There was a peaceful relaxation to the air as the sun became no more then a red gem on the horizon. Swells of colour painted the sky, turning it from a bright, cheery blue to a serene mixture of purples, pinks and oranges. Wispy, dark clouds floated along the sky line, threatening rain after a fair day of sunshine. The air was weighted with the scent of lightning and a nagging sensation that something was coming.

Letanri stretched and breathed deeply of the crisp, clear air as she stood by the lake's edge. The gentle lap of water and brush of cool grass against her feet was calming, reminding her of sunsets back home. She liked it here, in the simple beauty of Opal Moon Weyr. The people were nice and she had even formed a friendship with the Weyrwoman herself.

Looking around at the other candidates, the feline girl smiled to herself. There was no feeling of being out of place. In fact, what would have been termed a half-Liron girl was here to Stand as well. Each of the candidates had their own personality 'quirks' that made them unique and drew them to this particular place. Just as she had been drawn, for a special clutch that was Opal Moon's first.

Letanri turned away from the glittering blue depths of the lake and began walking back to the candidate barracks. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Analyn walking in the opposite direction, lost in her own musings. Letanri smiled, raising a hand in greeting to the Weyrwoman. Analyn smiled back, knowing that they shared a sort of 'kindred spirit'.

Though she had been here for nearly a month, Letanri was neither eager to go home nor worried about the impending hatching. She enjoyed her time here and the chance to learn about a new world and it's people. True, Pern wasn't new, quite old in fact, but the Liron/Tigra girl had never been off Tris'Hath before.

Briefly, she thought of her brother and the new that had come via flitter a few days ago. Damier had impressed to a healthy young bronze named Caironeth. He was overjoyed with his new lifemate and wished Letanri the best at her hatching. A slight blur on the bottom of the page had indicated that Caironeth had tried to add his own commentary, without sucess.

A sudden, ominous boom shattered the peace of the descending night. Letanri looked up to see thick, black clouds rolling in over the Weyr, shrouding it in a starless night. The Liron/Tigra growled under her breath, seeking out shelter before the first drops hit. She had been born and raised beside an ocean, but feline instincts told her that she still hated rain. Icy, cold and seemingly never ending. Far different then her warm, salty waves back on Tris'Hath.

Bodies crowded into the candidate barracks and more then a few had sour looks on their faces as they stared up at the thunderous, oil black sky. Yejide, the other feline person, was least happy of them all, having been caught in the first, tentative drops.

"At least we're safe in here." Letanri smirked, trying to offer comfort to her furry friend. Yejide smiled lightly, orange-tan paws wrapped around her shoulders to block out the cold.

For a few moments, the cooped up candidates were happy. The barracks was warm and dry and, of the small group, most had become friends. For a few moments, they thought they could stay in here and wait out the storm.

"Hatching! The hatching's started!" A drenched, out of breath drudge flung the door open, startling a few of the candidates with the loud crash it made against the wall. They were even more startled to hear the news and, even after the boy had disappeared from the doorway, sat for a few moments in bewildered silence.

"Move!" One of the boys shouted, jumping to his feet and scrambling quickly to get his hatching robes. Letanri, too large for any of the offered, white robes, dashed out the door without a care to the rain. Like the drudge before her, she left the door wide open.

The cold drops of incessent water soaked into her black fur and caused it to clump together in uncomfortable, wet masses. A chill crept into her bones, off setting the heat caused by her quick run to the sands. By the time she got there, Letanri was cold, wet and had a look about her like a pissed off cat.

It was an hour before the first egg so much as cracked. In that short amount of time, mages had been called to keep the dismal storm outside of the giant cavern and Letanri had started to dry off. Her temper had calmed slightly, giving her a chance to look over the eggs with eager anticipation. Nearly all of them were rocked, some harder then others, and Dahliath was humming proud, motherly encouragement to her children.

Then it began. The first egg to crack brought a gasp of surprise from everyone watching. It was the gold egg! With a shudder and final shove, the glittering treasure within spilled onto the sands and shakily rose to her feet.

You've been waiting for me, haven't you, Bequet?? Letanri heard the impression faintly, as she could hear all dragons. That was the gift her father had given her. When the first pair walked off the sands and the other eggs began to hatch in succession, Letanri tuned her mind to the various voices that rose and fell with gentle tones. There were so many of them and she was grateful just to be here, witnessing this amazing event. So entranced was she with the others that she didn't notice the hatching of a single egg, revealing identical hatchlings.

Their hides were a pure, glistening white, shimmering with the dampness left over from their shells. One fanned her wings, revealing a dazzling display of black-gold that shone like the sun. They both sported the rainbow tinted eyes of their parents, as did all the hatchlings, and both of these young beauties had their eyes fixed on two, similar candidates.

Letanri was startled when she saw Yejide step forward, staring intently at the newly hatched dragonets. She followed, feeling an odd tug at her mind when she finally looked on the two white-black-gold dragonesses. One of them creeled happily, galloping forward and latching onto Letanri's leg with small foreclaws. Her sister did the same to Yejide and they spoke as one.

You're both kitties! Letanri laughed at the clear, ringing tones in her mind. This sweet, girlish voice was so much stronger then anything she had ever heard before. It was beautiful!

"So we are, Annerisceth, so we are." The Liron/Tigra purred low in her throat, adoration filling her eyes. She knelt in the hot sands and cupped her dragonet's head in her paws. Annerisceth, the name had come to her and she knew it was right. Anne' thrummed happily, her stubby, hatchling tail swishing back and forth in the sands.

Can I have something to eat now? I'm hungry! And I want to hear about your... friends. Why are none of them here? Your brother has one. Tell me about him! Has he bonded too? What's his bond like? I bet I'm better then him! I'm better then everyone!

Letanri laughed again at the barrage of questions that filled her mind. She grinned, her long canines appearing over her lower lip. Gathering the small hatchling up in her arms, she hugged Anne' to her chest and purred happily. "I'll answer all your questions when you're done eating."

Annerisceth seemed content with that arrangement and showed it by affectionately rubbing her head against Letanri's furred cheek. They left together, following Yejide and her bond towards the feeding grounds. The entire way, Annerisceth continued to ask curious questions about Letanri's life and experiences, desiring to know everything about her beloved rider.

Read Letanri's story.
Annerisceth was Impressed at: Opal Moon Weyr