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 Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:17 pm
M’al continued to wrestle with his Blue before Redhath finally gave up and just looked at him with the saddest eyes M’al had ever seen. “It could…” he started, but the look into those swirling gray eyes told him the truth. There was no hope for the last egg. It was dead. Truly and completely dead.
“…I see…” he said very quietly, scratching Redhath’s eyeridges. “I’m so sorry, Red… I’m… HEY! Veyes!! What are you doing?!” the newly made weyrling flailed a little at the sight of the Candidate messing around with the egg. He hurried over, Redhath quick on his heels. “Let the dead rest in peace and don’t touch it!” he snapped.
Redhath hissed, his eyes going back to their usual untrusting orange. He did not like this boy, the one who was touching the egg now. That was bad! BAD TOUCH.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:18 pm
Jessmet was numb. She leaned against a railing, barely noticing when other occupants of the Stands pushed past her to leave. Staring out across the Bowl she saw the lights put up for the Feast. How could there be a celebration at such a time? Somehow the unhatched egg seemed just as terrible as the poor unImpressed blue. Unhatched eggs weren't nearly as uncommon, but under the circumstances...
She could feel the press of Trundlebug's imaged thoughts against her mind, seeking companionship. No, she told him. He knew better than to show up on the Sands, even with such tragedy. Ailurath sent him soothing thoughts as well.
Jessmet scrubbed at her face and finally brought herself to take stock of her surroundings. She should probably wander in the direction of the Feast, even though every instinct was telling her to retreat to the barracks. It was late and she was exhausted- emotionally and physically. She rejoined Ailurath and the pair picked their way across the warm sand.
(edit) A shout from the group of new riders drew her attention. Someone was touching the unhatched egg. What was it with these candidates, touching everything? Was this boy the one who had caused so much trouble? Surely the culprit wouldn't have been allowed on the Sands!
Ailurath turned and hissed. Badbadbad she muttered. Cheoth! she cried out daringly. The Queen must do something! This was wrong!
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:23 pm
Condoroth was a patient, sweet dragon, and she only took a few chunks to quickly satisfy herself before nuzzling K'lan, directing her attention to the other weyrlings. The blonde frowned, and pushed to her feet, following after them as if in a daze.
The capable green had no problem chatting to the other dragons, her call going out to Arioth, as well, she was a gold, and therefore the leader of them all.
Mine is hurt! Condoroth needs to fix this!
Her matter-of-fact voice was purposeful, calm despite her worry. Panicking would help nothing!
K'lanmine, where are we going?
The blonde sighed. Trust her to get a talkative dragon.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:24 pm
La had watched the remainder of the hatching silently, expression blank, while Isonth continued to mourn. She had barely seen the last two Impressions, and now that Isonth was finally calming the internal wave of sorrow, she straightened up, brushing sand away from wherhide and scrubbing the dried tear-tracks from her face. Her hands were sticky. She wiped them on her trousers, gathering up the kit she hadn't realized was still in her vicinity, and looked at the last egg.
It never moved, Lanamine. It is dead.
Looking up and seeing the shape of her green settling in a spot recently vacated by more intelligent spectators, La sighed softly. Nothing can stand in the face of human stupidity, can it? She asked. Kyllae...La had upset before, but furious was beginning to seem a more fitting emotion now.
There is nothing we can do... Isonth's voice was tight, still frustrated, still sorrowful.
I know... La looked again at the egg, a final despairing glance, and saw Veyes.
"Get away from that, boy!" she snarled, approaching him with anger in her eyes. There was death here and he was disrespecting it.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:26 pm
Canth knew the split second that blue had vanished forever, because it was the very same split second she felt her stomach suddenly lose its bottom. Death, to some, was instinctual in nature: they could feel it coming, and then brush by them as it passed, like a cold, miserable touch of something entirely disembodied.
She was just staring there, her muscles paralyzed, face blank. There was no one close beside her that she knew to speak with, no dragon of her own to whisper gently to... not even a flit to zip out from between and croon comfort, even if it meant getting yelled at by candidatemasters. Nothing. She had nothing but her own hollow insides to keep her company through the shock.
