[G] [H] 740.08.07 | Existential Dread

Sariel had been gently urging the little one on. He was a blue, she thought after a moment of consideration. It didn't matter that he was sickly. That's what healers were for, his new lifemate as well more than anything. Surely he'd be nursed to health with careful attention. He'd a fierceness about him in the eyes and when he Impressed, she cried with joy for him. Look at him and his will to survive! She was so proud of him for overcoming everything from his egg to finding his mate.

"Well done," she murmured, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "And hard-won." He'd fought for it, the little blue and once he'd his lifemate, they'd started to get him fed. It eased the pang in her heart just a little -- the one that had begun when the green collapsed and died there on the Sands. She smoothed her hands along her robe all fret and hope but nowhere to direct it save at the eggs that had yet to hatch.

Live, she whispered to them in her mind. Live and thrive despite everything. You can hatch, you can Impress! Please, little ones. She directed her mind at them as if they could hear her mental pleas. If anything, it was emotion that dominated: Faith, hope, a wish to do something, anything to carry the rest of the dragonets through. Maybe it would help, like a glow in the dark. She rocked a little on the Sands, still humming, still humming with all the hope and positivity she could muster.

If her humming was the only thing heard on the sands beside the mewling of the Impressed blue, she was alright with it.

The sharp gasps from the crowd prompted Misharan to open his eyes, blinking as they readjusted to the afternoon light. Egg number two had cracked properly open, and a dragonet had appeared. Misha squinted at it, not sure of the color at first, the little thing was so dark, not helped by the dampness from being inside an egg, but as it staggered to its feet and pulled itself from the remains of its shell, he caught the flashes of a lighter blue on its wings - his wings, Misharan supposed, but considering the dragonet’s father could they really be sure, and giving it a gender made it more personal, and if it too died it would hurt more, so he didn’t yet. The fact it managed to stand at all was promising, and more promising still when it managed to take a few steps.

Misha watched it stumble closer to the ring of Candidates, frozen in suspense. The little dragonet looked much like its dead sibling, with its overly large looking head, sunken eyes, visible joints and tight skin, all of which looked even more bizarre in motion than they had on the green who had barely moved. But what really stood out were its eyes. Misharan felt the dragonet’s eyes, whirling wildly between colors and fierce with intent, were what gave him a flicker of hope that this one would be okay. Or at least, would be okay after a lot (a lot) of food and oiling and attention. The dragonet seemed to agree, because its eyes met his and Misharan could feel its hunger, but also its determination to live. He would make it, this dragonet was going to make it, Misha would make sure of it.

Without thinking, Misharan knelt down, reaching out to steady the dragonet from a particularly shaky step, who braced against his hand to shuffle a little further forward to all but collapse into his lap.

Mine, Dyoricath said, voice suffused with exhaustion and body limp with the effort of hatching, but those bright eyes still focused on Misharan, Mine.

’Yours, Misharan confirmed, ’yours. I’m yours.’ Gently he wrapped his arms around Dyoricath, hugging the little blue close to him as he felt people press around them, Healers and people with buckets, hovering anxiously, ready to help take care of his dragonet. Dyoricath was going to be fine, nothing else bad was going to happen to him, Misharan wouldn’t let it.

Mylorah stopped breathing as the little dark hatchling moved in her direction. Would it make it? Would it Impress to her or one of her close friends standing on either side of her? She wasn’t sure what she wanted the answer to be. She didn’t have long to wait for it, however, as Misharan bent down and wrapped his arms around the sickly being. She started crying again, quiet tears that she wasn’t sure if they were borne from happiness or fear. “Oh, Mimi…”

She was so happy Misharan finally Impressed, knowing it bothered him more than he ever let on. He would be a wonderful dragonrider, she had no doubt, but… he had to make it there first. His dragon was so malnourished and barely able to walk. He had a long way to go before he even approached a loose definition of healthy, yet… Mylorah knew the little blue—she was pretty sure it was blue from the wings—was in capable hands with her best friend.

She wanted to hug Misharan or even give him a large smile but he never looked in her way and people were approaching to help him with the dragon. She took a few quiet steps back to give them more space and dashed away the streaks of tears. She would be happy for her friend and tell him that later on when Misharan had a chance to breathe and adjust to what had happened. She’d support him any way she could, fearing he might need it no matter how confident she was in his ability to be a dragonrider and nurse the tiny blue to health.

Mizeath wildly disapproved of Thallyath keeping the corpse of her dead daughter on the sands. Ameris could feel the emotion in herself and her spine shivered with the depth of it. Tell her to let the healers grab the dead green. K'ton can have Ironth drop her between, Ameris told the gold slowly and diplomatically. Mizeath was ready to storm the hatching sands herself to remove the offending sight herself and Ameris knew that would be the worst idea her dragon could have possibly had. The woman knew a fight would ensue. A tragedy more than this hatching would happen and suddenly an impression.

Bone-thin stretched skin and weak, the blue impressed to one of the boys and Ameris was torn between disbelief and relief. What would this mean for the young man who'd impressed to a blue so emaciated Ameris worried he would expire on the spot from hunger.

Allow the healers to remove the corpse of that green, Thallyath, do not make a spectacle of this, Mizeath told the small gold with a soothing tone. She tried to keep the disapproval out of it but Ameris knew it was hard for her. Ironth will drop the creature between and you'll not have to worry about it, the gold continued and Ameris approved of her tone. Mizeath had no desire to fight with Thallyath here and now. The only question would be whether Thallyath would allow it to happen. Fuck she hoped so.

Rislan sat very still next to her and not for the first time at a hatching Ameris regretted allowing him to come. No matter how much she thought he needed to know the goods and the bads, Ameris never meant for her son to be traumatized. She sighed and went back to watching what could only get better. Right?

“Fuck,” Kordiavis swore under his breath with passion, mostly rage tinged with fear. Of course one of his closest friends had to Impress to one of the monstrosities. He knew this Hatching was a horrible idea and he should have held his ground against it and convinced Mylorah and Misharan to avoid it with him instead of Standing. That dragon was barely alive! And now it had bonded to his friend and all Kordiavis could think about was when his friend would lose his mind—or die with the creature instead. How often had he heard Alcynnia say she wished she died with her gold rather than stay alive and be reminded that half of herself was gone?

“Fuck!” he said again, louder, uncaring that he may have been heard despite how far away from the clutch and stands he was. He could lose Misharan even if the man didn’t die, he’d never be the same. He crouched down, elbows resting on his knees and hands cradling his head. He couldn’t handle that. He had only ever known his mother as the unstable and crazy woman so he didn’t have anything personal to compare it with. But with Misharan, he would always know what he was before the mood swings or vacant stares or the listless days.

Why did he ever think moving to the Weyr would be a good idea? Why did he think opening up and letting anyone in again was a good idea?

There was a slim chance the dragon could live, he finally argued as he came to his feet again. He had to focus on that. He had to be happy for his friend that seemed to accept the bond as soon as it happened. Misharan wasn’t afraid to Impress to one of those creatures and maybe he felt something through the bond that told him everything would be fine. Surely Kordiavis could find the same level of belief?

Sure, he could do that but he wasn’t about to let another friend Impress or stand as close as she was to the eggs. Determination had Kordiavis crossing the sands yet again as he came up to Mylorah and grabbed her hand, tugging her back several more steps. She gave a startled gasp and questioning look and he almost didn’t say anything but managed a soft, “I can’t lose you too.”

