Log file from Auralia.
9/19/99 1:52:30 PM
__
Editors Note:
2 and a half hours after it was supposed to start, we finally
got underway with this hatching. :p For all that it had a 
desperately late start, and a lot of problems, it was a great
hatching, at least on the part of the candidates, and a lot
of fun for most of us. Because of code problems, I've 
fiddled with where descs were shown, so that it makes
more sense, but thats the only real editing I've done. 
Congrats to the Impressees!
__

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Luiseth hmmmmmmmms?
Dragon> All sense that Tiarnath lifts up on her haunches and 
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmms
Dragon> All sense that Iesath raises her voice, and begins to 
hummmmmmm loud and clear <<They come!>>

You walk over to the Entrance to the Hatching Grounds.

From a distance, Deveran bows to the Queen and Brown, 
their riders before bowing to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman.

You walk over to viewing Galleries around the hatching sands.

Dragon> All sense that Rnayth joins the queen with his own 
crooning hum that reverberates not only through his thoughts, 
but from his throat and through the air.

Down on the Sands, Ariene hurries onto the sands, wide-eyed 
and nervous. She dips a quick bow to Jeuneth and Muinyth, 
before doing the same to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman. She 
moves out of the way of the other candidates, wincing at the 
heat beneath her feet.

Down on the Sands, Rhia bows to dam and sire and then makes 
for her place on the sands..hopping and skipping at the heat.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria bows to the Queen and Brown, and 
their riders before bowing to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman. 
Her hands are curled around her robe tightly.

Dragon> All sense that Niaeth joins in the general concensus. 
<< Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm >>

Down on the Sands, Kenla squints her eyes. Nope, doesn't help 
her see any better. She faces where she believes the dam and sire 
of the clutch, and their riders, are, and bows. Turning, she heads 
toward the other footsteps and hopes they're coming from other 
candidates.

Dragon> All sense that Jeuneth intimates something of a hum, 
allowing you all such a courtesy. << Quickly, too. >>

Down on the Sands, K'laarn walks over from the entrance to the 
hatching cavern.

Down on the Sands, Pjorin bows as he races past--first to dam 
and sire, their riders, then to the weyrleaders before slipping into 
a spot near several other candidates.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay stumbles onto the sands, eyes 
twice their normal size, and bows respectfully in the direction 
of gold Jeuneth and brown Muinyth from across the sands. 
With equal respect she bows to Weyrwoman and Weyrleader.

Dragon> All sense that Vanaeth joins in << Hmmmmmmmmmm >>

Down on the Sands, Tarrin bows before Jeuneth and Muinyth 
and there riders before turning to before the weyrleader and 
weyrwoman, moving to take his place on the sands.

Auralia rushes up the stairs, panting, "Iesath just told me! Its 
time!" Seat taken, she looks down towards the sands, "Look - 
here they come!"

Down on the Sands, Jeraria stumbles out onto the sands, wincing 
at the heat and blinking at the lack of light. She attempts a bow 
in where she thinks the dam, sire, their lifemates and weyrleaders 
are, before trying to make her way to what could be the outlines 
of her fellow candidates.

Down on the Sands, Imara bows to where she assumes Jeuneth, 
Muinyth, and their riders are, as well as the Weyrleaders, as she 
walks out onto the sands.

Down on the Sands, Foloran steps out onto the Sands, wincing 
slightly at the all-too-expected searing heat. Expected or not, it 
still hurts. The former-steward bows respectfully to Jeuneth and 
Muinyth - along with their riders - then to the Weyrleaders and 
the generall masses, before taking his place in the semi-circle of 
candidates.

Down on the Sands, Larbon walks impatiently forward, the heat 
of the sands overwhelming in their suddenness. Flushing from 
the heat, he bows properly to Jeuneth and Muinyth, and the 
Weyrleader and Weyrlady before taking his place.

Down on the Sands, N'all leaves dragging a few resisters with him 
and shoving them into the semi-circle. He bows to the sire and 
dam, and nods his head to the weyrleaders. He assumes his place 
by K'laarn.

Down on the Sands, Ariene hurries onto the sands, wide-eyed 
and nervous. She dips a quick bow to Jeuneth and Muinyth, before 
doing the same to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman. She moves 
out of the way of the other candidates, wincing at the heat 
beneath her feet.

Down on the Sands, Jerich walks onto the sands and quietly bows 
to Jeuneth and Muinyth, before bowing to the Weyrleader and 
Weyrwoman respectfully, before moving across the sands to join 
the half circle of candidates

Down on the Sands, Fiona steps quickly out onto the sands, 
pausing to bow to Muinyth and Jeuneth, and to their lifemates 
Shasta and Joslyn. Then she moves toward the eggs, joining 
the circle of Candidates forming around the clutch.

Announcement: Mordred announces "hatching has started!"

Down on the Sands, Laemir nods politely then bows low to Jeuneth 
and Muinyth. Each weyrleader receives the same courtesy, then 
he rises to walk near the assembled candidates.

Down on the Sands, Rhia bows to dam and sire, stumbling a bit 
as she goes. Her little hop, skips as her feet get hot.

Down on the Sands, Shadara comes out ahead of the candidates 
and she bows to Jeuneth and Muinyth and their riders and then 
to Tewlinda and K'laarn as she moves over to the edge to wait
 for the first impression

Down on the Sands, Joslyn has been camped out here for days, 
of course, and looks about as ragged as one would expect. With 
Jeuneth curled in the corner - a demonically possessive dam - 
the goldrider is aglow beneath the dirt and so forth, beaming from 
ear to ear as Candidates pour in and such. "Shasta?" 'cause she 
has to be here, too.

Down on the Sands, In the dim light of the Hatching Cavern, 
candidate robes appear grey rather than white, and the colours 
of the dragonets will be nearly impossible to determine. Smokey 
figures can be seem more by silhouette than by detail. Murmurs 
and whispers can be heard as those gathered anticipate the 
emerging hatchlings.

Down on the Sands, Krystalin looks around and then spots the 
sire and dam. A quick bow is dispatched to them and their riders, 
then she hurries and takes her place.

Kinoa is already sitting in a prime location, as though she simply 
knew this was going to happen all along. She glances up at the 
ledges and lets a grin curve her lips, hearing the familiar sound 
of a green dragon's crooning. "Looks like," she tells Auralia with 
a grin.

Announcement: Mordred announces "@tel #1107 for the ledges 
or #338 for the galleries."

Dragon> All sense that Muinyth finally decides that yes, now is 
the time, and others perhaps should know. A deep 
hummmmmmmmmmm fills the browns' thoughts as the eggs on the 
sands begin to rock.

Kendra strides over from the Hatching Ledges.
Kendra has arrived.

Belan has arrived.

Down on the Sands, A shudder, and a crack, are all that can be 
heard as the first of Jeuneth and Muinyth's eggs hatch - Core 
of Intelligence Egg, the hatchling falling out onto the sands. A 
cry through the dimness signifies its Impression - to a young 
man of Cove Hold - the name uttered lost in the general buzz 
of excitement as the new rider hugs his brown.

Down on the Sands, Telinda rushes onto the sands, her skirts held 
in one hand and a worried look to the skies. A mumble is passed 
unheard on the sands, lost admid the other noise.

Kati walks onto the galleries, leading... an old woman who seems 
to be almost /struggling/ to get out of the younger woman's grasp. 
"Come now, mother Naggen... you must at least /watch/" she sits 
the old, grumpling woman down, then looks for Kayjay as the 
Candidates arrive on the sands.

Auralia chuckles, stretching out her legs as she looks down, frowning, 
"Its gone all dim. How odd." Kinoa gets a grin, and she adds, "My 
first hatching as a full rider. Wonder if Starr'n the others'll Impress." 
A shrug, and she leans back further.

Down on the Sands, Deveran bites his lip as he waits for the eggs 
to crack, a faint frown on his face, "I can't see very well."

Down on the Sands, N'all strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Belan strides up into the tiers and takes a seat near the corner.

Down on the Sands, Ariene peers through the dark, straining to see 
exactly what's going on -- mostly unsuccessfully. She shifts from 
foot to foot, squinting. Hearing Deveran somewhere nearby, she 
adds, "Me neither."

Down on the Sands, Kayjay reaches for Jerich's hand, not able to 
see clearly.

Down on the Sands, N'all strides over from the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Starr looks around, trying to see the area the 
crack came from. Of course she fails and just holds Fiona's hand 
tighter.

Down on the Sands, Tarrin watches the eggs nervously.. reaching 
for the hand of who ever might be next to him..

Down on the Sands, Foloran strains to see the Impressed lad through 
the dim light. Failing miserably, he goes back to watching the eggs...

Down on the Sands, Pjorin stands stock-still, his thin, long arms 
wrapped about his torso as the first impression seems to occur so 
very smoothly. Nervously, he steps back a pace, wincing at the 
heat of the sands that penetrates his sandals.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn isn't far behind Telinda as he glances 
over the others quickly. He looks as stern as ever and he pauses, 
standing out of the way of the dragons and the candidates, as 
well as the Weyrlingmaster's near Telinda.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria looks around at the others and she takes 
a pair of hands, anyone's hands and she waits nervously, "It's hot." 
she says as she steps from foot to foot.

Genalee has arrived.

Down on the Sands, Laemir almost stumbles as he bumps into one 
of the girls from the smithcraft. "Sorry," he apologizes, then leans 
forward trying to see through the darkness.

Down on the Sands, Jeraria recognises a tall figure as somewhat 
familiar, and edges closer to it. "Kenla?" she asks. "I think.. I think 
someone's impressed already."

Down on the Sands, Visaan peers out and around the backs of 
others, seeming nervous, curious and excited.

Kinoa grins, glancing up at the darkening sky. "It's always something," 
she says cryptically, then leans over to peer out at the sands. 
"They look scared."

Down on the Sands, Krystalin shifts to the right, trying to see 
who impressed what.

Down on the Sands, Larbon shuffles on the sands in line with the 
other candidates, a silent shape seeking destiny in one form or 
another on the sands. He peers at the moving eggs in the distance 
across the bowl, the sounds of dragons working to escape 
reaching his ears.

Down on the Sands, Jerich finds Kay's hand and clutches it tight.. 
obviously nervous.. he strains his eyes looking about in the 
darkness.. trying to find shadows

Guest4 has reconnected.
Guest4 walks toward the Hatching Ledges.
Guest4 has left.

Down on the Sands, Temari jumps at the sound, hugs her arms 
around herself and peers nervously around her.

Down on the Sands, Kenla's hand catches Jeraria's. She knows this 
because of the voice. The words "I think so too," are all that confirms 
Kenla is even on the sands at all.

"Poor things," comments Auri with a sigh, adding, "Was that an 
impression? Shardit, I can barely see a thing." A short laugh, and 
she nods, "At least its not as hot as it was for me."

Down on the Sands, Imara stumbles to a place between two candidates 
who she can't even see. She peers around the sands, trying to make 
out what all of the shadowy figures are.

Down on the Sands, Fiona hangs onto Starr's hand, as much to have 
something familiar to cling to, as to give comfort to someone who's 
as nervous as she.

"Sit /down/ mother!" Kati says to the old Auntie Naggen, and takes 
a seat nextr to her. "Look! There's Kayjay!" but all she gets out of the 
old woman is something rude muttered.

Down on the Sands, Shadara moves over to the lad from cove hold, 
and he is tapped on the shoulder and Shar helps him and his new 
brown lifemate off the sands

Down on the Sands, As the moon's shadow begins to pass over the 
Southern Continent, cloaking the sun's rays in darkness, an eerie 
dusk seems to fall over the Hatching Cavern. The hot sands become 
a canvas for the shadows of candidates, eggs and the watching 
sire and dam of this clutch.

Down on the Sands, Shasta tears inelegantly onto the sands just before 
the first egg hatches - making better time than she did for the clutching, 
at least. "Shells, you could've told me," She calls in accusation to 
Muinyth, though excitement keeps her tone from being too despondant. 
Candidates part way in suprise as she heads to the deeply hummmming 
brown's side, and her bright eyes flash with a beamed smile to Joslyn.

Down on the Sands, N'all stands in perfect parade-rest, his gaze 
sweeping across the ranks of the Candidates.

Kinoa rests her chin on her hands and merely watches, her eyes bright 
at the admittedly very dim scene before her. But she can hear, sort of, 
and that's what matters

"Sharding dragons..." the old woman Naggen mutters. "Can't even see 
anything... I want to go back to sleep..."

Down on the Sands, Right up by a group of three Southern Weyr teens, 
Crumbled Empire Egg and Alien Cognizance Egg give their last shudder, 
knocking right into each other to scatter shards, and leave two gangly 
legged hatchlings, whose true colours are shadowed soon known as 
they stumble up towards Malliea and Titya, who look down at the duo 
of greens in surprise as their names are called out.

Down on the Sands, Diamond Eclipse Egg seems to glow brighter at 
those two bright points as it starts to rock back and forth. Slowly at first, 
it gains momentum quickly.

Down on the Sands, Muinyth, his throat throbbing with the welcomming 
hum, gazes with brilliant bluegreen eyes towards Jeuneth, and extends 
his neck to offer a gentle nuzzle tentatively. His rider leans against his 
sandstone form, smiling up at him before turning her attention to those 
rocking eggs, and gangly hatchlings.

