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Post by Phly on Mar 11, 2009 16:35:47 GMT -6
Norali yawned, feeling stiff all over. It had been almost three four sevendays since she had, perhaps a little irresponsibly, allowed all those people onto the Sands to see the Eggs. Well, that was then and this is now and Phaelith had just informed her this morning, as she was turning the Eggs, that the Candidates might be able to come in again. While she was excited at the prospect of allowing all these new young faces a chance to done exactly what she had before she Impressed Phaelith, she was also mildly concerned about Phaelith's behavior.
The gold could go from docile to vicious in a matter of moments when it came to protecting these Eggs of hers. Still, each of them were quite hard and the woman knew it would be a matter of a couple of hours to a couple of days that these little beauties would Hatch. For the time of year, it was extremely warm and Phaelith said that the nice weather was helping the Eggs. Hopefully that was true.
The Candidate Master and Headwoman arrived right on time, Norali noted, standing up to greet them. Phaelith regarded the two with mildly whirling eyes, though she seemed completely at ease with their presence in her Hatching Grounds.
"Good day to you both. I trust the Candidates will be easy enough to find?" She asked the tall Candidate Master. He nodded reassuringly, as did the Headwoman.
"We'll bring them along shortly, Nor," The Headwoman told her kindly, patiently.
"Wonderful, bring them in, then," She said, dismissing them both to collect the Candidates.
Now, it would be time for them to lay their hands on Phaelith's Eggs.
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Post by wolflover1458 on Mar 11, 2009 16:54:49 GMT -6
They were allowed to touch the eggs finally? This was news for Senra. After they had been yelled at to get out, she wondered if they would even get to go back until the hatching. Well, if they could go down, she was going. Senra made her way to the hatching grounds, where she bowed respectfully to the Queen, hoping her mood had improved. She wished once again she could say something to the Weyrwoman, but she couldn't, so she just went in.
Senra made her way to the Lonely Hearts Club egg. She stroked it softly. It felt warm, not like the searing heat of the hatching sands, but a nice warm. She wondered if the egg would even hatch. She knew she should stroke some of the other eggs, but she couldn't. Senra felt connected to this egg: abandoned and different.
Abandoned, well, Senra had been abandoned at birth by her parents, at least she thought so. This egg wasn't really abandoned, but it was by itself on the edge of the clutch, as though no one liked it. Different, because this egg was small and white, definitely different from the rest of the eggs. She, Senra, had no tongue, and never had. They were both different, and they would both, hopefully, find partners at the hatching.
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Post by wingrider on Mar 11, 2009 19:41:34 GMT -6
Elyrin was excited. She'd heard that Phaelith would allow the Candidates on the Sands to touch the Eggs. She quickly made her way to the Hatching sands and she stood for a moment to take in the sight of the Eggs. She thought the eggs look beautiful. She curtseyed to Phaelith and walked onto the sands further, though she didn't move towards the eggs yet.
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Post by Khay on Mar 11, 2009 21:42:45 GMT -6
OoC: Bear with me. I’m trying to teach myself how to write again… Well, right my way. xD It’s tough. As much as I would like to apologize for the length... This was kind of a remedy for me also... So... Instead, I'll merely say: I hope I kept it interesting enough to catch your attention.
As the dreamer wakes with the rising sun No longer does she soar amidst the beauty She must give up her wings to live this life The song faded furthermore
IC: When Minari heard the news that they would seen be expected at the hatching sands, she was frozen to the ground. She had known that the eggs were on the ground, but she had never thought that she would be able to go see them. Honestly, all this was a dream to her. She wasn’t a candidate, not at all. Instead, she was a dreamer waiting for the dream to come to an end, and for her day to begin. Amber eyes had rested upon her hands, watching them glisten in the sunlight. To her, they felt clammy. With the depth of her vision, she was scared. What if she wasn’t to the standards that they would expect? What would happen if a dragon were to stare her in the face, and turn her down? She wasn’t good enough, wasn’t pretty enough; wasn’t sensitive enough to even earn the title of a candidate?
With thoughts running through her head of fear and turmoil, she has stood; a delicate hand brushing long onyx hair behind her shoulders as she gave the messenger a shy smile. Her eyes were dead. The young woman could feel the quivering fear as she brought herself to her feet, focusing solely upon her balance as she had drawn back her shoulders and had walked out of the gardens. Every touch of her booted foot upon the soil had brought back the dangerous anxiety. It was crippling, the nervousness that had traveled through her gut, and it had practically wrenched her beating heart, her essence of life, out of her trembling chest.
Her somber eyes had dropped to the palms of her hands as she had made her way towards the candidate barracks. She had noted the dirt. It sullied her, brought her to frenzy! All she had to show for herself were filthy hands. It wasn’t good enough. It had never been good enough. She would never present herself in such a manner before the Queen and her rider! She had raced to her room. Her breathing ragged. Her lungs screaming for air after she had climbed all the stairs. By the time that she finally crashed through her door, she collapsed. Tears streaming down her face as she internally clawed at the hope that yearned to break through the darkest veil of her heart. Gnawing at her mind with the same intensity of the searing torment of thread, she remembered the damage that had been done to her mind when the asteroid has struck. Deep within her soul, a shattering feeling of hopelessness attacked her and swept her amidst their illusions…
Slowly golden tinted eyes opened as she sat upon a chair, fingers running through neatly brushed hair. Well-kept black boots graced her feet as darkly coloured summer pants dangled lazily around her legs. Covering her torso was a dark crimson blouse that crept right up to her neck, fitted nicely to her body with a certain dignity and modesty. It was gather wear, clothes that shouldn’t be used unless for special occasions. She knew that the Weyrwoman wouldn’t mind if a candidate roamed into the sands in their casual wear, but she did mind. The Golden queen upon the sands deserved every respect that she could offer.
Black hair cascaded around her shoulders in almost menacing waves as Minari allowed her long fingers to caress its texture, attempting to bring herself comfort. Slowly she brought her hair to the front of her shoulders, allowing it to give her face shape and glow. What stared back at the girl sitting upon that chair was a young woman looking lost and afraid. The woman’s eyes were bright with tears, slightly rimmed as her skin was an almost rosy colour, the dirt having been rubbed until it was nearly painful. Now, she was cleansed.
