Hatchings

"It appears Alequveyth has the same sense of timing as her mother." A'ra said wryly as he strode toward the Hatching Grounds with Teah. The young Weyrleader earned a light slap on the arm from his weyrmate and a warning bugle from his bronze Mazdath.
"You'd better watch whose dragon you're insulting." Teah said ruefully.
And whose mate. Mazdath added dryly.
A'ra just grinned wryly as they took their seats in the front rows. The queen mother's throat was vibrating with her constant bugling, and her two mates, bronze Raiokh and brown Herionth, stood protectively on either side of her.
The other residents and candidates stumbled in somewhat sleepily; true to A'ra's earlier comment, it was well past midnight and already into the early hours of the morning, far too early for anyone to be up. The candidates huddled together, holding each other up as they dozed-or as much as any of them could, with the excitement of Impression imminent, not to mention the heat from the sands.
They were rudely awakened as the first egg shattered explosively, showering the closest candidates with tiny egg shards. A large bronze dragonet emerged, a good sign!
The bronze shook broken shards from his body before looking around him. As there were no male candidates present-all the candidates searched so far had been female-it was not surprising that the bronze chose to go unbonded. He stated that his name was Iberath, and he wished to go to Weyr Eriol.
Three eggs hatched in a frenzy, and once the dust had settled, a small brown dragon and two slightly smaller blues were revealed. The larger of the blues, a pale icy color, was the first to move, and he strode toward a dark-haired candidate. Munoz looked down at the hatchling in surprise. Do you think I'll be able to help you fight fires when I grow up?
Munoz smiled and patted the male's head. "We'll see, Luukinith, we'll see."
The brown was next, and Calebrilith quickly decided that he would go to a relatively new place called Moon-struck Lair.
The second blue, smaller than his sibling, though still larger than average, declared himself as Sanyru. I'm going to Weyr Eriol, if you all don't mind. The dark blue said cheerfully as he trotted off to the kitchens.
Another egg cracked, revealing a green head with blue-green eyes. The dragon's hide was a pale, almost minty-green shade once she fully broke free from her egg. She looked around her and studied the candidates, but apparently couldn't find a suitable bond, for she soon sat down and refused to move. My name's Kendalith. She said simply, but did not move.
The next egg shook violently and split down the middle, causing two distressed blue dragons to roll over each other until they came to a stop on the sand. They were both dark blue in color, though one had noticeably paler wingsails than his brother. Oww...The first twin spoke up. Let's not do that again, eh Qiweth?
Qiweth warbled with amusement. Definitely not, Qelarith. The young hatchling's eyes whirled mischeivously as he stood up. Race you to Xidaver! He said and ran off.
Qelarith just stared at his brother. But-that's not even-ugh! He ran to catch up to his brother and bondmate, who had stopped in the kitchens.
A small green dragon had hatched during the twin blues' antics, and sat watching them with amusement on her face. The dark green then walked over to Kendalith, and sat down beside the other green. I'm hungry, Kendalith, can we go eat now?
Kendalith blinked rainbow eyes, then nodded. Sure we can, Celaseth.
Celaseth stood up excitedly. And then we can go to Moire! She shouted as she raced to the kitchens, Kendalith close behind her.
A small blue dragon rolled out of his egg, coming to a stop at a pair of much larger, yellow forepaws. He craned his neck upwards until he saw the dragon's head looking down at him. Oh, hi Islyea. The hatchling said sheepishly. I'm Jiiyrushi, can I get something to eat? He begged. Islyea laughed and lead her young bond to the kitchens where his siblings were already being fed.
A brown and green tumbled from their respective eggs simultaneously. The dark forest green hatchling stood up, shaking her head. I'm Kalackath, I'd like to go to Shivran Aerd. She said before trotting off the sands.
The brown, slightly paler in color, announced that his name was Ianith, and he too would go to Shivran Aerd with his sister.
Two eggs crashed against each other and split open, revealing two rather dizzy dragons. The small green dragon was dwarfed by her much larger bronze brother, but she was the first to move to her chosen. Vidary looked down at the green hatchling with delight. "Byrth? Do you really want me?"
Byrth just nudged the girl gently with her head and crooned. Of course, who else? Why don't you feed me now, Vidary?
The girl smiled and walked off with her dragon to obey.
The bronze watched this calmly, then turned to his mother. My name's Chroquaenth. Can I stay here? He asked. Teah shrugged and agreed.
Finally, Alequveyth stood up, revealing a shimmering golden egg! The queen watched her egg protectively, eyeing the single candidate left distastefully. Rebecca shifted nervously. She knew the golds were considered the highest ranking color, but what if the hatchling decided she wasn't good enough and went unbonded?
The egg cracked, splintered, and finally split apart to reveal a creeling gold dragonet. A creeling gold who went straight to Rebecca, and butted the girl's side imperiously. Rebecca looked down at the hatchling with delight, stroking the soft hide gently. My name is Aten, Rebecca!
The last two eggs hatched at once, revealing a large bronze and a smaller green. The bronze stood up first, and pronounced his name as Thelanyth. I'll go to Xidaver. He decided.
The green looked around her worriedly, but no candidates were left, and she found none in the stands suitable. She creeled in distress. My bond isn't here! She cried. Her mother bent her head down in an effort to comfort the hatchling. The green's eye whirled with troubled gold and yellow as she crooned. They're not here...
"Why don't you stay here? Until your bond comes?" Teah spoke up.
The green reluctantly agreed. My name's Avi. She said quietly as she trudged off the sands.
With the last of her children hatched, Alequveyth exited the sands with her rider, Silviera, as her two mates did the same. The Hatching was officially over.