It had stirred the bile in her throat a-- ... and... oh, Faranth, another of the eggs didn't seem to be stirring, either-- but some poor boy was even trying to free it, too, despite the screams to let it be. Why? Why were they doing that?
... What if it had simply been too weak to break its way out, but there was still some life inside? A stillborn dragonet right after that horrible death... it was just too much to take in. Too harsh in the deepest core of her.
Maybe in her mind, she even envied the brave fool still clinging to some desperate hope. It was more than she could do, anymore.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:26 pm
Looked up as things ended and as was his nature would have proably followed after the crowd at the back somwhere it wasn't too crowded, Hazel eyes glanced over for his opening when he noticed that Veyes was no longe at his side but over by the small egg that hadn't hatched.
Blinking a little he quickly followed his friend over, watching curiously with a slight tilt of his head as he exaimned the remaining egg.
Only to nearly be bowled over by the newly made weyrling and his blue. Seeing another blue was reassuring in the fact that at least so many of the dragons had still made it but rather alarming to see it showing sides of agression.
He quickly put a hand on is friends shoulder. "Better Leave it Veyes, I think the dragons would know if it was alive and I heard sometimes bad eggs hatch into wherries." he told his friend, of course that could have been just a rumour, still just in case, best to back away and leave it, he didn't want his friend hurt. Mindyou he stayed clear of M'al and his Blue while making an effort not to stare at the small dragon.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:27 pm
Tideal was stricken when the blue took to between. It was always a sad occasion when a hatchling could not find theirs. Tideal himself didn't blame the girl who touched the eggs prematurely. Unless she'd beaten on them there would be little she'd do to change fate. A aspect of life that, tonight, wasn't on Tideal's side. With the final egg still and seemingly lifeless, he would doubtlessly be standing a fourth time.
At the bark of the Candidate Master and several others, Tideal made to shuffle to the back of the crowd. At least that way he could be first out, get away from people now that his head started to throb with anger and his own failings. When he was halfway back he turned and stood to wait with the others, few thoughts crossing his mind and fiery eyes turned to the ground. That egg, too. As far as Tideal was concerned, this hatching was a tragedy. He was well aware how good a thing it was that there were new riders, he could just care less.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:27 pm
Pausing, Arioth looked back, eyes whirling orange anew. Mine, Condoroth's is hurt. Gently taking a hold of Rinfala's robe with her teeth, she dug her heels in and tugged firmly. Mine. Do something about it.
What was she supposed to do...? Golds were famous for their ability to calm the dragon of an injured rider, but didn't that take some sort of training or teaching? Well, Rinfala could still do what any other non-Healer could. "Hey! The dark green's rider here needs a Healer! She's hurt!"
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:29 pm
As if everything hadn't already been enough. Varth untucked himself from A'bri's shirt just in time to see Veyes heading over to the egg. And to shriek his disapproval. He shoved past A'bri and A'nt, much more careful this time to avoid injuring anyone, but it was clear he was not going to be halted.
:Mine, make him stop that RIGHT NOW!! Make him leave, he should not touch, he should not!!: Varth was aware that the egg was still quiet, would not hatch, but that did not mean that someone could touch it!
"Oh, shards," A'bri commented. "'Scuse me, A'nt, I need to go chase my dragon." A'bri didn't wait for a response, too concerned with what trouble Varth might cause in his fury. "Varth! Come back here, leave it! Let Cheoth deal with it!" Surely the Gold would handle the idiot who was poking at the egg...
:NO. MAKE HIM STOP! He should not touch, he should not!: Varth shrieked again, his wings flared wide as he trundled across the sands towards the offending individual. A'bri hurried after him, glad to see that someone else was telling the boy off as well, that he wasn't the only one taking issue with it.
"You, you might want to get back," he called, motioning to Varth's extremely offended posture, and glancing warily at the Queen. "Come on, get away from there, you're upsetting everyone!"
