It wouldn't be long now, the middle-aged woman thought, watching her dragon preen sand over her eggs. The eggs themselves had actually started making motions of hatching already - they had jumped this morning, and now that it was nearing mid-afternoon on this warm fall day (warm? not according to half the candidates it wasn't!) they were actually trembling often.

"Should I summon the candidates, dear Nozomith?" Kira asked, "The eggs look as though they could use some company."

You are correct, rider mine, Nozomith responded proudly. You are almost as good as a dragon at telling when eggs are about to break.

"Why thank you," Kira smirked with a chuckle. "Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back."

You are so funny, Nozomith replied, the sarcasm plain on her golden voice.

I think you should summon them yourself, or I should, Bhavyatath bespoke his mate. This is a good clutch. Larger than the last three.

You are proud of yourself, and you wish to flatter me? Nozomith asked, half sweetly.

Of course - for when you rise next, I shall of course be the one who catches you. And they will be my eggs on the sands again.

Who lays these eggs again? Nozomith shot, lashing her tail sharply and striking her huge mate on the forelimb, but then immediately going to his side. You are also correct... I cannot see any male coming between you and I. None are worthy - none have ever been.

She purred happily while Kira and the others summoned the candidates. They were variously attending their courses on dragon anatomy, cleaning someone else's weyr out, washing dragons with the weyrlings, or doing whatever else they could have done for the Weyr if they were qualified. There were actually a surprising number of candidates, really. One or two were found in quite a state and brought to the infirmary at one point, while others had shipped in on the rough seas.

There was also a question raised as to where their Searchrider, K'roohan, was. He'd been frantically searching for candidates for the last month, and he was usually on hand when the hatchings were occurring. However this time? He seemed to have gone missing.

They were given the white robes of Candidates everywhere - and most of them truly relished their warmth. This far north, even in the middle of the afternoon in Summertime, the sun provided only slanted light and precious little warmth. A couple of the girls shivered and their teeth clattered, and they were chided by a young man who seemed right at home in the snowy climate.

The large sands where Nozomith lay were warm, though, and the room was beginning to fill with people. Since Dragonhope was quite far out of the way of most normal trade routes, there were few civilian visitors to watch, but among them a couple of traders and a few Holders traveling to look over land sat and placed bets on what the outcome would be.

The dragons in the Weyr had begun to hum, not quite as loudly as their southern counterparts would have - they had long learned the benefit of a silent hatching, since that one disasterous avalanch some century-and-a-half ago... But still they gave enough song to call their new siblings forth.

Because she had done this so many times before, Nozomith moved away from the main batch of eggs - she'd rolled them around a bit more before pulling the sand from their shells and giving them each a bit of room to wobble and break. She still held back with her wings mantling another egg, which meant to most of the more experienced riders, and the folk of the Weyr, that there was indeed a gold within one of her precious eggs.

Kira sat next to her husband S'xon after calling out for people to get the candidates. They were both still excited to see Nozomith's children, even after so long and so many clutches.

"This is lucky thirteen," S'xon said, as their children filed in nearby. Virin was on hand in a more professional manner than most others, since she was their Weyrhealer she would be monitoring if anyone was injured. J'vana was there to make sure the hatchlings didn't get hurt as well.

"Well it looks to be lucky for someone, I hope," Opal, their white-riding youngest daughter commented. Just as she did so, two eggs began to quake hard.

Everyone went silent in the stands, while the dragons increased the volume of their crooning just a bit to make it all very dramatic. From the first, larger, shell came a medium-colored Brown, while the smaller had a petite Blue. They both spent a bit of time shaking their wings free, getting the muck off their tails... Then the looked at one another.

The Blue gave a bit of a disdainful snort, and turned to examine the candidates for himself, while the Brown simply strode up to the girls. There, he sniffed around and butted his head to move one or two of the young ladies. He found who he was looking for: the Gypsy Voele.

I am Mustlaneth, my friend. I am so sorry about what happened to your people. We will never allow that to happen again! No one will go unprotected!

The raven-haired Voele threw her arms around his sturdy neck, and Mustlaneth reared up a bit to accept her bond. He would be quite a large Brown, it seemed. Since this Weyr was apt to take whatever candidates they could for their hatchlings, instead of the typical 'a Brown and a girl?' comments, the whole audience (minus a couple stodgy Holders here and there who thought girls ought to be only on Greens or something) erupted into applause. Voele murmured his name repeatedly at the records-keeper Ilina, as they went to get their bowl of fresh meat.

Not to be outdone, however, the small Blue had gazed at each of the candidates before him, and walked with grace up to the artist Deladien.

