[Hatching] A Million Marks and a Dream

[Jabberwoky]

TW: More biting

As the first impression settled and went with almost little drama, the small shell of the Royal Bee egg burst open with a brilliant, bright flash of color. This little dragonet surely was not going to be missed, and as she stalked towards the candidates it was clear why.


A green!

A smaller green, with a round head and large eyes. Her hide was bright and vivid, dark green liberally splotched with lighter shades and hints of an almost neon color.

She flung herself at the candidates, intentionally shoving Tygir with her hips. She hissed at him, then stalked off to Spensa. With a loud growl, she reeled back and sank her teeth into the young lady's arm, biting once, then twice for good measure. Only after did she skitter off, biting at Bronson's robes and holding on. This was a problem.

You! Bow down and worship me. I am your QUEEN! She snarled.

At Bronson.

This was a more different problem.

Amdist the drama, the Budding Hero wobbled.


----

Hatched: 2/14

[MothyCake]

Candidate Fujin - Bronson

Fujin watched as the newly hatched dragon approached Spensa and delivered, not one, but two bites to her arm. He flinched a bit, moving his arm away in response. He was glad when the dragon moved over to Bronson and began to bite at his robes. He watched with an amused smirk on his face as the dragon seemed to impress to Bronson.

That was why he decided to voice his congratulations.

"Congratulations, Bronson, looks like you got your perfect match." He said with a smirk. This was humorous to the candidate, Fujin crossing his arms and looking at Bronson.

[Kitarial]

Candidate Bede - Bronson, Open

Bede watched as the next egg hatched, the green that came from within as violent as her brown brother had been. Since the ones she attacked weren’t Bronson, he had an ounce more sympathy, wincing as she bit Spensa not once, but twice. However, it was Bronson she approached, and Bronson she seemed to want, biting down on his robes and refusing to let go, clearly having made her choice.

The grin that spread across his face couldn’t have been hidden even if he wanted to.

“Hey Bronson! Looks like you got exactly what you deserved!” he called, basking in the sweet justice that was his roommate impressing green. Bede wanted bronze as much as Bronson had, but his reasons were vastly different. Green for a boy who was so blatantly mired in traditionalist views, with a sexist mindset, was probably the best thing he could have ever expected for his former roommate. When he smiled, it was full of teeth. Ah, sweet sweet justice.

[Ezra]

Ryne of Green Iseleth - Aoi, Meguyakuth (mention)

Ryne smiled softly. " Ah, sorry if that question caused you discomfort. I hope your friend impresses soon so you can spend more time together in the future. There are plenty of eggs to go, they have a good chance as any." Ryne replied then looked down on the sands at Mithras and sighed softly. She did miss chatting with Mithras but since she impressed Iseleth, there was just not enough time in the day it seemed that one was not busy and could not see the other. Thinking about the other girl did cause Ryne to flush slightly. " I have some one down there too that I am hoping impresses. She has been there a long while and I miss her company." She replied, a hand on her cheek, attempting to partially cover her blush. Mithras really did deserve to impress. She wanted that for her with all her being.

Iseleth snorted slightly at the further reaction the other green was giving her and got up and turned towards Meguyakuth, giving her a long stare for a moment before she took to the air and flew off to another perch, putting as much space between her and the offended green as she could. Settling back down, she resumed her earlier postion, making sure NO DRAGON was in danger of being brushed against by her. She just wanted to have a nice quiet evening before Ryne and she got to retire for the evening. It had been a long day after all.

[Grayson]

Bronze Wyrmeth of Weyrleader C'lina

Two strong, healthy dragonets thus far.

Yes, but so far your children appear to be rather, ah, sharp.

Come now, C'lina, that just means they have taste.

C'lina turned to eye her dragon and his sense of humour, then looked back down at the sands to where the drama continued in shades of brown and green and rich blood red.

~~

Candidate Gariston - Bede, mention Bronson, Spensa, L'rnia. Open!

