Hatchings

"What do you mean, the clutch is hatching now!?" Teah exclaimed when Leitorespertoth's rider Sophie came up to her in the hall.
The girl shrugged and stammered. "I don't know, Leito just told me they were hatching!"
Teah's eyes widened. "But-that's impossible. The clutch was only laid yesterday!" She said as she and Sophie raced to the sands.
The eggs, which were mysteriously rockhard by now, were indeed rocking furiously as their dam watched in confusion. Sophie rushed over to her dragon's side. "No Leitorespertoth, I'm sure your eggs will be just fine!" She reassured the blue-lavender.
Teah met A'ra just outside the hatching cavern. "What's going on?" The Weyrleader asked.
"Leitorespertoth's eggs are hatching, I don't know how. Get the candidates, A'ra." Teah explained hastily.
After a short pause, A'ra nodded. "Mazdath's already told them, they'll be here soon. There have been some rather strange occurances lately..." He added. Time and space had a tendency to bend occasionally at Darkling Dawn.
Teah only nodded as they took their seats. The candidates were soon rushed in-unusual for so many candidates to have been searched in so short a time, but just as well-as the first of the eggs shuddered and cracked.
A bright sea-green muzzle appeared at the top of the egg, followed by the rest of the hatchling's head. Her headcrest was a pale lavender color, which soon proved to match her wings as she freed the rest of her body from the shell.
The green-lavender shook her body before climbing to her feet and walking towards the candidates. She rushed to Kacela and butted her head urgently against the girl's leg. They don't like me, do they? Do you like me, ridermine?
Kacela hurried to reassure her new bond. "No, Morianaveyth, of course I like you! We were all just a little surprised, that's all." She looked up at her brother with a smile as she led the lavender-winged green to the kitchens.
A turquoise-blue dragon rolled from its egg next. The dragonet shook the sand from it's hide and pale blue wings, and looked wonderingly at all the candidates. Who am I supposed to choose? A shy and obviously female voice said.
One of the candidates stepped forward-the water dragon, Fona. "Come with me, Kokaruichikoth. I'll take care of you." Fona reassured the hatchling.
Kokaruichikoth looked up with a draconic smile. Really? Okay then, Fona. I'm yours.
Fona smiled to herself as she led her young bond away. Two more eggs were cracking now. From one appeared a bright blue dragon with coppery wings; but the other egg was barely cracked, and the hatchling within was struggling.
One of the male candidates stepped towards the egg nervously, but he gradually grew braver when no one moved to stop him, and he helped pull the eggshell away from the dragon within. Filen gasped as the small purple dragon locked eyes with him. Thanks for helping me, Filen. Do you want to be my rider?
Filen grinned. "I would love to be your rider, Michelynferroth!"
Meanwhile, the blue-copper was watching the remaining two male candidate boredly. Tadeo shifted nervously under the hatchling's gaze, wondering whether he was supposed to bond him or wait. Sunset Eyes was no less confused, though for slightly different reasons.
"What are you waiting there for, Vianithystafth? Don't you want to eat?" Sunset Eyes asked impatiently.
Vianithystafth blinked and looked at the sunset dragon. Of course I do! I was just waiting for you to realize I'd bonded you. The blue-copper said with a note of arrogance in his voice.
Sunset Eyes just smiled-as much as dragons could smile. "Well, come on then, let's eat."
Vianithystafth's eyes softened. A very good idea, bondmine.
Discouraged, Tadeo watched the last egg rock slowly. It lurched to the left suddenly, at the same time Tadeo heard a patient, but slightly harried, voice in his head. Well, Tadeo, aren't you going to come over and help me get out of this egg? It's kind of hard.
Startled, Tadeo jumped forward and stammered a reply. "Of course I am. I'm sorry!" He helped the dragonet break open the shell, and finally, the hatchling fell into his arms.
The blue dragonet crooned as he looked up at Tadeo, and his pitch-black wings spread out on either side of him, enveloping his new rider. My name is Dracyetulith, Tadeo.
Thus ended a very strange hatching.