Slowly dark lashes fell over her eyes as the woman brought herself to her feet, covering her glass once more. Hesitantly she walked across her floor, adjusting herself to the feel of her boots. Once again, those bright eyes caught sight of her hands. As her palms were slowly turned, she felt the same trepidation taint her mind. Her hands would be tarnished. What greeted her, was something different. Bronze sun-kissed skin was all that showed. There was no hint in the fact that she had played in the mud. There was nothing that she could see that told her apart from those born in the Weyr. The only exception? Her lack of confidence.
A shaky breath entered her lungs as she stood tall, calming her nerves. She was like every body else. The Weyrwoman might never know her name, and nor would the Great Queen that she rode. Minari might never have her name written anywhere in the hides except for having impressed and been admitted to the ranks of the wings. But she knew that to one, even if only one, person she would be unique. To one being she would be special. To one being, she would be their world. She had to convince herself of this knowledge, for if she didn’t she would flee, never to return. There would be a dragon there for her, if not this time, perhaps next. There will be that companion somewhere out in the world that she would one day come across. Her soul yearned for it. It had haunted her every dream since she was a child. Had chased away every nightmare. It was that hope that she knew that she must grasp, and as fragile fingers curled just over her heart, as her face fell forward faintly and her head hung faintly, she kept that thought close to her heart. There would be hope.
She was ready.
It was time…
Slowly she approached the sands, gazing at the bright light and the warmth as it traveled through the air and caressed her skin. Each step she took brought her closer to her destination, and with each stride, she felt the palpitation of her heart, the exhilarating rush that traveled through her limbs, causing everything to come alive once more, bright, new, and young. Her fingers tingled, her breath was coming in short gasps. The excitement was barely containable as the fear begin to prickle in the back of her mind. Her hope held through. It was with her head held high that the woman walked out into the hatching grounds.
The heat caused her toes to tingle as the woman brought her eyes first upon the large Queen in the middle of the sands. She couldn’t look at the eggs yet, instead, she watched the Queen, moving only to the side as her aspirations slowly started to fade. She would never survive upon the sands amongst the people who were younger than her, the people who would bring the Weyr most hope.
Already there were candidates upon the sands, one mingling amongst the eggs while the other stood to the side. She didn’t look at the one walking silently between the eggs. She could see her silhouette out of the corner of her eyes, and that was more than enough to satisfy her curiosity. She needed a moment, a moment to herself, a moment to breathe. She needed a single instant of comfort and assurance that she wasn’t alone amongst strangers.
Her eyes closed.
Gently she knitted together the chaotic emotions within. Slowly she placed them side by side, comparing them as she gathered whatever courage she could. The love and warmth from her childhood dream would never be a lie if she didn’t let it be. Tentatively she reached out for it, the dream of her riding upon a dragon’s back. It had never had a colour. It had always been something that was undetermined, something that she knew she would love eternally, as all riders did with their dragons.
Love. Adoration. Hope.
It was those emotions that she knew that she had to keep.
Her eyes flared open.
As she set her eyes upon the eggs, she felt her mouth slowly lose all of its moisture. They were magnificent. In awe she started at them. In hope she took a step forward. In confidence, she smiled and turned towards the great Queen. Slowly she bent her torso, curving it towards the ground. Slowly she lowered her eyes, granting her respect, wishing that she had a way to say it to the dragon herself. Instead, she filled her mind with the feelings that came naturally now that she was upon the sands. The love, the hope, the adoration, and awe. It was real, it was beautiful, and it was all towards her magnificent eggs.
Slowly she lifted herself and turned, making her way towards the Weyrwoman, her hands gently locking together in a natural pose as she smiled, almost brightly. It was as though the woman was part of her family. If only for this moment.
“Greetings, Weyrwoman Norali,” she bowed softly, slowly, giving her the proper respect also. “Please, express my gratitude and awe to your magnificent companion, her clutch is stunning.” The woman spoke casually as she lifted herself once more, keeping herself relaxed. All she really wanted to do was look at the eggs. To ask for such permission… The mother was kind and brave to allow them even this close to them.
“I know that this is the touching, however… I wanted to know directly from you and your bonded. Would it be okay if I walked amidst her pride and joys?” Minari inquired. The words were spoken, the song was sang, her request was heard. Now, all she had to do was await an answer. No matter what the Queen decided, Minari would respect her. Even if she was only allowed to watch the eggs from afar, she would be content. Their mere presence sang to her soul, she had no doubt what would happen if ever she was graced to nurture her dream, to walk amongst them…
Certainly she would become the endless dreamer anew, and her song would be one of dragons.
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Velcro
Titaniumrider
Posts: 33
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Post by Velcro on Mar 12, 2009 9:18:25 GMT -6
Avarian strolled into the sands, just as relaxed as she was before. This time she actually remembered to bow to the queen. Then she offered a smile to Norali. The official touching was just a little exciting, even to a 'seasoned' candidate like herself.
"Sorry I seem to have upset the queen a bit last time by coming in... and everyone else after me. Is Phaelith okay with us in hear now? Or do I need to watch my step this time?" The last part was more to joke with Norali, Avarian wasn't very worried about the queen hurting her or anyone else. After seeing the little bumbling thing she'd hatched as, Vari found that Phaelith wasn't intimidating to her.
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Firey
Amberrider
Posts: 15
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Post by Firey on Mar 12, 2009 11:26:41 GMT -6
Upon hearing the news that there would be an official touching of the eggs that lay on the hot sands of the Hatching Grounds, Xaiorynth couldn’t help but wonder what the commotion was about. They were just eggs. Okay, really big eggs, but still… Maybe it had to do with the fact that he had never held any ambitions to become a dragonrider. Sighing faintly to himself, the young man closed his aquamarine eyes. What he wouldn’t give to go home… But he remembered promising to give this a try as a candidate. No one would notice his absence after the Hatching… Not when they were all busy gushing over the newly bonded.
As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he felt a twinge of jealousy at the thought, and maybe even envy despite how much he loathed that kind of attention himself. Then again, who was he trying to fool? He was pretty certain that no dragon would want to Impress to someone who so obviously didn’t want to be there… Right?
