Qia drags her attention away from the bit of mending she was doing and tries to fit herself back into the conversation with a blank expression. "Eggs?" Her attention moves towards Caoimhe, head swivelling up from the shirt in her lap that looks a little worse off for whatever wear it's been through.
Caoimhe raises a lazy hand in greeting. "This is our local person-in-authority," she remarks to Fiora. "We call him a Weyrleader and stick lots of fancy tassels on his knot, but he's really just a little boy at heart." She gives a sweet smile. "Hi, Rh'esh."
Arilynne follows Rh'esh dutifully in from the bowl, hoping to prove to him that she really is deserving of the gift promised. "Evening," is directed towards those already in the cavern before she resumes hounding the rider, wet hair dripping a trail down the back of her tunic. "What if I helped wash Syrth, then would I deserve it?" No easy task that Aril's willing to take on.
Baron blinks in from ::between::!
Rh'esh slips into the Living Cavern, along with Arilynne. Quick smiles are sent towards various people who recognize him. "Hello, hello," he calls, then grins at Aril. "Wash Syrth? Well, that would be an awfully big job." He doesn't say whether or not that would make her 'deserve it.'
Fiora nods at the newly entered personnages,"Hello, I'm Fiora of the Enlander traders." she repeats, not knowing quite what else to say, to a weyrleader, no less.'
Qia's attention swing towards Arilynne first, then over towards Rh'esh curiously, eyes narrowing as she sizes him up, then turns back towards Caoihme, since she seems like someone who 'knows' stuff. "Does he buy wood?" she questions, comparing him to Fort's Weyrleader, who apparently does, and even more so, .. *gasp* .. sells it. Name? She was supposed to give her name?
Zathrus nods and extends a hand in greeting "And I am Zathrus, also of the Enlanders"
S'megol has arrived.
Adria comes out of a dark corner, and silently joins in.
S'megol is back, like a bad mark. With hands on his hips and boots on his toes, the old Igenite strides in as if these were /his/ caverns.
Arilynne smiles in Fiora's direction, "Well met, I'm Arilynne," she returns the greeting, adding Zathrus and the rest of the living cavern lot into her reply. Turning her attention back to Rh'esh, she nods her head, "Syrth is rather large, even for a bronze. I'm sure you'd like help a time or two, and well, I'd be willing to help." A perfect little angel is Aril, forget that she's hoping to get something in return for her offer.
Wullan enters from the Weyr's bowl, outside.
Rh'esh smiles and bobs his head in a nod to Fiora. "Nice to meet you. I'm Rh'esh, Syrth's rider." Understated introduction, certainly.
Adria blinks several times as she wakes up. "What?" she rasps. "What's going on?"
S'megol ignores everyone else and heads right for Wullan, actually cracking a smile. "Wull", says the Igen Rider, claiming her with but half a name. "It is time?"
Caoimhe chirps, "And then we stik a woman on a shiny draggie and stick even /more/ tassels on /her/ shoulder. Then we call her a Weyrwoman, but she gets proddy the same as any greenrider." With a shrug, Caoimhe grins. "Hi, Wullan."
Fiora's smile lights up a few more watts."Nice to meet you too."
Josen walks in.
Wullan trickles into the Living Cavern, tiny wherhide boots clicking against the floor. She appears a bit pale, and occasionally stops to rest as she makes her way through the cavern. Peering closely at S'megol, she frowns. "Time? For what?"
Qia purses her lips at Caoimhe and lifts a hand towards her head, scritching at it lightly, shrugging as her question goes unanswered, but oh well, there're other things to do, like look at people .. again, and again, oh, and did she mention, again? "At least this is better than pushing runner's around by their rumps," she comments to no one in particular as her attention wanders.
"Time for the eggs", says S'meg with equanimity moving in alongside the weyrwoman. "Or did I come all this way for nothing?"
Caoimhe glances sharply at Josen. "And that's a Harper," she finishes dprecatingly.
Fiora tries to catch Qia
Wullan raises an eyebrow, and then wipes her face with the back of her hand. "Eggs? Oh, well, um..." Her eyes unfocus slightly, and then she blinks in surprise. "You called Gollumth?" The name is said in a whisper, and then the petite Weyrwoman heads abruptly for the entrance to the Bowl screeching as she goes: "Because you're /what/??"
Fiora tries to catch Qia's eye, and moves toward her fellow trader. Slightly more loudly than really neccessary, she mentions some recently aquired stones and beads."Perfect for the occasional hatching."
Wullan walks out of the Living Caverns into the bowl.
Sofina starts paying attention again.
S'megol follows, smiling. On step, two steps... three steps, four.
S'megol walks out of the Living Caverns into the bowl.
Adria walks out of the Living Caverns into the bowl.
Sofina walks out of the Living Caverns into the bowl.
Qia's attention is following Wullan, as she exits, her eyes slightly wide and her mouth dropped open. "She's what??" She's just /gotta/ know, you know. "I...hey...where are they all going?" She lifts up and waves a hand at Fiora as she wanders out after everyone.
Fiora follows cause curiosity won't let her not.