Kordiavis winced at the sad look—he took it as pity—she gave him but wrapped his arms around her when she went in for a hug and let her take his hand in hers as they went back to watching the eggs. Well, she did. He kept stealing glances at Misharan and hoping everything was okay. He hoped it would be for them as well given they were still far too close to the clutch for his liking.

Her view slightly obscured by, well, being short cleared and she saw Misharan Impress. She let out a bright noise that seemed to contain heaps upon heaps of joy. While she hadn't really known the Candidate, there was absolutely nothing better than knowing the dragonet had found his lifemate. They might have a fight to get there but they would, she was sure of it. Sariel was so full of...emotion that she hopped a little in place, her expression one of dazzling joy.

She craned her neck to see, gently nudging her way to see their newest dragon pair before they disappeared for a much-needed feeding. Sariel knew they'd be alright, especially now! Every thought in her head seemed to abuse exclamation marks and she was practically vibrating with anticipation. If she Impressed, she was more than capable of caring for a dragon that needed extra help. The thought was a little ball of ferocity as she tore herself away from watching Misharan and his lifemate tackle life.

There were more eggs. More dragonets that needed love and hope and care. Sariel gave them all the mental and emotional brilliance she could. They deserved to live, to Impress, to find the one person they needed to surive. They deserved to be tucked into a wallow and looked after with a ferocity known only to those bonded to a dragon.

She knew full well she was full of sappy hope and light but that's what these little ones really needed after the darkness of the Touching. They should be greeted with all the goodness of many Hatchings before. As she thought, she hummed a sweet note that fit neatly in the faint humming that had been there from at least Semath and a few others.

She'd hum until she was hoarse.

Sariel didn't care what anyone said about these little dragonets, they were beautiful, every single one.

C’dhin felt like a jerk when he showed up minutes before the first egg cracked. He hadn’t intended to be late since he had told Misharan that of course he would be there. What did he care about traditions and who was supposed to win golds? New dragons were the important thing and he wasn’t going to protest a Hatching and miss a friend Impressing because he didn’t like the sire. But he’d almost missed it anyway because he was having a father-daughter day out in a valley that had a river for them to play in with Coroth and eat under a little collection of trees. It had been a nice trip but panic set in when they returned to Telgar and heard news came a while ago about Ista’s Hatching starting.

As quick as he could, he headed out and quietly entered the grounds and found a seat just before the first dragonet appeared… and died. That wasn’t what he expected and he heard Coroth amongst those that keened for the loss. She was a sassy girl but she still respected life and C’dhin ached for her. But that feeling didn’t have long to latch hold of him as another egg suddenly fell away to reveal a dark hatchling that was heading right for Misharan and his friends.

C’dhin held his breath… and stood up with a shout of joy when he saw Misharan bend down and hug the tiny male. He saw a lot of varying reactions from Candidates and heard some around him in the stands but C’dhin was happy for his friend and even happier that Misharan didn’t get green. He didn’t wish the life on anyone and while he thought Misharan was now a bluerider, he couldn’t say for certainty from where he stood. But he’d find out later! No way was he leaving without congratulating Misharan, and teasing him about how they’d be in mourning for the next little while as they’d have to go without sex. Well, C’dhin could still have sex but Misharan was going to have a tough drought ahead of him!

Well that sucked. R’vi had no idea how to react to Misharan Impressing. Instinct was to cheer like he would have at any other Hatching with any Impression. He loved seeing bonds happen, knowing another generation of dragons survived. But this clutch was different and didn’t look like it would survive.

And of course there was the little fact that Misharan’s dragon came from a blue sire, something that never should have happened. It was clear the union had already fucked up the dragons with how weak they were, who was to say how deep that went? What if this blue decided dad had the right idea and chased golds, fucking over all future generations as they become weaker and smaller and pathetic?

Oh stop it. There’s no proof that will happen and you aren’t putting much faith in Misharan or the Weyrlingmaster. After what happened, I think a lot more rules will be put into place to stop little ones from thinking they deserve more. Vydoriath didn’t really blame Faxxonth but R’vi’s anger was seeping into his own perceptions of the event and he was starting to see it from his rider’s point of view. They all had their place in the world and flying golds, as much fun as it was to enter the chase for a little while could be, was not something blues did. Just be happy that an Impression was made and that at least one little one will survive this ordeal.

R’vi finally clapped, though the enthusiasm didn’t reach his face as his mouth was still set in a tight line. Would he ever interact with Misharan again? It was hard to say, but Vydoriath was right. It wasn’t fair to blame Misharan or the dragonet for the fault of Faxxonth and Nerreh. That little dragon was the result of an unfortunate situation and it didn’t ask to be sired by a rule-breaking traitor out to destroy the legacy of dragons.

L’gan didn’t have time to worry about more than the newly Impressed pair on the sands, focusing on making sure the food was small enough and soft enough per Verec’s instructions for the poor dragonet to chew, and sending to the kitchen for some marrow bones they could crack open for the rich nutrients inside. The blue was heartbreakingly thin up close, and his joints seemed altogether too dry and stiff. Would numbweed help them, he wondered. If it were mixed in with the oil the dragonet would need as soon as its hunger was slaked, maybe. He didn’t dare risk any ingested medicine yet, not until they had a better idea of the little one’s condition.

Semath was just happy one of the babies had Impressed. She trilled happily for the new pair, encouraging them. L’gan will this one be okay? she asked her bonded, forcing herself to settle. I don’t know, love. But I hope so. He seems full of spirit, like his new rider. He hoped he wouldn’t have to eat those words.

The death of the green couldn't be seen as unexpected. Dandi had the expectation as soon as the weak dragonet had pulled herself from her shell. It was heart wrenching and sad and a few keens could be heard. He shook his head as he watched, confused as to why Thallyath wouldn't let anyone take the body away. Insisting they leave it instead. Dandior frowned as he shuffled his feet, watching one of the candidates storm off, Kordiavis it looked liked. His feet moved towards Mylorah as she buckled and cried, stilling his feet with Kordiavis went to her instead.

Blue eyes sought the eggs again and watched cracks and holes appear in another egg. What would come out of this one? Would something like the green happen again? Would a poor sod hatch and die? For a moment Dandior thought that Kordiavis had the right of it. Move off the sands and wait for another clutch. But would another clutch make the difference? What if Ista was cursed now? What if all the clutches were terrible and weak and laid only to die. What if it didn't matter that the sire was bronze or brown or blue? All the clutches were cursed now. A dark body slithered from a broken shell, the dragonet so dark Dandior squinted to try to see what it was. He didn't know if he should backpedal, take himself away from the possibility of this broken creature impressing to him.

But he didn't have to. Misharan. The dragon went to Misharan and Dandior heaved a sigh of relief. He should have stayed in his room.

Beckitt had moved a little away from Misha to comfort Mylorah and he clung to her hand like a lifeline as the second egg cracked and the darkest blue hatchling he’d yet seen tumbled out. He saw how pained each movement was for the young dragon as the baby keened and searched, heading directly for the small group on the sands. As if his joints were broken glass or the sands were full of knives. Each piteous cry seemed to echo in the unnatural silence of the hatching grounds, broken only by a few dragons and the healer-candidate humming.

He couldn’t help a smile of joy as he saw the little dragonet bond with Misharan. His friend had waited so long and now he finally had Impressed.