He sat there for a moment longer on his neatly made bed before allowing himself to simply fall back onto the covers, his legs bent over the side and his toes now barely touching the floor. He opened his eyes once more and stared at the ceiling, mixed emotions swirling in their depths. He didn’t wish to attend, but he was sure somewhere that someone would notice, as much as Xaiorynth may have tried to keep his interactions with people to a minimum. He simply didn’t know how to react around them, how to behave. I’m disconnected. That was what he was, and he felt it in his bones when the thought came to him. There was a part of him that felt that he should be disgusted with himself, that he made no real effort to at least be a little more tolerant toward people, but he also knew that he didn’t really want to do such a thing, either. Why should he when he could go for days without human contact, and no one thought anything of it? He trained equines, and sometimes took care of other animals. That was his life, and he was perfectly content with it.
Still, he didn’t need to be there long, right? Only a few minutes… A precious few minutes that would hopefully not kill him, figuratively at least. Dreading what he was going to put himself through, the Beastcraft Journeyman picked himself up off his bed without bothering to tidy up the disturbed blankets, and went over to his chest to find some clothing that wasn’t so… dirty. Xaiorynth had never minded a little dirt, and often didn’t notice it until he had to wash his things, so he could easily be filthy. Luckily, he wouldn’t need to wash up… Not that he likely would have even if he did. Quickly, he slipped out of his shirt and pants, replacing them with a clean, crisp black shirt and a clean pair of pants, not being one for fancy things. He wasn’t trying to impress anyone.
After he had pulled his boots back on, he stood before his closed door, not having quite gathered the courage to leave his room. Running a hand through his windswept, copper-brown lochs, the young man simply opened the door and stepped out into the corridor and followed the rest of the candidates, tensing every time one of them brushed past him or tried to make him hurry. The walk to the Sands seemed to take forever, though it wasn’t caused by impatience and excitement. Well… Impatience, yes, though only because he couldn’t wait to get it over with.
Since he couldn’t just stand in the entrance of the Hatching Grounds, Xaiorynth stepped softly onto the hot sands, his body tense even though he knew there was no logical reason for it. He glanced at the eggs, the Queen and her rider, but they lingered on the doorway. I must look like a guilty thief, an imposter… He thought with no small amount of irony. Pushing the urge to simply leave away from his immediate thoughts, the Journeyman pondered what he should say to the Weyrwoman and her dragon. Oh, he figured that it shouldn’t be as difficult as he made it, but Xaiorynth had the most horrible of habits of getting tongue-tied at the worst of times. Frowning faintly, he decided that he would simply greet them, take a quick look at the eggs, and be done with it.
Plastering a faint smile upon his lips, he approached Norali, and bowed politely to them, his copper hair falling forward and hiding most of his face. He was very grateful for it, too… “My most sincere congratulations to you and your companion, Weyrwoman Norali. It is a beautiful clutch. I hope that they all find fine riders all.” He uttered, standing straight and tall again, the faint smile still on his lips. He was sure that he looked like some cartoon by now. Say something about the touching, say something about the touching… He thought, mentally beginning to panic. This was precisely why he didn’t like these… social gatherings. He never knew what to say or how it would be received. More than once he had unintentionally insulted someone, and he was still oblivious as to how. “Might I be permitted to visit them?” He asked, still calm and polite even if he internally felt like he was anything but. People were beginning to gather near the Weyrwoman, and it was starting to make him twitchy.
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Post by wolflover1458 on Mar 12, 2009 15:07:09 GMT -6
They could touch the eggs? This was news for Lidi. She was excited to get to go, but she wanted to look neat when she did so. She brushed her hair up quickly, trying to fight through the tangles. After her hair looked decent, she went out in the direction of the Hatching Grounds.
She saw other Candidates there already. That was okay with her. She didn't need to be the first one there, after all. She started to go in, then stopped. She wasn't so sure she wanted to do this. Yes, she was excited about being at a Hatching, but so many things could happen. Besides, Phaelith could be in any kind of bad mood.
Lidi decided she would do her best to stay on the Gold dragons wavelength. Last time, there had been to many people there. This time, it was the Touching, and they were all meant to be there. So that was how it would be. Lidi walked forward with determination. She bowed to the Queen dragon and the Weyrwoman.
"You look lovely, Phaelith. The eggs look well too. They will surely be as grand as you, especially the Queen. The Weyr is lucky to have you." There, now that wasn't so hard. Lidi gave another slight bow, then walked into the hatching grounds.
The first thing she felt was the searing heat of the place. It was still as hot as before. It was hard to believe it needed to be this hot. Lidi looked over at Phaelith, wondering how she felt about this. Lidi wasn't the best at reading emotions, and it wasn't like she read dragon emotions that well.
If Phaelith had a problem this time, they would know. Lidi walked gently in. She would spend time with each of the eggs. She walked up to the Cloudy Skies egg and stroked it gently. She liked the coloring on the egg, though she was curious as to what was inside it.
Lidi then walked over to the Mossy Tree egg. As large as it was, it was likely to be a Bronze or a Brown, not something she could Impress to. She gave it a few simple strokes, then went to the lonely Hearts Club egg. She felt quite sorry for it, but there was nothing she could do. Lidi patted it gently, then moved on. She wanted to go back around to all of her favorite eggs too.
She walked up to the Morning Sunrise egg. Lidi looked up at Phaelith as she stroked the egg. She liked the coloring of this egg. It was very pretty. The Sun Set egg was pretty, too. Lidi looked at it, admiring the colors on the egg. She would stay here with these two a little longer, put she wanted to get through all of them.
She looked at the It's All About Me egg before she pat it gently. She liked the warm feeling on the eggs, the same as all of them. The Hey, Jealousy was very curious. It was larger than the It's All About Me egg, but around the same coloring. She stroked it a bit, then stroked the It's All About Me egg once more before setting off to the next eggs.
The Leave Me Alone egg didn't attract her attention to well. Lidi stroked the egg a few extra times than the rest, mostly because she felt like the egg should get used to company. She grinned as she thought about the egg changing its feelings. Maybe the dragon could, but not the egg. At least, she didn't think so.
The Sword and Shields egg and I Surrender egg didn't seem to Lidi liked there was something inside them she would Impress to. It saddened her to think that it was the male candidates Impressing to most of the dragons in the clutch. Lidi pet the Lookin' Out For You egg less than the others, because she wanted to stroke the Queen Bee egg, but also because it was so large. Lidi was positive there would be a Bronze dragon if this egg.