Qia walks out of the Living Caverns into the bowl.
Fiora walks out of the Living Caverns into the bowl.
Caoimhe rises to her feet, frowning after Wullan. "Rh'esh," she says, frowning. "Did she say - eggs?" Eyes wide, Caoimhe remains eminently immobile, then bolts out the cavern entrance.
Caoimhe walks out of the Living Caverns into the bowl.
Arilynne would vie rather immaturely for Rh'esh’s time and attention, but she's still very aware of that carrot-promise of a gift that Rh'esh has dangled in front of her. Attempting to be on her best behavior, she prepares to start up a conversation only to see everyone leave. "Wh-huh?"
Rh'esh blinks at Wullan and S'megol's sudden departure. "Isabeth's clutching," he asserts with certainty. "Aril, we'd better go."
You climb to the top of the galleries and find yourself at their very highest, backmost level.
Keria is but one Harper of many, moving as they do like a herd of cats down into the galleries: oh the chatter, oh the noise, oh the laughter and silly excited voices. But Keria mostly watches, whispering a smile to the gathered firelizards she thrums back to on the way by. To Qia, Keri turns. "A clutching, they say. Isabeth there."
Adria turns to Qia. "I don't know, but I think that the queens are about to clutch." she rasps. "Don not take my word on it, though."
Charlton walks in.
Josen walks in.
Sofina appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.
Sofina smiles at all the new faces
Qia's hands flutter slightly at that and push up into her hair, fluffing it out away from where it's sticking to her forehead. "Well! Whaddya know.." she comments, jaw dropping some more as she makes her way down the steps towards the very edge. No doubt blocking someone's view. "Of all the luck!" she chatters excitedly, leaning against the edge. "I've never even /seen/ a dragon egg..."
On the sands, Isabeth suddenly stops, appears to ponder for a moment, then begins to dig. First one, then another tiny depression appear in the Sands. Wullan just stands quietly to one side, normally impish face creased with the effort of her lifemate as the contractions continue.
On the sands, S'megol is not the least bit perturbed at Istabeth's scrutiny. "He is pleased", indicating the pale, corrugated bronze that hops lizard-fashion colser to Isabeth. "She looks well, Wullan." And S'meg, in turn, scrutinizes the young weyrwoman. "Care to hold my hand?"
Sofina smiles to qia. I have never seen an egg either!
Fiora appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.
Arilynne follows Rh'esh up the steps, panting slightly. "Wait, what's this about a clutching? What clutching?" Aril is just a bit slow today, her brain taking longer than usual to switch tracks from gift to eggs.
On the ledge, Kalona has arrived.
On the sands, Gollumth does hop: hop hop hop -- long and awkward hoppingssss that take him ssss o much clossser to Issasssabeth. His tongue snakes out in encouragment, though he knows enough to stay out of the way.
On the sands, Wullan nods curtly at S'megol, wiping sweaty hands off on her cranberry vest. "I'd like that," she murmurs, voice carrying further in the echoing confines of the Hatching Grounds. Actually, what she really needs is for this clutching to be done, and Isabeth ensconced in the Grounds safe and sound.
Kalona walks down the stairs from the ledges above.
Zathrus appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.
On the sands, Isabeth ignores her mate, more interested in digging those depressions for her preciousss eggs than in commiserating with the bronze. The contractions deepen, and she ceases to dig in favour of concentrating her efforts egg-wise.
Qia leans a bit more over the edge, peering down onto the sands, though at least the forwards tilt of her doesn't block someone's view now. Well, hopefully. "I always wanted to see one of these things.." Of course, she doesn't know that they can last for hours on end, or the better part of a day. She's not weyrfolk after all.
Josen heads into the Galleries., smilJosen heads into the Galleries., smile on his face for the wonder suffusing the face of the child in his arms. "Yeah, she'll be making eggs soon. Just watch, Calder," he informs the red-headed lad in his arms before nodding respectfully to all those in attendance.
Charlton pauses, assessing the situation. He has seen eggs. "It's a wonder we're allowed to watch at all," he says, moving down the stairs toward harper apprentices. "When my wife gave birth, I sure didn't want anybody else there. Well, we needed a healer, never mind that Mitzu /is/ one; apparently one can't be one and need one at the same time, and Master Taleya herself used the whole situation as a training experience, and ..." He talks more, but really, it's hardly worth noting what he said. There's an egg.
Rh'esh snatches up Arilynne's hand and leads her down through the rows of seats, down to a resonably good couple of free spaces down front. "C'mon, Isabeth's clutching. Sit here... the seats are much better than the ones higher up." He's very directive, no?
On the sands, S'megol holds out his Igen-dark hand: smooth, cool, long-fingered and pale at the palm and fingers, but darker than even an Istan tan might bring on the other side. "Yesss." Turning he catches the arrival of the First Egg to repeat. "/Yessss/."
Caoimhe dances lightly down the steps to the very front. Never mind that she's not supposed to be there. Sharp eyes spot many, many strands of Harper blue, but /her/ Harper is not there, and only she knows why. A soft murmuring greets thefirst egg. "Lovely. A blue."
