Caught in the Act
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Corrin, Shawna, Sia
Date Posted: 7th February 2026
Characters: Cirina, Aydhara, Kemmin, M'kadja
Description: There’s a run-in after two different groups sneak in to see the eggs…
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 13, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Ketlyn, Aydhan
The hatching cavern was warm and dry. Akadja slipped inside with the insouciant ease of someone long practiced in being somewhere he wasn’t meant to be. There were no posted guards, no one more watchful than a few passers-by that were easy enough to dodge. It was almost comically simple-- but then again, you didn’t need much in the way of security when you had dragons.
Maybe that was why, of the few Akadja told, only the dockhand Kemmin had the guts to join him on his venture.
Kemmin’s heart was hammering so hard he thought it might explode, but his little sister had done this. How hard could it be? He grinned at Akadja, looking a little wild-eyed as he padded quietly after him.
Tymborikath lay dozing lightly between the entrance and the eggs, a great golden wall between the boys and their goal. Despite what her rider had said, she didn’t _look_ harmless, but Aydhan had also said that she might very well allow candidates to sneak back onto the sands and Akadja didn’t come all the way to Barrier Lake to balk at going the extra mile.
Cautiously Akadja approached, calling out in the low, calm voice good on runnerbeasts and canines. “Hey sleepy girl, remember me? Wanna show me your eggs again?”
Tymborikath opened her outer eyelid at the voice. She blinked and shook her head, working the sleepiness out, before shuffling over to whuff at both boys as if she was an excited canine and not a massive dragon. She aggressively presented the eyeridges for scratching.
“My sister’s dragon does this,” Kemmin told Akadja, daring to reach up and touch the dragon. She was so much larger than Varinth, and her warm yellow hide glimmered under the electric lights. She was massive, and terrifying, and beautiful. “Thank you for letting us be here,” he told the queen.
Tymborikath moving revealed that she wasn't alone with her eggs in the cavern. Aydhara and Cirina sat next to a cluster of eggs, the remains of their lunch packed up nearby.
Aydhara started to wave-- she didn't know Akadja well enough to not-- though she frowned at Kemmin. "What are _you_ doing here?"
Kemmin pointed at himself. “Me? Probably the same thing as you?”
"You aren't even a candidate!" Aydhara exclaimed. "I should tell Ketlyn that you're skulking around."
“Aydhara! You said no one would mind if we were here!” Cirina looked around suspiciously, as if someone else might appear to scold them. “So why is it bad if they're skulking? If I get in trouble again, R’lor will confine me to the barracks or something.”
Kemmin nodded along. “She gets it.”
“We wouldn't want anyone to get in trouble,” said Akadja with a sharp smile. “We’ll keep your secrets if you keep ours.”
The threat flew over Kemmin’s head like a distracted flit. “Of course! We’re not blabbers,” he said offhandedly, his eyes already glued to the nearest dragon egg. They were huge. They were pebbly. They were… not as colourful as he’d expected from Ketlyn’s stories. The Sands were sure hot, though.
Aydhara shot Cirina a look. It wasn't the right time to give her the entire rundown of grievances she had second hand from Ketlyn, but it was going to happen as soon as the boys were out of earshot.
"The dam and sire are my parents." Aydhara said hotly instead. “We're not the ones that would be in trouble here."
“And uh… Avicath was my ride here, so that must mean I was invited?” Cirina sounded more skeptical than certain.
Akadja’s smile faded and his expression darkened. He didn’t know what Aydhara’s issue with Kemmin was, but her entitlement made him instantly take his new friend’s side. “Yeah? Well your _mom_ is the one that was practically inviting people to “sneak” back onto the sands at the egg touching. Call her,” he gambled. “I bet she doesn’t care. Her dragon doesn’t. Besides. _Your_ friend isn’t a candidate either, according to her blue knots. If Kemmin isn’t allowed, neither is she.”
“Think I can touch these?” Kemmin held a hand out toward the nearest egg with one eye on Tymborikath.
Tymborikath whuffed and nudged him forward with her snout, happy to have people in awe of her eggs.
“I’m a candidate!” Cirina huffed, as if he’d insulted her, “Just not here.” She gave Kemmin a judgy look, “Why would you want to be here if you aren’t a candidate?”
Kemmin looked at her as if she were dumb. “Who _wouldn’t_ want to see a dragon’s eggs if they had the chance?! Just _look_ at them!” He gestured at the giant nest. “This is incredible!”
Aydhara huffed. Akadja called her bluff already. Aydhan wouldn't care that Kemmin was there either, and while she entertained her child complaining about Kemmin on Ketlyn's behalf, she wasn't about to actually do anything when Tymborikath wasn't bothered.
"Be _careful_, at least!" She said, "Don't think I won't tell Ketlyn."
“Sure, tell my baby sister.”’ Kemmin knelt before the egg that Tymborikath had nudged him toward. The Sands burned his knees as he pressed his palms against the shell. It was warm and felt somehow _alive_. “Wow. Akadja, you have to try this. Which one do you think is yours?”
Rolling his eyes at Aydhara’s threat, Akadja went to join Kemmin among the eggs.
Last updated on the February 28th 2026