The Queen Bee egg was the one Lidi was here for. She was a Candidate to Impress to the Queen. Yes, she could Impress to a Green dragon, but that wasn't what she was here for. She gave it more attention than the rest, admiring its coloring. Finally, she moved on to the Mardi Gras egg. When she wasn't paying attention to the Queen Bee egg, this egg actually looked very nice. She patted it, wishing it was further from the Queen Bee egg so she could better appreciate it.
Although Lidi thought there was a Blue in the Front and Center egg, she liked it very much. She stroked it a bit, then a bit more. There weren't to many eggs left, and she could go back to her favorites soon. Lidi liked the Soft Swirls egg, though it didn't really seem like the best egg for her. She couldn't know of course, but other Candidates would probably like it better.
Lidi went back around to stroke her favorites a bit more. These were the Cloudy Skies egg, the Morning Sunrise and Sunset egg, the Hey, Jealousy egg, The Mardi Gras egg, and the Front and Center egg. She did, of course, like the Queen Bee egg, but Lidi figured everyone else should get a chance to stroke it. She had spent enough time there. Lidi decided to stay with the Front and Center egg. She stroked it gently and whispered encouragement to the dragon inside.
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Post by Kabohela on Mar 12, 2009 16:50:51 GMT -6
Shula scurried onto the sand, hissing as her feet hit the hot ground. Almost dancing across the sand to avoid putting her feet down too long, she approached the clutch and bowed to the Gold. "This is an honor," she said, doing what the Candidate Master had said although she felt a little silly.
She went to the It's All About Me egg first, the bright colors catching her eyes right away. Shula laid her hand on the gaudy shell, smiling at the warmth and life she could feel from it. This was interesting, even though she wasn't sure if touching the eggs would really help her Impress. With her usual short attention span, she soon moved to the Cloudy Skies Egg, which really did look like a blue sky.
In the end, she was too scatterbrained to pick any favorites, instead flitting in between the eggs, brushing her fingers over each one. She couldn't wait to see what happened on Hatching day.
***
Sileyn was a little intimidated by the Gold after her reaction at the clutching, and he wasn't sure if he really wanted to risk touching the eggs. What if she recognized him and forced him to leave? He couldn't afford to miss it, though. He had been taught that a Touching could really make the difference between Impression or being left standing, and it would be a good thing to familiarize himself with the eggs.
He went to the Leave Me Alone egg first. It was gray and medium sized, rather unassuming. As soon as he touched it, he had the uncomfortable suspicion that the egg disliked him. Maybe it was all in his head, because the eggs at apart from the others, but he didn't want to upset the dragonet any further. Sileyn quickly moved away, going to the Lookin' Out For You egg, which had caught his eye at the clutching. He traced a finger over one of the maroon swirls. He bet this egg would turn out to be a bronze, so he wasn't sure why he was so interested in it. Maybe it reminded him of his protective older brother.
Sighing, he moved over to the Soft Swirls egg. He liked the pretty pastel colors, and touching it brought a smile back to his face. Something about this egg made him feel peaceful. He gave it a final, affectionate pat before wandering closer to the edge of the clutch, where the blue Front and Center egg held the stage. Before he could get to that one, he noticed a tiny egg by itself, pressed against the wall. Curious, he went over to it and put his hand on the shell. He wondered if it could be a dud. Usually, plain coloring was a good sign, and that coupled with this egg's small size did not bode well. I hope you hatch, he whispered mentally, hoping there would be no dud in this clutch.
***
Aldril was nervous about the Touching. He had no experience with dragons and it would be his first look at the clutch. "Eggs" made him think of small, fragile white orbs, easily broken. How could the candidates lay their paws all over them?
Walking onto the sands, he had his answer. The eggs were big. Of course, it made sense. They would hatch into big dragons. Shaking his head at his own silliness, he bowed to the Gold before going to decide which egg to touch first.
He settled on what seemed to be a pair of eggs, Morning Sunrise and Sun Set. Aldril touched the smaller one first, since it was further away from Phaelith and he was still a little scared of the huge golden Queen. He was surprised at how much life the egg radiated. It was nothing like a cold, smooth wherry egg.
Aldril visited all of the eggs, picking out the Swords and Shields egg, the Mardi Gras egg, and the Mossy Tree egg as his favorite.
((Gah, sorry, totally lost my muse by the time I got to the last one. x.x))
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Post by wolflover1458 on Mar 12, 2009 18:13:45 GMT -6
A Touching? Of Phaelith's clutch? Sure, Nalel would go. The main reason being that he hadn't actually seen the eggs yet. He had been doing other things instead. But now was the time for Touching eggs, not doing other things.
Nalel walked out of the Candidate Barracks into the sunshine of the Weyr Bowl. He went straight to the hatching grounds. He was glad he would get to see the eggs. The difficult question was which eggs to touch. That was like saying "I wonder what dragon I want to Impress." Not a color of dragon, but a specific dragon, one with its own unique personality.
If touching eggs made someone more likely to be Impressed to the dragon inside, the difficult question should always be which eggs to touch. Since he didn't know, Nalel decided he could go through all the eggs quickly, then decide on a few he liked.
So, when he reached the hatching grounds and bowed respectfully to the Queen then entered, Nalel looked at the eggs; he stroked them all quickly, though he didn't see the point in stroking the Queen Bee egg. He did anyway, just to be nice to the dragon inside. He certainly wouldn't be Impressing to it.
Nalel looked at all the eggs once he had gone through them. The Mossy Tree egg was one he especially liked. He didn't know why, but he just felt drawn to the egg. Maybe it was just him. So Nalel went over to the Mossy Tree egg and stroked it gently. He knew he should really do some of the other eggs again, but he could do that later.
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Post by cerise on Mar 12, 2009 22:53:10 GMT -6
They had not thought that the Touching would come so soon; as Candidates, they'd only been at the weyr for scarcely two sevendays. The clutch had been laid before the brothers had come, though, and neither of them had kept much track of the time... so it was supposed that this Touching was not, in fact, early. It was right on time, and it was their own fault that they had not expected it.
The Candidate Master had come in to call the boys first, and Retselin had struggled into his clothing, feeling awkward and uncomfortable for not the first time in his life. This would be his first, perhaps his only chance to be near a dragon clutch, and he didn't have the faintest idea what to do about it. He was a lad meant for studies, not dragonriding! But the Searchdragon had sensed something, hadn't he? Well, he had to go to the eggs, had to see them, at the very least, lay hands on a few of them. Maybe they would decide his fate for him. If he didn't Impress, maybe they would just send him back to the Hold...