Gariston watched a brown hatch and bite Bronson, and couldn't help but smirk. The number of times he'd wanted to do exactly the same thing. The dragonet went to a girl he didn't really know, and that was fine. He applauded her politely, and sent a smile in her direction.

And then a green hatched and bit Spensa, and Gariston's smirk only grew. So far, these dragonets had taste! And then it went and picked Bronson, which was both hilarious and a nuisance. The young man who'd been so sure he was destined to be a bronzerider wasn't going to be a bronzerider, but he was still going to be a dragonrider and in the strictest interpretations of rank he'd probably rank a mere second son.

Ah well. If Gariston didn't Impress this time he'd likely never see Fort's dragonriders again, unless he was married off to one of the Holds in Fort's protectorate. He wouldn't have to endure the boy's obnoxiousness with a polite smile.

But that was when Bede's shout intruded on his thought processes, and the Holdborn man looked to the other Candidate. "Now, now," he murmured. "It is so very funny, but he's still been chosen to be a dragonrider. Well. Dragonwalker. The rest of us can only hope to be as successful."

[EW-NA]

Candidate Tygirtaull - Doobie Doo Wop Bop
--

Tygir remembered the Royal Bee from the Touching. Awesome colored but with a personality that would rather have him licking the bottom of boots instead of dealing with them. He hadn't intended to give them the time of day, in actuality. Snub the little grouch as it did him before!

Still, his eyes couldn't help but turn when the gold and blue shell cracked fully. Ohhhh --- that sucked!! It was a green, and she looked awesome. Bright colored and neat patterned, but the appreciation was momentary.

The Green charged right into the candidate crowd, and while she offered Tygir no flash of fang, he found himself knocked off balance. The little pest bumped him! Worse yet, sending him on his butt right into a high pile of sand.

"HEY---YOU LITTLE--"

By the time Tygir spit out the sand that managed to get passed his teeth and shake himself from the stupor, the Green had moved on, and apparently chose the rider she was after. With little to no interest left for him.

Tygirtaull's face scrunched as he offered his own jeering hiss back. This was crap-- why did dragons have to be in sand?!

Growling to himself, Tygir steadily tried to push himself back to his feet. Only to catch the corner of his mussed robe under his foot, sending him flopping back down again.

If he kicked out one of his feet to send a bit of sand towards his current least favorite party present... Well, Tygirtaull wouldn't admit it aloud.

[Kitarial]

Candidate Bede - Gariston

His gloating was interrupted by another candidate- Gariston, chastising him. The boy looked over at his fellow candidate with a scoff, clearly unimpressed by the interruption. “As the one who’s been roommates with him since we both got here turns ago… he deserves the heckling. Him impressing green is simply justice, and I’ll absolutely remind him of that,” he pointed out, not really caring for the rest of Gariston’s words.

He would impress, he had to…. Right?

If not now, then some day. Dismissively turning his head from the older candidate, he returned his attention to the eggs, where one of the smaller eggs was rocking. Unlikely to be the bronze or gold he’d hoped for, but another dragon for the Weyr, hopefully one that would do great things with whoever it impressed to.

[Tyto]

Candidate Asch

Hatchings were, as always, eventful things. Asch had, however, gotten surprisingly good at blending into the background during them. He'd been passed over for many clutches by this point, and frankly wasn't holding his breath for this one being any different. Consider it cynical, he didn't really mind. It was sometimes the way of things, and while he was, underneath, disappointed, he knew that there was no point in casting blame or staying bitter. He'd just keep moving forward as he always had done.

As he stood among the other Candidates, practically nothing more than a white blob within a sea of blobs, he folded his arms and watched the eggs. Some were twitching and shaking vigorously, while others were slower. The slower ones would usually pick up in vigor as the hatching wore on, like they were all waiting for their turn in the limelight. First to hatch was a brown, followed by a green, both of whom seemed to have a taste for Candidates. He supposed he should be grateful that he wasn't on the menu, but there was time yet for that to change.

