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Jisken's head had become more clear after his wound had been patched up (though he could have done without the Healer's brusque commentary), and before long he was standing once again, albeit even further towards the back than before. He was somewhat surprised that people were accepting the maulings so well, but that, he supposed, was simply part of the Hatching process if no Touching was involved. The brown and the gold Impressed, and though Jisken blamed neither for the injuries involved, he had to admit he was somewhat relieved as the two left the Sands.

And then there was the blue. Jisken winced as he watched Jessan go down, but the boy had approached the dragon, so he should have expected what was headed for him. The other boy in the mauling, Mal, he thought his name was, headed off with the blue, which gave Jisken hope for the other eggs: even if he had been injured, he was in fact still eligible. With the sands settling after three successful Impressions, Jisken turned his eyes towards the other eggs, still somewhat wary.

Just what else would these hatchlings do?

Seeing those broad shoulders slump, Inaari couldn't help but crack a smile for him. She knew that feeling all too well, especially after the last Hatching. However, the blond held her dream fast in her mind, and refused to let go! Inaari would not be defeated yet~! There were still so many eggs! Lightly nudging his arm with her shoulder in a friendly bump, she shared the smile.

"Don't worry too much. Maybe a nice little blue or green will amble out and make you feel better! I know there are many nice dragons out there, my friends have them!" Making up her mind, she resolved to steadfastly hang near the youth until the end. In the end, if they walked away, they'd at least walk away together! That was always much more comforting. J'ri would then be there, to cheer them up!

Hearing a familiar voice, brown eyes rose to watch S'van crow and cavort in the stands, and the smile brightened even further. That fluttering in her heart hadn't quite ceased for the brownrider just yet, and just seeing him still made her somewhat happier. It'd been so long since she'd seen him though. But that was no thought for now! Now, was for the dragons!

One day, Miah was going to make a very special man very miserable. There was no way she'd ever Impress any dragon. Not even that queen could stack up to this brat. She'd probably be thrown out before she hit the age cap, end up with some poor soul for the rest of their lives and multiple, having only daughters that were equally horrid. With a sigh and a grimace, Balin was tugged along behind her, wishing so dearly to have something solid to smack his head against repeatedly.

Bachi had moved. Damn kids and their not listening ever.

"He was here. He must have left," the gruff teenager stated bitterly, trying to find the missing party without actually having to move again. Shards, he was going to have to look for him less he get killed. Tempting as it was...

Not so tempting after watching the blue lash out. "I'll need to find him. Why don't you stay here?" But who was he kidding? She wouldn't stay any better than Bachi had.

---

Sen was especially perky in the company of her favorite person, laughing as soon as Nasundu spoke, though what she said wasn't that funny. It was to her. Being lost in the crowd. As if! "Yeah, I know what you mean. I can't tell hardly anything apart still. It's--Hm?" Only after hearing him mentioned did she remember oh, yeah, she was holding someone's hand wasn't she?

No sooner had she recalled that little detail that Bachi was pulling his hand away. " He's that grumpy guy Balin's little brother."

Jessan yelped loudly as the blue struck him. Tiny but sharp claws raked against his arm as he raised it to defend himself. Foolish, foolish. Clutching his arm, he moved back and looked over the wound. Sharding fool, that is what he was to move in the line of sight for the blue. Hissing, he saw the blood start to gel but he had had worse damage from herdbeasts and his own random folly.

Nodding to the blue and to the one who had claimed his attention, Jessan stayed in his same spot. What was a little pain at the chance to Impress? He may be a sharding fool but he wasn't a stupid one. He continued to have a brave and bold face, a confident stance. Nothing would stop him from being there if his was out there someplace!

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Jamusyn winced as another boy was injured. Why did the fools even want to stand? He definitely would have turned down any search that came his way. His world was one of numbers and keeping order. Shaking his head, the holder boy could only hope that no one else was maimed or worse...

His father's cousin grunted and crossed his arms. It was good to see all the Hatchings in well health; even if they were somewhat violent. The older man hoped that if and when Thread returned, they put that anger to good use.

Jamusyn sighed and tapped his fingers against his seat. How much longer, he wondered would he have to sit. The aggression was really too much for him and he was starting to thirst.

"Congratulations!" Selachii cried out, grinning at the boy he didn't know -- he didn't know most of these people, but his chest wrung a bit. It was good that the little blue had Impressed well, he thought, one fist working down by his side as he tried to calm himself from his nervous excitement. Deep breaths seemed almost impossible in the tense Bowl, but he dragged them in to cool himself off. He felt like an overexcited pup, but waiting was so hard...

Hearing all the noise, A'bri looked up, watching the little Blue even as he continued to hand food to Varth. He winced when the boy grew too close to him- what was he thinking? had he not seen what had happened with the first two eggs?- and wasn't surprised at all when the delicate, richly colored Blue took a swipe at him.

