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+---- Thread: [G] [C] 734.06.10 | Lights, Camera! [NPC Hatching] (/showthread.php?tid=1714)
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Re: Lights, Camera! [NPC Hatching] - Ameris - 16.Oct.13
She had cooed and awed when each egg had hatched and each impression was made. She'd been amused by a few of the greens and the sneezing blue. Mizeath had crooned and rumbled with enthusiasm as each baby had made their bond known. Ameris had gasped with outrage when Arradissicath had stomped her way out with a stumble. She watched with bated breath as the egg her tail had caught tumbled and cracked. Thankfully the dragonet inside had been unhurt and had quickly made his impression.
For the first time since her impression she wondered what Mizeath would be like egg heavy and sand bound. Would she be bright and happy like Oakalinath? Quiet and reserved like. Krypth? Or irritable like Aradissicath?
The crippled green had Ameris in near tears with Mizeath crooning with encouragement to the youngster. She would have a tough life and the woman did not envy the boy and his dragon. The rest of the hatching went off without much more fuss until it was time for the gold to hatch.
She waited with impatience for the newest gold to make her enterance and impression. "She will be difficult I suppose," she said quietly to Mizeath and the gold hummed in agreement. Another difficult gold was all they needed. If she had been a little raver Ameris would have beaten Indivara to the punch as the small weyrbrat huffed through the crowd to stop in front of the tardy egg. What would come from the outcome of the girls impatience would haunt the dreams of the gold rider for weeks to come. Covering her mouth and nose to keep from retching at the smell, she turned to sooth her dragonet as Mizeath began to keen her upset at the sight of the rotted gold dragonet. "Shhh, my darling. Shhh," she whispered around her hand, stroking the trembling hide of the dragonet.
Re: Lights, Camera! [NPC Hatching] - T'vor - 16.Oct.13
"Thanks! who knows maybe today is The Day!" Trel answered Arddra with his usual upbeat and enthusiastic tone. His past failures were in the past, and he refused to let them taint what could be the most important day of his life. This was a new day, with brand new lives just waiting to burst out into and find their lifemates. Even if this wasn't The Day for him it was at least going to The Day for a few other candidates. He wasn't cruel enough to begrudge them the joy of finally bonding their dragons. If his dragon was among those who would hatch it would find him and no one else. Giving Arddra a final wave and sly wink he ambled over to the group of male candidates.
Trelanvor bounced in place. In part because his excitement made it impossible to hold still and also because the sand were rather hot. Bouncing did help slow the almost inevitable toasting of his poor feet. He ignored the steady splatter of rain drops despite the makeshift roofing for the area. You'd think someone would have come up with a better solution than stolen sails, but apparently stopping a small portion of the rain from reaching the ground was enough of a success. A decent roof for the entire circuit may have just asking for trouble. The cracking of an egg shell was enough to dispel such idle thoughts from head and bring his incessant bouncing to an end.
An egg toppled over, the event quickly followed by two front legs. It was a Green, no Brown, wait nope definitely Bronze. Trel could stop his amused chuckled at the partial hatched dragon's antics. An egg with just two feet flailing about was funny, even if those legs did manage to send another egg tumbling. At last the Bronze did manage to free himself completely before he fell over the egg he'd already kicked. Trel did hope his lack of grce was temporary. A full grown dragon with such poor coordination could do a good bit of damage. The dragon's body control did seem to improve as he pranced toward the group of boys. Trelanvor held his breath, but the Bronze never even glanced in his direction.
Despite its rough introduction into the world, the Blue dragon that hatched next didn't seem to have been harmed by his brother's treatment. He did pause to give the group of girls a good looking over, but it was a young man who became his lifemate. Trel smiled as the pair moved off. His smile faded as Aradissicath walked right through the center of the sands, hissing at Krypth. He glanced uncertainty between the Gold and the clutch, waiting for someone to do or say anything. Everyone seemed too surprised or scared to do anything.
Trelanvor visibly winced every time the Gold stumbled. Visions of the entire clutch crushed beneath her bulging form passing before his eyes. What a way to go, crushed on your hatching day by a pregnant and cranky Gold. Aradissicath seemed to know that no one could stop her from what she was doing. Trel gasped when her tail connected with an egg, sending it rolling with a bone chilling crackle. He ignored the Gold's exit, eye on the poor egg that had taken the brunt of the Queen's foul mood. A Bronze nose poked through the cracked shell, and Trel sagged with relief as an apparently unharmed hatchling emerged. Still recovering from the experience, he watched a young man step forward and an impression was made. Trel sniffed softly, happy beginnings were the best.