Raleigh, on the other hand, was completely overcome with excitement, collected as well as he could be on the outside, but trembling with anticipation on the inside. The eggs were ready to be touched! Well, this might determine a dragonet that would hatch for him. He would have rushed, would have run, if he didn't have Retselin to worry about. Yet despite it all, the enthralling pull of the dragon eggs, he had his duty as a brother to do, and he took it seriously. So he waited until the younger boy was presentable before jerking him into a headlong dash down the corridor, recently injured arm tucked awkwardly at his side, but not impeding his speed in the least.
There they were! The eggs came into view as they burst onto the hot Hatching Sands, skidding to a halt that threw up pale grains around their feet and ankles. Retselin looked mortified, but Raleigh was flushed and grinning, approaching the dragon queen with the broadest smile he could muster, somehow managing a courtly bow with one arm bandaged into a straight, immobile lump and looking like he'd just rolled out of bed. That was a part of Raleigh's charm, his ability to adapt to such situations. Retselin, not so much.
The smaller boy's bow was awkward, half-done, as he kept his eyes on the golden dragon and her eggs the entire time. His chest was heaving, hair mussed, tunic twisted, and he was very aware of the scrutiny of the Weyrwoman, her queen, and everyone else on the sands. Gulping, he turned away from the dragon, looking toward the clutch. At least they would not see and judge him!
He ignored the flashier eggs for the time being, going first towards the distant, tiny Lonely Hearts Club egg. It looked almost forlorn, propped up against the stone wall, dull and soft. And it felt cold under his hand, which made the boy frown; weren't the eggs supposed to be warm? Was this one... dead, then? He couldn't imagine. Shaking his head, he moved on.
The Hey Jealousy egg was the next to catch his eye, followed by the Cloudy Skies and, next to it, the Mossy Tree egg. All of them felt warm and leathery under the palms of his hands, as the Candidate Master had said dragon eggs were supposed to feel. Another worried look was cast at the lonely egg off to one side, as Retselin fretted about whether or not it would hatch. The death of a dragon was always tragic, but death in the egg, before the dragon even had a chance at life... it just seemed too terrible.
Raleigh, in direct contrast to his brother's choice of the subtle eggs, went for the large, bold Lookin' Out For You egg first, placing his good hand firmly against the shell. Then, with a faint wince of pain as he stretched the healing cut, he added the hand of his injured arm, letting both palms bask in the warmth of the egg's shell. This egg felt strong, he thought, and it would be something great. A bronze, probably, or at least a brown - both good colors, ones he thought he might be capable of pairing with.
Grinning still, he made his way through the clutch, touching the Morning Sunrise, Sun Set, It's All About Me, and Front and Center eggs. Then, on a second trip, the Mardi Gras, Swords and Shields, and I Surrender eggs, too; he didn't want to miss any chance he might have! Only the queen egg and those that were not as bright, not as noticeable, were ignored as Raleigh tramped around the sands, but he might get to those later. Any of these might hatch a life's partner for him, so he couldn't be too discriminatory about which eggs he touched!
~
The clutch. The eggs. The entire reason that she was here - and the sands were heating, coming so close to Hatching. The Candidate Master had called all of the prospective riders into the sands to touch the shells of those eggs, had hinted that by touching the clutch, the dragonets might be pre-Impressed to the folk whose hands had been laid upon the eggs. Well, maybe they would... but did it matter, really? The dragons would choose who they would.
Still, Halmari was going. Though she felt old amongst all the troop of female Candidates, she did not let it bother her; she'd two more Turns before she was truly to old to stand for a clutch, if she remembered correctly. It was just that most of the Candidates were so young...
Age didn't matter. Age, looks, background... none of these were of any importance to a hatching dragon, if the mind was compatible. Oh yes, there was a certain age at which a human could Impress, but that was only presumably because those were the Turns in which the mind was most open, most formative. A dragon could bond more effectively to a young man or woman than an old one, whose mind had closed to possibilities. And of course a dragonrider had to be healthy and fit, with a long life ahead of them to fight Thread.
But why was she thinking of all this? This was a time for action, not for standing about musing about the philosophy of Impression. Shaking her head, Halmari left the barracks, making a stately but hurried progress towards the Hatching Sands.
The clutchmother was golden and gleaming, her eggs a multitude of bright colors. And among the brilliant shells of the clutch, the different colors of humans, Candidates of all shapes and sizes, wove through, touching here and there. Still space enough for another body to weave in, but Halmari would do the necessary courtesies first, and then sate her curiosity about what those draconic eggs must feel like.
"Greetings, Weyrwoman Norali. Phaelith." A low bow was swept to both of the goldpair, though the young woman's eyes were on the ground more than either human or dragon. The two had her respect, but that meant very little. "The clutch looks well. I hope you'll take no offense to my joining the others in touching the eggs." There was no response before she moved towards the clutch; she hadn't expected or needed one. The greeting was a mere formality, as the Candidate Master had already said the eggs were ready to be touched. Besides, the dragon queen wasn't eating any of the Candidates already on the sands.
She would make a bold move, perhaps win some respect, or at least some intangible points of interest for her daring; raising her head, straightening her spine, the female moved directly towards the golden gleam of the Queen Bee egg. It was almost ceremonial, the act of touching this particular shell - one had to raise a hand, lay it against the egg ever so gently, as though afraid it would break. But it was leathery and hard beneath her fingertips, though still moving under too much pressure. Not ready to hatch yet, but getting there.
It felt warm, but more than that, it felt bold, sure of itself, as the creature within must feel. Halmari lingered by the egg with her hands upon it, basking in this warmth; she'd never thought of herself as out to Impress the queen, but now, with the shell of the important egg under her hands... it was strong, yes, but so fragile at once. The young queen would need a protector when she hatched, a partner who could care for her and do her justice. Maybe, just maybe, Halmari could be that woman.
Reluctantly she pulled away, but she ought not monopolize the queen egg. The Swords and Shields egg seemed to appear before her with its eye-catching designs, and then the Soft Swirls with its more subtle appeal. Both of them were warm and pulsing, yes, but they did not have the same tangible aura of mingled strength and fragility that the Queen Bee egg had had.