The smile suddenly faltered. The little one was so weak, so emaciated. It had lasted longer than its poor green sister, but would he continue to survive? Beckitt felt ice grip his heart but forced himself to smile again and reached over to squeeze Misha’s shoulder in congratulations.

They had kept one baby from going between. And if one could survive long enough to Impress, maybe the others would be just as strong.

Vaeyla was determined to go to the hatching, even if most didn't want to. It was a hatching, regardless of how it came about. Abomination, came the smooth voice of her dragon, although it held more sadness to the tone than scorn. 'Maybe. But Nerrah and Faxx are our friends, and we should be there for them.'She paused a moment and sighed. She wasn't just going for Nerrah and Faxxonth, she was going for Casa and her poor Thallyath as well. This should not have been allowed to happen., Nadioth said distastefully. She did not dislike the blue, but it wasn't his place to catch a gold. Chase, yes. They all did, they could not help but chase, but there were more than enough bronze dragons that no blue should have ever come close.

Vee quirked a little smile at her dragon as she tightened her gear just a bit before the gold moved to let her rider on. 'You know as well as I that some things are not in your control. We have to believe it was meant to happen.' Nadioth shifted slightly to look back at her rider. If you say so, was all she said before turning to drop from the weyr ledge. K'ton and Ironth had already left but she didn't mind, she hadn't hung back on purpose, she just hadn't been ready.

They arrived in a mostly quiet hatching grounds, barely any humming at all by any of the dragons. Or was that just the murmurs of people she heard. She unhooked herself and slid down Nadioth's shoulder, the dread of the hatching seeming to seep into her very skin, making her shiver. We should not have come, Nadioth told her with little remorse. Vee shook herself, shook the cold chill away and looked up at her dragon. 'Nonsense. Greet Faxxonth and Thallyath, please. Politely.', she told her then bid her rest with Ironth. Nadioth snorted at her rider. Be polite indeed. She was always polite until given a reason to not be. The greeting she sent to both dragons was both polite and short, as even Nadioth knew neither would be in the mood to talk. Her rider had simply wanted both to know they were there for them, although Nadioth truly felt they should not have come.

Vee found a place, luckily, by K'ton and settled in, giving him a nervous look but had little time to talk before the first egg broke open. She, like so many others, was shocked to see such an...unhealthy hatchling. She was saddened, but sadly not surprised when the poor little thing perished, right out of the shell. The keening sounds of mourning had her hands covering her ears, it was a sound she couldn't handle and it broke her heart to hear it. A strong arm snaked its way around her waist and pulled her near. She was thankful for the contact and gave her Brownrider a small smile. Why does she not get rid of it?, Nadioth asked sadly. 'I don't know, love. Quiet now.' She sent a wash of love to her dragon to try to settle her.

When the second egg cracked Vee missed it, but when she looked up again she saw the wobbling, feeble, blue hatchling there, standing, trying to maintain some sense of balance. "Oh..that poor thing..", she said to no one in particular. She was both overjoyed and worried all at the same time. What if.. Do not think about it, Nadioth spoke, cutting into her thoughts and scolding her slightly. She nodded, even though she was nodding at Nadioth and no one near her. 'I know..but I can't help it.' Well help it. It is like you said, we have to believe it was meant to happen. But truly, was someone meant to get a dragon, only to possibly lose it? He was so weak, so tiny. His sister's body was still there, reminding them all of how tragic a hatching could be. She didn't want to think about it, but she really couldn't help it, despite what Nadioth said, echoing her own words back to her.

It was a good sign, Vee thought, hoped, that the boy the hatchling chose accepted him so well. So lovingly. That gave her a shred of hope that between the little blue's determination to find his lifemate, paired with the instant love he was being shown, it gave her hope he would in fact survive. She watched as healers and others brought food and other items to the pair, rather than have the little one wait a moment longer for nourishment. He is very little. I hope he will stay., Nadioth said quietly as she too watched the fuss around the blue and his rider.

Being on the Sands with Thallyath was a thoroughly uncomfortable state of affairs for Faxxonth. The little gold absolutely radiated negative emotions - anger, hatred, disgust, resignation - a number of them aimed at Faxxonth, and he was far too close to the source of the emotions to feel safe or like he could move even a little bit. Faxxonth melted in relief when Xyxyth arrived and settled in to stand by him. With the big bronze there Faxxonth felt like he could breathe again, and he made a soft noise of appreciation, thanking Xyxyth for risking Thallyath’s ire to stand with him.

Nerreh was glad Faxx had a friend standing with him for this. He didn’t know if he would still be on the Sands if he didn’t have Casa there with him. Maybe it was more that Nerreh was standing with Casa. Either way, neither of them wanted to be alone just then. Nerreh was going to have to give A’tay a hug after this was over to thank him.

Both Nerreh and Faxxonth jumped a little when an egg let out a ’crack,’ turning to stare at the egg as it properly broke open. Faxxonth let out a distressed sound, cutting it off from being a proper wail (Thallyath still worried him too much to risk it), and Nerreh stared in wide-eyed shock at the tiny green body that emerged, every bump and knob of her skeleton clearly visible. She was so…broken looking, Nerreh thought numbly, unable to fully process a dragonet looking so terrible. Had she ever, even after the Landslide, seen a dragon in such poor condition? He didn’t think so.

And then the dragonet fell completely still. Faxxonth keened softly, so shaken by the dragonet’s appearance and immediate passing that it didn’t even seem fully real. Nerreh stared blankly at the emaciated body. She was so tiny…

Before either of them had processed the death of the first dragonet, a second spilled out of its egg. Nerreh thought the tiny, equally gaunt dragonet’s hide - definitely blue - looked a lot like the midnight color of Faxxonth’s adult hide, though even darker in the moment from the dampness due to being inside an egg. Faxxonth softly trilled in agreement at the thought, craning his neck to get a better look, breath held in desperate concern for this second hatchling - would this one live?

Nerreh gasped as the little blue managed to stand up, the entire process looking like it pained him greatly. He startled when Casa grabbed his hand, but as soon as he realized what was happening he squeezed her hand back as if it were a lifeline as the blue managed to stagger a few steps forward. Faranth, he looked like he would fall apart if a soft breeze blew on him. Nerreh was expecting him to collapse at any moment and join his green sister.

But somehow he managed to find the right person and Impress, and there was a moment where Nerreh was elated, because the dragonet had managed to Impress, and to Misharan, his friend, who wanted a dragon so much. Yet Nerreh could only be happy about the Impression for a heartbeat before it turned into fear; the little blue was so weak, so fragile, what if he didn’t make it the rest of the day, let alone to adulthood? Misha couldn’t become dragonless so young, it wasn’t fair, and if his dragon died it would be Nerreh’s fault because she was a stupid little girl who hadn’t been able to stop her dragon from catching a gold. Her stupid fault. Nerreh didn’t concern himself with the fact that when people were being dicks about Faxxonth it wasn’t their fault, but when people or dragons got hurt it was clearly his fault (his fault, never Faxx’s). Guilt never liked to be straightforward.

’Please be okay, please be okay,’ Nerreh chanted silently, directing the words toward Misharan and his dragon. At least the little guy was eating now, Nerreh decided, as the Weyrlingmaster, his assistants, and a handful of the Healers swarmed around the newly bonded pair. That had to count for something, right? An indication he would make it? Faxxonth trilled soft encouragement at the delicate blue, relieved at least this one had a chance.