Down on the Sands, A strand of light crosses the sands for a moment, 
revealing the remains of One Small Step for Man Egg, with the hatchling 
completely out of sight. A moment later, Denyari - D'ari - falls to his 
knees as arms seek out the darkly sanded brown.

Down on the Sands, Starr hears cracks and eggs and dragonets and 
shifts to the side. Head swivels here and there, trying to see through 
the blackness. The only good that dos is to make her hair fly over a 
shoulder.

Down on the Sands, Temari jumps again, staggering into the candidate 
next to her. A seeking hand grabs her own and she holds it tightly, 
breathing deeply. "I can't see" she whispers unhappily.

Down on the Sands, Imara blinks as the world seems to get even darker. 
She hops from one foot to the other quickly and squints in the direction 
of the eggs.

Down on the Sands, Shadara helps the new greenriders off the sands 
with thier lifemates and geths then and the second new brownrider off 
the sands with his lifemate as well

Down on the Sands, Fiona flinches each time she hears what might be 
an egg cracking. She strains to see, but then gives up. Too dark.

Down on the Sands, Foloran 's eyes dart back and forth at each audible 
crack. He was nervous before, but now he actually looks..afraid?

Down on the Sands, Diamond Eclipse Egg rocks faster and faster. It 
almost seems to be spinning in place like a miniature planet in the 
dark-shrouded sands.

Down on the Sands, Larbon stands on the sands, shifting from foot 
to foot, the heated candidate dance. Looking at the rocking eggs, he 
remembers to breath after a few moments, nearly turning red, absently 
holding his breath as he concentrates on the shell beginning to form 
spider cracks, trying to see the first emerging nose.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay clutches for Jeraria's hand and swallows. 
She takes a deep breath. "Dragons and now this... darkness."

Down on the Sands, Tarrin eyes dart acorss the dark cavern to the 
hatching dragons in awe.....

Down on the Sands, Visaan tries to peer through the haze, truly, but 
the semi-darkness obsures a good portion of the view past a few 
feet in front of him. Suffice it to say, he can't even see the eggs, but 
he can hear them.

Down on the Sands, Krystalin leans over slightly to try and see 
better, but only sees glowing dragon eyes.

Down on the Sands, Jerich looks back and forth.. of course not 
being able to see anything.. he whispers to Kay.. " was that another 
impression? or more than one? i cant tell.."

Down on the Sands, Laemir does a hiphopping step as his eyes 
strain to see what shapes are candidates and which are hatchlings. 
One hand rubs at his left eye, as if that'd make a difference.

Down on the Sands, Ariene is bumped into by Temari, and takes 
the other girl's hand. "I can't see, either," she notes, standing on 
tiptoe. That doesn't help the darkness, of course.

Down on the Sands, Telinda flickers a look around the sands, 
shielding her eyes as if that might actually help her see better, but 
no look, from the disappointment on her face. She turns towards 
K'laarn, grabbing his hand while she can still see him.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria squeezes on the hands she's holding, 
"I hope it doesn't get any darker."

Down on the Sands, Although colour can't be seen through the 
growing darkness of the sands, the movement of a hatchling that 
starts somewhere over by where Beginning of Time Egg was 
stumbles across the sands, past Jeuneth and Muinyth, and their 
riders, past the weyrling masters, before stopping right in front 
of a large cluster of candidates. A moment, later, its colour still 
somewhat obscured, it moves on, tripping over overly large limbs, 
falling face-down right in front of a former Honshu Weyrbrat, 
who calls out, in wonder, "I know you're green! I know."

Down on the Sands, Diamond Eclipse Egg seems to blend into 
the darkness that surrounds it, but the steady tapping noise 
emitted from it certainly isn't hidden. As even the brighter bits 
of its shell blend in, its movement carries forward, becoming 
steadily louder, until the ovoid breaks into two halves, leaving 
a hatchling in its wake.

Down on the Sands, 

	---*** Lurking Stillness Hatchling ***---                  

	Looming in the darkness, a motion hovering at the limits 
of perception, shadow upon shadow in peripheral vision. What 
is it? A fanciful monster lingering in the concealing darkness? 
A renegade from tales of turns past, lurking in wait to leap upon 
the unsuspecting with a blood curdling yell? Yet, only ominous 
silence reigns from the last shadow into which it melted. Is it 
still there -- did it move -- what's that breath on the back of your 
neck?

Down on the Sands, Celestial Rising Egg rolls out away from the 
others and seems to ripple with the activity inside. A short rock 
here and then a roll almost like a wave.

Kati pats Naggen on the head. "Oh quiet mother..." she says softly, 
but frowns as she squints to see what is going on at the sands.

Down on the Sands, Pjorin shifts uneasily, nearly backing into 
another candidate. Muttering an apology, he stops and takes the 
other candidate's hand in his when offered, blinking wide-eyed at 
the impressions that speed by in the dim light. 'Be over soon,' he 
comforts, more for himself than to the small girl at his side.

Down on the Sands, Kenla almost whimpers, and her first words 
are faint, "I didn't think it would be scarier than how I imagined." 
Then an audible gulp and more sure of herself, she adds, "Well, at 
least they're just as lost as we are..."

Down on the Sands, Kayjay eyes widen as she desperately tries to see.

Down on the Sands, Starr coughs suddenly and unhappily, but 
quickly has it under control. "Where are they?"

Down on the Sands, Tarrin swallows as he watches ties to focus on 
what is going on in the darkness, not being very sucessful.

Auralia frowns, shaking her head over and over again. Naggen and 
Kati get a faint smile, but eyes turn back to the sands, as she hrms 
softly. "Is that a hatchling? I know theres more than one down 
there, but...."

Down on the Sands, Jeraria shudders and jumps slightly towards 
Kayjay. "I think.. I think I saw something move in the shadows 
there." Her tone is soft, and very very scared sounding.

Down on the Sands, Krystalin reaches out for a hand and finds one.

Down on the Sands, Shadara comes back and chuckles as she taps 
the next new green Weyrling on the shoulder and leads the pair 
off the sands as well, then comes back once she has them settled in.

Down on the Sands, Lurking Stillness Hatchling :is just a shadow, 
or is it? It certainly seems to be moving. Moving towards the 
shadowy figures of the candidates. Very odd behaviour for a shadow.

Kinoa shrugs. "I can't see anything," she says, holding her hand up 
in front of her face in demonstration and wiggling her fingers. 
"Sounds lile -something-'s happening down there."

Down on the Sands, Celestial Rising Egg moves much like it's being 
buffeted from withing in great waves. It's rocking now furious and 
fast. The one inside obviously wanting out.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria gives a faint gasp as she looks around, 
"Did I hear another couple of eggs crack?"

Down on the Sands, Laemir can certainly hear the sounds of shells 
cracking and the rustling of sand and hatchlings, but as for seeing, 
he's at a loss. Still hopping as the sands heat up the bottoms of his 
sandals, he watches and waits.

Down on the Sands, Rhia looks about here and fidgets from one 
foot to another.

Down on the Sands, Imara rubs her eyes as she attempts to figure 
out where all these cracking noises are coming from.

Down on the Sands, Fiona takes a quick breath. "There's something 
moving....out there."

Down on the Sands, Deveran frowns even more, almost bouncing 
from foot to foot as he points, "Is that a shadow moving?"

Down on the Sands, Larbon fidgets with the edge of his robe, the 
ghostly shapes wandering around disturbingly and dangerously. 
Possible.

Down on the Sands, Visaan sways from foot to foot, not just 
because of the heat, but because the person in front of him is taller 
than he. Why doesn't he move? Perhaps fear... perhaps excitement... 
"What is it?" he asks someone and gets no reply.

Down on the Sands, Foloran now desperately looks from side to 
side, young eyes looking for the familiar shapes of his fellow 
candidates, and his Brother among them. "I can't see a thing. 
Laemir. Where are you?"

Down on the Sands, Starr takes a small step back and tries to see 
the shadow moving out there. Of course, nothing can be made 
of it and she sighs..

Down on the Sands, Krystalin shifts her feet in nervousness.

Down on the Sands, It doesn't take long for the steady rocking 
of one egg - Fire in the Sky Egg - to roll onto the egg next to it - 
Scarred Earth - which in turn starts the egg next to it - Suite of 
Planets - to begin to rock as well. Almost at once, in a mass 
confusion of limbs that make it even harder to see their colour, 
three hatchlings fall onto the sands, pulling themselves up to 
get a better look at those white things. One that looks faintly 
green chooses almost at once, while the one that could possibly 
be blue follows the darkest of them all around the sands for a 
short distance, until he looks up into the eyes of a young Harper 
man. His larger brother - brown, or so say the candidates closest - 
trundles around a bit more, tripping over his ungainly limbs until 
he looks right up into the eyes of Danyen, the young man opening 
his mouth wide in amazement, as he holds the brown close, 
simply whispering in delight.

Down on the Sands, Ariene's brow furrows as she continues to peer 
into the obscurity, before sighing. A sound catches her attention, 
and she swivels her attention to it, though she still can't see it.

Down on the Sands, Jerich says "i heard some cracking.. wonder if 
anyone else impressed.." Jerich looks around shifting his feet back 
and forth.. his empty hand clitching his robe a bit nerviously.. 
wondering how many of the eggs are left.."

Down on the Sands, Temari is staring around her wildly, she must 
be cutting off circulation in the hands on each side that she is 
holding so tightly.

Down on the Sands, Lurking Stillness Hatchling gets closer and 
closer to the candidates. Here a candidate, there a candidate, 
everywhere a candi-candidate. It approaches, closer, closer, or 
perhaps its just a trick of the shadows after all. Who could tell? 
It's certain that shadows AREN'T supposed to move. Or are they?

Down on the Sands, Rhia jumps at the sounds and squeezes the 
candie's next to her hand.

Down on the Sands, Pjorin swallows audibly, looking about 
quickly. 'Who--Who touched me?' he asks loudly, nearly falling 
over.

Down on the Sands, Tarrin says, 'Whats going on..." trying to 
looking around at the 'moving' shadows.."

Down on the Sands, Starr steps closer to Fiona, almost as if in 
fright. Though her head is trying to follow the moving shadow.

Down on the Sands, Visaan tries to remain calm, his shyness helping 
in that task by keeping him more to the back of the crowd. Of course, 
it helps his curiosity none at all...

Down on the Sands, Laemir calls out to his brother, "Here... here..." 
but the words seem lost in the darkness.

Down on the Sands, Shadara chuckles and helps the three weyrlings 
off the sands one at a time before coning back out.

Down on the Sands, A bit of the faint light catches Kenla's eyes for 
a brief moment as she looks upward. But she quickly turns her head. 
"There's cracking. And I /think/ there's something a lot closer." 
Another audible swallo.

Down on the Sands, Joslyn just hangs out, sweating more than the 
heat could account for if anyone could see her in that inky darkness. 
She must be over there by Jeuneth's great glowing eyes somewhere, 
though, perhaps that little sillhouette that keeps obscuring the 
whirling facets.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay looks out across the sands, trying to 
focus and remain poised. Her knocking knees causes her robe to 
sway back and forth.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria gives a faint whimper of fear as the 
shadow continues to move, "Where are they, I can't see." she says 
as she lifts her feet quickly, trying to keep them somewhat cool.

Down on the Sands, Jeraria shuffleturns half way to her left, then 
back, and round to her right, eyes scanning the dark for anything 
dangerous that might be heading her way. And best avoided.

Down on the Sands, Krystalin takes her hand out of the other 
candidates and looks around some more, trying to spot thehatching 
dragonets

Down on the Sands, Imara finds herself following the movements 
of a shadow. She leans close to the candidate next to her and 
whispers, "Did you see that?" The other girl just shakes her head.

Down on the Sands, Foloran's relieved to hear Laemir's voice, but 
just too frightened to move right now. Frantic breaths issue forth 
from the young lad as his eyes struggle to work properly in this 
absence of light.

Down on the Sands, Lurking Stillness Hatchling sidles up to a boy 
from Boll who promptly shrieks in terror. Nope, not that one. How 
about this girl? No. Oh well, it advances on a group of white-robed 
figures. Almost it pauses. Maybe it IS just a trick of the light after all.

Down on the Sands, Celestial Rising Egg ripples softly in its bed of 
sand, where it was once placed so lovingly by Jeuneth. Its soft shell 
almost pulsates, gently moving around without a sound. Hidden in 
the dark, its final movement remains unseen, though the loud 
explosion that accompanies the projectile shards is loud and clear. 
A brief moment later and a screeching cry is audible, as the newest 
hatchling makes itself known.

Down on the Sands, 

	---*** Enveloped in Darkened Sisal Hatchling ***---             

	Differing in no way, the darkness of these sands is an endless 
seam of deep, enshrouding sisal, impossible to see through, and 
impossible to remove. Gleams of something that surely cannot be light 
uncover for just an instant -- a cut in the endless sisal, swirling it 
around a little to cloud the vision in darkness, like a sea of black, before 
re-weaving itself into the main strands. And then, just as quick, hidden 
from view once more.

Down on the Sands, Deveran shakes his head a bit as he shifts on his 
feet, backing up a bit as the shadow keeps moving.

