Hatchings

It was, not surprisingly, the middle of the night. The silver-black dragoness Eienpaia opened her eyes slowly, lazily blinking them against the pale moonlight filtering in through the main entrance. She felt a jerk at her side, and bemused, she looked down to see one of her eggs rocking.
Soon, all of the orbs had started to move, and Eienpaia stirred, pleased. They hatch! She roared to her rider and anyone else within hearing range.
The candidates and spectators grumbled as they entered the chamber, grumpy about being woken up. The few night dwellers who had already been wide awake were more excited about the hatching as they watched the rocking eggs.
The first of the eggs cracked about suddenly, crackling loudly in the still air as a frosted green claw appeared. The dragon poked its head out of the shell, revealing it to be a dark, silvery green dragonet. The hatchling clawed its way out of the shell and dropped to the ground, snarling viciously to itself.
The candidates stepped back from it warily as two more eggs opened, spilling a scaly undead green dragon onto the sands, as well as a silver-grey dragonet with flaming wingsails. The two new hatchlings, who seemed to take more after their father, looked over the candidates eagerly.
The undead female stopped, looking up at one of the female candidates coolly. Rowena? My name is Suezu. She said simply. Rowena nodded in reply and followed the green to the kitchens.
The silver-grey didn't seem as impressed with any of the candidates, and instead, he turned to look curiously at his first-born brother, who was still growling irately. Oh, quit trying to scare the candidates, Baenien. We've got better things to do. The silver-grey said with a smirk.
The silver-green glared at the other hatchling. Who are you to tell me what to do? He snapped.
Why, I'm your bond, Seliarr, of course. The undead hatchling practically chirped. And we're going to go to Firestone Weyr, This he directed to his parents. Aren't we, Baenien?
Nyeh. The green said as a parting shot, but didn't actually protest as he raced off to the kitchens. C'mon, Seliarr! I'll race you to the food!
Another silver-green hatched, only slightly lighter in shade than her brother. This one wasted no time in deciding, and she ran up to Zacreyin, almost bowling her chosen over in the process. Neh...Hi, Zacreyin! I'm Calliein. I'm hungry, can we go eat now? Zacreyin seemed perplexed at the strange green, shaking her head. "Slow down, Calliein."
Another egg cracked open, revealing a wingsail with flaming patterns. The head and tail that followed it were deep black, but showed the frosty silvering of his mother as well. The dragon seemed to sigh as he struggled to get out of the shell. Little help here? He asked sheepishly.
He did get the help, but not from one of the candidates. A dark silvered red female clawed at the egg until her brother was able to break free, and after a brief, Thanks, they went their seperate ways.
The silver-black male didn't even bother to look over the candidates, and neither did the female. My name is Eiankar. I'm going to go live at Star Thief, 'kay?
And I am Aineia. The female added in a smooth voice. And I choose to stay with you, Mother.
Two more eggs had hatched, leaving a male and female dragonet on the sands. The female was another undead green, this one a yellow-green, almost acidic shade. The male was dark blue with silvering over his hide, gazing around him cheerfully.
As one, both dragonets stood up, walking slowly to the candidates. Ironically, they both stopped at the same candidate-Poison. The female green looked up at him coolly. Lorahn...I am called Serta. My brother is-
My name's Retanel! The blue said, cheerful as he bounced hyperly around Poison's, (or Lorahn's, as they called him) feet. Me and my sister both like you, Lorahn, so we're gonna hang around with you, okay?
Serta was glaring at him, a low growl slowly building in her throat. She moved to stand beside her rider protectively. Yes, well, if you really want to come along with us, I suppose Lorahn will not mind.
She continued to stare hatefully at her oblivious brother as they all walked out together.
A flame-winged silver-green broke his shell simultaneously with a scaled black female, and they both stood looking over the candidates. However, where one dragonet chose a rider from the assembled, the other was underwhelmed with the selection.
Really, is this the best you could do? The silver-green scoffed. Well, I gues I'll just go ahead and go to Bremek Weyr, then. My name is Annaen. He said with a smirk.
The undead black hissed irritably at the departing green from beside her chosen rider. Nyanoko laid a hand on the hatchling's shoulder. "Let him go, Isulytaia." Isulytaia crooned as she wrapped her tail around the girl protectively, almost tripping her at the same time.
A silver-black, exactly like his mother, burst from his shell. He craned his head as he gazed at the candidates, and slowly walked forward. Shy'aroin grew increasingly nervous as the hatchling approached him, and hastily avoided eye contact with the dragon when it looked his way. The calm, steady voice that spoke in his mind was distinctly at odds with the gangly hatchling before him. You need not turn your head from me, Shy'aroin. I am Losaas.
Startled, Shy'aroin looked up-and the hatchling did not cringe when he met his gaze.
A scaled, undead silver watched his brother bond with a bored expression on his face. I'm tired of this place. There's too many humans here. I will go to Star City Dragonry. Perhaps that will be worth my time...Cezaer said derisively as he turned to leave.
Three dragons all hatched at once, though only two eggs had cracked. Large, twin golds spilled to the ground, followed by a plain red with silvered black wings. The red-black rushed over to one of the golds with concern and nudged the male worriedly.
Markusaan? Are you okay? Tell me you're okay...
The dragon stirred, unfurling his flaming wings and looked up at the female red. I'm fine, Mieanaea, my bond.
Mieanaea crooned happily as the dragons left together, pausing only to say that they would live at Enzan Shi Deragonray.
Meanwhile, Markusaan's female twin had gotten up, and stood by herself. Markusaan? Mother? Anybody?
But Markusaan had left already, and Eienpaia was busy trying to pry her last son from his shell and did not hear her. The undead gold sighed to herself, and walked off, unnoticed.
Eienpaia had noticed her last egg had stopped rocking, and had taken it upon herself to free her child. She took the egg in her mouth and bit down-almost injuring the hatchling, who chose that moment to break through, and surprised, she dropped the egg to the ground.
The shell fell apart entirely, leaving a rather surprised silver-red behind. He was a dark, wine-red shade with frosted markings like those of his mother. He looked around, then seemed to catch one of the candidates' attention, and he headed straight for that candidate. Fornon! F'non, it's me, your dragon! I am Edalaul. No one will mess with us now, will they?
F'non readily agreed, and the last pair went off together. No one had noticed that the other gold twin had disappeared until much later...