On the sands, Gollumth scurries around along the outer edges of those trenches like the expectant father that he is.. Yesss yess yesssss... ssseeee? He applauds the arrival of the egg with a clapping of wingsails.
Josen points out the first egg to his brother, chuckling as small blue eyes go wide. "Make sure your eyes don't fall out," he teases his brother.
On the sands, Isabeth peers curiously at the egg, sniffing it in motherly interest before burying it partially in the sands. She paces once more, careful of the One Egg alone in the Sands.
Kalona threads her way through the mass of people to take up position at the front row of the galleries. After a few moments waffliing, she perches on the edge of the railing.
Qia's attention is wholeheartedly upon the sands, her rumpend making a good deal of movement as she all but hops up and down. Being ladylike is overrated. "Look there! She dropped one!" As if everyone else /hadn't/ seen that. Leaning over a bit more, she places herself in an all too precarious position.
Keria is a harper apprentice, and so smiles up at the Masterharper if he gets down that far. "Aye sir. But then Chaimu was but one. Perhaps, as Isabeth is likely to lay more than this first, she does not mind us watching?" And, with another impish little smile as she shifts over, "Or perhaps she just has more on her mind."
Adria looks irritable around the people's heads in front of her. "I can't see!" she hisses. "What's going on? Has she layed an egg yet?"
Arilynne obediently follows Rh'esh to said seats and settles down, eyes wide. "Already?" Aril's not sure if this is where she wants to be if that's what has the weyr in an uproar, but concerns are forgotten as the first egg makes its way onto the Sands. "Oh..." she sighs in delight.
Fiora new to such surroundings is enthralled. A genuine 'egg'! She helplessly and uncounciously moves forward.
On the sands, Wullan walks towards the newly laid egg, brushing away a bit of the Sands to have a good look at it. She smiles wanly up at Isabeth, who stops pacing long enough to nuzzle her lifemate. "It's beautiful, Isabeau!" is breathed.
Sofina is entraced by the egg and seems to have a fixed grin. Wullan must be so prowed!
On the sands, Gollumth does indeed have more things on his mind than spectators and noisy sorts. Isssasssbeth is making him eggsssss. Carefully his nose edges inquisitively along the sands, burrowing its way towards the first egg. The One egg.
"Perhaps nobody asked Isabeth anything about her preferences," Charlton does indeed sit by Keria. "Or perhaps a clutching demands witnesses, or counters, or recorders, or admirers."
It's about now that Qia discovers just how much hotter in here, than it is outside in the bowl. "Hot.." The comment spins past her lips without much thought behind it as a hand lifts to peel hair off her forehead where it sticks in beading sweat. "Wonder how many she'll lay..." she questions of no one in particular, but ends up turning and peering at Kalona, somewhat, since she too is leaned over the rail.
Rh'esh nudges Arilynne in the ribs, grinning. "Look, look, it's the first! What colors, as well." He muses a moment. "I can't imagine what color would be inside it, though." He flashes a quick grin at her. "There's no need to say 'already,' you know. It has been the required three months since Isabeth rose."
On the sands, S'megol makes a good show of not-wincing and offers. "Yes, indeed it is. Is she finished then?"
On the sands, Isabeth takes up the paces again, spiralling outwards from the One Egg, again squatting as a bright orange and black egg joins it's brother, disappearing quickly under a shower of Sands.
Josen laughs again. "No, you can't touch it, Calder. Don't you remember what I told you about Clutchings?" he asks, shifting the child in his arms. Five Turn olds can be heavy.
On the sands, Wullan shakes her head, and gestures towards the newest addition. "Oh, no, S'meg - I think she's got quite a ways to go yet." She smacks her lips dryly - always gets rather dry on the Sands.
Arilynne wasn't counting, and so she sniffs. "Doesn't seem like three months." Head turns as she catches Rh'esh remark about color, "Do you think Syrth has an idea of what color's inside?"
On the sands, Gollumth pauses in his quest to touch the First Egg, shifting attention towards the Istan-colored one for a moment before it is buried out of sight. With an almost perceptible shrug the old bronze goes back to sniffing out the first one. Forwards he goes, inch by inch.
Sofina sits quietly in the corner thinking to herself...I wonder how many eggs?...She looks around the gallaries to see if there are anyfaces she recogneses.
Fiora notices Josen and waves a brief happy hello before turning back to the sands just in time to see the second egg. She also spots Qia leaning at a most precarious angle over the edge."Watch out Qia, don't want you with your nose in the sand!" she calls
On the sands, Isabeth circles warily, contractions now so regular, her teakwood sides shimmer and wave. A magenta swirled egg arrives, followed shortly by a dark blue ovoid. Then the queen seems to pause overlong, straining to deliver herself of the next addition.
On the sands, S'megol says, "Oh. Of course." And turns on eye on his dragonhis dragon. "Gollumth! Leave it alone before you've another gold after your hide. I am sure it is just fine."
Rh'esh grins and winks at Arilynne. "Oh, probably, but he isn't the telling type. Anyway, it isn't his clutch, so I doubt he'd be as interested as he will be in Nyssath's." Rh'esh is only guessing, though. It isn't like he's been through this before.