For the moment the remaining eggs lay still, and while some people watched them closely, searching for any sign of movement, most kept their eyes on the blue as he was fed, the usual meat chunks having been turned into practically a paste by the Weyrling staff and the Healers so he could spend as little energy as possible in order to eat them. Many people seemed as if they were waiting for him to keel over, leaving his new bonded behind. Nerreh hated them for it. As the minutes dragged on, the dragonet continued to defy the hopes of the people who thought the entire Clutch was an abomination and wanted nothing of it to make it through the day. Faxxonth twitched his tail nervously, obsessively tracking his son’s progress. His attention was only pulled away when a hushed mutering started up as a third egg started rocking. He turned to watch it hopefully, thinking maybe it would hatch, Impress, and hang on like its brother.

It didn’t hatch quickly, rocking for quite a while before cracks appeared. After the first dew cracks, the egg stilled, prompting people to whisper that maybe this one had died before even fully breaking out of its shell. Nerreh’s hand tightened on Casa’s, his free hand balled into a fist at his side, knuckles white. Not another one.

Then the egg moved again and Nerreh shuddered in momentary relief; it wasn’t dead yet, at least. There was another pause, then the egg opened up, revealed another distorted, skeletal dragonet, this one’s hide a garish yellow-green. She lay still for several long breaths, desperately needing to rest after breaking through the thick shell of her egg. With a piteous whine she tried to stand up, feet scrabbling for purchase on the sand beneath her. Some of the Candidates took a few steps toward her, while most of them hung back, questioning whether they were willing to Impress to such a pathetic creature. She swung her oversized head around, giant eyes sad as if begging someone to help her, anyone. With a surge of determination she managed to stand, legs in an inelegant sprawl, trembling with the effort to support her pitiful weight. For a heartbeat Nerreh was sure she’d take a step, make it to one of the Candidates.

But it was not to be. The green moaned softly, as her thin legs collapsed beneath her, sending her tiny body crashing back to the sand. She lay in a messy heap, twitching as if she were trying to summon up the energy to try to stand again but failing. Eventually the twitching slowed, then stopped. The dragonet lay still.

“No!” Nerreh said angrily, eyes prickling, “Damnit!” It wasn’t fair, she had been standing up, it wasn’t fair. Faxxonth started keening, the sound turning into a moan of despair. He couldn’t do this anymore. He just couldn’t, it was too hard, he had never wanted this. All the energy seeped out of him, and Faxxonth took a few steps back, bumping into Xyxyth and practically wilting against him at the contact. This was too much, he wanted it to stop, and Faxxonth pressed his head into his bronze friend’s side, as if Xyxyth could hide him from this Hatching.

Beckitt couldn’t help keeping up an encouraging litany under his breath as the third egg began to show cracks. He’d moved out of the way for Misha and his new blue as too many people were crowding to help them; while he wanted to be one of them, anxious for his friend, he knew there wasn’t much he could do right now. The third egg had begun to rock only minutes after the successful Impression, which was encouraging. But then it stopped for so long. He looked over at Narinoa, asking quietly, “that happens sometimes, right? With other creatures. They just need the energy to build back up?” He was ashamed of how his voice cracked with anxiety at the idea that the little one just wouldn’t be able to break free.

Suddenly the egg rocked again and he leaned forward, hand on Narinoa’s arm still. “Come on, little one, you can do it,” he whispered. “Come on. Come on.” Another skeletal green fell out, just lying on the sands for several agonizing minutes. His hand tightened unaware until he was shaken off, then balled at his side, nails digging into his palms. “Get up, baby, you’ve got this… please.”

She seemed to rally with a terrible cry as she stood unsteadily, searching. He was about to go try to help her, unable to watch from afar while the young dragons were in such pain, when she collapsed and that awful keening started again. “No!” Kitt sobbed, covering his ears and hanging his head. “Not again, no, please.” He looked up, tears running down his face and hands falling as he looked at Casa and Nerreh, and the others desperately. “There has to be something we can do to help them. Anything.” He flinched as the keening continued. “Please. We can’t just let them all die...” He trailed off, throat tight.

Mylorah was still doing her best to accept Misharan would still be bonded in the coming days given how weak his dragonet was. But with so much love radiating from her friend and the care being given from those that knew what they were doing, she was slowly finding it easier to believe the little guy would make it.

She almost missed the next hatchling to make its appearance because she was more focused on Misharan than the eggs. But the cracking and murmurs finally caught her attention and Mylorah looked over in time to see another green spill out. It was in as rough shape as the other green that still lay motionless on the ground. But this one seemed to be a bit more determined, maybe a bit more life left in it…no. That was her wishful thinking again. The green collapsed in an ugly tangle of limbs and then the keening started again.

Kordiavis still held her hand, helping to ground her in the present and she quickly spun into him for comfort. They both seemed to need it as their hands released at the same time to wrap arms around each other. Mylorah felt tears welling up and let them fall, uncaring now about putting on a brave face. Two little greens were dead and Misharan had Impressed to one that was barely any healthier. She was still happy for him but so afraid for him. She was also sad for her friends that were bonded to the dragons that were responsible for this. She knew they were both going through a hard time from the Flight and the Hatching wasn’t going to help anything. If anything, it helped serve the point that blues shouldn’t Fly golds and while she actually did believe that as well, she still didn’t blame Nerreh or Faxxonth for what happened. But Mylorah had a feeling the remaining eggs weren’t going to make it and Misharan Impressing was just a fluke.

Narinoa didn't envy Misharan for Impressing. It would take a lot of work to keep that dragonet alive, though the feeling when he succeeded would be indescribable, something he knew from personal experience--though not with a dragon. A part of him did want to go over and lend a hand with what animal healing he knew but he wasn't sure if what he knew about horses would translate to dragons. Perhaps one day he'd look into it as he continued watching everyone fuss about the frail blue.

He sighed and turned his attention to the rocking egg that had fallen still thanks to Beckitt's question. "Yeah, sometimes," he answered honestly but his confidence level wasn't very high at the moment. Narinoa hoped this one would survive as well but it wasn't looking good, even when the little green finally made her presence known. He wasn't surprised when she also died, but it didn't hurt any less to see it happen.

Narinoa reached out to put a comforting arm around Beckitt but stopped. The other Candidate was too riled up for such things, his emotions bouncing all over the place and leaving him unpredictable. Instead, he pointed out the harsh truth of the situation in a soft but firm tone. "There's nothing we can do. They were poorly bred, leaving them malnourished among other things. Even if you go and crack the egg open for them, it won't do much more than delay the inevitable."

If Faxxonth was one of the family's horses, he would have either been put down or kept from breeding any longer. It was clear his genes weren't right for producing anything resembling normal let alone superior. Narinoa had felt pity for Nerreh at first but now was started to resent him for not controlling his dragon better. Then again, maybe there really was something wrong with Faxxonth since the apparent blue never corrected everyone's stance on him being green so he had been raised and trained poorly.

"We need to worry more about the one that did Impress and keep him alive for Misharan's sake." It was a hard and cold truth but it had to be said aloud. Maybe if the blue died within a few days the bond wouldn't be too strong and it wouldn't destroy Misharan's mind, but Narinoa didn't know the ins and outs of such things. The best option was to ensure that dragonet lived a long and happy life. He'd help if he could, offering suggestions from his beastcraft training but they never covered dragons. He was likely in the same boat as the Healers, going off what they knew in their respective fields and trying to adapt it to a dragon. But he'd wait until the flurry of activity died down a bit before approaching the Weyrlingmaster.