Down on the Sands, Fiona stiffens as a shrill cry breaks the stillness, 
and her head turns sharply toward that sound.

Down on the Sands, Silver Arrows Egg twists and rolls. The creature 
with in straining to be free and out. Sounds of shell starting to give in 
a slow crack as it continues its long battle.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay whispers to Jerich. "I hear them..oh I hope 
they are not hurting themselves stumbling in the dark."

Down on the Sands, Starr jumps to the right as the cry is heard nearby. 
"Was someone hurt?" she asks, in suprise.

Down on the Sands, Telinda shakes her head, "You know, there's 
definitely something rushing around out there, but by Faranth, I can't 
see a sharding thing!" She frowns, wiping a hand across her brow, the 
perspiration already begining to bead.

Down on the Sands, Ariene is starting to get rather anxious, as evidenced 
by the tightening of her hand on that of the Candidate next to her. 
"What's going -on-?" she whispers.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria twists her head at the shriek of terror and 
she cowers back a bit as she tightens her hands on whomever she's got 
a hold on.

Down on the Sands, Larbon keeps still. Best ot occupy the smallest bit 
of sand and leave the rest for the wandering hatchlings... if that's what 
those dark shapes are.

Down on the Sands, Jerich says "i hope not either.. would not be good 
at all.."

Down on the Sands, Lurking Stillness Hatchling backs away from shrieks,
 just in case. Shadows don't like loud noises apparently.

Down on the Sands, Kenla moves to her left suddenly. Dragging Jeraria. 
Holding hands isn't making it easier to move. Yet her voiced comment, 
"I'll watch out for you, Jera," is followed by a squeeze.

Down on the Sands, Temari is whispering quietly. "Oh help, oh help..."

Down on the Sands, Pjorin cants his head quickly to the side. "What's 
that? Another... something?" He shifts from foot to foot, trying to ease 
the heat that is builings up in the soles of his feet.

Down on the Sands, Jeraria winces at the cry and grips Kenla's hand 
even tighter. "That was loud. And close." she mutters.

Down on the Sands, Deveran pulls back from the shriek, trying to keep 
from tumbling over anyone, "Shame they don't have glows out here."

Down on the Sands, Ringed Magnificence Egg must be moving - there 
is the wisp of sound for those nearest - almost abrasive as sandpaper 
over coars wood. A few Candidates step away from that dark 
monstrosity, a reflexive sidestep or two, bumping into their neighbors.

Down on the Sands, Starr steps back as she thought she saw a 
shadow nearby. Then steps back again.

Down on the Sands, An old, graying woman in dark clothes leans far 
out over the railing of the stands, glow clutched in her beringed 
fingers. Likely in hopes of seeing the Sands more than helping the 
candidates, she manages both, just in time to illuminate a hatchling 
as it approaches the now lit area around the candidate. The dragonet 
gazes up into Jeraria's eyes and Impression occurs the dim 
phosphorescence making the dragonet clearly visible.

	Twin pillars stand sentinel over an opulent panorama, blending 
graceful symmetry with perfect balance and harmony, the hues reflected 
in the rich wealth of indigo and violet that clothes this hatchling. 
Luxurious crushed velvet, in shades of sumptuous sapphire with lavish 
hints of emerald, ripples over his flanks -- odd nuances in shade and 
pattern exquisitely mirrored on each side, concluding in the daintily 
chiseled curves of his blackened talons. An intricate pattern of watery 
blues and oceanic greens dapples his translucent wingsails, reminiscent 
of a sisal wrap draped from someones shoulders, the fluidity shadowed 
down and into the fork of his lissome tail. Feathery wisps of turquoise 
are this blue's crowning glory -- streamers of aquamarine trailing back 
from the creases of his eyeridges to the tips of his neckridges, like some 
elaborate and ornate headdress.

Down on the Sands, Tarrin says, "What is that..." seeing the shadows 
move and pull back...

Down on the Sands, Foloran doesn't even /notice/ the heat of the Sands 
now. Adrenaline coursing thorugh his veins, eyes dialated, he simply 
watches the events unfold before him...

Down on the Sands, Visaan shifts his position now, finally fed up with
 looking over someone's shoulder. But he only sidles to the right, his 
eyes trying to catch a glimpse of the moving shadows while not running 
into anyone.

Down on the Sands, The darkness of the sands doesn't make seeing the 
blue that comes out of Icy Grey Egg very easy, but those nearest him 
certainly notice him, and squint to get a better look. His Impression, 
however, causes no notice, since he simply disappears from view for a 
moment, curling up at the feet of Millenye, who barely moves, like his 
lifemate.

Down on the Sands, N'all remains at his military posture. Neither rain, 
sleet, snow nor gloom of (false) night will stay this weyrlingmaster's 
penetrating glare. Does he see? Probably not, but he'd like the 
prospective weyrlings to think so. So he does a good job of faking it, 
which can't be seen. Bummer, that.

Down on the Sands, Imara peers into the darkness and suddenly points 
at something. "There!" she hisses. As it disappears she adds, "Or maybe 
not."

Down on the Sands, Shasta leans out from her place near Muinyth, 
the dragons' eyes glowing like gems high above her. The young 
woman just stares wide-eyed into the darkness, as if in hopes of 
catching a glimpse.

Down on the Sands, Enveloped in Darkened Sisal Hatchling cries out 
yet again and then all is still. Getting it's bearing is suddenly flows and 
slinks towards the candidates. slow and fluttering it seems as if buffeted 
by a breeze. It seems to envelope and swallow the darkness into itself 
whever it goes.

Down on the Sands, Larbon gapes, then blows a kiss to Jeraria who, in 
all likelihood, will never known it was blown in that moment.

Kinoa blinks. "Did you see that?" she asks, rubbing at her eyes as if 
the flash of light were a mere apparition. "I thought I saw a dragonet. 
Can't tell what color, though."

Down on the Sands, Silver Arrows Egg pushes harder on its egg. Again 
a crack can be heard snapping. A bit of shell lands on a candidate's foot. 
Still the egg works hard at the quest freedom.

Down on the Sands, Starr hears a dragon's call and looks around. 
"Where did that come from?" she asks, moving forward an inch to look 
and see if she can.

Down on the Sands, Kenla edges away from Jeraria, letting go of her 
hand. But there's a toothy smile, also briefly illuminated, and a quiet 
word of congratulations lost in the din.

Down on the Sands, Ziniath buts Jeraria. Wake up you.

Auralia nods, quickly, "Yes! Is it...Jeraria?" She squints, leaning down. 
Frowning, she adds, "Blue, perhaps? Maybe."

Down on the Sands, Jeraria is oblivious now to the darkness, to the 
other candidates, to everything except the voice and presence in her 
mind. "Ziniath! Oh Ziniath, the whole of Pern is ahead of us. Anything."

Down on the Sands, Visaan finally sees what the commotion is about 
and peers over to where Jeraria has impressed, saying, "Congrats!" 
though not loudly enough to be heard by her.

You say "Ziniath? Did I hear Ziniath? Congraulations, Jeraria!"

Down on the Sands, Shadara chuckles and moves over to Jeraria as 
she see's the blue pause in front of her, "This way please Weyrlings."

Down on the Sands, Fiona turns toward the name, cried out into the 
darkness. And smiles, murmuring her congratulations, knowing that 
the other girl will never hear her.

Down on the Sands, Laemir seems confused, but that's cleared up when 
he hears Jeraria's words. "Congrats, Jeraria!" His voice rings out in the 
darkness.

Down on the Sands, Tarrin smiles as he hears Jeraria and calls out 
softly, 'Congrats.."

Down on the Sands, Telinda blinks, "Jeraria?" she calls out, "Oh, Ziniath, 
that's a pretty name!"

Down on the Sands, Enveloped in Darkened Sisal Hatchling ever closer 
this lurker approaches. Eyeing the circle for signs of the one it wants. 
Another flutter and it starts for one ond of the line, another small cry 
piercing the silence.

Down on the Sands, Temari stares into the darkness. "What's happening?" 
she asks. "Jeraria?"

Down on the Sands, Ringed Magnificence Egg continues its silent 
quest to burrow even further out of sight. As if this blanket of darkness 
simply wasn't enough for this hermit of an egg, it insists on hiding 
'neath layers of Sand if at all possible. Afraid of the dark?

Down on the Sands, Ariene catches sight of Jeraria in the dim light 
provided by the glow, and smiles. That quickly fades as the darkness 
ensues once more, and she continues to clutch tight to a hand.

Down on the Sands, Starr looks around in confusion, "Who? huh? 
Jeraria? OH! Ziniath?" she grins through the dark.

Kati elbows the old auntie, grinning. "You saw /that/ didn't you?" 
only getting a grunt in responce, she sighs and turns back to the sands, 
hoping to catch another impression...

Down on the Sands, Jeraria manages to rise to her feet and follow the 
shadow that is Shadara.

Down on the Sands, Jeraria strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling 
Room.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria's jaw drops open, but shortly the gaping 
expression turns into a brilliant smile. "Jeraria!! Oh, Ziniath is such a 
marvelous name!"

Down on the Sands, K'laarn glances at Telinda and smiles at her, 
"Jeraria's got a nice dragon there. Ziniath is rather.. catchy as a name, 
don't you think?"

Down on the Sands, N'all's chuckle can be heard echoing throughout 
the false night. It's not encouraging.

Down on the Sands, Pjorin looks about, hearing something. "What?" 
The young girl at his side whispers urgently. "Oh, how wonderful! 
Jeraria! Congratulations to you!" His voice breaks in fear as a shadow 
nears.

Down on the Sands, Jerich hears Jeraria's name being called out in 
congrats and smiles.. " congrats!" he calls after her..

Down on the Sands, Imara turns as she hears a familiar voice. "Was 
that Jeraria... and Ziniath? Oh congrats!"

Down on the Sands, Starr leans forward to look around a candidate 
next to her, frowning into the darkness.

Down on the Sands, Joslyn's trying to count, and failing miserably. It's 
too much trouble to realize there's a Hatching at all at this point; she'll 
never keep track of colors or Impressees, and so she just hops up and 
down in the chaos, cursing.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay hugs Jerich's hand with both of hers. She 
gulps again. "So much noise!"

Down on the Sands, Just as soon as Jeraria leaves her immediate area, 
Kenla moves to her right, pushed by accident by a candidate. And her 
hands free, she asks, "Oh, where am I now?"

Down on the Sands, N'all mutters to K'laarn, "I'll... survives... you... 
continue... saying..."

Down on the Sands, Foloran hears noise, noise, and more noise. Head 
whipping from side to side in a vain attempt to see the sources of each. 
He calms, slightly, as he sees Jeraria Impress.

Down on the Sands, Ziniath nudges at Jeraria. Nudgenudge.

Down on the Sands, A dragon-like shape grows more defined out of the 
shadows that have formed -- its presence right in front of a shapeless 
white blob. One of the Weyrlingmaster's seems to have noticed this 
lengthy pause and quickly hurries over to the candidate, holding up the 
illuminating glows to reveal Imara, and the dragon that has impressed.

	Captured within rays of sunlight, brilliantly coloured tropical 
fish ripple through waters of the clearest aquamarine, enveloping this 
hatchling in the delicate shades of a southern sea. Glimmers of amethyst 
and sapphire swim through the ultramarine tints that adorn her head 
and back, the gleaming jewelled tones darting between her neckridges, 
like fish playing a game of hide and seek. As if diving deeper, the colours 
darken over her flanks -- a swirling ocean of cimmerian-aqua and 
midnight-blue -- brightening towards her tail where rock pool shades, 
complete with mossy seaweed, wind down to the very tip. Waves crash 
against the shoring of her wingsails, churning effervescent jade-greens 
into seafoam, gem-like traces of purple barely visible within the 
opalescent-greens of her leading edges.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn nods and then turns toward N'all, saying, 
voice low, He mutters to N'all, "You've... far with... Weyrlings... and kicking." 

Down on the Sands, A sharp cracking sound is followed by the horribly 
loud cries of a hatchling in distress, shortly silenced, however, when 
Mineney reaches down to free the bronze from the shards of Eerie 
Afterimage Egg, and the bronze looks past him to notice shy young 
Datelne, who finds the words, "D'tel, yes, Virienaith," come to his lips, 
without a thought.

Down on the Sands, "Imara! Congrats!" Foloran shouts out into the 
darkness.

Down on the Sands, Visaan's eyes again find the light amid the dark... 
this time soon enough to offer a real "Congratulations Imara!"

Down on the Sands, Rhia grins as she watches impressings and still 
tries to make out the shadows about.

Down on the Sands, Laemir sends his own voice outward to chorus 
the joyous expressions. "Good for you, Imara!"

Down on the Sands, Ziniath moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling 
Room.

Down on the Sands,  Silver Arrows Egg blunders into oblivion as a 
large talon slides through its ovoid shell, poking out as if an arrow 
protruding through human flesh. The arrow rips, and falls, harshly 
pulling downwards until a long scar can be seen down one edge, 
allowing the hatchling inside to crawl out, presenting itself to the 
sands.