Kalona swings her legs against the edge, causing a steady drizzle of built-up sand to rain upon the clutching grounds. From the corner of her eye, she catches view of the weyrleader. A look of pure martyrdom crosses her face as a sigh racks her entire frame.
Josen shakes his head head, then finally find a seat high enough to settle Calder down where he can see everything too. Once that's completed, he waves towards Fiora and calls out a, "Hello."
Boggle, Qia's head twists around and grins at Fiora. "What a thought...wonder how far it is.." the last part of her comment trails off into thought. Thinking. Thinking. *DING* "Too far, I'd probably hurt myself..." She even forgets that she sort of asked Kalona something and just goes back to staring over the edge at the new egg on the sands.
Keria glances at Kalona, Harper's eyes taking in both the look and the sigh. She nudges her seat mate and whispers something in his ear.
Casslyn appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.
Casslyn walks directly over to Adria. "Do I know you from somewhere?" she asks cheerfully, sitting down to the girl. "Oh yeah! I think so! Lotsa eggies down there, aren't there?" she asks, then cranes her neck for a better view. "What's going on?"
Fiora gives up her spot, the heat off of the sands is fierce and it will be a while before Isabeth is finished. She moves up to where Josen sits holding and adorable wiggling little boy.
Charlton stops talking long enough to listen to Keria. "Hmm?"
Speaking of Nyssath, "Great Faranth, she rose..." Aril quickly counts the days and months on her fingers and gapes at Rh'esh in shock. "She's due soon as well, no? It's been about three months as well since you were made weyrleader." More eggs, more candidates, more victims. Aril wonders if hiding in a weyr is possible.
Sofina walks down a few rows, the seats there look slightley better positions but no tin the way of anyone
Sylla sits near the front, having slipped in a few hours before the clutching. "Honestly, I didn't know that it was today..." she insists as one of her fellow weaver apprentices comments about their seating. Then, returning to her silence, she pans the gallery then the sands.
On the sands, Isabeth admires her newest creation, nosing it into just the right depression, and again covering it partly with the black Sands. Wullan shakes her head and comments in an aside to S'megol: "I wonder will she bury 'em all d'you think?"
Keria turns back to Charlton as well, gathering up the original conversation like threads to a loom. "Yessir, there is that. But will she want to share the sands with Vae's queen? It is true she is soon a'clutching as well?"
Adria rolls her eyes. Just great. Casslyn. "Not a lot of eggs." she rasps. "Just two so far. And if I could see, I'd tell you what was going on!"
On the sands, Gollumth does not believe for a minute that the egg is not-fine. He just wants to touch it. The great long and spiky inch-grub makes his way sssslow sssslow sssssslowly towards the egg.
Caoimhe gives only a skeptical grunt to the glowing purple egg, but comes alive at the sight of the second. "oooh." Captivation. "It's /shiny/." And fire! The pyromaniac's slate blue eyes are starry with admiration. "Fire."
Regardless of the people in back of hers feellings, Casslyn picks Adria up to see onto the Sands. "Is that better?" she asks. "Or d'ya need to go up hu(higher)?"
On the sands, Isabeth indulgently allows Gollumth to get within a few spans of the egg before she hissssses softly in the midst of her agony - go no further is clearly her message.
Rh'esh wouldn't suggest hiding in a weyr. Especially not his, since he doesn't tend to deal with laundry well. He flashes a grin at Aril. "Yup. We've been waiting a while now. You haven't noticed Syrth brooding?" he jokes. Truthfully, the bronze tends to be broody most of the time, so it might be hard to tell a difference.
On the sands, S'megol would be the last to admit he knows little of clutchings. "I would suspect she should, so as to keep them warm. It must be quite a shock, I would think, to the eggs. Though I suppose there is nothing as yet inside to worry about. Is it true that what a queen eats, when mated, might determine what sort of eggs she lays?"
Machias walks in.
"I don't know," Charlton answers truthfully, though his ears are practically swiveling in his attempt to hear all the conversations. "Maybe. Listen." Listen, Keria, as opposed to, say, watch.
Josen smiles, making sure Calder doesn't wiggle too much. "Greetings, Fiora. Told you I'd see you again, didn't I?" he grins, chuckling as Calder oohs at the second egg.
On the sands, Gollumth heard that and stops dead: for a moment he hesitates, caught in indecision, and then one more look at Issssasssbeth confirms she really is far larger than he is; he slumps, sulking, and makes no further move towards the eggs. At least not yet.
Adria flails her arms about, idngint about being picked up. "Put me down!" she hisses. "The people in back of us won't be able to se!" Still, she /does/ know what is going on. "There's eggs down there." she tells the other girl. "That's it."
On the sands, Wullan just raises both eyebrows and blinks. "What she eats when mated? I've never heard that. I thought it was how far and how high the flight went." A contraction takes both rider and dragon, Wullan sucking in breath as she shares in her lifemate's anguish.
Kalona's attention is again diverted to the sands, noting thankfully she has gone unnoticed. Maybe she can get through one encounter without dawn sweeps. That's not a lot to ask, is it?