Besides, there were still two more eggs, though one seemed to be a dud with the way it hadn't moved and was set aside. There was a chance another dragonet might bond and his extra set of hands might be needed.

He wasn't sure if he hoped that happened or not. Poor dragonets and humans alike.

Of course another one died. Of course it did!

Kordiavis was so sick of this Hatching and the death and despair it brought with it. Thallyath knew something was wrong with clutch and everyone that Touched the eggs did as well. Thallyath should have been allowed to destroy the eggs when she wanted to and he turned some of his anger and bitterness towards Mizeath. The Weyrwoman didn't know what was best for everyone and she didn't know a thing about this clutch. Well, everyone knew now and knew that if a gold wanted to kill her own babies, there was a damned good reason for it.

He held onto Mylorah needing the comfort as much as it was clearly needed by her. He didn't cry, though the loss of the dragons upset him and knowing his friend might lose his dragon before the day was out terrified him more than made him want to cry. Almost every Hatching had a dud and some had a hatchling betweening because they couldn't find their mate, but no one should have had to go through this.

Normally Kordiavis didn't care who was in the stands since they likely weren't there for him and it wasn't like he was putting on a show for them. But as he continued to hold Mylorah, stroking her back in soothing motions, he finally did take a look. He saw a lot of faces with a lot of different expressions. Some were pure hatred which he could understand, some were pity which he also felt was reasonable, some were just in shock and still processing everything.

But then he saw a face he didn't expect to see regardless of expression. Tazikel was there? He seemed to be one of, if not the only, lord of any level in attendance. So much for the belief that it was just a one night stand between Mylorah and her lordling. Looked like he needed to have a talk with... well, which one? He had a feeling either one of them could break the other's heart pretty easily. He knew first hand how charming they both were and how easily crushes could form. He also knew neither of them needed him to play guardian so maybe he'd just step back and see what they did.

R'nd applauded when Misharan Impressed. It was more done out of habit as it was always a joyous occasion when a bond was made, but he was worried about this one. He would ask B'jin later what his expert opinion as a Weyrlingmaster was on the survival chances for that dragonet. He didn't want to ask then with so many people around and a chance it might be heard by Misharan. He would have enough on his mind and likely already worrying about such a thing that he didn't need to know what others thought the chances were.

When the second green tried and failed like her sister had, R'nd's heart broke further for everyone involved and for those that missed out at meeting their mate. The keening was as hard for him as it was for quite a few others in that cavern. His own memories going of course to the landslide but also to a classmate dying during a lesson. Every time a dragon mourned, it hurt as much as the first time, feeling his own pain and that of Ayyonth's running through every vein in his body. He also thought about Peorray, the brave goldrider lost during the Ista fires. Death was a constant, he knew that, but he really wished it wouldn't visit them so much.

He was even thinking about his recently departed mother and how much he missed her and sometimes still needed her. He even thought about the man that he always thought was his father but recently learned wasn't. Not returning in time to see him before he died haunted R'nd for a long time but now he was letting that go, realising he likely hadn't been a fool in thinking his 'father' never loved him and he would never measure up to his brother.

He was still thinking about the deaths in his life when he saw A'tay fidgeting out of the corner of his eye and R'nd focused on his son. As soon as the boy started to stand, he placed a hand on A'tay's shoulder and shook his head, realising what was intended. "Thallyath won't be happy with more people running around, especially if you're going to Nerreh. Your entrance bolstered them as it was and they know you support them. You're a good man; your mother raised you right." R'nd smiled at A'tay, wishing he could take more credit for how well his kids were turning out. He liked to think he was helping them now that he did know them but their mothers were the ones to praise for doing most of the work in raising them with love and manners.

And speaking of his children, once he saw A'tay would stay in his seat, he watched T'ryn continue to explain to Lord Tazikel--as he was introduced as earlier--what was going on and answering all of his questions. R'nd was doing his best not to assume too much with his children and their love lives after everything with F'drel, but he did originally wonder if Tazikel was there because of T'ryn. It soon became clear that it was likely for Mylorah as he caught her glancing his way a few times.

And poor Mylorah. He still thought she was strong and was still proud of her for continuing to Stand after the Hatchings she had been to previously and even now, but everyone had a breaking point. The adrenaline clearly wasn't pumping while she fought for her life like before but the emotions were too overwhelming with the death and her friend Impressing. R'nd was glad she had someone on the Sands to turn to and he certainly wasn't going to speculate if there was something there either! He decided it was safer to assume she was like him with being flirty and giving her love to everyone before finding the right one to risk it all on. And it really was a risk. He glanced at B'jin, still happy he had chanced talking to the greenrider back in the day but old fears were hard to shake free when they had a reason to cling on tighter.

Xyxyth nuzzled his head against Faxxonth, letting his friend know it was okay to seek out comfort or even hide if he wanted to. It wasn't a good clutch and if it had been his own, Xyxyth didn't think he'd be able to hold his head high either. He wondered if he'd be judged more harshly because he was a bronze that didn't produce a strong clutch rather than a blue that shouldn't have reproduced to begin with. Either way, he held firm in his position of protector and friend, not faulting Faxxonth for anything.

A'tay desperately wanted to run to Nerreh and hug him. It was obviously hard to continue standing there to be judged by everyone while also watching the young ones die or barely hang on. He was so happy that Misharan Impressed, knowing he was a good man and deserved a dragon and wouldn't tolerate any crap anyone had to say about his dragon or lineage. But the frail blue had to make it first.

Before he thought about it too much, A'tay did start to rise but R'nd was quicker with a hand going to his shoulder to gently push him back in his seat. He nodded at the words of wisdom, knowing his dad was right. It was too dangerous to rush out there. It was a small clutch with only two eggs left but Thallyath would be unpredictable and he honestly wasn't sure if Nerreh or Casa would appreciate him running out there, drawing more gazes and making a further spectacle of things. Like R'nd said, they knew he supported them.

But he would definitely check in on them--or at least Nerreh and Faxxonth after the Hatching. No doubt T'ryn would try to seek out Casa even if it took days to do so with how popular she was. Mylorah would be among the first to check in on her friends as well. A'tay almost smiled at how they were definitely a family that cared too much about others.

Madiquel stared down at the clutch in disbelief, clinging tightly to R’nya, fighting off the urge to cry. The bronzerider was a good man, and had one arm lightly wrapped around her shoulders - the other hand was holding onto Rhaedalyn’s. He’d been so good, agreeing to bring her when he picked up the Master Healer, and letting her sit with them. She’d enjoyed catching up with Rhaedalyn about the girls, and filling them in on the exciting updates she had about her lessons, her friends, and the Hall in general as she’d come to experience it.

Of course, she’d heard rumours from R’nya about what the Touching had been like. He’d told her that the Hatching might be gorier than usual, if the unhappy emotions the Candidates had received was any indication. Madiquel had wanted to come anyway; she had friends on the Sands, and if anything happened, she wanted to watch how the Healer’s handled it. While she was far too uneducated to assist, Madiquel believed watching was as good a teacher as participating in its own way.

She’d expected rampaging dragonets; she’d expected blood and screaming. Even the possibility of death of a Candidate. What she hadn’t expected was the starving creature that had escaped the first shell only to die. Tears tumbled down Madiquel’s cheeks, and she pressed her face against R’nya as she fought to control herself, listening to the awful sound of dragons keening timidly before the sounds faded away. Sniffling, Madiquel pulled back and glanced towards the Sands. Another egg was cracking shell, and she bit her lip, still crying silently, as the blue pulled himself free. Madiquel watched in awe, and horror, as he moved towards the Candidates. She was so afraid he would Impress, and so afraid he wouldn’t.

