Jadedi proved to be a good companion, never far from her mistress, and kept the other candidates away from the halfling. Nelve visited the sands several times, simply to peer at the eggs, or the fascinating green-blue who had laid them. She knew that they saw her watching, and yet, Brown Menirth did nothing, only watched her with interest. She did worry about Ecanirith, though, and made sure to keep her distance from the overly protective mother as the days increased, and yet, the eggs did not hatch.

Candidate classes weren't easy, as she wasn't excellent at reading, but she listened, and gathered what she could. She could only hope that she would know enough to take care of a hatchling, though she doubted she'd impress. There were other candidates there much better suited to bond than she, she was sure.

However, her heart couldn't help but skip a beat when an announcement rang through the Weyr one day, the first clear, sunny day without rain for a while, that the eggs were rocking, awaiting their chosen ones. Quickly, she slipped into her candidate robe, Jadedi on her shoulders as she raced through the Weyr's various corridors, away from the rest of the candidates, arriving split seconds before they did to witness the hatching.

The huge dragoness, however, appeared to have other ideas, for she leapt at the candidates foolish enough to go near her. Nelve, having observed her for several days, stayed back, somehow knowing that she'd never impress. She had Jadedi, that made her happy, and to even be searched was an honor she'd never expected. As the first egg hatched, the talking white dragon besought his mother to let them leave, with the promise that they would always be with her in spirit. He's like his father... he spoke, the cat-girl thought as she watched a twilight blue, and two black-blues find their bonds.

A brown, who spoke like his father, and acted much like a runner, bonded to a young man from Icarus who'd used to joust astride a runner. Another, a green speaker, bonded to her chosen one, Lelandry, and Nelve smiled, enjoying the scene unfolding before her, yet yearning to be one of the bonded in the back of her mind.

As Leladry led her bond from the sands, the line of peaceful Impressions ended with a lethal hail of dagger-like egg shards and an enraged roar not unlike most of Ecanirith’s. It was no surprise that the hatchling bent on raising havoc was green-blue.

What did surprise everyone was when she turned, illuminated by a stream of sunlight, to face gentle, half-feline Nelve before whipping around to regard everyone in the stands. There was an enraged glare in the little dragon’s eyes, and her tail lashed like that of a wildcat.

Justice! There must be justice for all the wrongdoing and suffering in my bonded’s life! Few of you understand what it truly means to be different like Nelve, to truly have suffered because of ignorance and prejudice. So I will teach you pain!

The last hatchling finally won its desperate struggle to be free from bondage and broke open her shell, spilling the muted green hatchling into freedom. As the green-blue was preparing to charge into the stands, the little green stepped in to intervene.

“Stop this madness, sister! They have done nothing to offend your rider. Nelve will be safe with you only if you protect her with an equally gentle heart.“

The green-blue seemed subdued by the advice, and she gave a deep bow to both her parents before turning to face Nelve with an apologetic expression on her face.

Forgive me, Nelve, I don’t know what came over me. I feel all your pain, and I wish to be your guardian in the absence of your friend. I am Sekhmeth, but will you accept me as your protector if I can’t be your avenger?

When Nelve nodded, Sekhmeth cuddled beside her lifemate and gave a low croon, almost a purr. She arched her back and stretched before following Nelve out, and a few people could only comment that the dragon was just as cat-like as her lifemate. Nelve, however, felt joy within her beyond comparison... she had someone with whom to share, to trust, to love, who wouldn't judge her based on how she looked.

"Sekhmeth..." she giggled out as she watched the dragon acting like a cat as she finished eating, and wondered if somehow, the fates had looked down on her. The dragon peered at her, eyes widen, her head cocked. "I don't think dragons clean their paws like that... but somehow, I think that anyone would make an exception."

Of course they would. If they said anything about it, they might find that my claws are alot stronger than a kitty's, but that I can hold a grudge like one very easily. Now, tell me about Quetensha. What will she think of me?? And, please tell your flit to stop pestering me. I'm not a dragon... I'm a dragon kitty, the hatchling answered, a purr once again in her throat as she looked for a place to lounge about, feeling the need to sun herself.