Then, as though by accident, her hand fell on the Leave Me Alone egg. This shell had no fragile sense to it, no sense of desiring anyone to come near - it seemed downright angry, that egg. But the woman would not pull away; she was not one to allow herself to appear weak. She kept her hand on the grey, round egg a few moments longer, narrowing eyes nearly the same shade as she shell as she stared down at it. Only once she'd spent the same amount of time with it as she had the last two eggs did she pull her hand away, and felt instantly better for it.
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Velcro
Titaniumrider
Posts: 33
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Post by Velcro on Mar 13, 2009 2:50:30 GMT -6
Vari moved on from the Weyrwoman, onto the sands for real. She looked over the eggs, picking out the one that she'd liked before. It was overshadowed by the obvious gold egg, but the Mardi Gras Egg was still intriuging to her. The bright colors swirling on the shell just made her think this would be a female dragon, probably green. It was a big egg though, she continued thinking as she set her hand on the leathery hard shell. Wouldn't be too long now, before the hatching would start some day soon.
Reluctantly Avarian moved on, sidestepping to the Queen Bee Egg. She had been chosen as a candidate for Phaelith, so she did have a reason to touch this egg, unlike some of the dreamy girls. She had been searched specifically for a single queen egg, what better claim to touch this particular egg? She bowed to Phaelith again for good measure, though she wouldn't mind getting everybody kicked off the sands again... Then she carefully laid her palm on the shell, feeling it's leathery hardness like that of it's clutchmate. It would be a good competition for this gold, with all the girls that turned up for it. Avarian was sure she stood a good chance to generally impress this time, be it gold or green.
Next she moved to the Lookin' Out for You Egg, just another step away from the last egg. This one had aggressive coloring, but at the same time reminded her of a protective firelizard she had encountered not long ago, a bronze one at that. She was going to bet marks that this one would be a strong bronze, who needed a strong partner. Maybe that fellow she'd met, Aldril would get him? She pondered a little, feeling the reassuring hardness of the shell. The Touching was a calming experience to get Candidates used to the eggs, and it usually served it's purpose well, as Avarian was quite calm at the moment.
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Post by dragoncharm on Mar 13, 2009 15:39:58 GMT -6
Amintia was pleased to hear that they were allowed to Touch the eggs, finally. Ever since the little scene at the Sands a few sevendays back, she'd been itching to get to Touch them. Especially that Queen egg....she wasn't stupid enough to think she'd get it, but she still wanted to have every chance she could. So when it was said that they were to be permitted to touch the eggs, Ami was by the entrance to the Sands in a flash, grinning in anticipation.
She looked over the several candidates already there. She vaguely recognized some of them; Avarian was the only one sharp in her mind. But nowq was not the time for looking at candidates - though there were so many other girls! So many others who might Impress that Queen besides Amintia...it was a bit depressing, but she'd better resign herself to it. - it was a time for looking at eggs.
Amintia did not forget to bow to Gold Phaelith, and say to Weyrwoman Norali. "Greetings, Weyrwoman," before turning to the eggs. Courtesy could not be overlooked. And not just to suck up to the WWeyrwoman, either. Well, okay, maybe just a tiny bit - but Amintia knew that respect and courtesy were always due to those who deserved it, and she followed the unwritten rule of always being courteous to those older and higher ranked than her.
She began to walk around with the others, lightly touching each egg. Even though the Queen Bee Egg was her goal, she couldn't help but smile every time she ran her fingers along a new hard surface, knowing it held a baby dragonet inside. Despite her ambitions, she couldn't heolp but feel that any of these hatchlings would be a miracle to bond to - even a lowly green!
She felt much calmed by the time she moved to the Queen egg. She saw Vari just moving on; she must have touched it last. At the thought, Ami smiled. Avarian would make a good Weyrwoman, she thought. She touched the leathery shell of the beautiful egg, feeling a slight tingle of longing as she did so. It was so soft, so beautiful, and it must hold the most wonderful god in the world. Amintia would give almost anything for that dragonet to be looking for her, just a few inches below her fingers...
She moved on with a touch of regret to the next eggs. They were all magnificent, and she found herself thinking about the colors that might come out of ecah one. It really was too bad that girls could only Impress to greens and queens...
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Tolly overslept. Again.
Only this time his oversleeping was actually a bad thing. He slept longer than the others on a regular basis, but if he'd known they would be allowed to Touch today...! Shards! It was only thanks to one of the candidates, about to leave, that he knew at all. Shard and scorch it all, he'd never forgive himself if he missed the Touching!
The lad was out of his room in an instant, straightening his tunic and trying to pull on his sandals as he ran. He hadn't brushed his hair, but it was so curly anyway, nobody'd notice if he was still a bedhead. He hoped. Appearance wasn't normally high on Tolly's priority list, but, shards, you had to look good at a Touching!
Aw, scorch the First Egg, I am late! he thought irritably, skidding to a halt at the entrance to the Hatching Sands and lokking in to see a crowd of candidates already congregating. Still, at least he hadn't actually missed the Touching. And nobody'd notice if a squirt like him just snuck in, right? That's exactly what he did; slipped in when nobody was looking, and stealing up to the eggs as though he'd been there the whole time. Sometimes being short had its advantages.
There was an impish grin on the lad's face as he looked at the eggs. He bet half of these people had never seen the eggs, and if they had, then surely only once. Nobody could know that he had peeked in here every few days! Oh, he never went in; Tolly wasn't dimglowed enough to risk a Gold's wrath. But he looked. He was familiar with all the eggs he could see from his vantage point outside the Sands, which was most of them. He focused mainly on the bigger eggs - not the Queen Bee Egg, for what use did he have for that? - but the other big ones, the ones bound to be bronzes, like the colorful Mardi Gras Egg. He'd touch all of them...but his sharp eyes were trained on those big bronze eggs. Wouldn't that just be grand, Impressing a bronze? He'd settle for brown or blue, of course, because any dragon would be amazing, but...to have a bronze! To maybe be Weyrleader someday!
Hia plans for a discreet entrance may have worked so far, but Tolly realized he still had to greet Weyrwoman Norali, and Gold Phaelith. He bowed to both, greeting the Weyrwoman with, "Hello, Weyrwoman," and Phaelith with, "Greetings, Gold. Thanks for letting me touch your eggs!" Then the lad was off, working his way around. His hand lingered on each egg, as he hoped that, in one of them, there would be a hatchling for him Oh, how wonderful, to Impress! He'd grown up around dragons - the thought of his birthplace, now gone, dampened the occasion slightly - and there'd always been the hope, almost the expectation, of Impressing, but now it was escalated tenfold, for he was an actual candidate, Touching the eggs he'd soon be Standing for!