Just because one hatching was getting most of the attention did stop eggs from continuing to hatch. A Blue's hatching was a lack luster after the Bronze. The group of girls got a sniff and sneeze, maybe he was allergic to them? Whatever the case the blue moved on the group of boys, finding his rider waiting among them. Trel focused eagerly on the remaining shells, trying to guess which would hatch next. The young dragons didn't seem to be in any rush. Minutes ground past like hours. Trel took to shifted from one foot to another, unable to contain his impatience. What were they waiting for?
At last an egg began to tremble and crack and then another rolled sideways. A Blue wiggled its way to freedom as Trel cheered him on. The Blue's impression was followed a few minutes later by the appearance of a Green. He watch as she plowed to a stop in front of Indivara, almost assuming the Green had made her choice. After a long moment the Green was again on the move and select a male instead. It was a strange turn of events, but Trelanvor had little time to dwell on it. A high pitch shriek had him looking for the source, gasping as his gaze found what was making the unearthly sound. A tiny Green had hatched, but something had gone wrong. Her wings were angled oddly beneath her with ichor marring their surface.
Trelanvor hesitated to step forward. Even injured the hatchling could still harm someone trying to help or damage herself further. He winced when a nearby by egg nearly rolled over the tangled up Green, looking away. Whe he risked a glance back a couple candidates were moving to assist the injured Green. In the process another Green was hatched, fortunately she seemed healthy and was soon flouncing toward the waiting candidates. The injured Green had managed to impress as well, which brought a warm smile to Trel's face. He was relieved she had found her rider and not gone between due to her injuries. The second to latch also included a healthy Green who took her time choose a young boy from among those left.
Trel sighed softly as he studied the empty and shattered eggs. That was it for him this time around. The only egg left to hatch was the Gold. He stared at the egg, looking for any sign of movement. Typical Queen she didn't seem to be in a rush to hatch. He glanced toward Arddra. Hopefully if she didn't impress she wouldn't take it took hard. He knew how important becoming a Queenrider was for her. Her was surprised, no shocked when she gave a Bronzerider watching from the sidelines a thumbs up. Maybe she'd handle not impressing better than he'd anticipated. Still it was too soon to know what was going to happen until the unhatched Gold made her appearance.
Trelanvor watched, transfixed as Indivara stalked across the sands on a direct path for the golden egg. She shouldered past the other female candidates, ignoring an attempt to halt her progress. He was torn between horror and being impressed by her bold actions. With a daring glare she reached out and rapt her knuckled firmly against the shell. The egg crumpled inward beneath the assault. Screams followed as a noxious, slimy liquid flowed from what remained. A lifeless form slumped out, carried by the wave of goo. Trel slapped a hand over his face at the foul odor spread across the sand, the heat only helping to intensify the rotten stench of the partial decomposed Queen. He backed away from the scene of screaming and vomiting candidates. His own stomach rolled in protest and her could taste the bitter tang of bile burning up his throat. He quickly searched the scattered candidates for Arddra, she wouldn't have taken that well being front and center for the show. He relaxed as he spotted he wrapped up in the embrace of the Bronzrider she'd gesture to earlier. This wasn't how hatchings were suppose to end.
Re: Lights, Camera! [NPC Hatching] - V'riy - 17.Oct.13
V'riy had been waiting when Arddra ran to him and had opened his arms, wrapping them around her. He held the girl tightly in his arms, wishing for all the world that he could have prevented what happened to that poor golden dragonet. It was a shocking thing and might disturb her deeply. He tried to watch her reaction as she had run to his embrace; it hadn't been only this event that she was running form, he was sure of that.
The bronzerider slowly ran fingers through her hair, doing his best to comfort her and knowing that there wasn't much he could do but be there for her. At worst, she might be deeply upset and feel that she lost her only chance at a queen. V'riy would straighten her out immediately if she started to think along those lines. It wasn't her fault. These things unfortunately were part of the Hatching process.
Morith crooned softly and opened a wing, positioning it to shield the pair from onlookers.
V'riy placed a hand on her cheek and turned her head, forcing her to meet his eyes. They seems a bit red rimmed but he couldn't really be sure under the shade of Morith's wing. The bronzerider paused a moment, looking into her eyes but saying nothing. Finally he very gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. He wanted to comfort her, but he wasn't sure if she'd allow it... in these kind of situations, V'riy had found that actions spoke louder than words. Actions of the... sexual healing kind.
He was torn. His desire to comfort Arddra warred with him belief that it would be best to stay away from a future gold rider. Combined with her feelings about dragonriders, it could go particularly bad for him if he tried, even with good intentions.
Briefly he wondered how long he'd be able to keep the internal struggle going.
V'riy sighed and whispered softly to Arddra. "Are you okay now?" he asked quietly. "We can go somewhere else, or we can stay right here... your choice."