[FirebrandPhlox]

Candidate Costanza - reacting to hatching

Without any time to lose, the next egg was hatching. Costanza felt dead as the Royal Bee's shell cracked. This was one of the eggs that definitely did not like him. The egg produced a stunning green, which would have excited him if not for the clearly nasty attitude the dragonette had. As if the brown hadn't been bad enough, this one was extra bitey. He felt his stomach drop as the green bit Spensa not once, but twice.

What was wrong with these dragons? Were all baby dragons like this? He was deeply reconsidering this whole candidate thing. Getting attacked by a dragon, even a small one, was not appealing at all to him. He shrunk a bit from the remaining eggs, no longer wanting to be the first candidate the hatchings spotted.

________

Candidate Aneesa - Heiro

Aneesa's brow furrowed with concern. Heiro was probably right, that the healers would have escorted Bronson from the sands. "Well, if the healers aren't panicking, I guess he is fine. "

The words had barely escaped Aneesa's mouth when the next egg hatched. The green was pretty, but seemed to be as mean tempered as her brother. Aneesa flinched as she watched the dragonette bite Spensa twice. In a low, hurried voice she asked Heiro, "are all the hatchings like this? Are these dragons just rottenor something?

[Tortellini]

Jeremiah of Brown Cogeath - Tuckal

Jeremiah winced as one young man got his hand bitten by the first hatchling, a brown. But the brown made his Impression without further incident, and he felt himself relax again. A bit of chomping was perfectly normal. Especially compared to what had happened to the woman who'd foolishly tried to force-Impress Nornth.

"Yes, a good start." It felt like no sooner were the words out of his mouth than another hatchling, a green this time, also bit a candidate. Again, nothing serious, but two in a row?

"Well, then. If I had a mark for every time that happened so far, I'd have two marks. Which isn't a lot, but odd that I'd have two already." He wondered if the next hatchling would make three. He'd start to be somewhat concerned about the clutch if it did.

[nineofswords]

Br'on of Green Mesomelath - Spensa, Weyrlingmasters
CW: blood (she bite)

Ugh, the next egg to hatch also hadn't liked him. Of course. It was the only one that had actively expressed a desire to bite him, and of course the nasty little thing was green. Bronson took several steps back, hoping to give the dragonet a wide berth. And he had been right to do so, it seemed, when she immediately launched in among the candidates and started causing havoc.

The assault on Tygir wasn't too violent, but he couldn't help but cheer a little bit when she bit Spensa not once but twice. It was about what the candidate herself deserved, always wanting to take a chunk out of everyone else. For a moment, he hoped it'd impress to her as well just for added humor, but no such luck.

And then the little terror came straight for him.

"No no no no no, back off," he told her, trying to get out of the green's way, but she managed to hook her claws into the fabric of his clothes and wasn't letting go. "Shoo, go find your actual bond," he snapped at this monster. Whoever ended up saddled with her would certainly have a bad time for the rest of her natural life. He was so busy trying to pull away from her and not get mauled in the process that he accidentally caught the green's eye, and when her horrid voice echoed in his head, he knew he should've just let her bite him.

"NO!" he all but screamed, horror on his face as he realized what had happened.

YES, she hissed back at him. You WILL bow before me, worm. It is your rightful role, as mine is to be your magnificent, magnanimous ruler. She had clearly misunderstood what the 'no' was in response to. He absolutely wasn't going to bow down to this creature, obviously, but this just wasn't right! He was a boy! A boy who liked girls! He wasn't supposed to be on a green! Those were for girls and gay guys! Everyone knew that!

That's stupid, and YOU'RE stupid, the dragon scoffed. Why would I care about those things? What I care about is having a dutiful minion to further my plans, and of this sad, sorry lot, you're the only one who shows a glimmer of promise for it. You should feel honored I even allowed you anywhere near my glory, let alone to share a mind with such a glorious queen as I am!

"You are a GREEN, you stupid little thing!" Bronson growled. "You aren't a queen, you will never BE a queen, and you've just made a horrible, horrible mistake!"

