Fedrin walked briskly down the hall to the rooms his crew inhabited. He banged ruthlessly on them and had his entire crew out of their rooms in moments, dressed in their Impression garments. They had heard the hum too. But their first loyalty was to him. He would miss that. They all looked at him - somewhat nervously - so he decided to make this quick, "Good luck to the lot o' ye." he said, slightly hoarsely, before walking out of the barracks. They followed on his heels and went to the Hatching Sands. Fedrin listened to Landon attentively - as his crew had only arrived on Falas Island a few days before - and searched for his egg. There were so many of them. But he had to find it fast. The first was hatching. *** Tochi had not been paying much attention to the hatching. She had been thinking. I wonder if they know I'm here now... I wonder if Mother has heard that her little girl is a candidate at Falas Weyr. If they do not know yet, Tochi, they will know when news of Cetoth travels across the world. And of her rider Tochi, the ex-pirate. a soft voice - like water - sounded in her mind. Tochi moved towards her dragon with the same water-born grace, They don't matter so much now, Cetoth, not with you here. she replied. The water dragoness smiled at her rider, nudging her hand, Thank you, ridermine. she answered. Cetoth *** Seven hatchlings after Tochi's, Spike saw three dragons step towards himself, Defrai and Feina. He smirked when the darkest of the bunch moved towards him, dark ripples playing on his hide. I'm the best dragon so far, Spike. Or Sting? Spike is a better name for a pirate. the dragon said. "I already knew that, Adrianeth." he told the dragon, raising his eyebrows in a smirk. Which is why you chose it! he said pertly, flicking his tail. Adrianeth *** Defrai watched Spike Impressed his night water dragon slightly enviously. Then, her eyes widened as the shimmering gold switched places with the sapphire to walk up to her instead of Feina. Am I prettier than a coin, Defrai? she asked with a tilt of her head. "Oh, yes. Yes..." Defrai breathed, "You're much prettier, Nerissath." Nerissath *** The sapphire trotted happily up to Feina, walking two circles around her. Feina burst into a fit of giggles before the sapphire placed her forepaws on the girl's chest. "You're funny, Merielth!" she laughed. I know I am. Can I see your pictures sometime? Will you draw me? the sapphire asked, nearly bouncing in excitement. "'Course I'll draw you!" the girl cried, "I'll draw all the crew and their dragons!" Merielth *** Bunali felt her mouth open in a silent 'o' as a silver hatchling made her way to her. She was not stalling. She looked so sure of herself. Bunali tried to speak her name, yet failed. She was effectively tongue-tied. Synthiath, the silver offered and Bunali smiled, We'll be the best pirate-dragon pair in the world! "We'll be better than any dragon-rider pair!" the girl cried. Synthiath *** Loyan eyed the eggs around him, not just the hatching ones. Where was his egg? He did not notice the gold male whom butted him gently. Next thing he knew, he was on the ground with his dragon on top of him, hissing. "Sorry, Gasparath," he muttered, staring at the golden hide. Pay attention next time, L'yan. the gold whined, I don't like having to hurt you. Why are you staring? "You're so shiny..." the boy whispered. Gasparath *** Sieng laughed at Loyan and helped him up. The other boy smirked and pointed behind him. Sieng turned and spotted the gold-blue sitting on the sands with his tail swishing the sands, "Why, hello, Naviculath. Didn't see you there." he said cheerfully. The dragon snorted, You were just too busy laughing at him. I'm shinier than Gasparath, aren't I, S'eng? he said pleadingly. "Of course you are, you're the shiniest dragon on the sands!" the boy assured him. Naviculath *** Wedani watched patiently as three dragons pulled themselves free of their shells. One was sapphire, one was pearl and the other was cream-white. Wedani walked up to her pearl as she fell from her shell, stumbling, Food... must... have... food... she gasped. "Alright, silly Eidotheath, we'll go get you fed." the girl said, smiling at her jewelly dragon. I like fire too. You know what? I think some of the foreigners brought their special fire-lighters. We should steal one. the pearl whispered. Eidotheath *** Siena watched as her sapphire freed herself. The dragoness walked up to her and she smiled, scratching the young dragon's eyeridge, "Like that Aerwynath?" she teased as the dragoness crooned. Aerwynath *** The last two eggs of a green's clutch shattered, showinga gold and a bronze. The bronze bugled femininely before scrambling over the Sands towards Stina. Why are you over here? I thought you were supposed to be right in front of me when I hatched! the bronze female demanded. Stina knelt, trying to soothe her dragon besides her guilt, "We got lost! Stinilli and I got lost trying to make it here in time! It won't happen again, Khazinth, honestly!" she cried. The dragoness snorted, It better not. she said. Khazinth *** The gold arched her neck flirtingly and pranced to Stinilli. The girl put her hands on her hips and glowered, "Andvarith. You're not a green! Stop that prancing!" she scolded. The gold dragoness blinked, huffed once but did as she was told. This time. Andvarith *** A two-toned emerald-silver let out a piercing scream as she came from her shell. A girl gasped as two waters accidentally crashed into the other dragon. Defraf and another girl ran toward the waters with the first girl. Defraf pulled the only male dragon from the pile and checked him for scrapes, "You alright, Halimedath?" he asked, nervously. The male water crooned, I'm fine. With food, I'll be great! he purred. Halimedath *** Kihan watched the eggs apathetically. Until a dragon nuzzled him curiously. He found himself lying on the ground - the dragon had butted him roughly - and he cursed angrily, "Thalassath! Shards it! You can be slightly more gentle!" he snapped, smiling in spite of himself. Only if you'll smile more often. the sea blue retorted, fanning himself with his wings. Thalassath *** Sienilli was not paying much attention to the hatching. In fact, she had begun to daydream. About going out and finding a new crew to replace the ones gone. Wake up, ridermine. a pearly voice ordered. Sienilli gave a jump as the pearl butted her firmly and she grinned, "You can't get away with that yet, Morganth." she teased. Morganth back .:.:. continue