A Hatching to Remember

Writers: Devin, Dana
Date Posted: 17th January 2009

Characters: Traelyn, N'vanik
Description: Nyith's clutch hatches!
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 23 of Turn 4

N'vanik

The whole Weyr seemed to vibrate with the dragons' welcoming thrumming. Cries of excited Weyrfolk and shouts of various greetings added to the cacophony; this was how Hatchings always were. But this time, there was a queen egg on the Sands, so the noise seemed to be even more deafening. Well, at least to the Weyrwoman.

Traelyn's smile was huge, the light in her eyes a proud one as she and N'vanik entered the Hatching Grounds together. She surveyed the Stands, which were filling up quickly with spectators, and then raised her hand to wave at a few of the more important guests to acknowledge their presence, nudging N'vanik discreetly in the side to follow her example. She slanted an amused glance out of the corner of her eye at her Weyrleader. His people skills were improving, she had admit, if slowly. Ah well. It would come with time.

They climbed the few steps to take their seats in the first tier, and once she was sitting, Traelyn turned her eyes to Nyith, who was crouched before the queen egg, surveying her brood while eyeing the Candidates disdainfully. Nyith tended to be rather high-strung during Hatchings, but this time she was even more so. No doubt her rebellious attitude had to do with the golden egg between her forearms.

**You'll have to move back, dear heart,** Traelyn said gently.

Nyith hissed softly in defiance, eyes flashing yellow-orange as she swung her head possessively over her precious daughter egg.

**You know she's ready to hatch,** she coaxed. **And how can she find her lifemate with you blocking the way, hmm?**

The queen lashed her tail, a throaty sound escaping her as she shifted, reluctantly moving further back.

**A little more, Nyith, please. That's a love.**

The rocking of the eggs became more abrupt, and Nyith arched her neck, watching her brood keenly as she finally added her own deep, brassy hum to the melody of the other dragons. She knew it was time. Traelyn spared a glance at N'vanik, wondering how he was feeling in this moment--knowing that any second now, the shells would crack and his dragon's offspring would take their first steps in the sand, Impress their humans, and live.

Pride swelled within her, and she squeezed his arm gently before turning her eyes back to the Grounds. And just as she did so, one of the larger eggs split down the middle. Her breath caught in her throat as a bronze wing poked out from the shell, widening the crack so that the rest of him could follow. The bronze hatchling fell gracelessly to the sand, creeling loudly. Traelyn watched as the valiant little dragonet righted himself, then staggered in the direction of a group of boys, imperious in his demand. One of the young men cried out in surprise, his face suffused with shocked awe and utter joy. "His name is Monilath!"

Traelyn applauded the Impression along with the rest of the spectators, but the noise soon died down as the other eggs began to crack, spilling forth dragonets of all the colors. Shards, sometimes she wished that the eggs would hatch one at a time so she could see each Impression occur--it all always happened so fast!

Loseth's hatchlings! N'vanik's eyes darted around, trying to see everything going on down on the Sands. The first pair -- bronze, he noted with pride -- was leaving as several dragons hatched at the same time. A green to one side made Impression nearly at the same time as one in the center. Then a blue, and another green. N'vanik couldn't keep track of them all.

A green stumbled her way toward a broad shouldered boy. When their eyes met, N'vanik could see the surprise and joy spread over his face. The name he shouted was lost in the noise of the Grounds.

}:Her name is Sarath,:{ Loseth provided as he watched from his perch, swelled with pride.

N'vanik grinned and reached over to take his Weyrwoman's hand. His eyes drifted, once again, to Cosani. She was standing at the edge of a group of girls near the Queen egg, all of their eyes fixed on it. N'vanik willed the gold to choose his daughter, to give her the same rush of unconditional love that he'd felt when he Impressed Loseth.

A joyous shout coming from directly below them stole Traelyn's attention away from a newly Impressed sturdy brown and equally sturdy young man. "His name is Tahgirath!" the boy below them cried, throwing his arms around the little blue's glistening neck. Wasn't that L'pin's son? Ah, yes it was! Grinning, she applauded them. L'pin would certainly be proud!

Another bronze hatched, drawing much of the crowd's attention. That made two! He got a bit tangled up with his own wing, but when he righted himself, he made straight for a young man. "Xemroth!" came the tear choked cry.

A cluster of boys parted to let a blue pass. It caught N'vanik's attention. The little dragon moved past all the Candidates, and for a moment it looked like he was trying to leave the Hatching Grounds. But his destination was the dark haired boy lurking near the entrance. The blue stopped right in front of him and gazed up. It took a moment, but the stunned boy eventually realized what was going on and shouted the blue's name for everyone to hear. "Tealth!"

Faranth, what a rare occurrence! Traelyn's attention was abruptly pulled away--as it so often happened during a Hatching--to a little green who was determinedly making her way across the Sands, creeling in the most heart-rending way.

Cosani was so focused on the rocking gold egg that she didn't notice the green nearing her. But N'vanik did. He squeezed Trae's hand and leaned forward. The hatchling stopped right next to Cosani and butted her head against the girl's leg. She looked down, a confused frown on her face. The green cried out again and N'vanik saw Cosani say something. Then her face broke into a pure look of joy. She dropped down on her knees and embraced the dragon. "Shalith! Shalith!" she shouted.

For the first time since the Hatching started, N'vanik turned to Traelyn. "She Impressed!" He squeezed her hand again and then pulled her into a hug.

}:Our hatchlings will make a good pair,:{ Loseth said.

"I'm so happy for her," Traelyn told him with a huge smile, watching the newly Impressed pair and how Cosani's joy shone in her face, her eyes. But as it always happened during Hatchings, her attention was quickly diverted once again as suddenly another green dragonet stumbled towards the circle of girls waiting for the gold egg to hatch, creeling pitifully. Though awkward on her feet, the little green was determined and she came to a halt right in front of Sorsha. "Her name is Roseth!"

There were still many more eggs hatching all over the Grounds, but most of the spectators' attention was riveted on the queen egg, which was rocking more furiously than ever. It would be any time now. Traelyn gripped N'vanik's hand, awaiting the little darling's arrival with bated breath. Yes, it would be any time....ah-ha! There it was! A large crack had finally split the golden shell in half and the small gold dragon within was revealed at last. The gold beauty sat there, encased in the shards of her own egg, looking around her, seemingly more curious than anxious. The bronze dragons' hum took on an even deeper tone, for this was the birth of another queen, their mate. Nyith added her own stunning bugle as her daughter stepped lightly from the glittering shards, and after a long moment of studying the breathless girls before her, chose Meledei. "Her name is Elleth!"

Traelyn could feel tears prick her eyes as she applauded. This was how it had been with Nyith, all those Turns ago. She reached out for her dragon queen's mind, just as she reached for hers.

}:You are mine. We are together.:{

**Yes, my love. We are together.**

Joyously, she turned to her Weyrleader. Words alone could not express how happy she was--and how proud she was of them both. One hand slid down his arm in a meaningful caress before taking his hand. She smiled at him. "Come on, N'vanik." And together they both went downstairs to congratulate the new pairings.

Last updated on the January 19th 2009

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A Hatching to Remember