:Redhath, will your Mine make it stop? My Mine is slow, and he Must Not Touch!:
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:30 pm
The Dragons had stopped crying, and though there was still a heavy blanket of distress over the Weyr, M'rik's mind was always the first to scab over. What happened had happened; no one could fly /between/ and bring the Blue back. Water under the bridge. A horrible occurrence- but this was no time for grieving! This was a wonderful, beautiful... wonderful occasion! Death was a better fate than not having His. The young man knew it clearly now. He couldn't be alone again, could never bear it. To be born knowing one's aloneness! You're not alone, Mine. I'm not going anywhere! Where do you think I would leave you? I wouldn't! I know. "Oh, Faranth, I know!" he yelled with a grin hardly befitting the situation, squeezing Hasufeth between his arms and flopping onto his back in the sand. The Dragonet cooed curiously, though his eyes whirled a happy blue.
How could a Hatching ever be sad, when even one bond was formed? M'rik's heart ached thinking back only Candlemarks to when he was alone. Friends abound, crowded into a noisy sand cluster, but completely alone. And now he had His! This was the happiest moment of his life, and the /between/ing didn't mar the memory at all. ]I don't want to stay here, please, Mine. It is very hot, Mine. And, Mine, isn't there somewhere people are happier? My brothers are upset. I don't want to be sad again, please, Mine. Can we leave, Mine? So uncertain, even in thought! Even to a soul that could never think the slightest ill of him! Anything you want! Whatever you want! Of course we'll leave.
He stood up, careful not to jostle Hasufeth, and shook his arms a few times to get most of the sand off. "Everyone! What's wrong with you?" M'rik couldn't help but yell. How could they be so sad? They were upsetting his Dragon! His poor Dragon! Who gave them that privilege? "What right do you have, being this glum? Smile! Cheer! Bonds have been formed tonight that will never be broken! You..." his voice faded a bit as he started choking up again. "What right do you have, being sad on such a happy day?" Sacrilege! It wasn't right! ]Mine, stop. Mine, let them be sad. It will help them be happy again. Please don't be sad, Mine. He nudged the boy's calf with a whine. Smart Blue, brilliant Blue. It will help them be happy again...
He shook his head with a chuckle, only bothering to wipe the tears from one eye. "You're right. You're always right. Let's just leave." Defeated but smiling. It was an awkward position to be in: How dare he be happy? How dare they be sad? Just leave. ]Also, Mine, I am very hungry again. I think we should eat, please.
Hasufeth was quiet with his thoughts as they plodded out, following the few other new weyrlings he could get sight of. M'rik had time to stew in his thoughts. He wasn't sad. Overjoyed and a bit put off, but not sad. How could he ever be sad again? But then there were his friends... Acquaintances was probably a better word, but the boy certainly considered them all his very dear friends. Bachi he didn't know well, but he seemed like the fellow who would understand a bit of rejection. B'lin's Impressing (and good for him) might make it a bit tougher, but the boy seemed happy enough with himself. Raedue seemed nothing but happy, he would surely be alright. Zafir... perhaps he'd need some cheering up, but he would make it. They all be fine. Oh, but-! He winced and shook his head. Poor Darcir. If M'rik knew a thing about that boy, he would never talk or smile again. He'd need all the wine in Benden to enjoy the feast...
]It is good they are still alone, Mine. Theirs were not here. Right again, insightful little boy. It is good. I would not have settled for any less than you. If you hadn't been born, Hasufeth, I'd sit out a hundred Hatchings waiting for you. The Hatchling crooned and clacked his jaws together happily. They deserved lifemates, they all did! And they certainly did not deserve to have to settle with any less than their intended. If Hasufeth had not hatched, he wouldn't have even looked at another Dragon while waiting for him! M'rik nodded to himself, looking very stern. Every Candidate out there deserved to Impress. It was just a matter of waiting. Just a matter of waiting. ]I will wait for you as long as I must, Mine. But, please, can we hurry? I am very hungry. He laughed and scooped the Blue into his arms, albeit with a bit of difficulty. "Big as a Brown, you! I'm here now, aren't I? You'll never have to wait for me again."