I do not make mistakes! she snapped back. I am perfect in every way, and I have chosen you, which means you were the only choice, imperfect though you are proving yourself to be. Perhaps you need a lesson in manners! She released his robes and snapped out, her jaws clamping on his bandaged hand and tugging. Bronson cried out, but didn't dare yank his hand back for fear of giving himself worse injuries. He could feel the bond solidifying in his mind, and realized in horror that he'd spent too long arguing with her, and he had missed his window to reject her outright. Sure, it would've shattered his mind, but surely he could live with that. Or maybe he just felt that way because he no longer had a choice.

He was vaguely aware that people were calling tauntingly to him, but he was too caught up in the pain in his hand, the monster before him, and the blood roaring in his ears as the full weight of this nightmare started to settle on him. This wasn't how this was supposed to be. He wasn't supposed to be canon fodder. He was supposed to be a bronzerider, the eventual Weyrleader of Fort. Never fear, rider mine, we shall be SO much greater than mere Weyrleader, Mesomelath assured him, and he shuddered to have her speak to him so possessively...but also because there was a part of him that desperately craved what she was promising him.

The green all but dragged Bronson across the sands to the buckets of meat, laying claim to him and humiliating him in the same fell swoop. Once they'd reached the buckets, she finally released him, sitting back on her haunches and flaring her wings in an attempt to make herself appear larger and more grand than she was. Hear me, denizens of Fort Weyr, she cried, broadcasting to everyone in the stands. I am Mesomelath, and my human is now Br'on! You will remember our names!

"She's insane," Br'on said, turning wide, tear-streaked eyes to the weyrlingmasters. "Do you see what she did to the others? To me? The person she decided was her rider? Isn't there anything you can do about this?" He had accepted the honorific without a fight at least, though. He liked the way it sounded, though he hadn't even realized how seamlessly he'd accepted it.

[Jabberwoky]

Lexien of Brown Mikazuchith - B'ron and his terror

Oh boy.

The pair could see it from the second it happened. This was going to be one of those days. As the new greenpair made their way to the buckets, Lexien was already braced for the tantrum.

And there it was.

Mikazuchith snorted at Mesomelath dismissively. If he could roll his eyes, he would. Just settle down and eat. He said, significantly bigger than the hatchling green.

The Weyrlingmaster herself just shook her head, hands on her hips. "No, once a dragon chooses, there's nothing to be done. She may not have been your first or second choice, but she's the one who chose you. It's going to be a big adjustment no matter what you got." There was a pause. "Do you need a hug?"

[Calingaladha]

Alara of Garnet Alubrath

Distracted temporarily from her conversation, Alara leaned forward as one, then two dragonets emerged. The first bite earned a grimace, but the spicy little green was even more determined. Or vicious?

Alara watched after the dragonets, vicious and not, with a look of almost longing, earning her a long stare from Alubrath.

None of them could outdo me. If you want a cute baby, you should hatch a two-legger one.

But Alara still looked, and squealed just a little. They were so cute!

[MothyCake]

Aoi of Blue Kurabeth - Ryne

"Oh no, it's quite alright." Aoi smiled at her, "The truth of the matter is.. there's a guy I'm really fond of that I hope impresses soon. I don't want him to think I'm just leaving him in the dust." He sighed a bit before flinching as he saw the new green bite Spensa twice and grab onto Bronson. He was thankful he was no longer in the sands, taking a deep breath.

"These dragonets have been aggressive lately. I hope that doesn't imply that the entire clutch will be aggressive." He sighed a bit, moving to look at Ryne.

[Ezra]

Ryne of Green Iseleth - Aoi

" Well let us hope both of our friends are fortunate this day." Ryne replied with a smile then frowned as the green hatched and bit another candidate, twice even before impressing on a boy that seemed very much unhappy. Oh dear.. so many bites already and only two dragons in. " They really have been. I hope some more calm tempered babies hatch to balance this out." She added, looking concerned. She trusted the proper folk were making sure that the bitten were treated but no one ever wanted to see a mauling happen and given the show so far, Ryne feared that the next bitey baby might be even more.. teeth on. That did make her glad she was not down there still but looking at the candidate line, she did have concerns for those she did know.