Down on the Sands, 

	---*** Penumbral Shadowed Hatchling ***---                  

	Darkened orbs dance a slow, leisurely turn across the 
granular sands, their course unhurried as if they had thousands 
of Turns to make one full circuit of the hatching grounds. Seeming 
to bulge with tidal forces, they cling tenaciously to their orbit, 
one sheltering the other from view even as they rotate about heavily. 
A head, a tail, a body, all shrouded in the singular obscurity they 
present.

Down on the Sands, Crimson Warrior Egg was long silent and still, 
while other eggs all around rocked. Suddenly, it rolls, it's shadowed 
resting spot belied by the crunching of sand under its' weight. Clinks 
and thunks can be heard as the ends of the crimson egg clatter 
against its neighbours with each violent wobble.

Down on the Sands, Temari jumps again. "Imara?" she says, then 
shakes her head. Who can see /anything/ in here, let alone a dragon.

Down on the Sands, Larbon, breaths deeply, himself a shape as 
mysterious as those which move in this dimness. The crack of eggs 
and cries of delight reveal each tiny dragon, emerging from its shell, 
escaping the now constricting confines, freedom gained and a lifemate 
to choose.

Down on the Sands, Tarrin looks quickly about trying to make out 
things in the shadows, trying to see who has impressed...

Down on the Sands,  Ringed magnificence egg suddenly shudders 
violently, coruscating bands of color rippling over the marbled surface, 
pulses of light teasing the eye in the dimness of the hatching cavern.
 It almost seems to expand and then contract, throbbing with the 
frenzied efforts of the prisoner within. With an abrupt *crack* the 
oscillations halt, forest green and ruddy gold disconnected from their 
spiral dance as the fragments fall away to expose a hatchling.

Down on the Sands, 

		---*** Blink of an Eye Hatchling ***---                   

	Somewhere in the near distance, there is movement, there is 
shadow, -there- is a stirring. The merest suspicion of a form skitters 
across the sands, a silhouette of pure dusk flickering just at the edge 
of the field of vision. As if daring the onlooker to pin it down, it 
dances in and out of reality, seeming to solidify into more than mere 
shade and then -- *blink* -- it melts back into the shifting background 
of sand and dim light.

Down on the Sands, Imara blinks. Is there really a shadow in front of 
her? Yes! "Yishenth! No, we'll never ever ever be apart!"

Down on the Sands, Visaan smacks his head with his hand as he 
realizes it wasn't Imara who impressed.. And with a mighty blush, 
moves to hide in the circle

Down on the Sands, Telinda puts a hand on her hip, and snorts, very 
unladylike, "This is going way too fast!" she calls out, "I can't see 
anything, and I'm missing all the good bits! It isn't fair!"

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria whirls as a flash of illumination sparkles in 
the darkness off to her right, and she breaks into another wide smile, 
clutching at the stray ends of her rope belt with a combination of delight 
and nerves. "Imara!" she manages to get out.

Down on the Sands, Deveran just looks baffled as he looks around, 
squinting to try and see through the dark

Down on the Sands, Kenla has steadies herself, and is standing 
straighter. Still, her eyes, and her head, eepi looking one way and the 
next, after noises real and imagined.

Down on the Sands, Jerich smiles.. calling out congratulations to 
Imara.. before trying to look towards what he thought was a crack..

Down on the Sands, Starr turns towards another crack and then swivels 
her head the other way. "So many! I can't keep track of it."

Down on the Sands, Pjorin peers about, "What was that?" he asks a 
passing shadow, trying to determine what happened where.

Down on the Sands, Imara walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Shadara comes back out to move over towants 
D'tel helping him and his lifemate off the sands and then comes back 
to head over to Imara to help her off the sands as well, "Thios way 
please."

Down on the Sands, Krystalin shifts to the right now, peering to try 
and see the dragons. Then jumps back as she thinks one comes close.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay hops from one foot to the other. She calls 
out softly to Kenla. "Over here!"

Down on the Sands, Visaan chuckles at himself. Seems his congratulations 
were premature, but not undeserved.

Down on the Sands, Penumbral Shadowed Hatchling blinks in the 
darkness. Its eyes illuminating the slight shadows nearest it. After a 
moments blinking. The hatchling pushes past its unhatched bretheren.

Down on the Sands, Laemir lifts one foot up briefly to see if rubbing 
his foot would help the heat he feels there. "Hot, very very hot." is 
his comment, then his attention is back to the darkness.

Down on the Sands, Kenla reaches her hand out toward the voice, and 
catches Kayjay's. "Thank you!" she calls, then realizes the recipient is 
very close. She smiles softly, and her head turns back toward the egg 
noises.

Down on the Sands, Larbon startles as a particularly harsh cracking 
rips through the blackened air, stepping back compulsively from the 
sound.

Auralia frowns again, leaning forward to tilt half her body down the side 
of the galleries, "Was it Imara? Oh! Imara! I knew she would. Oh, of 
course, you knew it too, Iesath. Shhhh. Yes, you searched her. Quiet, 
I'm trying to hear."

Down on the Sands, Blink of an Eye Hatchling might have moved... or 
did you blink again? There's a momentary darkness, simply an absence 
of light as the bulk of the creature moves. The darkness almost traipses 
across the Sands, an annoying, animated void.

Down on the Sands, Starr takes a small step forward and peers into the 
darkness. "Where are they?" she asks herself.

Down on the Sands, Foloran's eyes jerk quickly to every source of light 
he can find - mainly consisting of people wandering out with glows to 
illuminate the newly Impressed Candidates. Does he look scared? Yes?
Good.

Down on the Sands, Tarrin shifts his stance slowly on the sands 
uncomfortable looking out into the darkenss and the shapes moving 
there..

Down on the Sands, Deveran shakes his head as he tries to see in the 
dark, "Shard it, I can't see." he says as he shifts from foot to foot

Down on the Sands, Yishenth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Ariene shifts from foot to foot, lifting a hand to 
wipe beads of sweat from her forehead. "So hot," she murmurs, catching 
sight of a quickly moving shadow, and silencing, rather petrified.

Down on the Sands, Visaan still hops from foot to foot, this time only 
from the heat. He seems reluctant to stand near anyone.

Kinoa giggles at Auralia. "Luiseth wants one of hers to Impress so 
badly. We always get at least one."

Down on the Sands, N'all barks out towards a Larbon-shaped shadow, 
"Stay still, you daft idiot!" Yup, he is as bad as they all say. Nothing 
happens without him knowing about it.

Kati elbows her mother again, "There? Now wasn't that beautiful? 
Admit it..." Aunt Naggen mearly tisks, "Just like your father you are..." 
she hisses at her.

Down on the Sands, Fiona takes a small step backwards, straining 
around to see where the sounds are coming from, so that she can escape.

Down on the Sands, Temari takes several deep breaths and relaxes her 
death-grip on the hands of her neighbouring candidates.

Down on the Sands, Foloran's sweating like mad, though whether it's 
form the searing hot sands, or from his nervous and frightened state
is unclear. Er..well, it's probably both, actually.

Down on the Sands, Penumbral Shadowed Hatchling moves quietly. 
The bright eyes the only noticable aspect of this hatchling. Possible 
wings flutter as it shifts about the sand.

Down on the Sands, Nebulous Sunset on Ice Egg slowly starts to roll 
from its safe little niche in the sand, wobbling as it does. The egg 
shivers, trembling causing small flakes of shell to scatter to the ground 
during its passage.

Down on the Sands, Rhia steps back quickly as she thinks there's a 
dragonet in front of her..and then realizes it's only a tal candidate and 
pushes past him to be able to see.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria squints into the blackness, trying desperately 
to make sense of shadow...and failing miserably. A flicker of movement...
or was it?...catches her attention, and her head swivels to the left, 
squinting even harder in an effort to discern the sourse of movement.

Auralia laughs, tilting her head back to Kinoa, "I'm sure she'll get one 
then. I'm just hoping for another one, or two. Want to set a record for 
us. " Laughing a second time, she leans back in her seat, "But 'Sath'll 
be happy now. For a while."

Down on the Sands, Shadara waits to see who the next person to 
impress will be, nearly invisible on the sands in her dark clothing.

Down on the Sands, Ariene stops her shifting, hearing N'all's yell. A 
gulp, and she tries to see into the darkness, once more, but is still 
equally unsuccessful.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn frowns as he hears N'all chastise a candidate -- 
but its not at the Weyrlingmaster that he frowns. He scowls in the 
direction of the candidates and says "Be still unless you need to step 
out of the way!"

Down on the Sands, Starr seems to spot something, for she moves to 
take another step forward. Though since Fiona steps back she can't. 
Looks like she is looking at those glowing eyes in the dark.

Down on the Sands, Pjorin tries to pull his hand from the young girl's 
clasp -- but she's not having any of it. 'Scareded!' she almost cries, 
and Pjorin sighs, his fingers all but numb. 'Not so tight,' he hisses.
 'C'mon! Look at that!' He juts his pointed chin at a shape revealed by 
passing glowlight. 'See? It's nothing! So Let go!'

Down on the Sands, Kenla inadvertantly has stepped in front of 
Kayjay. Who could tell? The slightly taller girl rocks a little without 
noticing her error.

Nareisa has disconnected.

Down on the Sands, The rhythmic rock of an egg in the general direction 
of Infinite Scarlet Storm Egg ceases, all at once, with one final creak. The 
spindly legged hatchling that emerges from the shards almost scampers 
across the sands, until it stops, its wedge-shaped head tilted to Hanyan, 
his midnight blue lifemate nudging him firmly.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay hisses, "Is that you in front of me Kenla, 
move a bit, not that I can see anything!"

Down on the Sands, A Weyrlingmaster is visible in the inky blackness 
only by virtue of the glows swinging with each stride she takes, held in 
a basket in her hands. It is only by chance that he's standing near 
Larbon. Light spills over the dragonet before him, as Penumbral 
Shadowed Hatchling gazes up adoringly.

	A guardian stands watch, protecting against the swirling tempest 
that threatens to consume all -- a sense of wisdom apparent within the 
somehow gentle and graceful, yet coltishly awkward curves of this rich, 
walnut brown hatchling's hide. The colours roll over his flanks, scattered 
hues marring him with barely discernable cinnabar and warm shades of 
sienna, which are feathered with touches of carmine that shoot down his 
belly -- like the fletching of an arrow sent into flight from the willowy arc 
of a longbow. The delicate membranes of his wings are brushed with 
luxuriant topaz, the aileron stretched into crystalline fractures over bones 
and spars -- thin ochre traceries accenting the veins almost as if sewn with 
fine embroidery threads. Crowning his head are locks of dark umber that 
shadow his headknobs, trailing down to nestle between neckridges and 
concluding in the tip of his tail, faintly reminiscent of a runner's mane 
caught in the whimsy of the wind.

Down on the Sands, Jerich trys not to shift back and forth after hearing 
N'all and K'laarn's comments.. ooooh but that is hot sand under his feet 
and its burning

Down on the Sands, Laemir somehow finds his brother's side, most likely 
moving toward the voice he knows so well. "I've never seen anythin' like 
this before, Fol."

Down on the Sands, Starr looks towards the glow that lights Larbon and 
the brown, smiling. Then draws her gaze back to the sands.

Down on the Sands, Blink of an Eye Hatchling is there again - that nagging 
nothing that draws your eye and then repulses it with lack of a focal point. 
Stare and stare, you'll never make anything out of the darkness save more 
darkness... and movement. It's definitely moving. Toward some boys. 
They better be moving, too.

Down on the Sands, Foloran, also standing rather close to Larbon, 
sidesteps quickly to avoid being trambled by the Brown. He winds up on 
Laemir's /other/ side now. "Shells, neither have I!"

Down on the Sands, Kayjay mutters at Laemir's comment. "Or not seen for 
that matter!"

Down on the Sands, Kenla blinks. The normal reaction to surprise 
doubles as a momentary solution to her night-vision difficulties. Kenla 
quickly moves to Kaykay's side, and says a bary heard, "Sorry."

Down on the Sands, Visaan shifts just in time to see Larbon impress. 
"Woohoo!" he calls out to his friend, "Congrats Larbon!" For once, 
Visaan is definitely smiling.

Down on the Sands, L'bon,feeling a nudge, he takes his hands away 
from his face and looks into the swirling orbs of a questioning dragonette. 
Not quite sure what to do, he smiles softly and reaches out, gently 
touching the soft muzzle, wonderingly. "Dhanuth!" he cries in utter 
delight.

Auralia seems to have given up trying to count Impressions, and find 
out who is with what. But as she leans further over, she notes Larbon's 
Impression with a small smile, somehow managing to have seen it. 
"Larbon. L'bon? Mmmm."

Down on the Sands, L'bon strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Tarrin stops moving as well gritting his teath 
slightly , stairing out into the darnkness hearning the congratualation 
he calls out, "Congraulation larbon..

Down on the Sands, Dhanuth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria stares, and twists her cord belt even tighter 
as the brown finds its mate...who happens to be Larbon...oh, oops, 
L'bon. "Dhanuth!"

Down on the Sands, Crimson Warrior Egg rests still again, the raucous 
clattering easing somewhat for a heartbeat. Then, after only a single 
quiescant moment, another shudder of tremendous strength wracks its 
form. And another. Again, and again, the crimson egg convulses, an 
ever increasing tempo.

Down on the Sands, Deveran blinks as Lar...no l'bon... impresses and he 
swallows a bit as her moves closer to his fellow candidates.

