19.Mar.12, 04:04 AM
Kerrin could only answer Erisi's request that he prevent Valerian from getting mauled with a startled look - one which quickly transformed to irritation as he threw up his hands in disbelief and whirled back around to face the eggs. As if it wasn't clear from his blood-stained robe that his track record on that count was looking pretty dismal! He paid no more mind to the newly Impressed pair, instead looking over at the one Harper left remaining. Apparently the little green had taken a fancy to the guy, and was willing to sacrifice another Candidate to ensure that he remained safe. But why did it have to be him? Kerrin grumped. Valerian could sharding well take care of himself.
The weyrbrat glanced over again to where the healers were tending towards Indivara and another young man whose name he vaguely remembered started with an F. He was unhappy to have been reminded of the gruesome accident, and especially of his inability to do anything to help the girl, though he doubted that had been Erisi's intention no matter how much of a jerk the guy was. Still, he felt some measure of relief to see that Talian had arrived on the scene and was now tending to her. He had heard of Talian's Master Healer knots, and to see the young man there on the Hatching Circuit reassured him somewhat that Indivara was in the best hands possible. His worry was not entirely soothed - not even close - but it instilled him with just the right amount of reassurance he needed to turn his attention back towards the moving eggs.
Apparently Kerrin would not have to worry about jumping between Valerian and an angry dragonet at all, for in the next flurry of cracking eggshells and shouts of newly-learned dragonet names, a hatchling which had been lingering and watching the other Impressions soon approached them. The weyrbrat's heart leaped into his throat, only to fall slightly when the little creature began circling Valerian and nudging at his legs with its wings and wedge-shaped head. Kerrin knew immediately that this one was not meant for him either. He took a deep breath, forcing a smile as he watched Valerian kneel and pet the hatchling on the head. Kerrin made a note to remember the name the Harper spoke: Veeth. Any dragon of his friends would be his friend, too, and the younger Candidate wanted to be sure to remember their names even if he couldn't quite make out the color of their hides. When Valerian turned to wish him luck, though, the weyrbrat's smile turned more earnest. "Thanks," was all he could say, fearing any more than that would reveal the nervousness he still felt about Indivara's condition, and the sick feeling that was pooling in his stomach as more eggshells cracked and Kerrin further realized just how bleak his prospects were becoming.
Valerian hadn't told him to relax, though, which seemed to speak well of his efforts to hide just what a mess of restless, anxious, worried nerves he really was. And if the notoriously observant Harper couldn't tell that all Kerrin could seem to think about was just how frightfully much of Indivara's blood stained his robes, then maybe a dragonet wouldn't pick up on it, either.
He almost laughed at himself. Yeah, right - a dragonet that couldn't read emotions. Dream on.
Biting his lip, Kerrin once again looked in the direction of the frantically working healers. He saw Jada there, remaining beside the girl and holding her hand. He wanted to be there too! Small hands clutched at his Candidate robes, heedless of the still-wet blood that smeared on his palms. He would be suitably grossed out about it later, but for now, it took every ounce of his concentration to tear his eyes away from the scene and focus again on the remaining eggs. He had to stay! He couldn't let this ruin his chances. How could he set a good example for Indivara when she healed and stood for her own clutch - because she would! he couldn't let himself doubt that - if he couldn't even Impress now?!
Kerrin breathed deeply, focusing his thoughts and desperately reaching for positive emotion. He was glad Jada was there to comfort Indivara, not jealous or embarrassed that it wasn't him. He was happy to be standing there on the Hatching Circuit, not resentful of the stubbornly still eggs that just wouldn't hatch so he could get on with it and see to his friend, already. And by Faranth, he would be honored when (not if!) one of those sharding slow little dragonets FINALLY popped out of its shell and Impressed to him.
The weyrbrat glanced over again to where the healers were tending towards Indivara and another young man whose name he vaguely remembered started with an F. He was unhappy to have been reminded of the gruesome accident, and especially of his inability to do anything to help the girl, though he doubted that had been Erisi's intention no matter how much of a jerk the guy was. Still, he felt some measure of relief to see that Talian had arrived on the scene and was now tending to her. He had heard of Talian's Master Healer knots, and to see the young man there on the Hatching Circuit reassured him somewhat that Indivara was in the best hands possible. His worry was not entirely soothed - not even close - but it instilled him with just the right amount of reassurance he needed to turn his attention back towards the moving eggs.
Apparently Kerrin would not have to worry about jumping between Valerian and an angry dragonet at all, for in the next flurry of cracking eggshells and shouts of newly-learned dragonet names, a hatchling which had been lingering and watching the other Impressions soon approached them. The weyrbrat's heart leaped into his throat, only to fall slightly when the little creature began circling Valerian and nudging at his legs with its wings and wedge-shaped head. Kerrin knew immediately that this one was not meant for him either. He took a deep breath, forcing a smile as he watched Valerian kneel and pet the hatchling on the head. Kerrin made a note to remember the name the Harper spoke: Veeth. Any dragon of his friends would be his friend, too, and the younger Candidate wanted to be sure to remember their names even if he couldn't quite make out the color of their hides. When Valerian turned to wish him luck, though, the weyrbrat's smile turned more earnest. "Thanks," was all he could say, fearing any more than that would reveal the nervousness he still felt about Indivara's condition, and the sick feeling that was pooling in his stomach as more eggshells cracked and Kerrin further realized just how bleak his prospects were becoming.
Valerian hadn't told him to relax, though, which seemed to speak well of his efforts to hide just what a mess of restless, anxious, worried nerves he really was. And if the notoriously observant Harper couldn't tell that all Kerrin could seem to think about was just how frightfully much of Indivara's blood stained his robes, then maybe a dragonet wouldn't pick up on it, either.
He almost laughed at himself. Yeah, right - a dragonet that couldn't read emotions. Dream on.
Biting his lip, Kerrin once again looked in the direction of the frantically working healers. He saw Jada there, remaining beside the girl and holding her hand. He wanted to be there too! Small hands clutched at his Candidate robes, heedless of the still-wet blood that smeared on his palms. He would be suitably grossed out about it later, but for now, it took every ounce of his concentration to tear his eyes away from the scene and focus again on the remaining eggs. He had to stay! He couldn't let this ruin his chances. How could he set a good example for Indivara when she healed and stood for her own clutch - because she would! he couldn't let himself doubt that - if he couldn't even Impress now?!
Kerrin breathed deeply, focusing his thoughts and desperately reaching for positive emotion. He was glad Jada was there to comfort Indivara, not jealous or embarrassed that it wasn't him. He was happy to be standing there on the Hatching Circuit, not resentful of the stubbornly still eggs that just wouldn't hatch so he could get on with it and see to his friend, already. And by Faranth, he would be honored when (not if!) one of those sharding slow little dragonets FINALLY popped out of its shell and Impressed to him.