((Ugh, sorry for the terrible fail of a post after all you guys' awesome ones! Me has no muse...will try to do better...*fails*))
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Post by Phly on Mar 13, 2009 19:26:53 GMT -6
Candidates. It had been such a long time - and such a short time - since she herself had been a Candidate. She could remember quite clearly, and at the same time so distantly, exactly what each and every one of these lads and lasses were feeling now. Excitement, nervousness, self-doubt, even a little bit of self-loathing for being so hard on herself. But they were a good bunch of Candidates. No fights, no power-tripping boys - or girls - bulling their mates. Deep in her gut, she felt a serene calm about this lot and knew that, somehow, everything would work out.
A Candidate approached her, a smile on her face that suggested that they'd known each other all of their lives. Norali couldn't help but to smile back, wishing to encourage her further without words, for sometimes it was words that broke a spirit rather than uplift one if they were said incorrectly. She stated quite calmly that, while she knew the procedures, she still wanted explicive permission from Norali herself to proceed amongst the Eggs. As she opened her mouth, the gold behind her beat her to the punch.
Go. Ask no more. You are here because you are worthy enough to guard the lives of mine children. If you were not, no mere blue would have dared allowed you to stand in my presence. Make yourself known to my children. The gravity and strength in the gold's voice shocked Norali, but she had said it far better than Norali could have hoped to. She only wished that the girl wouldn't be set in a fright from the gold actually speaking to her; Phaelith wasn't known for communicating with anyone else, as it so happened.
Nicely said.
You couldn't speak to someone properly if your life depended on it.
Several times more, Candidates approached her and, as best she could, she gave them permission to go and Touch as they saw fit.
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Post by Khay on Mar 13, 2009 23:18:50 GMT -6
OoC: ........ 'Nough said. Now I say. Sorry. I took out a lot of description too... And held back a bunch.... -.- Darn Minari.
The feelings of excitement tingled through her stomach as she stood there before the Weyrwoman and her dragon, giving them her soul as she kept her head slightly bowed, her boots slowly sinking deeper into the sand beneath her. The warmth that traveled up her leg kept her focused on the task at hand. Her soul was resting within her palms, her heart bared for them to take a stab at as they wished. A part of Minari knew that they would do her no such harm, however there was something that traveled through the air, a certain thrill, a certain chill. It caused her almost golden eyes to glimmer brightly and a smile to come easily to her lips. It took her breath away as well as caused the hairs upon her arms to rise in pure unaltered eagerness. It brought butterflies to her stomach that made her want to warp her fragile arms around her waist in order to hold them in. That almost brought laughter to her lips, soft and sweet.
Her eyes danced.
As the Weyrwoman smiled back at her, she felt a certain warmth, a certain acceptance flow through her body. It was the feeling of being welcomed, a feeling that she usually only got from her family. Her eyes glimmered more brightly than before, and her smile widened softly, secretly. The words that were left unspoken were enough. She understood the greeting, and slowly her eyes traveled towards the ground, acknowledging the understand before she looked up once more. Her amber eyes connected with Norali’s, and she couldn’t help but see the strong figure that the Weyrwoman truly was. The sense and security that this pair was supposed to transfer to the people of the Weyr were true and firm.
It was then that Minari saw the woman upon her mouth, and she felt her palms begin to sweat. A chill traveled through her spine, fighting off the eagerness and excitement, and causing a mix of both anxiety and hope to spread through her mind, overriding every other sense. Her breath came in soft intakes, exhaling slowly through her nose each time as she tightened her own hold upon her hands. It was then that she felt it, her mind open up before a presence that touched her gently softly. Pale lids dropped over amber eyes as her head gently turned towards the almost warmth that invaded her.
The voice of the beautiful Gold filled her mind, resonating deeply, echoing as it became a memory that she would never forget. The words that the Queen spoke to her brought her energy into an excellent equilibrium. The light that she forced through threw away the doubt, and brought out her confidence, linking it with short chains to her heart, sealing her dream directly before her eyes. Hope glittered like a beacon of moonlight splitting through the cloud cover in the night, a sole silver ray could be seen from everywhere. It wasn’t lost in other ordeals, or other thoughts of impression. It glimmered brightly before her, shining, shimmering, and snaking around her mind until she was filled with a certainty of belonging. She could almost cry.
A radiant smile showed only in her eyes are her lips turned almost shy. Amber eyes glowing with unshed tears of joy, and a very healthy and bright glow encased her face as she bowed deeply to the great Gold. Thank you so very much… She thought, knowing that the dragon would be able to see it in her face, in her eyes. There was no way that the Queen could miss it. Slowly she allowed herself to turn towards the Queen rider once more, taking in a deep breath to settle herself. Slowly she brought herself into a bow, saying her farewells to the rider, showing once more her respects to both.
It was only then that Minari too her first step towards the eggs. Jubilation bubbled inside of her, taking her breath away. It was the first time that she placed her eyes upon the eggs, and she couldn’t help but me mesmerized. Every egg took her breath away as the wide array of colours greeted her. It was such a shock to her eyes. She couldn’t take it all in. She knew that each egg was unique, however they were all blending together in perfect harmony that it forced her to take a step back, clearing her head from it all. The awe…. They were splendidly gorgeous! Despite the lack of detail.
As she watched the eggs, and looked at the Queen once more (to distract herself and allow herself time to think), she realized that she didn’t know where to begin. Should she walk only towards the smallest eggs, and the Queen egg? Should she touch only those that would applique to a female? Should she touch the males? Pick and choose favourites? Everything was so hard and confusing. The Candidate Master told them to touch the eggs, to follow their hearts, but her heart was practically ripping itself to shreds as she tried to decide upon a select few eggs to touch. It sorrowed her that she couldn’t touch them all...
She paused, amber eyes turning towards the eggs once more. Who had said that she couldn’t? Minari didn’t care if people thought that she should only be a Queen candidate. Personally, she didn’t care which eggs she was supposed to, and not supposed to touch. They were there, before her, waiting for her to roam her hands along their textured surface, to feel the life beating within… She couldn’t ignore one without feeling like a cruel person. Each needed it’s attention, she wouldn’t play favourites… In her mind, it was cruel.