Down on the Sands, Laemir lifts a hand to his friend, "Good! Good!" he 
calls to L'bon, but the words are lost in the commotion and darkness.

Down on the Sands, N'all turns on his heel, his large shadow moving 
towards the weyrling room.

Down on the Sands, N'all walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, A dark talon pokes out the top of A Star is Born 
Egg, sending it wobbling precariously towards a group of candidates, 
who break ranks, screaming. A moment later, and a former weaver 
apprentice is cradling a delicate, misty green muzzle in her arms, calling 
out, "Lanya and Mariarath, Mariarath and Lanya. Of course."

Down on the Sands, Crimson Warrior Egg is savagely battered from 
inside, fierce opposition, or perhaps the impatience to be out, sending 
it bouncing up and down again and again. Internal strife it may well be, 
but even the toughest of eggs couldn't hold up to it, and so it finally 
fails, falling into bits in front of the triumphant hatchling inside.

Down on the Sands, Pjorin seems more intent on getting his fingers from 
the vise that is his companion's clasp than anything else; with a jerk that 
almost sends the pair stumbling he frees himself and adds his cheer to 
the one for L'bon and his new lifemate.

Down on the Sands, 

		 ---*** Whisper in Darkness Hatchling ***---                 

	Things go bump in the night, monsters live under your cot, 
serpents hide in your press -- and this eerie conglomeration of darkness 
flutters across the sands, slow flickers of what must be wings reminiscent 
of sheer curtains caught in some silent winter wind. It is, by bulk and 
outline, no doubt a dragon, but it moves with the crisp and precise 
movements of something entirely different, its black shape drifting about 
with cold determination. Not so much frightening as haunting, it looms 
as a black void on the already dark Sands, almost invisible as it melds 
with shadows.

Down on the Sands, Jerich smiles as he see's Larbon has impressed.. that 
much he figured would happen already.. he shifts to another foot quietly.. 
trying to see if there are any more moving shaddows..

Down on the Sands, Kenla's words are likely only heard by the few 
candidates near her when she says, "It's like a good nightmare - scary, 
but not..." Breathless. She still looks around, flashes of worry on her 
features, but there's the occasional smile, to.

Down on the Sands, The growing light from the gathering glows in the 
stands pushes back the darkness. Just as the first lances of light from the 
sun strive past the obstacle of the eclipsing moon, a Glazed Ceramic Blue 
Hatchling rushes into the pool of light below the stands. He halts before 
Tarrin, eyes blinking in adjustment to the light yet certain in his choice.

	Like a vase, crafted from clay and glazed in a menagerie of brilliant 
blues, the colours flowing over this blue hatching are a mass of 
contradictions -- from the midnight blue of his neckridges, to the electric 
blue of his head -- the shades meld together in exquisite harmony. His 
flanks are dappled with glimmering cerulean, as if shafts of sunlight 
struck ribbons of water pouring from a vessel, the fluidity evident in the 
watery hues as they wash towards his wings. Not forgotten, but perhaps, 
like the underside of most pottery, difficult to reach, the tones under his 
belly are slightly distorted, predominated with darker blues and greens 
that brush down towards his ebony black talons. Wingsails, a striking 
contrast to the dusky darkness of his belly, threaten to dazzle with all 
the iridescence of a rainbow, while his tail is encircled with solid 
granite-blues -- like thick torcs that circle around to very tip, eventually 
fading from existence.

Down on the Sands, Starr takes in a deep breath and tugs a little on 
Fiona's hand. "Did you see that?" she asks.

Zanah has arrived.

Down on the Sands, N'all strides over from the Weyrling Room.
Down on the Sands, N'all's shadow looms back over towards K'laarn.

Down on the Sands, Startled isn't quite the right word to describe 
Foloran right now. He gasps sharply at the loud crackling noises, and 
his head jerks quickly toward that Blue. But then he sees Tarrin's 
Impressed, and he grins.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria glances around, and barely catches a 
blue hatchling running into the light out of nowhere, finding Tarrin. 
She smiles again...but she seems to be doing that a lot out here.

Down on the Sands, Rhia claps softly as she sees everyonce in a 
while..a friend impress. then it's back to watch for the many shadows 
still out there.

Down on the Sands, Temari glances around, catching the moment as 
Tarrin impresses. "Oh" she says in wonder, then snaps her glance 
back around as a shadow seems to pass near her.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay standing near Tarrin, see's the moment 
of impression and wipes away tears of joy.

Down on the Sands, Shadara moves over towards Tarrin and his blue, 
"WHat's his name?" she asks softly as she waits for the newest 
Weyrling to notice her pressence.

Down on the Sands, Tarrin creis out and says, "Ok Cyonth I will get 
you something to eat...

Down on the Sands, Ariene gives a little clap when she hears Larbon 
and his lifemate's name, bouncing slightly in place. A brief smile 
flashes across her features, though it's impossible to see, it widens 
upon catching sight of yet another impression.

Down on the Sands, Tarrin walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn turns and gestures to N'all, "I can't see 
hardly a thing in all of this. No one has gotten hurt yet thankfully though.
" He says with huge relief.

Down on the Sands, Visaan's gaze shifts quickly as a dragon's name is c
alled by a voice he recognizes. But Tarrin is so far away by the time the 
boy realizes that no congratulations will reach him now.

Down on the Sands, Laemir waves with both hands then quickly brings 
them down to his sides as he hears that Tarrin Impressed. "A blue? It 
was a blue?"

Down on the Sands, Starr turns and tries to look around Fiona, but fails 
to see Tarrin or whoever just impressed. So she settles back to try and 
look for the shadows moving on the sands.

Down on the Sands, Cyonth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, N'all chuckles, "Give 'em time." He says further, 
"I can see just fine." Uh, huh.

Down on the Sands, Foloran nods to his Brother, "Blue, yeah," being 
his logical, if not stammered response.

Down on the Sands, Whisper in Darkness Hatchling rests a moment, 
fading into the deep annonymity of the shadows. Darkness bends and 
shifts as an ebony curtain rustles in an unfelt wind, and with a whisper 
of sound it advances. Slowly, yet with determination.

Down on the Sands, Kenla asks Kayjay, since she was out of view, 
"Was that really Tarrin? It was a little deeper a voice than I remember..." 
There, another sound from a dragonet. And Tarrin or whoever he is is 
lost to other concerns.

Down on the Sands, Starr jerks her head to the side. "Did you hear that?" 
she asks, leaning her head forward to try and catch a glipse of the shadow.

Down on the Sands, Shadara chuckles as she comes back onto the 
sands, a faint, unheard sigh coming from her at the memories this brings 
back.

Down on the Sands, N'all mutters to K'laarn, "Ceruth... my... And... me.... 
eyes,... some... to, and... bloody difficult,..."

Down on the Sands, Visaan stands quietly amid the oddly quiet sands, 
his eyes not on the dragonets or candidates for once, but up toward the 
cavern ceiling high above...

Down on the Sands, Nebulous Sunset on Ice Egg jumbles around, bumping 
up against another egg before arcing away from the contact as it rolls, 
swishing one way then the other, moving steadily around as the creature 
within fights its way out.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay squeezes Kenla's hand. 'Yes, it was Tarrin." 
Her voice quivers with emotion.

Down on the Sands, Deveran just continues to shift back and forth, back 
and forth in nervousness and from the heat on his feet.

Down on the Sands, Krystalin rubs her arms vigorously as if chilled, then 
wi[es the sweat from her brow.

Down on the Sands, A loud crack, its source unseen, is the only indication 
of a new hatchling on the sands, the cloaked hatchling unseen until Riane's 
arms reach out to touch something, and darkened Mediterranean blue and 
young woman are joined together for all time, the pair heading off, leaving 
a trail of shards from Midnight Perpetrator Egg behind them.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria backs away uncertainly from a rustle disturbingly
near her--and trips over the errant foot of a hitherto unseen Candidate just 
to the side of her. She falls most ungracefully on her rear end, right on the 
Sands. A muffled "Ow!" issues from her direction.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn nods and says, "Good idea N'all." he says, his 
amusement plain in his voice.

Down on the Sands, N'all's head sweeps towards Ylaeria, how can he see in 
such darkness, "Shardit, girl, be careful!"

Down on the Sands, N'all mutters to K'laarn, "... to... you.... handy... kids."

Down on the Sands, Shadara gives a frown as she turns at the Ow comment, 
"Back on your feet please." she says as she moves over and helps Ylaeria 
back up.

Down on the Sands, 'So many of them! Ylaeria,' Pjorin's voice is nervous as 
he shuffles near and offers a hand to her. 'Stand up! C'mon!'

Baelen has arrived.

Kinoa dropped Baelen.

Down on the Sands, Here one moment, gone the next, Reduced Luminosity 
Egg barely has time to leave behind its contents before it disappears into the 
sands. Hatchling, however, is here to stay, and begins to roam, for a moment 
anyway. Moments in, it stops, letting out a mighty bugle, young Feleana 
dropping to her knees in wonder as her hands reach out to touch the darkened 
green hatchling in front of her, exploring, "You are Aeiranth, aren't you?"

Down on the Sands, It's a good thing that the Sands are as dark as they are, 
because otherwise the owners of those helpful hands would see Ylaeria 
blushing as red as her hair as she hauls herself up with their help. She rubs 
her rump, flushing brightly, as she mutters a "thanks" to her helpers.

Down on the Sands, Prismatic Flames Egg rolls from the mound with the 
speed of a feline chased from a burning house, the flames seemingly to flicker 
up and over the shell -- not seen, but heard in the crackle of splintering 
shards. A busy egg this one, never content to just stay still, it continues to 
wobble in concentric circles. It will escape, this secret denizen, it will, by jove
 it will!

Down on the Sands, Whisper in Darkness Hatchling slinks forwards, 
shadows moving in shadows, only a whisper of sound revealing location. 
There's a muffled gasp as a candidate feels the breeze of its passing, and 
shadows leap to loom before a pair of girls in white robes.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn snickers softly and nods at N'all, replying, He 
mutters to N'all, "... get... disoriented." 

Down on the Sands, Shadara moves over and helps the newest greenrider 
off the sands and she hmmms a bit, helping the girl and her green to the 
room where the rest of her fellow weyrling class waits.

Down on the Sands, N'all mutters to K'laarn, "... trick... to..."

Down on the Sands, Kenla asks Kayjay between worries glances at all 
angles, "Can you see any better than earlier?"

Down on the Sands, Rhia shifts her feet and asks the lad next to her. "your 
taller..what do you see?"

Down on the Sands, N'all mutters to K'laarn, "... since... out here.... these... 
as... do."

Down on the Sands, A bump. A stomp. A shuffle. And then there is grey 
where before there was only blackness, a murky dragon-shaped form where 
once was only veiled shadow. With every step the shape seems to solidify, 
taking on damp wings, clumsy tail, unmistakably wedge-shaped head. All 
brushed with the Sunrazed Savannah Brown that soon becomes apparent 
as Whisper in Darkness Hatchling steps directly into a circle of light as if 
he was destined for it, and destined for Kayjay who is the sudden focus 
of adoring whirling eyes.

	Sun-gilded mahoganies, suggestive of a dry, seemingly deserted, 
prairie, undulate like grass caught within a fickle wind -- the dusty flaxen 
browns intermingling with deep ochres over this hatchling's flanks. Burnt 
sienna creeps stealthily across his neck and forequarters, as well as 
shadowing the final third of his tail, the flowing shades evoking a sense of 
hunter and prey in the grassland of his hide. Glassy amber wingsails, 
reminiscent of glimmering eyes, watch over the scorched-brown of his 
trailing edges -- as if waiting silently before a thundering rush to attack -- 
while ruddy-brown talons tip the massive toes, shimmering like the heat 
from a crackling wildfire in the brilliant glare of a Southern sun. Down his 
legs and belly, the colours blur together in a rushing mass of sorrel, sepia 
and tan, a brilliant harmony of browns combined into a silent symphony.

Down on the Sands, Telinda snorts, "Get sick to your stomach out here 
doing that" she chatizes both weyrleader and weyrlingmaster, "Dehydration
 make all the dragons fall over if they're trying to help you!" Well, maybe
 not, but it sounded good!

Down on the Sands, Visaan's head swivels sharply toward all the noises, 
in succession. He seems not to see anything at all, but ventures to ask 
in a harsh whisper, "What's happening?" of the nearest candidate.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn snorts and then just shakes his head and 
says incredelously, "Now why didn't I think of that?" He groans, 
"Boy.. I feel.. well." He chuckles darkly.

Down on the Sands, N'all grins at K'laarn, "That's why your the weyrleader, 
and I'm the weyrlingmaster, I'm more devious."

Down on the Sands, Nebulous Sunset on Ice Egg trembles, then goes still, 
roiling shadows the only visible token that it ever moved at all. Its thousand 
points of light go briefly dim as the hatchling within gathers its energy, 
then the egg explodes with a dazzling eclat of light and sound, shell fragments 
launched in every direction, the hatchling no longer obscured by that veil 
of night but ready to welcome a new day.

Auralia was leaning back, but all in an instant she leans forward again, 
"Was that a brown? Was that Kayjay?" A shreik! and she laughs, "She 
Impressed! Kinoa, look! Luiseth's candidate, the one Iesath helped with!" 
Excitable, isn't she?

