The sun felt warm on Aterri's cheek, the wind blew softly and the water was lapping rythmically. No one on Pern could blame the girl for nodding off. Jenar, Tetia and Serek played around her on the beach, guarding her sleep. Her dreams were pleasent, soothing, quiet dreams. The kind you forget as soon as you wake up, but wake feeling refreshed. Aterri probably would have woken refreshed and in a better mood had she been able to finish her nap, but the eggs had another idea.
"Aterri!!!!!" Someone yelled and ran down toward the beach where she was sleeping. "Aterri!!!!"
Aterri jumped to her feet dazed and confused. Tetia was shocked by her sudden movement and screeched. Jenar and Serek, believing this was a game, joined in.
When the person finally reached the 18 turn old girl, she was tangled in white robes, sand and firelizards. The kitchen-maid stopped unsure what to do with the mess. Eventually Aterri sorted herself out, got to her feet and swore at Tetia. Her swarm of firelizards flew to her shoulders.
The kitchen-maid stared in confusion at Aterri, forgetting for a moment what she was supposed to say. It came back to her in a flash. "The eggs are hatching!!! Hurry!!!!"
Aterri took off at a run, Tetia, Jenar and Serek following behind. The kitchen-maid was left to shake her head at the young candidate.
Aterri arrived on the Sands, late, messy and out of breath. She'd barely had time to change her into her candidate robes and pull a brush through her brown hair. Tetia, Jenar and Serek had disappeared, thank Faranth, and she was standing before Ayamshuteth, the mother of the eggs. She held her breath as the first egg started to rock. She closed her eyes and muttered a small prayer. Please, she pleaded with whatever omnipotent forces where out there. Please, let there be a dragon here for me...
She opened her eyes in time to see the small egg start to rock. Several candidates had already bonded and were escorting their new lifemates to the feeding grounds. The little egg seemed to be determined to hatch, but having...problems.
A tail stuck out the back end and four feet were propelling the walking egg towards the candidates. Aterri tried to get out of it's way a second to late. The little egg/dragon ran right into her legs, bumping her but not knocking her over.
Aterri couldn't help but smile at the little creature. "Silly thing, you should get out of the shell first, and then go look at the candidates!"
The shell fell to pieces at Aterri's feet, leaving a little white hatchling there in it's place. The crowd gasped. This was unexpected. What came as even more of a surprise to Aterri was the little creatures voice.
Was I in your plan Aterri? I think maybe you're going to need a new plan now.
Aterri laughed, partly at the dragon's statement, partly with joy. "Myantonyth, I could never have planned this. Not even if I could see into the future."
The little white looked around the stands at people exchanging money. I do believe that lots of people didn't plan on me. Let's go eat.
Aterri smiled and followed her little white off the sands. Tetia, Jenar and Serek reappeared, flying around Myantonyth, inspecting her, then finally landing on Aterri. Aterri sighed. "I knew you three would show up for the feeding..."
Media smiled seeing Aterri and her flock of firelizard plus dragon descending to the feeding area for breakfast. She called the the young rider. "The'll not be enough herdbeasts on all of Pern to feed your flock when their full grown."
Aterri smiled back at the Headwoman. "If I'm lucky they'll eat fast today and I'll get breakfast warm."
"I'll keep something in the oven for you."
Aterri waved back and watched as Tetia, Serek and Jenar faught the other firelizards for meat.
Can we go eat now? Myantonyth asked quietly.
Aterri reached down to pet her white hatchling's eye ridges. "You mean can you go eat now."
The white smiled. Yes.
Aterri laughed and brought her dragon around to where she could be fed.
After breakfast was had by all, Aterri took Myantonyth to see Celeste. She'd only been back at Adanuk Weyr for two days and hadn't seen her old friend and mentor yet. She knocked once before entering.
If Celeste didn't recognize Aterri, she certainly recognized Tetia, Serek and Jenar. "No!! Out!!!" Aterri smiled. She also remembered them.
"Celeste." She ran in and hugged the older woman.
"Aterri." Celeste returned the embrace. "Let's see this dragon I've heard so much about."
Myantonyth, feeling sort of left out for a minute, gladly posed for the healer.
Celeste smiled. "A beautiful white. What's her name?"
Myantonyth smiled and shook her head. "Myantonyth." Aterri added, staring loveingly at her small hatchling. "The perfect little white."
Tetia, Serek and Jenar were just about to break something when Celeste suggested a walk. The firelizards took the hint and left.
Outside Myantonyth's hide shone brightly and Aterri rubbed her eye ridges, making the young white happy. Celeste smiled, remembering when Aterri said she didn't want to impress. She was so glad that Aterri had changed her mind.
"So..." she searched for a topic of conversation. "I'm slightly surprised you impressed."
Aterri looked up quickly. "Why?"
Celeste watched Aterri and Myantonyth talk telepathically, wishing she knew what they were saying. Aterri looked happy though, so it must be good. "Well, it wasn't in your plan."
The young girls eyes were blurred and out of focus as she talked with her life mate. Her face had a dreamy look plastered on it and she barely heard Celeste's comment. Even fainter was Aterri's reply. "What plan?"