Hatchings

Though there had been a long span of time where no eggs had been on the Hatching Sands, there were finally clutches again, and one of them was readying to hatch now. As always, candidates stepped lightly but excitedly onto the hot sands, spectators filled the stands, and Rahel, followed by A'ra and Ean, sat down in the front row to watch the hatching.
The first eggs were rocking now, and it wasn't long before one of the dragons inside fought its way out, and soon it was joined by three more. The first egg contained a tiny, pale green dragonet, who stumbled towards the candidates while the other three--a green, a blue, and a brown--were still breaking out fo their shells.
The pale green moved unerringly towards the female candidates, until she stopped in front of Mikan. The young woman stared at the dragon for a few seconds, and then she laughed. "Leetosameth! You're hungry, aren't you?" They off to the kitchens, together.
The blue and brown hatchlings were distracted, mock-fighting with each other playfully, and their green sister broke them apart with a snort before going straight to Lesla. They're so childish, honestly, she said to her new sponsor. I'd rather go with you than any of those candidates. I'm Lisath.
Shooting disdainful looks at their haughty sister, the other two dragons wandered over to the male candidates. The blue chose Ren, proclaiming his name to be Hashuith. The brown dithered for a while, looking from one candidate to another, but he finally went to Kabocha with a croon. I like you, Kabocha. My name is Kurmouith.
By this time, four more eggs had hatched, spilling dragonets onto the sands. A pale blue stopped in front of Gebo and sat down. My name's Phidithath, Gebo, and don't you forget it, he said.
A strong brown made his way among the candidates, inspecting all of them, even throwing some glances at the females, but finally, he sat down and shook his head. None of these candidates are for me. He looked at Lesla hopefully. Could I go with you instead? Maybe I'll find someone where you live who's right for me.
"Of course you can!" Lesla exclaimed. "What's your name?"
I'm Cameroth, the brown hatchling replied.
Two more dragons, both deep green females, headed to the candidates, but while one searched among the female candidates, the other quickly found the rukel Akomr. She crooned. You're my bond now, Akomr. I'm Kmorith. The rukel made a purring sound of his own.
The other green finally stopped in front of Ouanda, and butted her head gently against the girl's leg until she reached down to stroke her eyeridges. You'll stay with me, won't you, Ouanda?
Ouanda smiled. "Of course I will, Zuath."
Two more eggs rocked, and cracks began to appear. It seemed all the eggs were hatching in pairs today! They broke apart, revealing a bright blue and a pale green. The green, Dylanith, went to Uruz and bonded quickly. I'm never going to leave you, Uruz. Never!
The blue watched his sister bond before picking out his own rider, deciding on Fehu. You don't mind bonding me, do you?
"Course not, Minolath!" Fehu replied with a grin. "Who wouldn't want a dragon like you?"
A pale blue had somehow remained hidden in the shadows, unnoticed, but he finally worked up the nerve to approach the candidates. Like his own shadow, an equally pale green followed at his heels.
They both hesitated in front of the candidates, but finally, the blue picked Neyath, and the other dragon crooned happily. My name's Midath!
And my name's Tamith... the green said to no one in particular. She glanced back at her mother. But my bond isn't here yet, Mother. Can I stay here with you and Father? Teyumeth nodded regally, and Tamith settled down at her mother's side to watch the rest of her siblings bond.
A large blue hatchling broke hastily out of his shell and tumbled into the sand. Spitting grit out of his mouth, he looked up at Isum. Don't tell anyone else about that, would you, Isum? he said sheepishly, and his rider grinned. My name's Tulinarith, by the way.
Another blue had hatched unnoticed by the crowd and the candidates, both. Finally tired of being ignored, he shouted, Well, I'm Camoth, and I don't want to bond anyone. I'm going somewhere else...Wu Weyr, maybe, he said, and then went to join his siblings in the kitchens.
And now there were only four eggs left, and Teyumeth, and everyone else, watched excitedly, because now her prized gold egg was beginning to crack. As the little queen faught to break out of her shell, one of the other eggs was breaking apart as well. They both escaped at the same time--a gold and a bronze. With Teyumeth hovering protectively overhead, the gold looked over the female candidates remaining, but she soon turned disdainful. None of these candidates will do. None of them. Mother, get some other girls over here, she whined, but Teyumeth snorted.
No. If you don't want to bond any of them, you'll have to wait with all the other unbonded dragons, Falideth.
Falideth sulked, and Tamith laughed at her sister from her position at Teyumeth's side. The gold hatchling glared at her venomously.
The bronze had likewise inspected the male candidates, and likewise, had come away disappointed. None of these candidates are for me. I guess I'll wait here with Falideth, Druedoniath said, sitting down at the gold's side.
The last two eggs hatched, to reveal another bronze and a brown. The brown looked over the remaining candidate with good humor, but shrugged. Nope, I'm stumped as well. To the Abandoned Sands for me as well, though I think it should be called the Unbonded Sands, really, or something.
The others all sighed. Whatever, Murrdeth.
The second bronze stared at the candidates, perplexed. These humans are such odd creatures, aren't they? I don't think I want to bond any of them. I'll wait around for someone better, Lackadeinth decided.
The unbonded dragons were perplexing, but the hatching was over, and it was time for everyone to leave, and the hatchlings were hungry. Hopefully, they would all find their riders eventually.