Malan was snapped suddenly out of his daydream by his friend, Neler, who was shouting,"Malan! C'mon! The dragons are humming and the eggs are hatching! Can't you hear it?" Malan paused and listened with all his might. Then, hearing the humming himself, he jumped up, shucked off his tunic, and threw on the candidate's robes. He looked over to Neler and saw that he was done changing as well. Then with an excited glance at each other, both boys took off for the Hatching Grounds. Malan and Neler both paused at the entrance, then walked onto the warm sands. They immediately noticed that all the eggs were rocking ferociously. One egg cracked vertically and a little bronze fell out. He stood up and took a look around. He saw Neler and wobbled over to him. Neler then knelt and threw his arms around the dragon. Malan smiled at his friend and then focused on and egg that was cracking in front of him. Another bronze fell out and got to his feet. He wobbled over to Malan and looked into his eyes with a look a intense love. Malan felt like crying with joy and hugged the little bronze. My name is Paranath. The little dragon said. I'm hungry! "Okay. Let's go get you some food," Malan said. And the two friends walked out of the Hatching Grounds, life-long partners. The story of Malan continues here!