We're Going To The Hatching

Writers: Avery
Date Posted: 9th December 2017

Characters: Kadira, V'rel, Jadirah, A'kades, J'ler
Description: A'kades takes his family to the Hatching.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 17 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, N'vanik, Tyselin (indirectly), Dessa (indirectly)

J'ler

}:The Hatching is beginning at Dolphin Cove,:{ Volaith said to A'kades.

Fortunately, A'kades was eating, and not in the middle of drills, which meant that he would be able to go to the Hatching. The bronzerider's eyes widened and he immediately left behind his plate of food to head out for Dolphin Cove. He was still hungry but he didn't want to dawdle, and there would be food at their feast anyway.

At this time of day, Jadirah wasn't on shift, so he headed to her quarters. Fortunately she was there with both the children. "Panitath's Hatching is happening at Dolphin Cove," he said. "Do you want to come see?"

Jadirah grinned at him. "Of course," she said, and both kids cheered.

"I'll just get dressed - and you two will need something nice as well, so nothing with holes in it," she warned Kadira, who let out an exasperated noise at her mother's correction.

"Why don't we meet you in the Weyrbowl, that way you can get ready yourself?"

He nodded and bolted back to his own Weyr. He kept his finery for Hatchings and Gathers in its own section of the wardrobe, so it was easy to pull out nice-fitting pants and an embroidered tunic in blue and change into it, throwing a riding jacket on for /between/.

Then he rigged Volaith in straps and they landed at the Weyrbowl. Jadirah passed Jadirel up to him, but both of the women were able to mount themselves. Volaith leapt up into the sky as soon as they were settled and A'kades provided the Dolphin Cove visualization as soon as they were a small height above the ground. It was faster than usual, but he was excited.

The sky over the tropical Weyrbowl was crowded with dragons, as was usual for any Weyr having a Hatching. Volaith was able to navigate the crowd of dragons, find a spot to set them down and then he went to get himself out of the way of the dragons who were ferrying guests and important people to the Hatching.

A'kades led the way to the Hatching Caverns. He marveled at their size as they navigated the throngs of people and found fairly low seats where they had a good view of the golden queen and her eggs. They also had a good view of the dignitaries box. There was Cyradis and N'vanik looking over their clutch. He made a note to himself he wanted to reach out to the Weyrleader later.

He saw the weyrlingstaff assembling with buckets of meat and a few green-clad Healers near them, and briefly wished that he was still on weyrlingstaff. This was always a triumphant moment for them, watching the Impressions happen and a new class be formed. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy wingriding and flying Thread, it was just that there was something so special about this moment.

"I can't wait to Stand!" Jadirel declared, leaning forward to stare avidly at the eggs, waiting for the first sign of cracks to spread across them. "I bet I'd Impress a bronze, just like dad. What about you?" he asked his sister. "Wouldn't you want the gold?"

"The gold egg is very pretty, but I don't want it," Kadira answered. "I haven't stood for any clutch, remember? I like Healing too much."

"A girl after my own heart," Jadirah said with a laugh.

"Look, Candidates!" Kadira said, pointing as the white-robed figures began to come onto the Sands.

**They had gotten good seats,** A'kades thought as he looked at the Candidates and saw he could see their faces. There were many of them spilling onto the Sands to give the eggs the best choice, and he scanned for his son's dark skin and hair.

He caught his breath as he saw Vatirel emerge. He thought that with his serious expression, his son looked both more grown up than he remembered, and the white robe made him look too young to be out there.

Jadirah nudged him with an elbow. "Remember to breathe. We don't need you passing out and missing his Impression," she teased.

Vatirel walked onto the Sands staring ahead at the eggs, not scanning the stands to see if his father had come, or looking at his other Candidates.

**Volaith, tell him we're here?** A'kades requested. He knew that his bronze, like most dragons, didn't care to speak to humans who weren't his rider. But the bronze had historically made rare exceptions to speak to his children.

The bronze sensed how important this was to his rider, and obliged. }:Vatirel. We are here to watch,:{ the bronze sent to the Candidate, providing an impression of his rider and a blurry one of the rest of the family.

Vatirel twitched and then stopped short as he walked. The bronzerider held his breath, afraid his son would just keep going. Then the Candidate looked up at the Stands, scanning them until he saw A'kades waving. His face broke out in a smile and he waved back for a few seconds, before turning serious again and rejoining the other Candidates as they spread out around the eggs.

The humming rose to a significant swelling pitch. The eggs moved, and then the first crack appeared. All four of the Dragonsfall visitors leaned forward to watch the Hatching unfold.

The first dragonet of the shell was a small blue who wobbled his way into the arms of a boy who dropped to his knees and yelled out his name. The boy looked familiar, but A'kades didn't know why. Next up were some greens and a brown. Vatirel was excitedly providing commentary on them, and Kadira made surprised noises when a brown dragonet ran down a girl in haste.

A'kades only half-registered their commentary. Though normally he liked watching everything happening at the Hatching, today was different. Today he had eyes only for his son.

That focus was broken as the gold egg's shell split and she pushed her way out. Jadirah slipped her hand into his as she watched. Even though this wasn't his Weyr and not his queen, Volaith was compelled to change his humming and pitch to welcome her. The little queen dragonet was a beautiful color and she showed all the determination of her color as she headed towards her chosen lifemate - the girl who'd been knocked down. They watched with concern until the Healers flagged the okay.

Then A'kades turned back to his son. Most of the newly-Impressed riders had walked off with their lifemates, leaving the Sands less crowded. The left of both genders were moving inwards around the remaining eggs, of which there were only four. Among them was his son. The eggs wobbled and cracked, and out spilled a blue, who chose a boy at the far end from Vatirel. Two greens came out on wobbly legs, choosing a girl and a young-looking boy.

There was only one egg remaining, and seven male Candidates including his son. His heart tightened as he worried Vatirel would be left behind again. He could see his son's shoulders slumping already and knew why. He'd Stood at so many Hatchings, and been left behind in each of them. This would be yet another disappointment for the boy.

The egg finally cracked and a dark blue dragonet spilled out. The boys all moved in closer and disappointed girls turned to leave the Stands. The blue seemed to hiss at the Candidates, and several moved aside, leaving a clear path...

Jadirah's hand tightened around his. "Look!" she whispered as the blue tottered straight to Vatirel and butted him in the stomach.

}:His name is Rymeth and he has chosen,;{ Volaith informed his rider.

"Yes!" A'kades hollered, jumping to his feet and pumping his hands in the air in joy. Vatirel had Impressed! His son had done it!

And now the Hatching was over. Some people were getting up to leave already. Others were staying in their seats to let the crowds disperse. Jadirah took her time standing up but Kadira and Jadirel were already on their feet.

A'kades said, "Come on, let's go greet them," and led the way down to where the new weyrlings would be.

Last updated on the January 30th 2020

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We're Going To The Hatching