It was impossibly hard not to go down and try to help when he did Impress, (to Misharan!). It was the knowledge that she’d be more hinder than help and that there were more than enough people gathering around the pair that she wasn’t needed. Biting her lip, Madiquel watched worriedly as the dragonet was fed, and almost missed the sound of the next egg cracking. She felt R’nya stiffen, and turned anxiously towards the rest of the eggs. A soft moan of agony was released as the dragonet pulled herself from the egg, and Madiquel felt her heart squeeze for the little creature. She was in so much pain, Madiquel could feel it as if it were her own…

Madiquel felt her stomach drop, and her eyes widened even as she moaned softly where she sat. Then the dragons were keening and Madiquel was startled, glancing around in confusion before she threw herself out of her seat, making a mad dash down the stairs and ignoring R’nya’s cry for her to come back. “Stop it!” Madiquel shrieked, her words directed at the dragons, “Stop it!” Throwing herself through the group at the bottom of the Stands, Madiquel dodged an outreached hand and tumbled to her knees beside the little green, petting her head and sobbing as she lifted the heavy head and choking on a laugh when the little green opened her eyes slowly and blinked at her.

You came, she whispered, and Madiquel sobbed, pressing her forehead to Zezeth’s before pulling back and staring over towards the Weyrlingmaster, “she needs food,” Madiquel snapped, managing to shake some of them into motion and quickly working to get the mushy meat soup down Zezeth’s throat. “Easy, love,” Madiquel cooed, helping her swallow the meaty liquid, and too busy for the moment to think about how her Papa and Master Verec were going to absolutely be horrifically disappointed in her.

So this was not the plan. At all. She wasn't supposed to Impress for *years* and yet here we are. So that's nice?

Semath flapped her wings and stretched out her neck toward the little green as she died, keening for her. She looked around the stands for someone to help, anyone. Help them. Help the babies. Please. Her eyes whirled in distress and she curled up tightly, humming to herself instead of keening, wings blocking the sands from her view for the most part. She barely noticed the other dragon until he draped his wings and neck over hers comfortingly and she whined. Why won’t anyone help them? She didn’t see the young girl from the Healer Hall Impress, caught up in her grief.

L’gan moved over to help Madiquel and her green, struggling to keep his emotions in check while Semath was making a scene. Everything was going so completely wrong at this Hatching. We’re helping as much as we can, darling. They have to break the shells on their own, you know that.

“Madiquel, what’s her name?” He helped get some of the meat paste into Zezeth, stroking the poor little neck to encourage her to swallow. Once he’d seen she could do that, he had the others take over while he gave the tiny green a quick exam. Weaker than her brother, but she had a good defender in her bonded. And someone with Healing knowledge wouldn’t be careless with such a delicate dragon. Semath, look. She’s okay. She Impressed Madiquel from the Hall. Madiquel won’t let anything happen to her. Not if she has any say in the matter. He glanced up and saw Varralath draped over Semath, calming her, and the weakest of smiles crossed his lips. “Thank you,” he whispered, though no one could hear it.

Mylorah felt Kordiavis draw in a sharp breath before cursing. She didn’t get to ask what caused that reaction as he quietly said her name and guided her to turn around. If he didn’t still have his arms around her, she knew she would have been on her knees again if not at least stumbling back in disbelief. As it was, her hands flew up to her mouth again, supressing a gasp or a scream or a shout, she didn’t know. All she knew was that Madiquel was on the Sands when she most certainly shouldn’t have been.

At first she thought maybe the girl was being her ridiculously sweet and caring self again and trying to bring the dead hatchling back and that was tearing her to pieces to see. But then she saw the dragonet was moving, if barely, and people were bringing over food. Had Madiquel Impressed to the green they all wrote off as dead?

She felt her knees wobbling and Kordiavis held on tighter to keep her upright so she leaned back against him since he seemed far more put together and worthy of being a support. She hated thinking it and wanted the green to live even if it hadn’t Impressed to Madiquel of all people but it had and it was nearly dead and what if it died? She was already doing her best to accept Misharan’s blue was going to make it despite his condition but the green was even more under developed. She couldn’t lose either of them to death or the madness…

The madness! Oh Faranth! Jajojin was not going to be pleased! He would have a hard enough time accepting Madiquel Impressing to a healthy dragon but seeing the sickly green was going to destroy him. “Oh no… they’re all in for a hard time…” the young green pair, the dragonless father… Mylorah couldn’t fathom what was in store for any of them.

Then there was her little brother and his obvious feelings for Madiquel. She found A’tay easily enough, first knowing where they were all sitting, but also because he was standing and R’nd was doing his best to hold him back. Of course he wanted to rush down and see Madiquel. The Impression was a shock to all of them, even if the hatchling hadn’t seemed like she was dead, and A’tay was probably freaking out about the same things she was on top of just wanting to be there to help her. R’nd had it right, though. None of them were trained in this sort of thing and it was what kept her back yet again instead of rushing in to help. She’d just be in the way. All she could do was offer a smile if the girl looked her way and offer silent encouragement and support.

A’tay had just settled back in, having convinced himself it was best to stay off the Sands and check in with his friends after the Hatching, when Madiquel went dashing down there. What was she doing? He knew she had learned a lot in the Hall but she wasn’t trained enough to help Misharan and his dragon and there were enough people there.

Then he saw that she wasn’t going in that direction but toward one of the unmoving greens. “Oh, DiDi… you know you can’t…what?” A’tay thought she was going to try to revive the dragon somehow with the chest compressions and mouth to mouth techniques she had explained to him recently and he loved her a bit more for wanting to try such thing. But he didn’t see anything that looked like that. Instead he saw a gentle touch and he frowned, blinking a few times, sure he was seeing things.

Did the dragonet just move?

It did! Madiquel was calling for food and people were rushing forward to help and that’s when A’tay realised she wasn’t just a kind soul helping a dragon that was still alive. Madiquel was helping her dragon.

He was on his feet in an instant, but so was R’nd. A’tay tried to shake him off but R’nd was still taller and a lot stronger and held firm, trying his best to calm him down and pointing out again that there wasn’t anything he could do right then. None of them were trained in this sort of thing and he’d only be in the way of tending to Madiquel’s dragon.

Why were parents so good at being right so often?

“But…” But what? He wanted to say she needed him but did she? She handled everything so perfectly and confidently, never calling for help but ordering people to bring her things she needed instead all while keeping her composure as she spoke to her dragon. She was showing everyone just how strong she was and how she would be an excellent Healer—when she could go back to it. That little green put a bit of crimp in the plan but knowing Madiquel, it wouldn’t slow her down or deter her from her goal.

Suddenly he had two frantic firelizards around him. Clover was in a state, likely because of the Impression and Madiquel’s emotions and Shadow was upset that he was a bit upset. The blue was also mad at Clover for not staying where they were supposed to which A’tay found amusing since they were both now in the wrong spot. “Both of you go back to my room. You know Thallyath doesn’t want you here. Everything is fine. Go,” he shooed them off several times before they both finally vanished and he let out a breath. Sometimes he wondered why they wanted the little things so much.