Her decision made, slowly she crossed the sands, and walked towards the Lonely Hearts Club Egg. She tore her attention away from all the other eggs as she looked down at it, and slowly took in a deep breath. It was tough, no one had warned her. She feared that they might break beneath her hand, and an egg so small only caused her to fear for it more. Her eyes scanned it’s beautiful oval shape, and gently she placed her hand upon the egg’s surface, feeling the pulsing life beneath her hand. Slowly she ran her fingers along the dull colors, exploring, remembering. The egg was gorgeous. Kneeling down beside it, she allowed both hands to trail along the egg as she gently closed her eyes, making a mental image of it. All alone compared to the rest.
After few minutes, she stood, knowing that there would be many eggs to touch, and so little time to do so. There wasn’t much that she could do aside from go on her way. Slowly she walked towards Cloudy Skies smiling at the beautiful colours that reminded her of summer days. Spreading her fingers wide across it’s shell, she smiled, allowing her hands to memorize once more as she traced the colours, and watched, almost dazed, her nose only a foot away from the egg. She couldn’t help but smile, the size comparison between the two eggs was very noticeable. Why was the other egg so small?
Turning her attention to the egg right next to Cloudy Skies, Minari simply walked across the sand upon her knees until she was right before Mossy Tree. She couldn’t help but feel entertained as she gave it the same treatment as the others. It looked like a log! The kind she used to walk across as a child when she had to cross a stream. Possibly the same one that broke beneath her, and caused her to explain to her parents why she had been near the stream in the first place. It was gorgeous. So large, each egg had it’s own feel beneath her hand, each egg brought a sense of tranquility…
Slowly she tore herself away from the Mossy Tree and walked towards Front and Center. There amidst the hatching grounds she watched it, slowly weaving her way around the eggs until she stood before it. It was before the rest, the first one to greet the candidates. Proud and strong. Slowly her fingers swirled across the dark blue colouration, and she closed her eyes. She didn’t know if it was her mind or not, but she felt as though if she could stand still long enough, the dragon within the egg would move under her hand.
After Front and Center, she made her way towards Soft Swirls. The bright colouration of the egg stuck within her mind almost immediately as she allowed herself to follow the swirls, smiling at the serenity that overcame her. It was peaceful, kind and gentle, beautiful. An experience that she would never forget. An experience that she knew would change her life.
This was how the gentle woman walked through the eggs. Next roaming towards Sun Set and reminiscing about the beautiful scenery that it portrayed, the end of one day, only to know that a new one would be just around the corner. She did the same for Swords and Shields, and I Surrender. She didn’t quite stop exactly at one egg for different lengths of time. Instead, she tried to spend about as much time on each egg as she could, giving up early only when another candidate wished to touch the egg. Only to return to it later.
When she reached the It’s All About Me, Minari couldn’t help but giggle softly at the colours that flowed across its shell. At the attention that it demanded. But she gave it as much as the rest before she turned around and flowed towards Hey, Jealousy. It was not as bright as the last one, but instead of leaving it alone for it wasn’t as attracting, she sat down right beside the egg. She allowed her hands to flow along its surface before she gently placed her nose against it, softly, when she hoped no one was looking. Yours will love you more than the other one, I can assure you… She thought, for this egg reminded her of human emotions, of feeling slightly left out. In her mind, she felt life.
As she stood from those eggs, she looked around the hatching grounds, noticing how the rest of the eggs were spread out. To the far side, she saw an egg by itself. However to the other side, there was a clutter of three eggs. She kept the placement of the farther egg in her mind as she slowly made her way towards the great Queen, bowing once more as she approached.
“They’re beautiful…” She whispered as she gently walked towards the Queen Bee. She knew that this was the gold dragon by the egg’s colour. She knew that this was the reason why most of the female candidates were here. And she knew that a lot of people would want to spend their time around this egg. It was inevitable. And though she knew that she was here for this egg too. She couldn’t give it more attention. It would be getting the most, she knew that much… And her bonded was truly inside that egg, she simply hoped that the female would understand that she had a duty to her heart before she met her. However, there were plenty of other young women around her who had perfect leading qualities. She couldn’t help but harvest doubt.
Approaching the Egg, she gently allowed herself to touch it with her fingertips. She could feel the power inside the egg, the sense of duty, the stirring of a leader. “I’m Sorry…” She whispered to it, knowing that she should give it more attention, she was a female candidate, after all. Minari didn’t feel capable of gathering the courage in her heart to not fully spread the attention. It simply… wasn’t fair.
As her attention with that egg was over, she walked towards Mardi Gras. The candidate enjoyed its company for as long as the others, enjoying and recognizing its patterns and its festive nature before she moved on to Lookin’ Out for You. She didn’t attempt to guess which dragonets would be within the eggs, she would see them all soon enough. And thus, after her time was spent with this protector of the Queen, she made her way to the last egg.
Leave Me Alone stood away from the others, and as she approached it, she watched the single shade of light grey colouring upon its shell. It was simple, it was as beautiful as the others. However as she walked closer, she could feel as though there was a sense of foreboding radiating from it which caused her to frown faintly. Quietly she brought herself to her knees before the egg and sat there for a moment, looking at it. As she placed her fingers upon its textured shell, she could feel the darker emotions radiating from it, which only confused her more. Was it misunderstood? Why was it so far from the others? However she didn’t allow her hands to stray upon it long before she brought herself a little closer to the egg. Curiosity got the best of her as she slowly placed her cheek against its shell, and closed her eyes. She rested there for a moment before she attempted to listen to the dragonet inside. And though she felt as though it wanted to be alone, she spent as much time with it as the rest. Her curiosity satiated.
Bringing herself to her feet, and dusting away the sand from her pants, her knees feeling as though they were going to be sunburnt for weeks coming, her hands too, Minari looked around the hatching grounds, a sense of serenity and a gentle tenderness within her heart. They were all beautiful. Now, when she looked at them, she could feel the energy radiating out of each of them. She could see the different eggs and all their uniqueness, and that was how it was meant to be. They each held a place within her mind, none outshining the rest.
With a gentle smile upon her face, Minari bowed deeply to the Queen and Weyrwoman again before she slowly walked towards the hatching grounds wall, and watched them. She would leave soon, but she needed one more moment to take it all in.
The dreamer can dream again A day of serenity comforts her soul Awakening, her eyes now open Hope flows in eternally
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