Kalrania walks in.
Keria will and subsides back into her seat: she watches, she listens, she sponges up the conversations around her, and the drama in front.
Casslyn , hurt, drops Adria into a seat. "Sorry." she says guiltily. "Just eggs? No dragons? No queens? No nothing!!!???" she wails. The people in back of her are beginning to grumble.
Shava appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.
On the sands, Isabeth's back arches as she writhes in the throes of yet another vicious contraction, lifting her forepaws off the Sands, she crouches, laying an obsidian egg she quickly buries in the matching Sands.
Ah yes, Kalrania is here, despite whatever caoimhe is no doubt thinking. Glancing cautiously about, she catches sight of Charlton and her brows draw downwards a fraction; then she sights a familiar face. Or head. Or back thereof. Impatiently ducking Casslyn and Adria, she jogs lightly down the stairs and plops down on a seat next to good o,l' Rhi. "Hi."
Arilynne has told Rh'esh time and again to make use of his position to clean up that laundry mess. "So Nyssath's due soon as well." Aril ponders taking a long vacation, and yet the latest arrival is spotted and it draws the Healer. "Look at that one, silvery fire. I do hope Syrth's offspring look as nice," she teases the rider next to her.
Shava goes home.
Sofina gasps as she watches Isabeth on the sands.
Fiora climbs up the rest of the way and sits down next to Josen, Whew, it sure is hot in here. Glad to see you. How has it been since we left? Have you seen Phaedra?" the questions and comments pour out in a torrent, as Fiora catches her breath.
Adria Rolls her eyes as she picks herself back up into her seat. "There's a queen." seh says softly. "And a lot of sand. Nothing else. Three eggs."
On the sands, S'megol eyes his semi-detached hand as if hoping it will be returned to him in one piece. "Yes", manages the bronze-rider through clenched teeth. "I have heard that as well." Pride straightens him slightly. "It was indeed a good flight."
Azure eyes alight upon the sands below as Machias slowly makes the journey to the top of the stairwell. Intent gaze only rips away to watch out for people's feet and in the attempt to locate a seat amist the crowd. "Excuse me...Pardon." Courteous murmurs are given as he squeezes through -- thankful for his partially lean body as he places himself down between a jumpy girl and arather...rotund Harper. Finally, vision is corrected down to the slowly growing mound of sand and eggs below.
Casslyn bites her lip and sniffles. "Only three?" seh asks, disappionted. "Are you /positive/ that they're aren't more? Maybe you're counting is wrong." Once again regardless of other people's feelings, she makes her way down to the first tier with a lot of "Excuses mes" and "Pardon mes". "Nuh uh!" she calls back up to Adria. "There's five eggs!"
On the sands, Wullan breathes - in, out - her hand slackens, and she licks her dry lips again. "Ahhh, better," she says, and returns S'megol's hand to him. "She likes to /share/, see."
Qia's attention suddenly returns, her eyes blinking steadily, then refocussing on the latest deposit below. "Hmm...." thoughtful sound is followed by another bout of quiet staring, as her attention remains fixated, but she does not seem quite all there.
On the sands, S'megol shakes out his hand behind his back, making a fist and letting it go again and again to return the circulation. Then he bravely offers the young weyrwoman his other hand.
Rh'esh preens a moment at the mention of Syrth and Nyssath's future clutch. "Oh, I'm sure they will. Or even better, maybe." Of course they will be better, but Rh'esh is biased. "I just hope doesn't go all organizational-crazy like he usually does." Thank Faranth that Syrth can't alphabetize.
On the sands, Isabeth thrums maternally towards the newest addition, heaping sand upon it with her forepaws before turning towards Gollumth magnanimously. Help if you wish.
Adria can feel a headache coming on. "I don't know her. I don't know he. I don't know her." she mutters over and over again. Perhaps she'll not be shunned yet. "There's only three." she hisses to herself. "I will /not/ let Casslyn influence my mind. I will /not/ let Casslyn influence my mond..." The chant is endless.
Kalrania heaves out an impatient sigh and tries again, slightly louder. "Hi, Rhr-Rh'esh."
Allegria walks in.
Sofina starts to wonder if Adria is ok. In the distance she can her Adria's mummbles chant
Allegria brushes in, skirts swishing against the stone floors, and gives a cheery wave to the Masterharper, one green eye on the proceedings below.
On the sands, Gollumth is only too happy to oblige. With perhaps more enthusiasm then skill, the pale dragon begins tossing ample amounts of Istan Sand onto the newest eggs, showering them with his attentions. He's helping, he is, his preciousssssnesss.
Unworried about how the people surrounding him find the expression to be strange in his wonder-filled eyes, Machias stares on. Only a slightly uncomfortable squirm disrupts his comfort as he realizes, in his haste, he forgot to shuck off his riding jacket. How the Istans must love this heat...Yet this hatching sands heat is different as the man is still left oulling at his collar after the coat is off.
