Hatchings

It was a bright, extremely sunny mid-afternoon day with not a cloud in the sky, and the sun, as previously stated, was shining warmly. Birayen hated it.
The Moonlight dragon blinked and shook his head irately as he entered the hatching sands where his half-spirit mate Ialee sat with their eggs. The normally nocturnal Birayen was less than pleased at having been awoken in-what was to him-the middle of the night. What's going on, Ialee? He griped, plopping down by the darker end of the hatching cavern with his mate.
Ialee just smiled at him, while her bond Antliath snorted. What do you think? The sunset-speckled mother said. The eggs are hatching. You don't want to miss the hatching of your kids, do you?
Birayen perked up immediately, deciding he didn't really mind being awakened before nighttime. Really? Why didn't you tell me? He asked eagerly, ignoring Antliath's protests that she just did as he watched the clutch of eight eggs possessively.
Antliath huffed, looking to her own mate, Shkora, as Ialee laughed. "We still have to wait for the candidates to get here." She pointed out to her mate. "The eggs aren't going to start hatching this instant, you know."
As if to prove their mother wrong, two eggs cracked open at that instant. From the first, a silver-tined wing appeared, marked with dark cloudy blue sails, and from the other, a bright green tail. The dragons broke out of their shells just as the first of the candidates entered the sands. The dragon which had hatched from the first egg, a sturdy male, took after his father. He had a silver hide, but his wings were clouded blue, with stars and a moon imprinted on the sails.
The silver-moon hatchling looked up brightly and stumbled over to one of the candidates immediately. The triptych named Wolf in the Moon appeared startled as the bundle of silver and blue came towards him, but accepted the hatchling gladly. I'd like to bond to you, if you don't mind. The hatchling said, though his tone clearly stated that he was going to bond, whether Wolf liked it or not. My name is Ieniear.
His sister who had hatched with him was next. Her hide was a bright, emerald green which constrasted brightly with her sunset-toned wings in the appearance of her mother, minus the purple mane. She looked through the assembled candidates, but she did not see the one she wanted, and instead turned to her mother, speaking out loud. "My bonded is not here." The green-sunset said a little sadly, "I am going to go to Bremek Weyr. My name is Eanet."
Ialee and Birayen watched their daughter leave, then their attention was drawn back to their children yet to hatch. Antliath's firstborn was the next to hatch, however, spilling a bright purple dragonet onto the sands. The hatchling's splayed wings revealed confettied membranes befitting her paternal heritage.
The purple-confetti's eyes alighted on Whe, and she crooned. Whe? My name is Kalleth, you will bond me, won't you? Whe assured her immediately, and they went to the kitchens. Behind them, three more eggs began to hatch, two from Antliath's, and one from Ialee's.
Antliath's two children turned out to be two speckled blues. One, a black-speckled female blue, the other, a male with sunset speckles like his mother. Ialee's was a large, clouded bronze colored male, with a moon-like marking on his shoulder, and clouded starry blue wings.
The blue with sunset made his choice first, looking over the candidates arrogantly. Disdainfully, he ignored them and turned to his mother. I, Zsoa, will not bond. Not one of them, anyway. I'm going to Starburst Weyr. See ya. And he made his way to the kitchens as his shyer sister spoke up next.
Um, well, I guess I'm just going to wait here for a while. I'm not ready yet. She explained. But my name is Sheeya.
The other dragon, who called himself a rayant moon-starry, did not follow in his clutchmates' footsteps of not bonding. He trotted up to Teiddo confidently, and told her his name. I'm Chaston, Teiddo. Come on, can we go eat? He added a little impatiently.
Teiddo agreed, and they headed to the kitchens as another of Antliath's eggs cracked.
This time a bright green appeared, splattered liberally with bronze and gold speckling so that her original color was almost lost. The green dragonet looked around her, and she crooned when her eyes fell on Phalani. Phalani, my dear, My name is Ardeth. Please, will you get me something to eat? The hatchling said plaintively.