As his legs broke out running, his face broke into a grin. How could he ever be sad, when he had his Hasufeth? How could anyone? They had a feast to enjoy!
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:30 pm
Senra, unlike B'lin, was not cut out for parenting of any sort to any degree and seriously called into question Nasundu's ability to be any different. How old were these kids? The girl couldn't have been older than fourteen, and Bachi couldn't have too many more turns than that on his shoulders. Bah. How did she get stuck with things like this?
"Let's take them back now," she whispered to Nasundu. "Before that guy makes a dead baby fall out of an egg and traumatizes them any further.
Fight or not, eventually, Sen was going to lead these two off the sands and back to somewhere not full of misery, woe and a bunch of shouting at what's-her-face. Eesh. Some hatching indeed.
~~~
Xanthoth was moving steady now. With no further distractions, B'lin watched him and only him. He noticed right away the second Xanthoth's gaze started to move back. Behind him, he knew what awaited. Which was why he didn't waste time stepping between his line of sight and the unhatched egg that was being hopefully, yet carelessly handled. He knew what had happened--or more, what hadn't. Because he was aware of it, so was Xanthoth.
That didn't mean he had to see it. No more of it.
"Don't look," B'lin spoke firmly, speaking as if commanding rather than instructing. "Just keep going. We're following them."
Xanthoth stared up at him. Exhausted himself, he turned away from the lost egg and carried on, catching wind of some eerily bitter thoughts from his rider.
I don't regret it, Mine. I made the right choice.
B'lin only nodded.
He had never believed in fate. So it was interesting how he felt like he had to choose between it and family.
Thankfully, he did always believe in hope.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:39 pm
The bellow that split the night was almost enough to shake the grounds themselves, and Cheoth had stopped her mourning long enough to realize someone was touching the lifeless egg. Her eyes were blazing red in the darkness and heavy claws gouged the sands even as she charged towards the Candidates--regardless of whether they were the ones touching the egg or not. She was sick with grief, maddened by it, and they would not touch her egg.
Roaring with rage, her massive wings were flared high and her claws and teeth were bared, clearly threatening even though she hadn't quite lashed out just yet. But from the trembles that were shaking her bulky body, it was clear that the Queen would not be restrained by her rider for much longer. She towered over them all, screaming both threat and fury at Veyes before her clawed forefoot slammed down mere feet from him.
That would be his last warning, and she was already lowering her head as though to deal with the problem more quickly.
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All the Weyrs of Pern Captain
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:44 pm
Galliath bugled, unfettered by his rider who had already retreated. He echoed the Queen's anger, but also warned away the newly Impressed, one of whom he knew was close to His. He did not descend onto the Sands, but he added his voice to Cheoth's. Redhath's, you should not. Mine will be very sad if you are lost as the little Blue brother, the Brown weyrling confided, and urged, hoping that he would be listened to. He had only recently learned the trick of talking to others not His. Cheoth does not wish her egg disturbed. Nor would the Queen likely recognize who was friend and who was foe.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:44 pm
Warning signs were warning signs, idiots or not. With a low bow to the Queen, keeping her face calm, La turned and left, walking slowly out, barely keeping herself from trembling uncontrollably. With rage, with fear, with exhaustion...she didn't know at this point.
Shards, no matter how much it made her sound like Cordel, she needed a drink.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:46 pm
OH SHARDS. Rinfala was getting out of there, before Cheoth decided even those that had Impressed her babies weren't allowed to remain. Yanking her robe out of Arioth's mouth, she was heedless of the loud rip as fabric tore. "Arioth, we are leaving NOW." She would not leave her dragonet, but she would not leave her dragonet with Cheoth!
But-- Stomping a foot as she was left with a bit of white cloth in her mouth, Arioth glared up at Hers rebelliously before another bellow from her enraged dam sent her pressing up against Rinfala's leg. We go.
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