On the sands, Isabeth returns to her task, having shown Gollumth the way. She circles restlessly around her eggs, weaving a spell with her lashing tail, before stopping briefly to lay a bloodred egg, and beside it, an egg the white of a Candidate's robe.
On the sands, Would that be sacrifical white?
Rh'esh hears his name called somewhere in the crowd and looks up. "Oh, hello," he calls. "Good to see you, Kalrania. It's been a long time, hasn't it?" He smiles warmly.
On the sands, Isabeth makes much of her three more babes, peering closely towards Gollumth's work to be sure that he puts his back into it.
Somewhat sourly, Kalrania replies, "I think I'm being left in the dust." She gestures helplessly. "Look at you. What are you now, Weyrleader? And Wullan. and Silver - S'era. They took all my friends in one fell swoop," she sighs, shifting her weight. "So how's Syrth?"
Charlton waves briskly to Allegria, noting, "Wonderful eggs, so far. They're all absolutely unique."
On the sands, Gollumth puts his back into it. And his claws. And his tail. And even the tips of his wings: sand flies, as bad as any Igen sandstorm before S'meg suggest he slow down abit lest they run out of sand. Gollumth subsides, but only slightly. And for awhile any new egg is quickly and thoroughly obscured.
Allegria glides along the galleries in the direction of Master Charlton, nodding her agreement with his statement as she walks. "I can tell. It looks to be quite a spectatcular clutch." A stray auburn curl is pinned up out of her face as she talks.
On the sands, Wullan smothers a smile, schooling her face into calm concern in time for a glance from Isabeth, who seems interested at the moment in nuzzling her eggs with her nose and ensuring they're shrouded in the proper amount of sand.
Machias cranes his neck over a few swaying heads -- no doubt trying, themselves, to get a better viewing -- before he quirks the faint of a smile. Listening only idly to the conversations going about him, his eyes shift from egg to mother to father and then to newly arriving. Only one wish is vocalized, and, at that, meant to be heard by himself: "The kids should've seen this..."
Sofina suddenly spots Arilynne and to try and catch her eye she smiles and waves
Qia settles her chin into her hand and stares down onto the sands, rather speculative, though only in her thoughts, as she debates things no one else can here. It makes her look quite, umm, spacey. Slender fingers tap against a tanned cheek as her lips purse slightly, then part as if to say something, only to snap back shut without a single sound.
On the sands, Isabeth finishes her nuzzling, and straightens from tip of tail to snip of snout...something's afoot...
ahem .. hear
Rh'esh quirks a smile and nods at Kalrania, not noting her sour expression. "No no, it isn't like that at all. I'm sure you've been up to interesting things, haven't you? You must be, if I haven't seen you. Syrth is doing well. G'briel and Llawenth, too. We're weyrmated, you know," he feels compelled to add.
On the sands, Isabeth peers consternatedly at the yellow and white egg, and then appears to make a decision. She places the egg with the others, no more carefully than normal, and returns to her pacing, 'though not before a trio of white and green striped eggs join the Moon Egg on the Sands.
On the sands, Truth. Gollumth, wary of any other dragon, makes sure noone but the two riders disturb their lair. At least not today. His head pops out of the pit he's gone and dug himself, and moves towards Isbeth to inspect the newest arrivals. These too? Okay. He starts setting sand up in a shower again, careful of any eggs already underfoot.
Kalrania coughs a hacking cough, pausing to stare at Rh'esh. "Weyrmated?" A nod. "You - and - you and - G' - G'br - " Slowlyu, her words bubble into laugher, the first in a long time. Holding her stomach, tears streaming down her cheeks, Kalrania only tries to modulate her laughter with the one hand clamped over her mouth.
On the sands, S'megol takes a step out of the way, backing against the weyrwall and shielding his dark eyes from the storm. "He sure is... enthusiastic. Is she done /now?" S'meg tries not to whine.
Allegria occupies an unclaimed seat, gauzy white skirts fluttering about her legs, and pointed chin settling into the palm of her propped-up hand, emerald eyes watching the proceedings with fascination--although a glance is spared for the guffawing apprentice.
Arilynne giggles, he may not be able to alphabetize, but Aril'll bet her last mark on the fact that he'll have those eggies color-coordinated if he gets any say in their placement. "Does that mean that you get to spend however many fun-filled months out here on the Sands with the pair." Aril's not jealous, really, but she will miss his presence. A glance is given to Kalrania as she's prompted to defend Rh'esh, "They do make a lovely couple."
On the sands, Wullan turns her dark eyes towards the burnished queen, pursing her lips as she communes with her lifemate. "She's being curiously evasive," she says slowly. "No, I think there may be another one?" But the weyrwoman is not certain, and her inspection of the now-loose skin of the queen's belly is inconclusive. She bites her lip.
On the sands, S'megol bites his as well, so as to appear concerned.
Kalrania restrains her - ahe,m - guffawing with an effot and a sigh. But the whole business begins again with Arilynne's comment. "A lo - " she gasps, wiping her eyes and giggling anew.
On the sands, Gollumth bites nothing for he is busy digging again. The more sand he heaps on their eggs -- Isssasssbeth and Gollumth, the less they need share with the others.