Down on the Sands, 

		---*** Prowling Crawler Hatchling ***---                   

	Creeping, slowly. Inching its way across the sands sunk into the 
depths of night, it's hard to discern where the creature ends and shadow 
begins. A leg moves -- then another. And another, until far too many legs 
for anything that has a right to be on the sands take their turn. Quick, 
delicate, scurrying, shadows dance within shadows and the subconscious 
plays tricks with ones' mind, leaping upon the first association it can make 
-- and an enormous crawler leaps across the sands in a hunt for prey. 
Darkness swallows up the creature, only to reveal it again within heartbeats, 
sounding louder than the crunching of sand with each and every step.

Down on the Sands, Now, Foloran's still standing next to Laemir, but his mind 
isn't currently working properly - fear having long since removed reason. 
"Brother? Where are you?" he calls out again, before notcing Kayjay's 
Impression..and waving in that direction.

Down on the Sands, As the eclipse nears its darkest point, it becomes more 
difficult to distinguish between the candidates and the hatchlings. Dark 
shapes form a shadowy tableau, as the dragonets struggle to find their lifemates.

Down on the Sands, Starr turns towards the sound of crunching sand. "I 
wish I could see!" she says to no one.

Down on the Sands, Kayjay drops her hands to her side, a look of total 
bewilderment comes across her face. She blinks, saying. "Suriath?". She 
sobs, relief written across her face. "Oh, you found me!" Her voice rises in 
triumph. "You wanted me!"

Down on the Sands, Alluvial Ocean Egg gently rocks back and forth, much 
like the ocean that it seems to look like. A gentle creaking is all that can be 
heard from it, the darkness of the sands keeping it hidden from view. Slowly 
at first, the creaking seems almost to be an illusion, but quickly it speeds up, 
rocking faster and faster. And then it stops.

Down on the Sands, Jerich lets go of Kays hand.. wanting to hug her and 
congratulate her but instead .. whispers.. " Congrats Kay.. I knew you would 
impress.. " a bright smile apparent on his face..

Down on the Sands, K'laarn grins wryly, "Well, at least I've got some skill 
when it comes to threadfall tactics or I'd feel even more idiotic."

Three drudges bustle up the stairs, squinting in the half dark as they continue 
their bustle, placing glows strategicly around the stands. "Never fails," one of 
them mutters to another, "It's -always- hard to see." Another of them snorts, 
ducking back towards the tunnel, "Don't I just know it." They return a second 
time, placing a few more glows about, completely ignoring everyone else. By 
the time they leave, there is a faint glow of half-dark around the sands, making 
it still hard to see, but somewhat lighter than before.

Down on the Sands, Laemir reaches out a hand that bumps into Fol's side. 
"Here. Next ta ya." the ex-carpenter says then grins. "Kayjay! OH!"

Down on the Sands, A flurry of shards and Sickening Starbug Egg is no more; 
leaving in its place a hatchling half buried in the sand. Colour remains unclear 
until its head reaches up to nudge Larly, who isn't even looking, her surprised 
cry of, "Me? Santiath!" setting the watery green right back into the sands, 
with a shrill, and yet exuberant bugle!

Down on the Sands, Kayjay strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Shadara ahhhs as she comes back out and she sees a 
brown pausing before Kayjay. She weaves her way through the candidates 
and she rests a hand on KJ's shoulder, "You and Suriath should come this 
way please."

Kinoa glances over at Auralia and then down at the sands. "Kayjay?" she 
repeats, peering more closely. "To brown!" She crosses her arms over her 
chest smugly. "I knew it."

Down on the Sands, Pjorin blinks, wiping his eyes as heat and grit make 
them water. 'Wait! Was that Kay?' He asks Ylaeria. 'It was... Look at that. 
She impressed!' He sound very happy for her.

Down on the Sands, Suriath moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Visaan calls out, "Congratulation Kayjay!" toward 
where she had been, obviously the words going unheard. But who can say 
in all this dark..

Down on the Sands, N'all's teeth reflect a slight white as he smiles towards 
the weyrleader.

Down on the Sands, Kenla again lets go of the girl next to her, yet another
 Impressee. This time her grasp lingers a little longer. "Good for you." A 
tinge of jealousy in her happy words.

Kati squints out at the sand. "Hey was that... it was! Kayjay?!"

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria's head whirls in the direction of Pjorin's point, 
and she brings sand-covered hands to her mouth with a gasp. "Oh, my," 
is all she can manage to get out.

Down on the Sands, Prismatic Flames Egg becomes more languid in its 
movements, tired, but not exhausted, not yet. It now seems more of a flame 
in every flickering movement that it makes, the crackling intensfying as if 
everything consumable is being eaten in it's path. Sand sprays up around, 
t's certainly energetic.

Down on the Sands, Ariene repeats everyone else, "Kayjay? Oh, Kayjay!" 
She definitely beams, before peering forward, again.

Down on the Sands, Jerich looks a little lost now that he has no one to hold 
onto.. but he is obviously happy for his dear friend. Jerich looks around in 
the darkness quietly..

Auralia grins over to Kati, "Twas! Kayjay's a brownrider!"

Down on the Sands, Deveran gives a faint cheer as Kayjay impresses and 
he shifts from foot to foot once more.

Down on the Sands, Foloran flinches as /something/ touches him. He calms, 
though, when he finally figures out it was Laemir. "Oh," comes his soft, 
embarassed reply.

Down on the Sands, Prismatic Flames Egg slips onto its side, its steady 
motion carrying it deeper into the sands. Faster, and faster, the depression 
deepens, the odd flicker of light sending its vivid array of colors shimmering. 
A moment, and it collapses inwardly, like a pile of wood in a fire, its hidden 
contents falling out in a mess of limbs on the sands.

Down on the Sands, 

		---*** Sounds of Silence Hatchling ***---                  

	Some strange sound -- eerie yet enchanting, nauseating yet 
captivating -- stirs the Sands as the kiss of a cold breeze would ruffle the hair
on a child's forehead. And there is a shadow: Nebulous but certain, definite 
bulk but indeterminate shape. As if just beyond some solid wall, the noise 
that drifts with this uncertain form is muted as it moves. Neither shadow nor 
shape, this dark fiend of a creature rolls its way across the Sands, a hint of 
something ruddy reflected off the bare illumination of the Hatching grounds. 
Hints of scarlet -- the pure shade of aged Benden red -- glimmer in the cloak 
of midnight, tiny beads of pure liquor that seem to sparkle as they shift. And 
the underlying theme of sound presents itself once again: Something of a 
wind behind a wall, of tiny golden bells tinkling just out of earshot.

Down on the Sands, Kenla is again standing alone, and along with it she's 
no longer standing straight. Her voice is again small, too: "Was that one of 
them? I though I felt something."

Baelen has disconnected.

Down on the Sands, Rhia hops and hops. "Well there's another..Congrats!" 
she calls out.

Down on the Sands, Shadara mutters to N'all, "... clumbsy... dark,... want... with..."

Down on the Sands, Starr frowns again. "What is that sound? Prolly someone 
in the galleries? i hope so...pretty scarey not being able to see." she says, 
leaning forward to look around.

"Brown..." Aunt Nageen mutters as she gts up. "Always knew somethinf 
was odd about that girl..." she waders out of the galleries, but an odd smile
 is on her face...

Down on the Sands, Alluvial Ocean Egg rocks again, more forceful, its quiet 
inturlude coming to an end. Steady rocks can be heard through the darkness, 
and the sound of gentle creaking, as if a boat against swirling water. Gently,
 it creaks over onto one side, and writhes there. But now is not the time, and 
slowly, it stops once more.

Down on the Sands, N'all's chuckle is all that answers Shadara.

Down on the Sands, Fiona gives a faint laugh. "At least it can't last forever," 
she murmurs, giving Starr's hand a gentle squeeze.

Down on the Sands, Pjorin shudders, suddenly chilled to the core. 'Oh, what 
is that!' He looks around, dark eyes narrowed. 'What is that noise, and is it 
moving with that shadow there?'

Down on the Sands, Hairline cracks suddenly dissolve what once was One 
Small Step for Mankind Egg, leaving nothing but dust, and a roaming dragonet. 
Wingsails rustle, and finally stop, a dark croon sending Dervol into raptures 
over his windy night brown lifemate.

Down on the Sands, Solar Wind Egg flickers with movement, rolling back and 
forth on the sands as if buffeted by some slight breeze. Very slight, for the 
egg hardly moves at all, drifting lazily back and forth, small crunching sand 
noises the only indication it's moving at all.

Down on the Sands, Deveran frowns a bit more as he bumps into one of his 
fellow candidates, a lad from the Smithcraft, "Sorry, can't see at all." hs says 
in response to a half seen glare.

Down on the Sands, Alluvial Ocean Egg ends yet another quiet time, its 
rocking moving it sporadicly back and forth against the sand underneath it. 
A long, hard creak, and it sits silent again, before suddenly shaking harder 
and harder until it seems ready to explode, as if being bashed by wave after 
wave of harsh water.

Down on the Sands, Visaan cannot see, can barely hear through the whispers 
and excited chatter from the candidates. But none of that seems to bother him. 
"What *is* going on?" he asks again of that enrapt candi... still no response.

Down on the Sands, Sounds of Silence Hatchling shakes the faint shadow 
of wings, and then promptly disappears deep into the shadows. As it moves,
 it makes jangling sounds, almost as if it'd remained attached to a piece of it's 
shell, and clanged that against each and every intact egg left. *Bump* Oh, a 
close encounter there, not one that it should try and repeat, and oh darn, 
who put that there. With a complete and utter cacophony of sound, the 
fiendish penumbra disappears.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria eeps, a tiny strangled squeaky sound, and grabs 
Pjorin's hand whether he likes it or not. She's not all that into these rustly 
sounds that move in the dark. Sorry, darkness is no old friend of hers.

Down on the Sands, A loud *crack*, and Velvet Void Egg lies in shards, 
leaving a very confused looking shadow in its wake. Bleating, or as close as 
a dragonet can be, loudly, it barely moves, simply looking around in 
confusion. Candidates step back, until a brave one calls out, softly, 
"Stand up, little hatch-Oh! Desevryiath!" M'tyne's words fade into oblivion 
as he and his green lifemate rush towards each other.

Down on the Sands, Alluvial Ocean Egg rocks once more, tempest-tossed 
upon the stormy seas churned now to a froth by the movements of the 
dragonet within. A spray of sand envelops the air around the egg in a fine 
mist of sable as it spins dizzily on its side, waves of motion battering its 
aquamarine shell, until a sudden surge deals the fragile casement a mighty 
blow and it breaks upon the sandy shore, revealing a damp, bewildered 
hatchling.

Down on the Sands, Starr looks around and frowns. "That is one of the 
wierder sounds I've heard. Where is it coming from? Oh! Is that it? no..no..." 
she says, glancing at the others.

Down on the Sands, 

	---*** Shadows through Darkness Hatchling ***---               

	Flickers of light make a merry dance across the darkness-cloaked 
world that are these sands, merrily disapearing as easily as they came, 
leaving behind nary a trace of their ever presence, but neverthless indicating 
the presence of some shadow-hidden being, or perhaps not. A further 
gleam indicates a large, dark shadow, an egg, or somesuch, no doubt. 
Shadows lengthen, and then shorten once more, like an endless wave of 
moving tides, with sharp talons that make even sharper shadows on the 
sands around it.

Down on the Sands, Rhia dashes behind a taller candidate lad and then 
peeks from around him "they are noisy."

Down on the Sands, Temari lets go of his hand as the boy next to her 
impresses, and moves backwards against the candidate on her other side, 
eyes wide, staring. "Congrats" she says softly.

Down on the Sands, Prowling Crawler Hatchling slinks through the darkness, 
a stealthy shadow drifting in and out of awareness. It seems to leap out of 
vision then back in as quickly, going from movement to stillnes, to jerking 
forward awkwardly. Eye orbs gleam redly in the darkness like two bright, 
flaming embers. He makes his slow progress away from the eggs and toward 
the candidates.

Down on the Sands, Solar Wind Egg begins to move a bit faster in the wind, 
searing heat from the sands combining with some inner fire to send it into 
spurts of frantic motion, flaring and then dying down again. Its surface, so 
charred from the long exposure to the heat beneath, ripples with activity, a 
faint *taptapping* heard from within.

Down on the Sands, Shadows stretching across the sands shorten
 imperceptibly, dark shapes moving around the perimeter of the hatching 
grounds. A faint crunching is heard, the scrabbling of talons on sand, and 
then a flash of light as another glow is unshielded, exposing a once-hidden 
Glacial Crystalline Blue Hatchling with his tail firmly wrapped around Kenla. 

	Never to be touched by the warmth of the sun, an ancient glacier -- 
the glaring chill of winter's breath etched within its jagged fissures -- spills 
down from a distant mountain, melting over the curves of this crystalline 
blue hatchling. Layers of topaz -- the product of repetitive freeze-thaw 
cycles -- frosts his flanks, deepening over his haunches into a rich, 
heather-blue, like brambles taking root in the frozen tundra. From within 
the heart of the glacial river, fingertips of granite point to the sky, delineating 
his neckridges, while jewelled tourmalines sweep down the pointed curve 
of his tail as they escape the barren landscape. Amid the luminescent 
turquoise of his wingsails, inky striations crack and fracture over his pinions, 
the patterns finely engraved like frost upon a windowpane.