He had stopped struggling at that point but R’nd didn’t remove his hold just yet in case he was waiting for that moment. A’tay promised he was staying put and was instead going to start cheering for his best friend and her Impression when Jajojin came to mind. Oh crap. That wasn’t going to go over well and he knew the job of telling the man was going to fall on R’nya. A glance at the Fort Weyrleader showed R’nya had already thought the same thing and A’tay almost laughed at the ridiculousness of it all but it was too serious. Jajojin was going to freak out and it wouldn’t be pretty. A’tay hoped his mind would hold but worried this was going to be what finally shattered the man completely.

Now the big question was, would Jajojin stay in Fort or move to Ista to stay close to Maidquel? If he stayed in Fort, A’tay wondered if he should still move there. He wanted to go to be a bit closer to Madiquel and watch her father for her but now she was in the Weyr where he was currently bound… should he put a stop to his transfer upon graduation request?

So many things were running through his mind and A’tay sank back down on the bench more conflicted than he had been in quite some time. He wasn’t even entirely happy about the Impression as he was still worried for the hatchling’s survival. So many things were changing with one little action and A’tay wasn’t sure he could keep up with it all.

Xyxyth perked up when he saw Madiquel running onto the Sands. He didn’t understand what she was doing, only knowing it upset A’tay so he watched her closely in case she ended up in trouble. Instead, she Impressed to the green that wasn’t dead after all. That was his DiDi! Clever girl that she was knew her bonded needed her and got to her in time. Xyxyth trilled his excitement and started nudging Faxxonth.

Faxxonth! Look! My friend Impressed to one of your green girls. One still lives! Look how strong they both are, Xyxyth was so proud of both of them and it was obvious in his tone. He trilled again and stood a bit straighter, though he gave another head butt to Faxxonth to get him to look and be proud as well. I’m glad she Impressed to one of yours. That green will be regal like her mother and fun like her father.

"Oh, bless," Sariel murmured as young woman burst onto the Sands. She put a hand to her mouth hoping there'd be an impression. A soft wash of joy warmed her as the tiny green seemed to reach out from the dark to Impress Madiquel. She'd nurse her lovely green back to health with those Healer hands of her. She craned her neck to see the pair and let out a sigh of relief when she saw the green eat a little. But this was it. It was.

"Can't we do something? They need help!" Her voice was a cutting cry that sliced through the air like an arrow. "There's been too much death. Please let us try to save them. Thallyath? Please." She was pulled taut with need and the whole force of her being. They were only babies and their riders would make them stronger. They'd pull through, too, because of this fight.

Sariel wanted to help so badly it ached through her body and panged. She had paced herself closer to the little knot of them, now, and she rested a gentle hand on Kitt's shoulder. Would rebelling and helping to break the remaining two's shell be so bad? She knew they'd do it if they were allowed...or maybe not allowed. She shivered despite the heat. Would she not be able to stand for the next clutch if she did this?

"Are we going to do this?" she asked in a soft, lilting voice. The queen might squash them where they stood. Dead. She might slap them with her wing. Injured...possibly not dead. She could lash out with her talons. Exceptionally Dead. She could eat them. No dragon had eaten a person before, so maybe that was a non-option. Okay. She could throw them into the Stands. She calculated the distance and winced. Yeah, probably dead. Her lips pursed. "We could die in awful ways because Thallyath is not coming across as warm and fuzzy about this clutch."

He didn’t know Jajojin well but he knew enough to know that his daughter Impressing to a sickly dragon that probably shouldn’t have been born wasn’t going to sit well. R’vi rubbed his temples as he felt a headache coming from how horrible everything was about the Hatching. It was one thing to see the poor things hatch and die, it was another to see them actually Impress. Those poor kids had their work cut out for them with just keeping the things alive and who knew when they could actually start their proper weyrling training if they did survive.

Sariel’s voice rang surprisingly loud given how soft spoken she was and R’vi looked up and frowned when he saw the tiny Candidate approach Beckitt. She was determined, which wasn’t surprising from what little he did know about her, but he had a feeling she was going to be reckless as well, which did seem surprising.

“Sariel, back down! Please. It’s not worth it!” He stood as he shouted down to her both to help be heard and so she could find him if she wanted to. Likely to glare or flip him off but he didn’t care. All R’vi could think about was the time Indivara was impatient waiting for the gold egg to hatch so she kicked it and the very dead contents spilled out everywhere. If Sariel and Beckitt were going to do something stupid like that, they didn’t know what they were in for. At least one of those eggs had to be a dud given it hadn’t so much as rattled since he’d been there so it wouldn’t be a pretty sight if they cracked it open.

The other might have a living dragon in it but for how long? Was it worth risking it Impressing to someone? It was almost better if it died in the egg. Fuck but he felt horrible for thinking that but they just weren’t strong enough to survive and he didn’t want some kid to have their brain scrambled because of it.

Besides, if they approached the eggs like he knew they were going to do, they’d both be banned from the Sands at all three Weyrs for who knew how long. No one wanted troublemakers out there where their antics could risk injuring someone else. How he avoided getting banned would always be a mystery but he supposed he behaved well enough out there where it mattered more than the mischief he got into out in the Weyr.

Beckitt felt sick to his stomach with nerves. Sariel, the healer-candidate had called out directly to Thallyath. So much for doing anything subtle to help. “Are you crazy?” He hissed, staring at her in disbelief. “Talking to an upset gold who has already tried to kill her eggs?! You’re going to get us all killed!”

He couldn’t help a slightly hysterical laugh as Sariel suggested exactly what Narinoa had just said wouldn’t even matter. “Even if we do, they might already be dead or just not Impress.” He looked green. “We’d be lucky if anyone ever lets us stand again, interfering like that.” He got a look at the Masterhealer and other healers. “You’ll be lucky if you’re not kicked out of the Hall. Your mate and Master Verec look apoplectic.”

Kitt swallowed, thinking rapidly. “Maybe we can just check on them? Listen for movement but not interfere unless they ask us to?”

L’gan couldn’t miss Sariel’s outburst or R’vi’s admonition if he tried-and Faranth was he trying. He hadn’t said anything to Sariel after his fight with R’vi about how selfish it was to wish he could ask her not to stand, but now he wished he had. Had she forgotten all her training? Both healing and candidate training?

If they didn’t do something fast, they could have a much bigger situation on their hands. One with adult dragons rampaging and lots of injuries. He swore and glanced over his shoulder at the now conspiring candidates.

“Sariel, don’t you dare. What am I supposed to tell our girls if you get yourself hurt or killed? For once in your damn life, Bell, stand down!”

He helped get another mouthful of food into the weak green they were tending, then called over to Beckitt. “And you. You stood on these sands last year. You saw what that brown did. Do you really want to enrage a gold? Her teeth are much bigger!”

He locked eyes with Sariel, sure she was furious with him and not caring an ounce. “Both of you calm the fuck down and act sensible. We’re all trying to save as many of them as we can.” L’gan’s eyes narrowed at the defiant pair, then he returned to his task.

"At the least we could determine if they're alive or not." Sariel let out a sigh and held up her hands and with R'vi and L'gan's words, her face drained of colour. It wasn't right. It wasn't right at all. But this Hatching had taken such a toll on her. All the death...all the flickering of life. She would ask the gold. At least she did ask. There was no point in doing it if she didn't have permission.