Phaeron walks in.
On the sands, Isabeth, for her part, merely goes about the tasks of nuzzling the eggs and rearranging them under just enough sand, before she is apparently satisfied. Stepping to one side, the queen regally commences heaping the sand into a great mound. Wullan shakes her head, glad that the contractions have ceased for the moment, 'tho her brow is sweated and she'd be glad of a drink. "What is she doing now?"
Qia's impenetrable shield of attention, er, lack of attention cannot be dented even by Kalrania's guffawing. Oh no, she's quite lost in her thoughts, and getting that glassy-eyed expression usually reserved for riders talking to their lifemates. Only she doesn't have that excuse in the least.
Arilynne belatedly catches Sofina's look and waves the girl closer, "Sofina? There's a seat here." Blinking at Kalrania, she wonders innocently, "What's so funny about Rh'esh and Gabe being weyrmated. I think it's darling." And they're so sharing in their affections, which Aril adores as well.
Rh'esh narrows his eyes at Kalrania and her laughter, responding only with a mmm-hmm. He won't argue over G'briel, though. He chuckles as he turns to Arilynne. "Months? No. Five sevendays. Tisn't so long, is it? It may seem like much longer though... it certainly did when I was a candidate, and I wasn't there from clutching to hatching. He does smile warmly about her comment about him and G'briel.
On the sands, S'megol can claim to be perceptive today, and reaches for the flasks already on hand. "She's..." and then he stops. "Best look for yourself."
Kalrania controls herself. "I really am sorry, Rhi," she apologizes sincerely. "It's just when I remember all the times - " She stifles a snort and glances away at the thought, slightly embarrassed, highly off-character for her. "Erm, never mind."
slowly as to not knock anyone Sofina makes her way to the seat by Arilynne. She smiles across to her " it is nice to see you again. isn't it wonderfull.!"
On the sands, Isabeth trills sweetly as her newest addition makes it's way into the world, nuzzling it into plain view rather proudly. She raises her teakwood head to the bronze and warbles again - just look at what we did!
On the sands, Gollumth /wriggles/: oh no, oh no, its a ring-egg. Its /his/ ring egg. Oh nonononono, how can he contain himself now? As quick as feline on fire, the bronze leaps up from his digging with eyes as big as Rukbat. Precioussss, what have you done? He covets. He desires. He sidles fowards in a rush of pleasure. Preciousss... we are amazing.
On the sands, Gollumth has to share it now? Oh no. Gollumth does not do very well when sharing such things. And it is not even his turnday.
Kalrania's roving eyes fall upon the latest egg - and it /is/ her turnday. Soshe gasps. But she says nothing, just frowns at the egg in startled surprise.
On the sands, Isabeth fairly /glows/, gently pushing the Orb into it's place of honour atop the mound of sand. She turns fiery eyes towards her mate, pushing her head forward to twine necks affectionately with him.
"Gold," Charlton says with satisfaction. "How proud they must be."
On the sands, Gollumth leans in and along Isabeth's golden neck, delighted to be so adorned for a moment. But even then, his eyes focus greedily over top her shoulders and across to the largest of their eggs. Their Eggsssesss.
Sofina is awed by the affection that is caught up with the two dragons on the sands and a warm smile grows accross her face
Katarra walks in.
On the sands, S'megol completes the task of offering Wullan the skin of chilled wine, and then spontaneously hugs her as well: brief, awkward, and embarassed. But he manages it.
Zathrus smiles and waves moving over to stand by Katarra "Hey there"
Qia's attention wanders back into focus and she blinks, "Gold?" Oh of course, that's the only one you can -tell- what it is. She leeeans over a bit more, and stares steadily downwards.
Arilynne shrugs and rather remembered it longer herself. "I'm sure it'll seem short this time 'round," she agrees. "Except for you, I bet after a sevenday or two on the Sands, it'll seem like eternity, Rh'esh," she teases, rather thankful that she doesn't have to go through that trial. Sofina is smiled at as she agrees, "Simply wonderful. I'm glad I was here to catch this." It pays to be a weyr hanger-oner. And then, gold glitters on the Sands and Aril sighs, "Now Syrth's going to have to try to match that feat," she teases the weyrleader.
On the sands, Wullan sighs in great relief, returning S'megol's spontaneous hug with one of her own. "She did it! They did it!" Imp's sparkle glints from her eyes as she adds softly for S'megol: "/We/ did it."
Katarra climbs the steps absently, head already turned toward the sands. Stopping at the top, she turns upon hearing a close voice. "Oh, hello," she smiles.
On the sands, S'megol did? He must have. Noone else is here to take credit.
On the sands, S'megol never had any manners and proves it, stomping out.
On the sands, Isabeth echoes Wullan's sigh as she sinks to the Sands, exhausted, spent. Wullan strides towards the queen, leaning against her lifemate as the gold puts her head slowly onto her forepaws, checking on the eggs one last time before her firstlids fall across her facetted eyes, and she surrenders to much-needed sleep.
