Clutch 7--Shutzth and Septonomonath

 It was late at night when Shutzth's eggs began to rock. The sky outside the hatching chamber was inky black with almost no stars visible in the sky, hidden beneath dark clouds. A full moon was the only source of light outside Darkling Dawn, though glows and torches still lined its inner walls.
Shutzth was currently curled around the mound of sand where she had buried her eggs, still fast asleep. She barely noticed when the sands were shifted, and two eggs were revealed by their frantic motions, and the green dragoness only shifted slightly in her sleep.
The two hatchlings, first to hatch, glanced at each other exasperatedly. The larger of the two, a dark brown male glanced at his smaller green sister, and as one, they began to cry and keel pitiously.
The noise finally woke Shutzth up, and the clutch mother was startled to see two young faces staring up at her accusingly. You're late, you know. The brown grumbled.
Yes, you're supposed to alert the weyr that we're hatching, aren't you? The green added.
Well? Shutzth blinked in surprise and bewilderment, then huffed at being reprimanded by her own children. Nevertheless, she bugled to her rider, and her mate, brown Septonomonath, and announced to Darkling Dawn that her eggs were hatching.
The two hatchlings waited patiently on the hot sands as the residents slowly trickled into the stands. During this time, they were joined by another green and a blue, who joined their siblings as they waited for the candidates to appear.
The candidates, none too happy at being woken up, were still glancing at the already-hatched dragons hopefully as they formed a semi-circle around the area where they guessed the rest of the eggs were hidden. It was hard to tell, however, what with the constant shifting of sand and more and more eggs appearing.
With a creel, the first green stood up and walked toward a young woman. Mistress looked up at the tiny green dragon approaching, and smiled. "Zibeth..." She whispered.
You're late. Zibeth said, and butted her head against the woman's side, begging for her head to be scratched. But that's okay, I like you anyway. The green crooned as Mistress scratched her eyeridges obligingly, then they left to get food.
The brown had watched this with disinterest, but now he strode forward, and stopped in front of one of the odder candidates. Ravi stared down at the dark brown, looking slightly bewildered, but the dragon didn't seem to notice, and crooned happily as he sat down, looking up at the centaur.
My name is Mendath. The medium-sized brown said. And you will be-
"I think my name will be Ravi, Mendath." The centuar said with a smile as he patted the dragon's head.
Tch. Fine. Mendath said, rolling his eyes. Have it your way.
Ravi didn't say anything, he only smiled as he led the brown off the sands.
The green and blue looked on as another two eggs cracked, sending sand flying everywhere. From one came a smallish-sized brown dragon, who shook his head and joined his other siblings to wait his turn to bond. The other yielded two creeling balls of green. The twin greens hissed at each, then turned their backs and sat down on opposite sides of the sands.
One of the female candidates stepped forward, and walked toward the smaller of the two twin dragons. "Meereth." Velzleiss said softly. "Come, I'll feed you." Meereth crooned, and calmly followed the merwoman away.
The other twin green snorted and, standing up, trotted over to another of the female candidates, and butted her head against the girl's leg. I'm Shiriteth. She said cheerfully. You'll be my rider, won't you, Shamira?
The snake shifter didn't speak, but just smiled down at the dragoness and nodded. The crowd applauded as the two newest bonded exited the sands, then turned their attention to the three dragons still unbonded. The large brown, bright blue, and dark green dragons all sat beside each other, watching patiently. As if by mutual agreement, the green was the first to stand up and run over to her bond.
She stopped in front of Cyanide, but sat down beside him and refused to move. My name's Poisiionth, Cyanide, but don't leave yet. She said quickly.
Cyanide blinked in confusion, but shrugged, and sat down beside the dark green to watch the rest of the hatching.
Once Poisiionth's rider was seated, the blue dragon stepped forward, not to the candidates, but towards the stands, where Weyrwoman Teah and her golden Eoth were watching from the front row. I wish not to bond, Weyrwoman. The blue said shyly. I'm Fredith.
Teah nodded. "Then go to Calyeni Caverns." She said, and the blue agreed before someone came to take the unbonded dragonet away.
I say, that sounds like a good idea! The brown dragon finally spoke up. I'm going to Shivran Aerd! Frykath shouted.
A growl from Eoth made the brown cower. Er, that is, with your permission, Weyrwoman. He added with his wings covering his eyes in fright.
Teah laughed and agreed.
Two more eggs were unearthed as their wobbling shells shifted sand off of them. The first egg cracked open to reveal a pale blue dragonet. The other dragon was hidden from view behind him, but a dark green head peeked out from behind her brother's outstretched wings.
The blue trotted off without hesitation towards the candidates, and after a short pause, the green stumbled after him. The green creeled as she slipped down a particularly deep inclination of sand, and landed in a heap at the feet of a female candidate.
Ovi gasped as she knelt beside the green dragonet and helped her up. "Sulenth! Are you alright?"
The green blinked, spitting sand out of her mouth, then turned her rainbow eyes on Ovi. Yes, I'm fine now. Thanks, Ovi. She butted her against the woman's arm, and she reached out to stroke the dragon's head, belatedly realizing that she'd Impressed...
The moment was cut short as the pale blue snorted in indignation at the scene. Sulenth hissed irritably before standing up and running off to where food waited as Ovi struggled to keep up with her.
The blue dragon trotted over to the candidates and plopped down beside Cyanide, resting his head in his front paws. Cyanide blinked and glanced to his other side, where Poisiionth was sitting up, staring at the blue with her head cocked. "Umm..." He started, unsure what to do.
Hi. The blue stated boredly. I'm Vashith, by the way. Then he caught sight of Poisiionth staring at him, and snorted. And you're a pain in the rear. He scowled at the green.
Poisiionth hissed in reply. And you need to learn some manners, if we're going to be living together.
Bah, who needs you? Vashith snarled. C'nide and I can manage perfectly well without you.
The argument was postponed when C'nide suggested that they went to go eat, and both dragons agreed enthusiasticly.  C'nide would have his hands full with those two...
Three more eggs appeared, and that seemed to be the last of them, for the sands finally stilled once the eggs had cracked. From the largest one came a stocky blue, the others sported two green dragons. The blue gave a little shake, and trotted toward the last male candidate, Keahi.
I'm sorry I took so long, Ka'hi, but it's hard trying to dig yourself out of sand. The blue said, and stole a glance towards his dam. Oh! My name's Qekoth, by the way. The large blue nuzzled the fox-shifter's hand and crooned as they left the sands.
The greens glanced at each other, and as one, they both made their decisions. My bonded is not here, Weyrwoman. May I go to Shivran Aerd? The larger of the two greens asked. Teah nodded her agreement, but the green dragoness had to be stopped at the exit to get her name. Oh! It's Estroth. She stated sheepishly.
The smaller green watched her sister leave alone, and quickly sought out a young woman named Oliavia. I'm glad you're here, Oliavia. My name is Rhalelath. She crooned happily.
Her new rider smiled down at her. "So am I, Rhalelath."
Thus ended the seventh hatching of Darkling Dawn. And for once, there were no disappointed candidates left over.