When the call went up for the candidates to gather on the Sands, Damier was just as eager as some of the younger children in their small group. He looked quite awkward, walking amidst a group of young humans, as they headed for the giant cavern and the shuddering eggs. Even more as all eyes focussed on his burly, black furred form smack dab in the center of the group. Yet none of the odd stares or awkward stances mattered to Damier. His entire attention was focussed on the hair line cracks creeping across eight of the ten eggs.

"Hot sand! Hot sand!" Explosion yelped as he danced across the burning sands on all four paws. His wings remained half spread as if ready to take flight, though he couldn't in this cavern. That proddy dragoness would probably eat him up!

"Pfft! It's just a little heat." Damier gloated while trying to hide his own uncomfort. A thick coat of fur was not acceptable for such blisteringly hot conditions. Luckily, his family had grown up in the tropical heat of the Warren and was accustomed to a certain amount of warmth. This was almost unbearable.

Both the candidate and his four footed friend hushed up as the first egg cracked with an exploding force. Stars danced in Damier's eyes as the Liron/Tigra watched the newly born hatchling choose a bond and leave the sands. Even Explosion was awed and touched by the full force of watching a dragon bond.

Time passed quickly for the two. With only eight eggs to hatch, pairs were quickly moving off the sands and thinning the number of hopeful candidates. By the time half an hour had passed, only Damier and another boy, Mitchell, remained.

Damier was beginning to get nervous as he noticed that only three eggs remained. True, there were only three remaining candidates but all of the dragonets could just as easily Impress from the stands. He shifted uneasily from foot to foot, his tail brushing up dust clouds in the dry sand. Explosion's mutterings buzzed in his ears like an annoying gnat. Things about burned paws and the hatchling taking too long.

Suddenly, one of the eggs cracked and spilled a glistening little green onto the sands. Damier's hopes dwindled as the green quickly bonded to the last female candidate, leaving only the two guys.

While Damier stood patiently by, Mitchell seemed to be having trouble with the clutch mother. Appearently he had tried sneaking onto the Sands at an earlier time. Damier grinned quietly to himself. He had tried that too, and not been caught.

*The next two eggs to hatch revealed two large, cocky looking bronzes. They stared at each other, and both headed to the remaining candidates. One stopped infront of Damier, and smiled. He stared at the waiting fralamaraz behind him, and swung his tail to hit the winged wolf in the face.

You'll never get me! For I am the great Caironeth! The hatchling yelled out, before leading Damier out of the sands.*

Explosion snorted and jumped back in surprise. The look of stunned bewilderment on his wolfish face brought a laugh to Damier's deep voice. The fralamar growled, whirling quickly enough to see the tip of Caironeth's tail disappearing down the corridor. "Hey!" He shouted, bolting after the hatchling. "That's not fair!"

"Wait up!" The Liron/Tigra man quickly ran after his wolfen companion and his new bond, wondering briefly if his sister's Impression had happened yet. As he tore down the tunnel, nearly tumbling over Explosion who had finally caught up to the energetic Caironeth, he hoped she would be as happy with her bond as he was with his. It would certainly be interesting for the people of Vella Crean as all three companions thought up new ways to have fun with weyrling classes.

Read Damier's story.
Damier impressed Caironeth from: Vella Crean
Damier bonded Explosion from: Marbethil Valley