Rh'esh's eyes widen, and then he blinks. "A gold. Jays," he breathes, then chuckles, then grins at Aril. "A gold isn't everything, you know. Bronze count is important too. And Syrth seems quite confident about this clutch. Maybe Nyssath's told him something... she is the Senior Queen." His eyes go back to Isabeth's clutch. "Those eggs are lovely, though. Striking colors."
Fiora walking down the stands, comes up behing Qia, and reaches for the over eager trader's belt."Unless you want to be the first at the hatching, O eager one, you better be careful!"
Sofina smiles down to wullan and nods a greeting of well done to both Isabeth and wullan. :) ( she know is probably was not seen)
Qia doesn't have a belt, that'd look quite funny with a dress, but she hears Fiora's comment and turns her glassy gaze around towards her. "Huh? Is it over?" she was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't see the queen turn to resting.
Arilynne bumps Rh'esh softly with her shoulder, "Sure it is," she agrees with a snort, "That's why there's so much to do about a bronze count." But Aril smiles at her friend, letting him know that she's sure whatever Syrth produces will be amazing. And Nyssath, Nyssath contributes a bit as well.
Kalrania rests her chin on her hand, brooding, awaiting.
Fiora smiles,"Yeah for now, where were you?"she eyes the glassy eyed girl. Just what could take Qia's mind away from such a spectacular event? "You Ok?"
Charlton relaxes, since Isobeth so obviously does. "I suppose that's all. I wonder if we should ease out and let her have some peace."
Qia scruffles a hand up through her hair and bites her lip, "Of course I'm okay, I was just.. thinking.." she replies, then glances towards the Sands again. "Hrm, oh well, it was interesting while it lasted.."
Sofina looks accross to Arilynne "thanks for the seat! It was much better than the high one and i did not feel so out of the way and at the back.
On the sands, Wullan turns her face towards the Galleries, searching for the Weyrleader. She strides tiredly over towards the stands. "Rh'esh? That's Isabeth's clutch - all 15 of 'em." A proud smile flashes in those dark impish eyes. "When d'you suppose Nyssath'll clutch?"
Arilynne smiles graciously at Sofina, "But of course, Sofi," she automatically shortens the name. "What else are friends for?" Wullan is noticed in her approach, and she boldly offers her congratulations to the weary weyrwoman. "It's a fine clutch, Syrth and Nyssath'll have trouble matching that one."
Rh'esh spots Wullan hailing him and stands, grinning. "Soon, I'm sure. You've been able to see the eggs defined against her belly for ages. Lovely clutch, too. And a gold!" he calls, offering a bow in salute.
Sofina smiles. Your right 15 is a good number, plus a gold. Sofina takes another snatching glance at the sands
On the sands, Wullan returns Aril's smile, nodding her head in fierce pride. "Aye, they will," a impish wink towards the Weyrleader. "I think she'll sleep for awhile now, but there'll be wine and refreshments in the Living Cavern, so do join in the party."
Kalrania sighs and nods to Wullan, having been previously silent. "Fantastic," she commends, giving her a wan smile. "A queen. I'd stay for the stuff afterwards, but...I have to work on my project, so..." She shrugs. "My regards to Isabeth."
Sofina turns to Arilynne. "will you be joining the party at the Living caver tonight?"
On the sands, Wullan suddenly notices her friend Kalrania and flashes her a great big smile. "Well, hello there, Kalrania," she says, a bit wearily herself. She smothers a yawn. The sleepy queen stirs slightly, making a cradle of her forelimbs for her rider as Wullan waves to her friends and stumbles over towards her lifemate. Ahhhh, peaceful slumber...
Kalona walks down the stairs to the entrance.
Arilynne rises, joining Rh'esh, and nods towards Sofina, "I've imposed this much, what's a day or so more?"
Kalrania stands with a nod of farewell to Rh'esh and Charlton and all the rest - 'tis time to work on that accursed instrument.
Allegria whistles softly, watching the clutch with wide emerald eyes. Such a fine clutch, and she got lucky enough to see it. And a gold. Wow.
Qia blinks at Fiora walks out and tugs at her dress, just then realizing she knows no one here. Ah well, she has mending to get back to. It's an order after all.
Qia walks down the stairs to the entrance.
Sofina walks down the stairs to the entrance.
Katarra leans on the railing, stepping slightly out of the way for those passing for the stairs. Green eyes survey the eggs, a silly smile on her face. It's just infectious at occasions like this.
Rh'esh grins and casts a wink at Arilynne. "Say... I've got something else in mind. Don't worry, the party will be going on for ages after. We'll make sure you get plenty of wine in the caverns, too. Come with me?"
Zathrus smiles and steps up next to katarra "So how have you been?"
Arilynne hopes this tantalizing hint at 'something else' has to do with a promised present. "Sure, lead the way." Lamb to the slaughter is Aril.
By the end of the laying, Caoimhe is in her usual position - anywhere. Sitting cofortably, poor darling, boots propped up on the rail, she watches the eggs with silent eyes. Of course, eggs and eyes usually /are/ silent...
Rh'esh laughs. "It isn't so wonderful as you're making out, really," he jokes, then begins heading for the galleries exit, waving to those who might care he's leaving.