If you ever want me to pose for you, I think I can be very good at standing still. I am Kunstiliselth.

For one of the first times in her life, the girl was watching intently as the swirly eyes of the hatchling turned from a questioning golden into a deep happy blue-green. "The colors in your eyes are like my watercolors, Kunstiliselth! They're beautiful!"

Everyone applauded again, and while they did so, another Brown broke his shell. He was if anything bigger than Voele's bond, but it was hard to say because he moved quickly away from his eggs and into the middle of the sands. He gave off a single chirp of greeting to his mother and sire, who nuzzled him warmly before he turned to the boys in the semi-circle nearby.

He glanced over first one and then another, but none seemed to be right, until...

Ah - you are the one I am seeking. Vakevath is my name, Gw'thiwr, and you are going to need to tell those people you left to tend your farm that they will not expect you back any time soon. Dragons like myself are not used to planting.

"It's okay Vakevath, I believe that they will adjust to their work, and I think I will to mine." Gw'thiwr told his big Brown.

After they had left the sands, three eggs broke open as one. From one came a lovely pale Green, the first female of the clutch. From the middle one emerged a slender Brown, and from another... A swaggering Bronze. That filled the air with pleased muttering.

The Bronze took his time preening a bit, and then set out to look at everyone. In the meantime, the Brown had fanned his wings off and was nosing around on the Boys' side. Swynol gave off a sigh, then a bit of an urgent yelp when he thought that the Brown was looking at him. "I hardly think that this is right," he said, looking up and away, "I mean, with the Bronze here and all."

"You idiot," a girl spat, "He isn't looking for you, he's Impressed me." Jurana looked toward Ilina and grinned for the first time realized that now, unless Fadurek Impressed a Green, they'd be wing-mates, rather than weyr-mates. "His name is Meresoitjath." She nodded curtly, and proudly helped the lean Brown off the sands.

Meanwhile, the Bronze continued to strut around until he came to the front of the boys line again.

Are you going to let a girl treat you like that, my friend? I mean, what good is she if she's not on a green or gold? And in my case, a gold of course would be the only way to go.

"... Irstath," S'nol muttered absently, "I don't even know if that's a proper girl at all." Of all the strange things, he hardly thought that girls ought to be on Browns and here two of the big males had already gone to them! He wasn't sure if it was a waste or not. About the time that he had placed his hand on the Bronze's shoulder was when he realized simulatneously that he'd Impressed, he'd Impressed Bronze, and that everyone was either jeering silly taunts or cheering loudly. He and the Bronze both took bows before leaving the sands. They stayed clear of Jurana.

The green who had hatched first among this trio, however, had not found anyone. She was creeling softly near the other eggs, and her mother began to worry. Would there be none among this group that you would have? My child, you must remember that you do have to choose.

I cannot choose any of these! The Green said, but... She tilted her head slightly and suddenly her eyes went from orange-distress to a happy speckling of greens and blues. She is here! She is finally here!

Just at that time, K'roohan arrived panting and with a somewhat irate looking girl in tow. She didn't even have a white candidate's robe on, but the Green went to her anyway. She stood up on her hind legs and began to speak.

I am SO glad you are finally here! I can't imagine what I would have done without you... Please tell me what you think my name is. I want to know if you are the right one.

Though she was stunned and quite amazed that she'd even been brought here in the first place, Likka said, "Lauhkeath, I ... I think we should start with getting you some food, you're making me hungry!"

The herder left with her excitable Green happily waddling next to her, while another pair of eggs began to break open.

"What'd I miss?" K'roohan asked as he sat down beside the Weyrleader. S'xon merely shook his head and rolled his yellow-green eyes at the skinny search rider.

What indeed? Only one of the eggs shattered right then, and it was the one below Nozomith's wing. From the egg slipped a lovely tiny copy of her mother - a golden sheen on her hide that didn't fade as she dried. Nozomith was so pleased to have produced a Bronze and a Gold for her mate, that she immediately gazed at Bhavyatath and bugled a happy sound.

The Gold was on the small side, but that placed her at hardly a touch smaller than the first Brown of the hatching. The girls all instinctively gathered around her, gravitating like she was the sun. This little sun wasn't all that happy about having this many white-garbed girls slobbering over her. She snapped at a pair, then fanned her wings high and slapped them hard over another group.

Virin stood, but it didn't look like her services were needed. She hardly wished to help heal bruised pride, and none of the girls had scratches deeper than a few grains of sand could scrape.

I do not want any of these to be my lifemate, the golden hatchling announced, so come to me, and I will show them what a true queen rider is like!