"Fool," he murmured, though he made sure the word wouldn't carry.

Pay attention to me, Mine,: Varth demanded, snorting and glaring over the sands at the blue, who was sitting still in a posture that suggested very clearly that he was demanding His come and fetch him. :He does not matter, I matter! I want more food. Now, before she eats it all!:

A'bri brought his attention back to his dragon, grabbing another good piece of meat and handing it to him. "Of course you matter, but so do they. We're going to be training alongside them, we're going to be flying alongside them someday."

:I will fly better than all of them, Mine. We will be the best.: Varth flared his wings, which unbalanced him slightly, and he snorted.

"I know you will, but even us together can't guard the whole sky ourselves," A'bri countered, reaching out to steady Varth and handing him another piece of meat. He realized only then that he hadn't stopped grinning since the moment he'd gone forward to claim his handsome dragonet, that even as tense as it had been, he was still absolutely beaming. "But we're going to be great."

Dolmin swallowed. He'd be much more pleased about the blue's Impression if it hadn't gone after that dimglowed Candidate first. Shards... it was dangerous out there! He wondered, briefly, how he'd hold up if he was in there....

He'd get squashed, probably. And his mother would be there to tell him that she'd told him so.

But there was one thing that he agreed with Kagiya with - it was very, very important that they were here to see this. Because, shards! None of the other kids were ever going to believe how bloody this was. They'd all be sitting around, bragging to each other about how every girl there would Impress gold, every boy Impress bronze, and then Dolmin would come up - tell them they were dimglows, probably half of them were going to get shredded up - and they'd make faces and jeer at him.

But Kagiya knew too. He was now very, very happy he'd gotten her to come along. They both knew now, just how stupid all the other kids were. And maybe, just maybe, that made them a little better than the rest.

"Bet the other kids would'a run away cryin' by now," he chuckled darkly, enjoying his newfound sense of superiority. Exhilarated, Dolmin grinned up at Kagiya. "You know they would'a, too. Buncha wherry babies." Unspoken was his new assertion - they, he and Kagiya, were now the best of the bunch. Because everyone knew, on some level, that not all the Weyrbrats would grow to be dragonriders - but shards! He and Kagiya, they were meant for it. They'd seen this now, when all the other kids were too scared or too goody-goody to come. That made them the right sort, didn't it? Of course it did. And all the other kids might be jealous when he told them about watching the Hatching, but shards, they'd have to know it too, on some level!

When K’em started to take an interest in La, Cordel’s first instinct was to go, ‘No. My apprentice. Go get your own’. But he managed to quell that by reminding himself that La was not a moron; she wouldn’t be easily taken by the Brownrider’s almost unnatural charm.

Besides, there was W’ten to deal with. “Wow, W’ten, I’m amazed you managed to pick that out! Unfortunately for you, I’m fresh out of gold stars and cookies and ohshit, another mauling be back in a bit…” Out of the corner of his eye, he managed to catch sight of a rather dashing little Blue. And someone walking towards him. Well, that was stupid! Not for the first time, Cordel wondered if he had to heal self-inflicted wounds like that. Unfortunately, his morals said ‘yes and get your butt out there’.

At least he had someone to carry his supplies now. Giving La the bag, he pawed around until he found the bandages and numbweed again before approaching Jessan. “That was a stupid move,” he berated the Candidate. “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to approach angry dragonets unless they ask you too?!”

~.~

And while Cordel was busy teaching someone a lesson, Mal was getting one of his own. While the Candidate continued to entertain thoughts of simply slipping away, a very new thing slipped into his mind.

Redhath.

Malmine, your Redhath is tired of playing this stupid game. He wants to get out of here. He wants to eat and he wants no one else to touch him

It was a strange mind, one all sleek and shiny, like steel. This was a mind that clicked away, always considering the outcomes of various things. Manipulative, sneaky, and thinking ahead far beyond the average. It was a mind much like Mal’s own, only…

Redhath wants to leave!

The voice was more imperious now and M’al stood up at the command, slowly making his way back to the front of the group in a daze. The most gorgeous Blue dragonet he had ever seen sat on the Sands, hissing at everyone to keep them away. Redhath was very upset… At least they could agree on something: they both wanted out. M’al reached out and touched the Blue. Redhath merely snorted and once again pointed out that he wanted to go OUT.

They are STARING, mine. And that one tried to touch Redhath! The dragon nudged his new bonded in mild annoyance, encouraging him to move. He did not have time to sit around and wait; he wanted out NOW. And M’al listened, moving with his dragon towards the meat tables, idly wishing he had paid more attention during Candidate lessons.