Finding Their Lifemates

Writers: Avery, Chelle
Date Posted: 28th July 2016

Characters: Rhosyn, K'ran, F'dras, Isayle, N'tran, Q'ram, T'kar
Description: Orlaith and Rogueth watch their dragonets Impress.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 6, day 21 of Turn 8
Notes: Pt 2 of 4; Follows The Traditional Gift

K'ran

Once they had settled into their seats, Rhosyn was glad to see that
none of the eggs had cracked open yet. Some of them had started
rocking, though. It was almost like they were in a race to be first.
From her spot at the back of the Cavern, Orlaith's eyes whirled an
excited green. The big queen was a reminder of just what dragons were
capable of and the circle of eggs situated before her was a reminder
of just what she and Rogueth were capable of to those watching.

Rogueth was perched closer than any of the other dragons, watching
Orlaith and the eggs, wishing he could be closer but unwilling to risk
the queen's displeasure. }:Soon they will see,:{ he said to his rider
and Orlaith. }:All will be well.:{

"Do you have a thought on what color will be first?" he asked.

"Bronzes are great, but I've seen great clutches start with a blue. So
I just hope they're healthy and strong." Her eyes followed the action
on the Sands and she went quiet as most everyone else did in the Cavern.

As the candidates swarmed the Sands in their white robes, tactfully giving
the golden dragon a wide berth, the eggs began to get more violent. Before
too long, one landed on its side and it wasn't too much longer before a wingtip
could be seen. }:Here I come!:{ came the announcement, followed by a
small bugle. Some of the crowd pointed in the direction just as a green
dragonet burst through her egg shell.

As if that was the signal, several eggs began to crack open and reveal
different colored dragonets. A blue here, a brown here, and then another green.
The candidates moved a bit closer to receive the baby dragons.

}:Do you think we should have them?:{ One blue head turned to regard
his brown brother. He hadn't moved much from where his shell lay in pieces
on the Sands.

}:I don't know. Something feels like maybe there is something there
though:{ the brown answered back. Maryth shook his head and moved a bit
closer to smell one of the white things.

}:They are interesting,:{ blue Derenoth said as he turned his head. He
wanted to encompass the world around him before meeting it. He found
the mass of people in the Stands to be dull-looking and uninteresting.
A few others closer to him in white were brighter minds. But none of
them felt quite right as he examined them.

On the sands, Nautran saw the other Candidates spreading out to form a
loose half-circle around the babies. Most stood back, but he was
impatient, and sure. He stepped forward towards the first dragonets
who were wobbling along, looking at each of them and trying to make
eye contact. The Weyrlingmasters had told him that was how to Impress
a dragon - welcome and confidence.

His eyes fell on the blue dragon sitting in the remains of his shell.
The blue lifted his head to meet the regard. And then the world turned
over for him in his mind. He began to run forward and threw his arms
around the blue's neck. "This is Derenoth! And I'm N'tran!" he
shouted, knowing those two facts to be unshakeable truths.

In the Stands, K'ran cheered loudly at that first Impression. Watching
dragonets Hatch was always a moving experience that reminded him of
Rogueth's own Hatching and his Impression. But knowing these eggs were
_his_ made the experience almost transcendental. The hum of the
dragons resonated through his head and chest and his heart was
suffused with the memory of that unconditional love.

Most riders always had that same feeling. The memories of the day that
changed their lives forever were brought back, relived through the candidates
on the Sands going through the same experience. Rhosyn remembered but she
also felt Orlaith's pride over these-her children. In a way, both the
candidates and the dragonets were hers-theirs and they were bringing them all together. A happy rumble came from the queen as a whoop came from the crowd. Clearly,
the new blue weyrling's relatives had seen his Impression.

Watching Derenoth get scratched and led away by the white thing, Maryth's
head swiveled, taking in his green sister who was making tracks. The little
dragonet was already fast, despite her ungainly young body. Her claws
dug into the sand, carrying her out towards the far ring of
candidates. It almost looked like she was trying to escape. }:Don't go
sister! It is warm and nice here!:{ he told her.

She stopped, turning her head. It lowered as Clytith considered his
plea. }:There are so many of them here. I just want my one. I have to
go to mine. He will keep me safe:{ Turning back towards the few
candidates nearby to her, she regarded them one-by-one. Some of them
took a step toward her, met with a small noise intended to warn them
off. Then Clytith stumbled toward an older boy. Qhiram was Weyrbred
and didn't try to move out of her path. When he knelt down to embrace
her, Impression had clearly been made.

Another green dragon pushed out of her shell. She was still damp from
the egg material but it was obvious that she was large and dark in
color. Little pieces of shell were still stuck to her as she waddled
past some of the other dragons, wings trailing on the sand. She was
heading towards a clump of girls. Partway there, she tripped and fell
over, claws catching her own wing and tearing it. Ichor splatted to
the sand as she went sprawling. Startled, she began to creel in distress.

