Cause for Celebration

Writers: Chelle, Avery
Date Posted: 5th May 2016

Characters: Corran, K'ran, Rhosyn
Description: Orlaith lays a clutch
Location: Elsewhere on Pern, River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 21 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Soliera, Lenala, Lanniya

K'ran

It had been a lazy day. The sun was shining and Rhosyn was loving the
restday. She'd gone down to the beach that morning for a quick swim
and was walking back to the Weyr. Orlaith was truly egg heavy and
hadn't been able to fly for over a sevenday. The sight made the
Weyrwoman happy, especially whenever she thought of the folk that
questioned Orlaith's choosing Rogueth. Lenala had been flying again
for sometime and was improving so Rhosyn was glad to leave the Wing to
her for the time being.

**It all feels normal. I love normal. I have waited so long for normal to come back.**

}:Today will not be a normal day:{ Orlaith admonished.
**What? Why not?** Rhosyn almost panicked. Statements like that threw
up definite flags of alarm.
}:I am going to give my eggs to the Weyr:{ the queen announced,
proudly. Rhosyn could feel the stirrings then, familiar. It had been
some time since she'd felt them last. Orlaith's body was telling her
it was time to clutch.

Putting more hurry into her step, the small Weyrwoman made it back to
the Weyr just as Orlaith came off the ledge and started to head
towards the Hatching Cavern. Leaving her bathing costume on, she
wondered where K'ran was.

K'ran hadn't had time to go spend a proper visit with his parents
since becoming Weyrleader. Of course he'd stopped by for a candlemark,
to let them know what had changed. But between his new workload
learning all about River Bluff Weyr, and then the news that his
brother had been hurt at the Hold - and with a concussion you didn't
want to take someone /between/ - , he hadn't been able to round up the
time to take his brother to see their parents until nearly the end of
the month.

They'd spent two candlemarks together when Rogueth rumbled outside.
}:We need to go back to River Bluff. Orlaith needs us,:{ he said.

"I have to go," the bronzerider said to his family. "I'm needed back
at River Bluff. Corran, I can take you home quickly..." Otherwise the
guard would have to wave a signal flag or borrow a runner.

"That's fine. I was feeling a bit tired anyway," the guard said,
pushing himself to his feet. Both brothers hugged their parents
goodbye before they headed out.

It was only a few minutes to get strapped up, /between/ to Amber
Hills, then drop off his brother and get back into the air. **How late
are we?** K'ran asked Rogueth.

}:We arrive on time,:{ the bronze said casually, spiraling down to the
Weyrbowl and letting his rider off there.

K'ran slid down and looked for Rhosyn. "Sorry if we're late," he said.
"I was at Amber Hills."

"It's fine. I was out on the beach and had to run up." She gave him a look that said she'd understood what happened. Then she put her around his and pulled him forward as Orlaith began moving again. They followed the queen into the Hatching Cavern. "It might be awhile, though."

Orlaith pushed her muzzle down to the Sand, trying to find the spot she wanted. And she began to move the sand, in no discernible pattern. It made sense to her, though. When she was done, she sat down and folded her wings behind her so it was hard to see. The noise she made, though, let Rhosyn know what she was really doing. "It's the first one."

"Does she always move the sands so intensely?" he asked, having never
seen this process before.

}:Will you allow me in to watch?:{ Rogueth asked Orlaith as she was
fussing. As much as he wanted to see, he knew some golds were more
defensive. He could watch through his rider's eyes if she said no.

}:Yes but you have to stay on the edge:{ she answered quickly as the
first egg made its way onto the sand. She made sure to place plenty of warm sand around it. Carefully, she moved over to the left and repeated the process all over again.

"She's very particular. Not aggressive about the Sands like Vilarth is, but she likes things how she likes them. She fusses and moves things sometimes, making sure they all get the same amount of warmth and comfort." Rhosyn could understand it. She called it nesting,
akin to what wherries did sometimes without the sand. "It's not unusual for her to move them once a day which is why people have to be very careful when she's doing that. She won't allow others in her way then."