Down on the Sands, Starr turns to the sharply angled shadow that suddenly 
moves and steps back. "Erk...thought that was close!"

Down on the Sands, Shadows through Darkness Hatchling is simply a 
shadow, nothing more. It dances across the sands, nothing but a trick of the 
light. No sound, not even a whimper, or the brushing of sand against hide. 
This is fun! No sounds still, however, and nothing but the odd shadow as to 
where it is. Shadows lengthen and fall in one place, and then another. It 
certainly must be fast if it got from here to there so quickly. But its only a 
trick of your mind, and the dark, so anythings possible, right?

Down on the Sands, Pjorin sighs longsifferingly. What is it with women 
grabbing onto his hands? 'It's okay,' he mutters to Ylaeria. 'Really. I mean, its 
dark, but the dark never hurt anyone right?' He gasps seeing the shine of 
blue hide near a companions face. 'Kenla! Congratulations!'

Down on the Sands, Ariene gives a quiet, frightened whimper as the 
cacaphony on the sands redoubles, worrying at the cloth of her robe with o
ne hand, the other still clutched to the candidate's next to her.

Down on the Sands, Foloran lets out a soft, "Oh my," as he sees Kenla's 
new lifemate. "He's beautiful.."

Down on the Sands, Fiona hears the name of her fellow weaver, and gasps, 
grinning in the darkness.

Down on the Sands, Visaan calls out a happy "Congratulations Kenla!" 
hoping to catch the girl on the sands even still.

Down on the Sands, Laemir takes a step backwards, even though he has 
no idea why. His feet burn now but the smile he has for Kenla's genuine. 
"Congrats!" he calls to her.

Down on the Sands, Starr makes a face. "I can't see! Will you move Fiona!" 
she says, trying to go on tip toes to peer past her.

Down on the Sands, Sounds of Silence Hatchling managed that! It managed 
to navigate that egg, with only a small bump in the night. Really! So, here 
we go again. The name of the game is to attach oneself to a white-robed 
thing, not an egg. Egg, bad idea, candidate, good! There. Now, let's see -- 
Hello darkness my old friend, we come to walk with you again -- can we do 
it? Can we? Perhaps, perhaps, only one way to find out. The jingle, jangle 
resumes, along with the odd bump, the odd grunt, and the odd tussle with 
an egg -- nono, we said candidate, not egg!

Baelen has connected.

Down on the Sands, Fiona darts a look at the shadowed figure next to her, 
and rolls her eyes, then takes a few steps to one side.

Down on the Sands, Shadara chuckles and moves over to Kenla and her 
blue, "Come with me please?" she says before leading them to the room 
with the rest of the weyrlings.

Down on the Sands, Kenla is at once at her full height, although then she 
squats and runs a shaking hand along the blue dragonet's eyeridge. 
"Ardanth, you were here for me? Me?" And she suddenly breaks down, 
tears rolling down her eyes.

Down on the Sands, Foloran's gone from deatly frightened to entranced 
in one easy step. A calm comes over the lad, and his eyes become even 
more attentive than before. Perhaps, he finally realizes, there's a lifemate 
out there for /him/.

Down on the Sands, Temari calls "Kenla? Oh well done."

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria pulls a face in the direction of Pjorin's voice. 
"It's the rustles that bug me." A grin is given in the direction of Kenla 
and her new friend.

Down on the Sands, Ribbons of Fire Egg is as invisible as everything else 
in this miserable murk, but it MUST be moving. All of the eggs are moving 
or shards at this point, so it just goes without saying that this egg is stirring 
as well.

Down on the Sands, Kenla walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, No one noticed the exit of Intricate Iridescence Egg 
from the sands. No one noticed it crumble into bits. And the form that 
appeared when it left does not seem happy about it. A flying leap and its 
rushes towards the first group of candidates, somehow managing to miss 
all of them before it rushes on to the next. At the third, still no injuries, it 
comes to a holt, as Aerikan dares not to move. The dragonet stops. 
Aerikan stops. R'kan meets Aath, the little green finally showing her true 
colours - those of vivid lime and fluorescent green.

Down on the Sands, Ardanth rumbles a happy note, head nuzzling into 
Kenla's arms.

Down on the Sands, Rays of pale sunlight begin to filter in as the Hatching 
nears its finish. It lends an almost misty quality to the cavern as the 
darkness slowly begins to fade. There are fewer candidates now, and only 
a scant handful of eggs remain.

Down on the Sands, Ardanth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Sounds of Silence Hatchling stops, the sound halting. 
Oh wow, no more of those blasted eggs. Oh, wait, what's that, a light!? It 
heads that way, blinded by the light, towards a loosely knitted circle of 
candidates.

Down on the Sands, Shadows through Darkness Hatchling is just another 
shadow, dancing across the sands, finally making noise with echoing 
bugles, and croons, and warbles, eyes glowing red against the darkness 
of the sands. It is here! Don't worry. It is coming. Shadows fall across it like 
waves, talons and legs scritching against the sand. And then you can't 
see it again. Has it gone? Has it softly and suddenly vanished away, and 
never seen again? Or is the dark simply making you imagine things? Are 
you going insane? Probably.

Down on the Sands, A commotion this time in the stands as fresh baskets 
of glows arrive, casting a few glimmering rays of light over the railing and 
onto the suddenly Illuminated Celestial Bronze hide of the Sounds of 
Silence Hatchling. As if startled by the light the hatchling stumbles and 
jostles Laemir, panicked movements becoming more sure as he makes his 
choice.

	Over a landscape that glitters with the advent of dawn, a celestial 
guardian towers protectively over the hide of this hatchling, the hues fluid 
as if an imaginary breeze danced across the smooth surface of his prismatic 
bronze form. A gauzy overlay lends a misty quality to the orange-red tones 
that dominate his neckridges, the pearly outer layer leaving him with an 
ethereal quality as it trails fingers over his flanks -- the dream of an illuminated 
warrior brought to mind in the sleek muscles, taut beneath his hide. Great 
wings -- tinged red along the bones and spinnerwebbed with an intricate 
network of iridescent veins -- are alive with the bright shades of sunlight 
slanting through clouds, the leading edges tipped with the ruddy colours 
of a crisp sunrise. Across his broad chest, and curved belly, the hints of 
pearlized scarlet mutate to a full, livid crimson beset with filigreed hints of 
pale pinkish-bronze, curling up and around the graceful tilt of his nobly 
sloping muzzle.

Auralia whispers softly, "Bronze? Was that bronze?" Words are lost, and 
she smiles quietly, "Laemir. Laemir and bronze. Hmm."

Down on the Sands, Ribbons of Fire Egg is definitely moving now, a few 
rays of stubborn sunlight daring to illuminate the black orb. During those 
wisps of light, it's apparent that it's wobbling like mad. Something wants 
out now!

Guest4 has arrived.

Kinoa smiles. "Oh, good, Luiseth will like that bronze."

Down on the Sands, Starr gets to see Laemir impress and grins brightly, 
then looks to Fiona, then back again. Then her eyes are caught by moving 
shadows and she steps back sddenly.

Down on the Sands, Foloran just gawks, then, eyes wide as his Brother, his 
own /Brother/, Impresses the Bronze. "Laemir," he gasps softly, backing 
away, wide smile curling those young lips of his upward.

Down on the Sands, Krystalin looks and catches a fellow impress, smiling 
as he does so.

Down on the Sands, Shadara chuckles softly as she moves over to Laemir, 
waiting for him to notice her as she taps his shoulder, "This way please?"

Down on the Sands, Fiona can finally see, somewhat, and a faint look of 
relief crosses her face as she sees how few eggs and hatchlings are left.

Down on the Sands, Laemir blinks first once then twice? "Oh, oh... Brielth? 
Oh oh... Oh... uh... uh...." He embraces the bronze then sighs happily. 
"Uh.. oh.."

Down on the Sands, Deveran just shakes his head as he sees Laemir with 
the bronze, "Such luck."

Down on the Sands, Shadows through Darkness Hatchling is still a 
shadow, nothing more than that. Crossing from one side of the sands to 
another, it seems to have appeared again. Here it is! Moving slowly 
across to a pair of candidates, it inspects them, and moves on. Nope, 
nope, nope! Sand flies, and no doubt gets into the eyes of candidates, 
but it cares not. It is here! Jumping around, it approaches another pair, 
and pauses to consider.

Down on the Sands, Foloran says "Brielth," Foloran mouths, smile still 
on his face as he watches his Brother."

Down on the Sands, N'all strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, L'mir strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria lets out a whoosh of a sigh, letting her grip 
on Pjorin's hand relax...but not loosen completely, as a few touches of
 light start to gild the Hatching Sands. Another smile is directed at Laemir
--L'mir--as bronze Brielth finds his match.

Down on the Sands, N'all walks over from the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Rhia hops and skips and hisses "This is shardin' hot.." 
and tries to still but that won't work.

Auralia chuckles, "I know. Iesath the same. Although, she's usually more 
partial to a nice blue or brown."

Down on the Sands, 	Solar Wind Egg is gently tossed onto its side, 
rocking back and forth as if a gust of wind was pushing it. Seeming to be 
as light as a feather, it rocks onward for some time, until the tension is too 
high, and it gives in to the enviable. A moment later, and its shards are less 
than shards, trampled by the overeager, hatchling inside.

Down on the Sands, Ribbons of Fire Egg has something inside that wants 
out, wants out, wants out! There's lots of noise and an abundance of 
movement over there, leading a few of the remaining Candidates to turn 
their attention on this active darkness. But the egg is still winning... barely...

Down on the Sands, 

		---*** Preternatural Puddle Hatchling ***---                 

	Shadows coil, darkness twists, and an inky blackness grows across 
the sands. A shadow cast by a shadow, or a puddle seeping out of the sands? 
Twilight in liquid form, it oozes through the nocturnal pitch. Drip, drip, drip, 
the mind supplies a possible source. For with every fingerlength of shadow 
the pool absorbs, incorporating blackness into itself, there's a soft background 
chiming, ringing through the consciousness.

Down on the Sands, Brielth just keeps on tumbling -- now that he's started, 
but, yes, he does, he manages to stop, wing wiggling his way to his feet proper 
and then waddling after his, yes HIS, lifemate!

Down on the Sands, Jerich watches L'mir walk off the sands with a bronze.. 
his mouth curled up in an oh what an handsome bronze kinda look but of 
course no one can see it cause of the darkness

Down on the Sands, Brielth moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Pjorin stares, blinks. Light! 'Oh, look! Tis Laemir--L'mir?' 
He asks almost questioningly. 'Is that what I think it is? It is!' And look! No 
more eggs and he's nearly out of here scot-free.

Down on the Sands, Ariene lets out a deep sigh of relief, as well, as the 
darkness is alleviated somewhat. She casts her gaze upward, briefly, before 
she looks toward the Sands once more -- and the diminishing pile of eggs.

Down on the Sands, Foloran doesn't care that the hatching's nearly over. 
He doesn't care that the eggs are nearly gone. His happiness is apparent as 
his dark eyes follow his Brother's form toward the Weyrling Room. Pride 
evident on his face.

Down on the Sands, Telinda blinks, "Oh, Faranth, well, at least we'll get our 
chairs mended for life now, eh, K'laarn?!" she adds, winking at the Weyrleader 
as she watches one of the new pairs, the glowlight, just for moment, letting 
her see.

Down on the Sands, Preternatural Puddle Hatchling slinks sneakily across 
the sands, barely managing not to be absorbed into them. It spreads left, 
then right, oozing this way and that, with no particular end direction in mind. 
Soft slurping and dripping sounds accompany its passage, sand being 
sucked up from the grounds and then redeposited a little further down.

Down on the Sands, Temari stares across the sands. So many impressions. 
Are any eggs left? With those on both sides gone she wraps her arms 
around herself again.

Down on the Sands, Starr can't help but giggle in nervousness. "What /is/ 
that sound?"

Down on the Sands, N'all says "NOt for a turn and a half, Tel, then he's all 
yours. Until then, he's all mine." He grins, "A new bronzer to torment. Life 
is good."

Down on the Sands, In the shadows a faint creel of dismay can be heard. It 
is close to the candidates though it is hard to pinpoint, again the noise 
breaks the soft sounds of the sands as well joined by a sudden scrabbling 
sound of new, awkward talons pushing their way through the sand. The 
sound is growing faster and closer, suddenly stopping as the newly hatched 
dragonet stumbles into the returning light before Starr. A formerly dismayed 
tone shifts to a brilliant bugle of triumph.

	The cool ocean waters of a northern coastline laps against a sandy 
shore, each wave coaxed over the golden grains in a rhythmical dance of 
colour -- lacing this dusky sea-green beauty with traceries of indigo and 
cobalt. The angry hue of storm-tossed seas crashes over her headknobs, 
surging forth over neckridges like a plume of water powering through a rocky 
inlet, before dripping down in calm tidal-pool greens over her flanks. Umber 
and cinnamon pattern her kelp-green belly, almost as if she had wallowed in 
the damp sand of the beach, while her talons are the rocky brown of the 
wave-washed stones, constantly battered by wind and water. Fronds of 
seaweed trail loving fingers over her pinions, reaching out to anchor in the 
elegant jadeite of her mainsails, hints of shell-pinks accenting her trailing 
edges, reminiscent of spiderclaws, hiding in the blades of sea lettuce.