Re: Lights, Camera! [NPC Hatching] - Arddra - 17.Oct.13
Feeling V'riy's arms around her was a trigger that caused tears of grief and loss well beyond that of the unfortunate gold hatchling. Arddra was never a loud crier so her grief was silent. Most likely the only hint V'riy would have is the dampness forming on his chest. If he noticed it above the dampness from the rain.
The feel of his hands through her hair and the mixed scent of dragon and V'riy deep in her nostrils did wonders to comfort her. Out of all the people of Katila Weyr V'riy was somebody she trusted completely. Not once did he make any inappropriate moves nor intrude upon her personal space in any way.
Morith's croon was soothing, telling her he too was hoping to comfort her.
A moment later and she felt his hand on her cheek and looked up to meet his eyes. She blinked a few times to get the last of the tears away so she could focus better on his face. She could see he wanted to comfort her, maybe even more and the thought sent a thrill through her she had not expected. Yet wasn't surprised. Arddra wasn't sure she was ready yet so she gave no outward indication of her feelings, other than appreciation.
Taking a deep breath she did her best to compose herself, to at least stop crying. She could smell the horrid rotten smell though it was far more faint here. Eventually the smell could very well fill the hatching circuit till somebody thought to dispose of the remains. Suddenly she recalled what happened the last time she entered the hatching Circuit and her expression soured.
"That hag...no wonder the poor thing decided to die instead of being born knowing it will have to deal with that horrid woman screeching at every imagined fault." Arddra's words were harsh even to her own ears and she blushed deeply. Fortunately her words weren't loud and unlikely to be overheard by anybody save those closest to her and V'riy. Ashamed of herself she buried her face against V'riy's chest. "Lets go away from here..."
Re: Lights, Camera! [NPC Hatching] - V'riy - 20.Oct.13
V'riy stroked Arddra's hair softly and he tightened his other arm around her as she hid her face in his chest. "Shhh…" he quietly murmured to her. Though he knew that her comment about the gold egg was irrational, he was almost inclined to agree with her. He placed his hands on her shoulders after a moment when she asked to leave and pushed her away from him.
"Time to climb up," he instructed quietly. Turning her, he guided her to Morith, who proffered his foreleg. The bronze took a careful look at the girl, his eyes varying degrees of yellow shot through with lines of red.
The bronze was worried about the loss of the expected golden queen, the effect it was having on Arddra and was even less happy about the upset it was causing the entire Weyr. He was angry at the impulsive young woman who had rushed forward and knocked on the egg, but that was quickly fading and the lines started to disappear even as Arddra climbed up the riding straps.
V'riy stood beside Morith's head as the bronze lowered it towards him and scratched his dragon's eye ridge affectionately. As he hummed a few bars of a tune familiar to only the pair of them so quietly only the dragon could hear it, Morith's eyes shimmered and the red faded away completely. Though the yellow remained, flecks of blue appeared, scattered through the yellow as the dragon calmed down a bit.
V'riy gave Morith a gentle pat on his nose and the dragon let out a breath slowly through his nostrils. He moved, preparing to mount and tugged at the riding straps, checking them out of habit. When he was satisfied he pulled himself up onto Morith and in front of Arddra, letting her get settled behind him. He gave Morith the order to take flight, visualizing his hut, knowing that that the memory of the Hatching would soon fade from Morith's memory and wishing that he and Arddra could forget as easily as the bronze would.
Re: Lights, Camera! [NPC Hatching] - Celie - 20.Oct.13
Ceilidhe turned as Arddra rushed towards V'riy, her face clearly displaying her concern for the girl. If she hadn't been partially in shock from watching the gold egg fall apart in a disgusting mess, she might have thought to comfort the girl as well, but as it was all she could do was watch. The green rider's mouth was still half-open in an "o' of surprise.
Coming back to herself, she closed her mouth with an audible click and moved to Twilirth, leaning against her, suddenly exhausted. After a few moments, she managed to summon the energy to check the straps and pull herself astride her green. She took a few deep breaths and raised her hand in farewell to V'riy.
The greenrider didn't wait to see if V'riy saw her gesture. The bronzerider was busy comforting the girl, who was hiding her face from the world, most likely crying. Ceilidhe didn't blame her one bit. It was traumatic for all of them, dragons and humans. The gold egg had looked healthy and a good size and its failure to hatch was completely unexpected.
Twilirth was prancing underneath her, shifting her weight from side to side, eager to be off. The green was severely agitated about the gold egg's collapse, her eyes whirling varying shades of yellow. The dragon couldn't wait to escape the Hatching grounds. Finally Ceilidhe gave the command to be off and the dragon eagerly leaped into the air and with a few quick downbeats of her wings to gain altitude, the pair disappeared between.