Two more eggs hatched, one each from Antliath and Ialee's clutches. The first was a yellow female speckled with brown. The second was a deep green with gold and pale blue wings, like late dawn.
The green-dawn moved first, going straight to Ne'rimmus, and stood, cocking her head upwards at him. Ne'rimmus, you'll be my rider, all right? And I'll help you heal people. I am Carria.
Meanwhile, the yellow, who proclaimed her name to be Baerrith, stood beside Thyse, who seemed almost in awe of the small dragon.
Thyse's companion Sned was not left alone on the sands for long; the next egg to hatch was a dark silver. His head and neck, tail, legs and wings were all heavily speckled with brown, yet the rest of his body was unmarred. The brown-speckled silver looked up at the raccoon-shifter goofily. Hey, Sned. M'name's Rufenth.
Two more eggs cracked open at once then, followed quickly by a third. The newest dragons were all males, two speckled dragons from Antliath and a second silver-moon from Ialee. The silver-moon looked around, until he spied the blue and black Sheeya, still sitting on the sands. Sheeya? What are you doing on your own? He asked, while his clutchmate looked up in surprise.
Oh! Cerule? Sheeya asked in relief. I was waiting for you. Wouldn't want to leave without my bond. The dragon said shyly with a draconic blush.
Cerule nodded his head in agreement. Definitely. But what about-
Wait! Wait for me! A new voice yelled desperately. Cerule and Sheeya turned to see a confetti-winged yellow running to them. Wait! You weren't going to leave Famoth behind, were you!?
Cerule crooned reassuringly. Of course not, Famoth. We were just waiting for you. He assured her. Come on; can we go to Moire now?
Both of his bonds agreed, and they walked off the sands together.
The two speckleds from Antliath's clutch had watched all this in silence, but now they stepped forward together. The larger of the two was a brown with lots of sunset-colored speckles; the other was a green with a mix of brown speckles and night-colored ones.
The brown stepped forward first. My name is Seleth. He said, and turned to his mother. I'd like to go to Bremek Weyr, okay? At his parents' agreement, he walked off to the kitchens alone.
The green with brown and night was next. He went straight to one of the candidates-the brown dragon, Fithrarith. Fithrarith! There you are! My name's Shkarr. I'm your bond. He said, as though it wasn't obvious.
Another egg hatched from Ialee's clutch, spilling a pure sunset-colored dragoness onto the sands. The sunset dragoness lifted her head, and catching sight of her rider, stood up and called to the girl she had chosen. Ianthe? Ianthe, I am Jeoyda. Ianthe was ecstatic as she hugged the sunset-colored dragon, and they left for the kitchens.
At last, the final three eggs hatched, and when they did, they did so explosively. Shards from the broken shells flew in all directions as the hathlings burst their way out of the eggs, leaving three small dragons on the sand. The last hatchling from Antliath's clutch was a sunset-winged green, obviously a male. The two from Ialee's clutch were almost similiar-both were dark with starry wings. The smaller of the two was a deep black, the only color being his clouded blue and star-studded wings. The other hatchling had a dark clouded blue body and wings almost the same shade, with stars and a silvery moon imprinted on his wingsails.
The green-sunset was the first to announce his decision. I am Chuzeth. And...I think I'll go to Star City. That sounds like an interesting place. The green-sunset said, cocking his head to the side with a grin before leaving the hatching sands.
The black-starry male moved silently as he walked towards one of the candidates, who stood, staring at him. Hanzoku. I am Harthon. That was all he said, and he lead his new rider away to the kitchens.
Finally, only one hatchling was left on the sands-the dark blue Midnight-Moon. He cocked his head as he looked at the remaining candidates, but he didn't seem particularly interested in any of them. Finally, he glanced over to his parents with a lopsided grin. Well, how 'bout I just stay with you and Dad? Caleve said to Ialee.
Ialee blinked in surprise, but she smiled, happy that at least one of her children was going to stay.
And another hatching ended. It would be the last happy event for a while.