without frying them in boots. She slipped a pair of heavy gold cuffs around each wrist and chose a pair of gold drop-shaped earrings, and ran a brush through her errant grey hair. A quick peek in the mirror showed that she was dressed well enough, and then she was out the door and hurrying toward the Sands.

The dragons knew - even this far inside the Weyr the stones reverberated with their humming as they encouraged and welcomed the new dragonkin to Pern. A steady stream of Weyrfolk headed into the Stands, but they parted before her to let her pass through and assume her usual station on a platform at the front. Even now greenriders and blueriders would be popping out from /between/ over the Weyrbowl, bringing guests from the Holds and Holdings that answered to River Bluff. The kitchens would be sent into a frenzy as the evening meal was put on hold in favour of a feast. Tsaera spared a moment's sympathy for Solieira, who would be conducting the chaos in the Lower Caverns much the same way a Master Harper conducted an orchestra.

Her weyr wasn't far from the Hatching Caverns, and Tsaera slipped through the double doors and hurried down toward the platform she usually sat on. A pair of chairs had already been put out for herself and K'reyel, and Tsaera sat on the nearer one and stretched her legs out in front of her. }:You ought to be proud,:{ she told her dragon.

}:And I am.:{ A shadow crossed the Sands, and both Tabanirth and her rider looked up to see Erdenth glide to a gentle landing near his mate. Soon the rafters would be filled with dragons - Erdenth's arrival meant that the others were welcome, and already Tsaera could see a glimmer of sunlight on dragonwings near the Cavern's opening. }:K'reyel approaches,:{ Tabanirth said.

Tsaera turned and grinned at the bronzerider. "I wondered how long it would take you to get here."

"As far as Erdenth was concerned, I wasn't quick enough. I tried explaining that it won't happen just yet, but he's impatient, wanting to see the hatchlings." The bronzerider smiled as he smoothed down his shirt. "Mai will be here soon, she's just feeding the baby, but she said she wasn't going to miss this."

"Naturally." There wasn't a soul in the Weyr that would _want_ to miss a Hatching, but naturally, a good portion of the Lower Caverns would be too busy with their Hatching Feast duties to attend. The hum of dragons was beginning to vibrate through her bones, and she curled her toes with pleasure. "And this turn, we have enough Candidates that I'm confident that no one will suffer for want of a match."

"Thank Faranth," K'reyel was serious there, particularly after hearing of hatching where dragonets had died from not finding their matches. "Shall we take our seats?" he suggested, offering his arm. "I think there may be people waiting for us before they allow the candidates to come in."

Tsaera nodded and allowed herself to be led down from her perch to greet their guests.

Last updated on the July 21st 2008

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A Hatching