}:I hurt! I have fallen! Please, mine, help your Edanath!:{

Some of the Candidates whispered and did nothing. But one brave girl
darted forward to the crying dragonet. "I'm here!" Isayle said, trying
to lift her up.

Orlaith watched the little green, but she saw the Weyrlingmasters move
forward with the dragonhealers to help the new pair and her focus shifted
elsewhere. There was that stubborn little brown that was now picking at
something in the Sand. Over a bit was another who was walking slowly, but
surely. Then her eyes landed on an egg that had been still but began to move.

}:I tell you-move!:{ Defiance filled the order even as the dragonet
behind it pushed himself against the eggshell, causing it to rock
violently. Once-twice-and then on the third time, it came open with a
well placed headbutt. All of a sudden, he was thrown into a world
filled with lights, noises, and warm sand. His head tilted and he
regarded the large golden creature watching him. }:Greetings. I am
Caydranth. Where am I?:{

Giving him an odd look, Orlaith's head tilted. }:You are at River
Bluff Weyr. I am Orlaith, senior queen and you are my hatchling. Today
is the day you find your rider:{

Taking in the rest of his surroundings while he thought about that
explanation, he supposed it was right. He needed a rider, didn't he?
His eyes fell on the other, smaller creature nearby. Still, the other
creature was much smaller than the one called Orlaith, but it wasn't
small. It was much larger than him. He headed that way to investigate.

Rogueth peered at the dragonet coming closer to him, delighted to see
the small bronze. A small bronze! Just like himself! And the son of
Orlaith and him! It was very exciting.

}:Hello hatchling,:{ he sent, mindvoice full of warmth and welcome.
}:Have you found your rider yet?:{

}:No. I'm afraid I wasn't told where to look.:{ Caydranth fussed over
his still-wet wings. He glanced around the Cavern, eyes whirling a
curious green. He saw a group of boys coming toward him and scooted
back, closer to Rogueth.

Elsewhere, other candidates yelled out the names of their dragons.
Eggs had cracked open, one-by-one, then in twos, and threes. It kept
the attention of the crowd who shouted for the new weyrlings they
knew. The healers worked on the sidelines, out of sight of the Stands.
The weyrlingstaff was throwing meat buckets into hands.

}:You look with the Candidates. Those are the small beings in white.
Some of them are coming close to you. Take a look at their mind-glows.
When you find the one who is right for you, you will know,:{ Rogueth
assured Caydranth.

"Those two are taking their time, aren't they?" K'ran asked Rhosyn,
looking at the bronze and brown dragonets who hadn't found their
lifemates yet. Sometimes it took a bit for them to find the right
lifemates. Other times, dragonets never did - but that didn't happen
very often anymore, with how careful the Searchriders were looking for
Candidates.

Her eyes followed after seeing another blue head off the Sands with a new
weyrling. Seeing the brown dragonet, she watched him continue to wander
about. He had watched his siblings heading off with the white things.
There weren't many dragonets left about. His stomach was beginning to
burn. It was so empty. Maryth looked down and creeled. }:F'dras I am
hungry. Everyone is leaving me behind.:{

The queen heard the creel and turned her head to see if the hatchling was
hurt. Seeing no damage done to the brown, she subsided when a boy rushed
to get him. There were only a handful left now.

Wondering how this creature would know what he was to do, Caydranth looked
again at the candidates coming towards him. He didn't think they could
help him. Watching them with eyes whirling a bit faster, he stretched his
wings. They stopped coming closer except one older crafter boy.

Takaren came slowly while watching the bronze. The audience watching went
quiet. He was taking a risk, should the dragonet not choose him and become
violent. "You have to be hungry. I can get you some nice juicy meat. And
then I can rub your hide. Choose me and I will make you happy." His warm
brown eyes kept watching the dragonet as he inched closer and closer.

}:I am hungry:{ Caydranth could also appreciate that this boy was not
afraid of him like the others. He needed a brave partner. He bent his head
down and sniffed. His wings were getting heavier. A good rub would feel
nice too. Looking back at Rogueth once more, he made a small noise.
}:Farewell. I must retire to recoup my strength.:{

Lurching forward, he fell into Takaren's arms. "I love you, Caydranth,"
was heard before the boy walked off the Sands with his new mate. The last
weyrling pair followed, leaving the other candidates behind to head back
to the barracks.

"Well that ended up quite well," Rhosyn observed with a smile. A choosy
bronze boded well for the future. She would wait to see how that pair
turned out.

"It did indeed," K'ran said with an answering smile. All of the eggs had
hatched, and found their lifemates, safe and sound. What a good Hatching.

Last updated on the July 29th 2016

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Finding Their Lifemates