"I'm not stupid enough to go there without permission," she snapped at L'gan's retreating figure. She instantly regretted snapping at him. He was only trying to help. "I asked permission. And mind you, I haven't moved an inch." She folded her arms and scowled at Beckitt for a moment before her features softened.

"We're all crazy. We're Standing. We haven't backed down from our duty despite the events of this Hatching. We're still here." She stabbed a finger at the remaining eggs. " For them."

M'ris was proud of the way he had learned to keep a straight face in most situations. Even this Hatching had seen him being a rather impassive rock despite the death and obvious trauma it was causing the Candidates. He didn't show his disgust or confusion or even if he was pleased at any of the events and only winced once at the keening as it always reminded him of his mate lost in exile. Perhaps that was why Mosiath didn't keen for the first little green, knowing it was his voice that particularly triggered those memories as he was the only one there to mourn the loss of his own mate. M'ris needed a strong and clear mind for everything happening and Mosiath wasn't going to do anything other than bolster M'ris up while watching the Sands from his perch.

M'ris was slipping back into the firm belief that it would have been better for Thallyath to destroy her clutch. Why did they doubt the mother? Yes, it was her first clutch and perhaps they jumped the gun in thinking she was inexperienced and didn't know how to be a proper clutch mother. But she wasn't old and senile either. Thallyath was one of his more reliable golds with her head on straight. He should have trusted her instincts and he would from then on. He would also ensure a blue never won again, even if he had to ban every last one of them from chasing and banish them from the Weyr every Flight to do so.

It was only when Madiquel rushed the Sands and Impressed the second hatchling they all assumed was dead that colour drained from his face. Oh fuck no. Jajojin's daughter had just Impressed to one of the dying creatures on his Sands while she wasn't even Standing? But wait, that wasn't really his problem, was it? R'nya was the one who thought it was a good idea to bring the girl to the shit show.

M'ris turned in his seat to find where R'nya was and saw the man panicking, or at least the R'nya equivalent of it. If M'ris thought he was good at a poker face, he had nothing on R'nya. Jajojin was going to murder R'nya and they both seemed to know it. Shit. Once R'nya was dead, Jajojin would come to Ista to stay with his baby girl--something M'ris could respect now that his daughter was older and getting into mischief--which meant the crazy and unpredictable man would become his problem... assuming he didn't die on principle.

Then there were the bleeding heart Candidates that kept screaming for help or to help the monsters. They were only going to anger Thallyath and at this point he wasn't even sure if he cared if she killed anyone. Okay, he would, but if she did, he wouldn't have to discipline anyone and dole out some banishments. M'ris sighed.

Why did everything always have to happen at Ista?

ENOUGH! Thallyath said sharply, the gold dragon’s voice boomed out, surprising Casa and visibly startling no shortage of people that she could see. Casa spun away from the commotion on the Sands to stare up at her dragon. Nobody will touch the eggs, or the deceased green. The candidates that were making a fuss were given a glowing red glare, Thallyath’s tail twitching as she snarled, teeth flashing, but she didn’t make any move towards anyone. Casa stood firmly at her side, leaving Nerreh to sink back into the shadows if he wished.

Now that the Grounds were almost silent, Casa almost felt embarrassed, for a moment, before the sound of another egg cracking seemed to break the silence like dropped glass. Casa’s gaze shifted, searching out the last Egg (Thallyath had confirmed that the final was a dud,) and watched as it struggled to break free. Thallyath’s snarling and threatening words were enough to keep everyone grounded for the time being, and Casa pursed her lips as she watched, gaze only flickering momentarily to watch as Madiquel directed a couple of healers in their getting a blanket under her little green and walking her to the sidelines, so that she was out of the way.

Casa smiled wryly as Madiquel got her little green skeleton settled comfortably and bossed people around until she was settled down and feeding the creature again. But Casa’s attention shifted again as the egg moved, causing Casa to frown in worry as it tumbled sideways and wriggled several times. Casa held her breath, biting her lip again as she waited… and expelled the breath slowly when the little one within the egg appeared to go through a terrific effort to break the shell, poking a skeletal head out. Casa cringed, feeling Thallyath’s despair at another chronically unhealthy dragonet.

Another blue, Casa realised, watching as he slowly fought his way out of his shell and onto the warm sands, wings and legs spread in all directions as he soaked in the heat for several moments. She could see his eyes whirling rapidly, and wondered if he was going to vanish between, or breathe his last breath like his first green sister. He Impresses, Thallyath murmured softly to Casa alone, watching as the Candidates all moved like a sudden wave had swept under the Sands, moving them into action as the single Candidate made their way to the dragonet, and assisted him.

So close to being over, Casa thought, looking at the last two eggs. Thallyath was firm that the one was a dud, and not going to Hatch and Casa believed her. But the other one? Casa watched it anxiously, wriggling her unseen toes to keep from actively fidgeting while she was in view of all these people -- even if none of them were actually watching her. Casa could feel Thallyath’s resignation, and knew even before the first crack appeared in the shell that her dragon didn’t have any faith in the dragonet within surviving. Did that mean Thallyath thought her other children would live? Perhaps. They fought hard, but there are many more battles ahead of them. This one, I do not think she has the strength.

Her dragon was proven right, even though Casa didn’t want her to be, when one of the Candidates broke free and rushed over to the egg, kicking it solidly so that the shell split. Casa gasped, while Thallyath roared her anger at being disobeyed, snarling and puffing up angrily. Eyes wide, Casa watched as a third green dragonet slithered ungainly onto the ground, limbs splayed and head too heavy for her starved body. Casa swallowed roughly, biting her bottom lip, and watched in terror as the dragonet fought to find her feet for several long moments -- the Candidates that had surged around the egg had all stepped back -- and finally the dragonet sighed out in exhaustion, and lay still. There were several heartbeats of stillness, before a cautious candidate stepped forward and gently stroked the green’s neck, checking to make sure she was deceased before stepping away sadly, shaking their head. Casa bit back a sob, but at least the little dear hadn’t taken a human with her.

So… it was over. Casa glanced at the last egg, but knew Thallyath wouldn’t be mistaken about it. She could feel her dragon surge up into a standing position behind her, still glaring at the group of candidates that had disobeyed her, before the gold’s mind pressed against her own and Casa nodded. Moving down from her standing point with Thallyath, Casa made her way to Masterhealer Verec, and gave the man a grim nod of greeting when he took a moment and acknowledged her. “Sir, Thallyath and I would like to donate the deceased greens, and the dud egg, to your Hall.” Casa paused, licking her lips as she formed her words carefully. “Anything you can find, that will help keep the three that Impressed alive…” She fell off, glancing towards the dragonets that were all so seriously being fed and examined.

“Anything you can, to help, we would appreciate.” Casa didn’t say it, but she wanted desperately to be told why all this had been this way. Why the dragonets were so weak and lifeless, so starved. Did she and Thallyath do something wrong when the gold was carrying the eggs? Was it something that could have been prevented outside of Faxxonth winning the flight? Casa didn’t know, and besides the need to keep alive the three new Weyrlings, she desperately wanted to know what she and Thallyath could do, to better the odds of Thallyath’s next clutch, whenever that might be.

Hatch 03 - Egg 1: Green Zezeth to Madiquel
Hatch 01 - Egg 2: Deceased Green #1
Hatch 02 - Egg 3: Blue Dyoriath to Misharan
Unhatched - Egg 4: Dud
Hatch 04 - Egg 5: Blue TBA
Hatch 05 - Egg 6: Deceased Green #2