Hatching of Clutch 11

Many thanks to Lina, Jalith's rider, for writing the story.

The rising sun sparkled off of the pile of mottled eggs. Weyrwoman Lina sat behind her golden queen and watched as Jerdan Weyr's Hatching Grounds filled. Most of the guests had already forgotten their annoyance at being roused before dawn and were settling down with mugs of klah to wait for the Hatching. Wingleader R'ton was busy greeting guests as bronze Jeduth watched the spectacle from a ledge up above. Firelizards and dragons had roused the Weyr with their humming nearly two hours ago and the Candidates had already taken their places on the sand.

The dragons' humming suddenly became so intense that one of the girls--a pretty redhead--covered her ears with her hands. Two of the eggs had been rocking furiously for awhile now, including the golden one. The candidates anxiously gathered around.

Suddenly a crack appeared in the smooth shell and slowly spread until there were tiny web-like cracks covering the entire shell. One of the boys shifted from foot to foot impatiently. Just as he was about to give the egg a little nudge, the shell exploded sending shards showering everywhere. A glistening brown dragonet stepped carefully over the pieces and peered up into the boy's face. Thomas' face broke into a wide grin. "Nah, Gometh, I didn't mind waiting so long, you get used to it living with all girls," he remarked as they made their way off the sands.

As if on cue, three more eggs shattered revealing two blues and a green. Not taking nearly as long as their brother had, each dragonet ran in a separate direction. The green was first to Impress, running smack into one girl's legs. Kes reassured the little dragonet saying, "It's okay! Really Cliath, I'm not hurt!"

The two blues had stopped in front of the boys and seemed to be conferring about something. Then they confidently strode up to the boy of their choice. Kellen's hazel eyes sparkled as he smiled down at the little brown, "I'm glad you picked me too, Nalleth!" Almost at the same time, Tandor and his golden Embri were chortling with joy. "Yes, I'm sure there's food around here somewhere, Basoth!" The two boys led their dragonets off the sands.

Meanwhile, another dainty green had broken free from her shell. Her furious shrieks drew the attention back to herself. Certain that all eyes were upon her, the green beauty peered up into each girl's face, making quite a show of picking just the right candidate. Stepping forward, Mirgan grinned, "Oh stop dancing around Cailith! Aren't you hungry?"

As they followed the others off the sands, Alicin felt something brush against her leg. Looking down she saw a green dragonet the exact color as her emerald eyes. "Insreth! You startled me!" she said giving the dragonet's eye-ridges a friendly scratch.

Suddenly five more eggs cracked open to reveal two browns, a blue, a green and a bronze! Chaos erupted as everyone tried to look everywhere at once. As the dragonets ran in circles, floundering in the hot sand, one of the bronzes made his way over to a redhead boy. Incredulously Kraleryn looked down and whi spered, "Me? You want me to be your rider, Jornuth?"

The two brown dragons had managed to plow right into each other and had been knocked down. As they struggled to right themselves they only burrowed their sensitive noses further and further into the hot sand. The two nearest boys, Lindar and Darak quickly came to their rescue. "It's okay Davoth," Lindar said trying to stifle a laugh, "I don't think anyone saw you." Darak was consoling the other little brown, "Don't worry Pontoth, you'll grow out of your clumsiness!"

The blue and green dragonets had been watching the two browns with interest. Now they both made a mad dash toward the remaining Candidates. "Slow down Hallith!" Larina cried, meeting the green halfway. "I'm not going anywhere." Dalom jumped out of the little blue's path only to have the tiny creature veer right toward him. "Sorry Trath!" he laughed, "I wasn't trying to run away from you!"

The four remaining Candidates gathered near the eggs. Two were rocking violently. They split open to reveal perfectly formed bronze and blue dragonets. With a querying croon the little bronze looked up into Creglion's eyes. His gold firelizard hummed with encouragement as he led the little bronze off the sands. "I'm sure Arduth, a little oil will make that itch feel better! Just ask Enki!"

The brilliant little blue dragonet stepped up to Kelden. "Wow Cujith," Kelden whispered, "you're going to be even better to ride than a runner!"

The two remaining girls stood together near the eggs. The large golden egg was still rocking furiously. Jalith crooned a reassurance to the anxious girls. Suddenly a small muzzle poked out of the other egg. It gave one rock before tumbling off a mound of sand. As it hit the bottom the rest of the shell broke away to reveal a beautiful white dragonet.

Before the tiny creature could get to her feet, the golden egg gave a final shake. With an ear-splitting pop the shell cracked perfectly in half, spilling the precious queen face first into the sand. Squawking at such injustice, the little queen righted herself and glared at the two girls. The white was hanging back as if to give the queen first choice. With a gentle nudge from her mother, the white slowly walked over to Majourn's feet. "Damiath!" she cried, a smile breaking over her face. She confidently led the dragonet toward the exit with hardly a limp.

The queen meanwhile had made eye contact with Zesyraan. The girl's brown eyes were overflowing with tears. "Of course, Laurellith," she said lightly stroking the little queen's cheek, "the best is always saved for last!"

Lina and R'ton followed the newly hatched pairs off the sands with reminiscent smiles on their faces, ready to celebrate.

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