"I'm glad to hear she isn't as aggressive as some golds are, I know
those can be rather nightmarish," K'ran said as he followed her in and
watched the way Orlaith was adjusting them.

Rogueth flew in and perched on a higher area to watch so he was well
out of the way. }:That one is beautiful.:{

"How large are her clutches normally?" She was a large gold likely to
produce many, while his bronze was smaller and untried, a thought he
kept quietly in the corner of his mind. If this clutch was
disappointingly small, it could fuel the rumors more...

"Obviously when she was younger, they were normal ranging from twenty-three and up. Since we've come here, they've been in the 30s, mid to high. For a long while we've only had two breeding golds here though." Rhosyn knew it might be a turn or so before Anaeryth rose. That was likely a good thing since Lanniya could use some maturing before then.

Orlaith usually started slow, then things picked up, getting slow again at the end. She'd always been large so her clutches had been sized to match. Rhosyn had never had to worry about that. Once the first ten or so had been gently placed on the Sands, she saw the speed change. They were indeed coming more frequently. "One good thing,
she doesn't waste time."

"Do you think the lack of other breeders affected the size upwards?
It's funny how they seem to know what was needed," he mused.

"That and the Pass. I mean I Impressed in the Interval but it was coming. We didn't really know it at the time but things definitely started to pick up." Rhosyn tried to think about those days. Vista Point hadn't been happy for other reasons so it was hard to think it through in her mind.

"I'm just thrilled to see any eggs of Rogueth's own at all," he admitted.

That simple appreciation was enough to put her at ease. She liked his attitude and had to remind herself this was something new for him. Allowing him to enjoy it, she ate a few sandwiches and sat back as Orlaith continued to labor. The eggs kept piling up until things began to slow down.

One of them she rolled and placed and then moved off. It was some time
later before there was another. }:I am almost done, Rogueth. I will need food:{ Her eyes whirled a happy blue but there was a tinge of tired in them too. She moved a bit and then there came one more finally.

"That's the last one. Can you see to count them with the lights on K'ran?" Rhosyn jumped down and flipped the switch to illuminate the Cavern, with most of the light shining down on the Sands and the eggs themselves.

"The Headwoman really is brilliant about not forgetting us," K'ran mentioned as they ate. He found each new egg to be a shining wonder, something to be treasured. They looked like pretty jewels shining in the sand. And of course the contents were so much more precious indeed. "I see..." His voice trailed off. "Thirty-seven? Over by her tail, is that one?"

Rhosyn leaned and walked forward, trying to see. She stepped right just a bit. "Yep, thirty-eight I think. A very good number. Rogueth did just fine." She smiled and glanced over to K'ran, aware that he might have been quietly worrying. "Now we get to plan a party. Time to take your measure, Weyrleader."

"Thirty-eight. That is a solid number," he agreed. "What measure?"

}:I can bring you a wherry or a herdbeast,:{ the bronze told the gold,
impressed by her eggs - their eggs.

"For your new shirt, vest, and trousers. Can't have you attending your own Hatching sporting another Weyr's colors, for Faranth's sake." Leading him out of the Hatching Cavern, Rhosyn turned the light switch off. She'd get her things moved over to the weyr here later.

}:I will need a whole herdbeast:{ She was starving after all that and especially since she wouldn't be moving for a long while. No, her eggs were precious and had to be guarded.

}:Then I will get it for you,:{ the bronze promised, leaping up and winging out of the Hatching Grounds so he could bring his mate the requested beast.

"Oh, I suppose that's true. I hadn't thought of that," K'ran admitted.
"And a Hatching is the best reason to justify a new formal set."

Thirty-eight beautiful eggs. He still couldn't believe their luck.

Last updated on the May 20th 2016

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Cause for Celebration