You paged Starr with 'Hah! Wrong, wrong, wrong!'.



Down on the Sands,  Ribbons of Fire Egg softly vibrates, sending ribbons 
of shivering motion up its sides, and back around towards the ground once 
more. Delicate quakes of movement follow in much the same way, as do the 
somewhat more forceful cracks, as the hatchling breaks free.

Down on the Sands, Visaan watches, or at least tries to, as the dragonets 
find their lifemates with a happy smile upon his face. He still seems bewildered 
by the whole thing, but not unhappy at all. And then someone else impresses 
and his smile becomes a grin, "Congrats Starr!!" he calls out, hoping he's close 
enough to her.

Down on the Sands, Shadara laughs a bit as she moves over to Starr, "Congrats 
Star, if you and your lifemate could follow me?"

Down on the Sands, Telinda grins at N'all, "Oh, don't be such a spoil sport!" 
she adds, "The dear boy wouldn't mind, and he still has chores to do!"

Down on the Sands, 

		---*** Midnight Cavalry Hatchling ***---                   

	Because you cannot stop for this haunting creature of no shape, no 
size, and no color does not mean it will not be stopping for you. There's a regal 
air to the uncertain form, its posture definite and upright, its movements steady 
and rhythmic. Each step sounds as the beating of hardened hooves against 
firm ground, echoing even in the dark chaos of the Hatching grounds. Its ultimate 
destination is impossible to discern; only the creature itself is privy to this and 
has no intention sharing as it glides across the hot Sands. It will pass Candidates 
and clutchsiblings alike, never deterred until it's made an ultimate selection. 
Something of infinity is intimated in the ceaseless darkness, melding so perfectly 
into the inky blackness of its surroundings. It knows no beginning and no end 
of color or form, only the ultimate quest to find its lifemate amid the chaos of the 
Hatching.

Down on the Sands, Fiona squeezes Starr's hand, grinning. "Oh, congratulations," 
she whispers, stepping away from the Candidate next to her.

Down on the Sands, Starr blinks and blinks again, then bites her lower lip as she 
bends to hug her green lifemate tight. "oh Jiazith! I love you too!" she says.

Down on the Sands, Foloran draws in a deep breath, eyes finally adjusting properly 
to the utter lack of light. He releases that breath...and goes completely silent and 
motionless.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria twitches, scrubbing her free hand first on her robe, 
then in her eyes, as *something* sends sand flying into her face. Ow. She squeezes 
both eyes tightly shut, opening first one, then another, a tiny tiny bit. Sand-induced 
tears run down her cheeks, and she scrubs at those too. "Shardit."

Down on the Sands, Jiazith waddles closer to Starr, looking up with rapidly whirling 
eyes. Here she is, Starr! Crooooooon, and she's happy. Now, time to do something. 
Tail flicks towards the place where all the others were disapearing to. Hmmm. Head 
tilts back up to Starr, looking at her mournfully. They're together, but can they get 
on with it?

Down on the Sands, Starr strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.
Down on the Sands, Jiazith moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Ariene gives a faint smile at the Impressions of Starr and Laemir, 
but that fades quickly, and she returns to shifting from foot to foot, and her attention 
to what she can see of the shadows moving in the murk.

Down on the Sands, K'laarn nods his head and then reaches out to hug Telinda 
loosely, "But not too much of a surprise. He's an interesting lad, I expected good 
things. And its good we'll get free repairs," He teases, "Especially the way this 
candidate group broke the chairs, eh?"

Down on the Sands, Preternatural Puddle Hatchling expands, inky tendrils of shadow 
spreading as it seeks purchase on the sands. Wet squelches, like the sound of a boot 
being sucked down into mud are heard as it oozes towards a clump of candidates, 
creeping around their feet.

Down on the Sands, Pjorin beams as Starr leaves the sands with her new lifemate.
 'That's good! Look at that.' He waves after the pair cheerily. Yep, definitlely getting 
lighter.

Down on the Sands, Midnight Cavalry Hatchling sweeps along, the rustle of wingsails 
definite as it crushes the remnants of its egg - the shards powdered and filtering in 
among the Sands. It moves. And it's scary. And it pauses before this Candidate and 
that as if weighing their potential merits before moving on in the dimness.

Down on the Sands, Deveran shakes his head as he can see a little better and he 
stamps his feet a bit as the heat just seems to get worse and worse on his feet.

Down on the Sands, Krystalin grins as she sees Starr go off with a lifemate, then 
looks back to the rest of the eggs.

Down on the Sands, Shadara chuckles a bit and shakes her head, "Poor L'mir."

Down on the Sands, Rhia smiles from time to time at something said to her by 
another candidate. Head bobbing. then she wipes the sweat from her brow.

Down on the Sands, Midnight Cavalry Hatchling straightens someone, its cloak-like 
form lengthening as if the creature were aligning its nebulous posture. The jewelled 
glow of dragon eyes give warning to its whereabouts, swinging this way and that 
as it eyes the potentials. It has come for one and it will find that one.

Down on the Sands, Preternatural Puddle Hatchling slurp, slurps. It lurks for long 
moments around a pair of candidates taunting them with swamp sounds before 
schmooing off in another direction. The murky shape seems to streamline as it 
aims the flow towards a certain presence.

Down on the Sands, Visaan finally seems to feel the heat, he wiping his brow 
along with the rest, too tired to hop from side to side. He just accepts the sizzling 
heat. Even his gaze barely follows the dragonets anymore, though when 
Impressions are made, his glance is drawn like a magnet.

Down on the Sands, There's a commotion in the ring of anticipating and nervous 
candidates, at first only gasps of surprise filtering through the pitch blackness. 
Soon attended by a weyrlingmaster with a basket of glows, light floods the small 
patch of sands, revealing a Starlit Ocean Blue Hatchling standing before Pjorin.

	Ocean depths reflect the ancient and mysterious light of a thousand 
constellations -- a million shimmering stars bathed in the glassy troughs of each 
wave, gently swirling currents of cerulean blue over this hatchling's hide. Cyan 
sparkles his flanks, miniscule droplets glittering iridescently as if he were covered 
in a fine spray of mist, the hue darkening over his haunches -- a distant horizon 
where sea embraces sky. Wisps of sunlight dance over the airy-blue of his 
eyeridges, catching the prismatic, crystalline sapphire of his neckridges like 
diamonds on an Istan beach. Deep midnight shades his pinions, illuminated to a 
bright, frosty-blue over his wings as a breath of wind ripples a tranquil sea, while 
his slender tail curls sensually, brightening in rich, vibrant tropical-blues.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria yipes. And points. And points. And points some 
more. "It's a...it's a...a..." Yes, girl, Pjorin Impressed a blue, right under your nose.

Down on the Sands, Shadara laughs softly and she grins as she moves over to 
Pjo, "Well now, looks like We're going to see how you turn out."

Down on the Sands, Foloran is unsure whether to say Pjorin, or P'rin, or..eh...
something. Who knows. He waves, anyway, calling out a quick, "Congrats, Pj!" 
There.

Auralia smiles, leaning back again, "Pjorin? Hmmm. Blue. And Starr before then, 
was it? Interesting."

Down on the Sands, Jerich shifts a bit from the heat and watches starr move off 
with her new lifemate.. just in time to notice Pj impress.. he smiles a bit .. and 
looks towards the spot where the eggs should be.. wondering what is left

Down on the Sands, Visaan animates to call happily out, "Congrats Pjorin!" before 
slumping his shpoulders ahgain somewhat.

Down on the Sands, Temari glances over to the light, seeing Pjorin impress. "Oh, 
well done Pjorin" she calls, then subsides, looking around. So few left, what hope 
has she?

Down on the Sands, J'rin shudders, and then stares. 'Neliath!' He blinks and the 
nods businesslike. 'Yes. Food. Right away!'

Down on the Sands, Midnight Cavalry Hatchling stalks. Move. All of you. It's 
cutting through the white-robed remnants with fierce determination. Something 
that must be wings pushes first one Candidate and then another aside, the 
creature hellbent on finding that ONE person.

Down on the Sands, Naliath nuzzles J'rin lovingly and then gently pushes his 
new lifemate in the direction of the weyrling barracks. Mustn't waste any time, no no.

<Southern Weyr> Foloran says, "I KNEW IT!!!"
<Southern Weyr> C'ley says, "Knew what?"

Down on the Sands, J'rin walks toward the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, Shadows flicker over a dragonish shape. Is it a dragon? Or a 
wher that got itself lost. No. It must be a dragonet. It lingers in the shadows keeping
 away from the remaining candidates as it watches them shift about on the warm 
sands. It steps towards the the light but then pulls back further into the shadows 
walking along the rim of darkness. Then it chooses, it simply steps forward to be 
illuminated by the light and croons into Foloran's face. 

	 Displaying the gifted hand of a master carpenter, the joints lovingly sanded 
until they melt seamlessly into one another, this brown hatchling appears to be 
sculpted from leftover pieces of wood -- a startling patchwork of colours and varnishes, 
polished into a gleaming finish. Circular patches of maple-brown are arrayed across 
his flanks, held together by a curving strip of dark mahogany, which divides his 
underbelly into two uniform, but contrasting, regions of light and shadow. Mahogany 
courses down his tail, the rich grain feathered like the hairs of a runnertail, his equine 
nature mirrored in his talons -- oddly reminiscent of steel shod hooves. Delicate 
ribbons of pine shade his muzzle, a square patch of rare ebony accenting the area just 
before his eyes. His wings are inlaid with patterns of cherry-brown which spreads 
down and over his pinions, themselves delineated in a perfectly symmetrical fashion, 
arching whorls giving the impression of a combed runner's mane.

Down on the Sands, Naliath moves towards the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

Down on the Sands, N'all watches as J'rin leaves, "Extra duties for him."

Auralia pauses once more, smiling as she nods softly, "Thats it, isn't it? A wonderful 
hatching!"

Down on the Sands, Rhia looks towards where the eggs should be and frowns..is 
that all..or do more still lurk?

Down on the Sands, K'laarn frowns and nods at N'all and replies, "Indeed. Indeed." 
He watches after J'rin as the young rider departs.

Down on the Sands, Shadara chuckles and hmmms as she motions J'rin to head towards 
the weyrling room with the rest of his class, stopping on the way to tap Fol on the 
shoulder, grinning a bit, "This way Weyrling."

Kati chuckles. "Oh Kayjay..." she mutters. "/I/ at least am proud of you!" she stands, 
off to look for her mother, most likely...

Down on the Sands, Visaan takes his next breath to call, "Congrats.." to Foloran, 
watching for more shadows..

Down on the Sands, Ariene continues to look on, shoulders slumping very slightly 
as two more of the dragonets find their lifemates, and she's not one of them. 
Nonetheless, she musters a smile and words of congratulations to the boys.

Down on the Sands, Ylaeria is left standing, watching after J'rin as he and Naliath head 
towards the barracks. Hands that still retain a few grains of sand fall to her side as she 
stares after the pair.

Kinoa walks toward the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.
Kinoa has left.

Iesath> Dhanuth wuffles at L'bon's fingers. His tounge slips out curiously to touch them.

<Southern Weyr> K'laarn got confused. J'rin, I was expecting P'rin :)

Down on the Sands, Krystalin looks around at the others, pursing her lips to see if 
there are any more eggs or dragonets left.

Down on the Sands, With the movement of the two moons, the shadows along the 
sands shift and change, some growing longer, some shorter as the darkness makes 
it's way through the cavern. It seems to pass on its own time, which can appear 
achingly slow for those trying to view the hatching.

Down on the Sands, Deveran lets his shoulders slump as he looks to see if any other 
hatchlings remain, shaking his head a bit.

Down on the Sands, Foloran's eyes go distant, soft, as he kneels down in front of the 
Brown. "I'm here," he assures the hatchling, wrapping his arms around his new lifemate. 
"And we will never be apart.."

Down on the Sands, A rather short and ungainly candidate from Island River reaches 
over and grips the hand of the boy beside her as the Daytime Darkness Egg gives a 
sudden convulsive shudder. Before either of them has time to do more than widen 
their eyes, the shell is breached with a hundred tiny fractures and then pops open, 
dropping a streaked emerald green dragonet onto the sands. Waddling in first one 
direction and then another, it communicates its confusion with a loud creel, and then 
bumps into the legs of the sandy-haired boy, who quickly drops to his knees to 
lovingly encircle the great head in his arms.

Down on the Sands, N'all sighs, "Well, it's off to start babysitting, again."
Down on the Sands, N'all strides over to the tunnel to the Weyrling Room.

You walk over to the Entrance to the Hatching Caverns.

From a distance, The sun triumps, at last, and the moon slips away, revealing all the golden glory of Rukbat once again. The Sands are a mess, littered with shards and scraps, raked by talons and covered in footprints. Few candidates remain, blinking at what were so recently whole, hardened eggs.