Dark blue eyes wide, Kelisea whispered, "Paastmath? Are... are you talking to me?"

And you alone, my one. Kelisea, I cannot ask for a better friend, and you looked like you needed a bit of a rescue from those annoying boys. I will make sure that only the best, most worthy males come your way. Never something less.

Kelisea wasn't sure whether she ought to be worried about the dragon having a flight, or pleased that she already realized how picky she'd have to be.

When they had been helped off the sands and shown the cut foods, another pair of eggs broke open. Another lovely Green came from one, while a stunning Blue emerged tail-first from the other.

The Green predictably went toward the girls, but her brother followed on after her. Even though there were more than enough males in the candidates robes, they seemed to be ignored for the most part in this clutch. None questioned it, however, as there was another clutch hardening on the smaller nearby sands. They would have more chances. There were only a half dozen eggs left here at most.

The Green stood before a girl who was highly sought-after by many of the young men of the Weyr, and her blue and gold flitters danced nervously over her shoulders until the Green sat down.

You can write that I am Koneth, and my chosen is Elewen. She cannot speak you know. I will be her voice. Koneth announced boldly to the records-keeper and the rest of the Weyr. Elewen was almost too embarrassed to move, but then she let out a silent guffaw and hugged the dragoness tightly.

The Blue on the other hand located the strong willed wanderer Kaarewen and butted his head against her hip. You will not leave me, I hope?

"Oh, Ustavth I could hardly leave you behind..." She blotted her teary eyes, and wished that she had anyone in the Weyr to see her and be proud. Fortunately, she looked toward the Weyrling master, who beamed at her in encouragement. Here, she might find a family to bond like her Impression offered her.

Another pair of eggs shattered loudly against one another, with a pair just like the last - Blue and Green. They immediately started fighting. It wasn't serious, it was more a contest of who could reach the candidate line first, but still they had red in their eyes and didn't seem to want to stop hissing at one another. Finally, Hitomi grabbed the Blue's tail and chided him.

"Armuketh, you don't need to chase her. There's only one green you ought to watch out for, that's Elewen's pretty Koneth..."

Meanwhile the Green tiptoed over to the girls, dainty and suave. She tilted face-forward and tried to stop herself from falling by opening her wings, but it was Kevytkenkainen who managed to get her upright. "Silly Viettelyth, you need to practice your walk before trying to seduce people!"

At last, there were only two eggs left, and both showed large webs of cracks down their sides. It was only a matter of time before they hatched - and it was clear that several last-minute bets were being placed on them.

With a dozen Candidates on the sands, and only two eggs, it was clear that many of them would have to wait until later to Impress at these sands. But for now, two would be lucky.

A big Blue finally stuck his legs out of the shell and cracked out of it carefully. His intelligent eyes scanned the remaining Candidates until they fell upon Zemaal.

Z'aal, where is that... creature you like so much? Is she not invited?

Zemaal, or Z'aal, replied, "Well Lefpath, I think you'll meet her sooner than you think," Z'aal looked over to the meat bowls which were now much diminished, "Snake is over there stealing your food."

Is it that cold? Asked a voice that only one Candidate heard. He looked about, wanting to shush the boy next to him for having interrupted his thoughts. But... the boy was busy congratulating the last Blue-rider on his Impression.

I asked, is it that cold? I cannot tell, it's warm in here. It was warmer in my egg, though.

"Your.... egg?" Faendr whispered, looking around. He saw a mass of white-garbed candidates milling about, he saw the sands full of broken and shattered egg shells, and the parents of the clutch looking smug. And then, he looked down.

F'dar, why are you looking at me like that? The Brown tilted his head and shifted his wings back a bit. Is there sand on my face? I bet there is. I can't see my face, only the rest of me.

"Oh - well, Vanemmadruth, I can't see any sand. And don't worry. If there ever is any, I'll help you get it off your hide." F'ndr now walked by the same annoying candidates-in-waiting that he'd shared a barrack with before. His was the last egg - the last hatchling this clutch had to offer. A Brown to round out the hatching nicely, start to finish.

Proudly he joined the other new Dragon Pairs.

The audience applauded greatly, and many Marks were exchanged by the end. A solid clutch for the last waves of Summer, these dragonets would mature in time for next year's harvest festival, everyone knew that their graduation gather would be busy. They had yet to spend one night in their new weyrs, though - and their training would be long and difficult!

"The other Queen is going to keep her eggs where they are," Kira announced to the Candidates who had been left on the sands. "So when next you all are summoned, you'll be heading to the Sands around the wall there," she pointed and they all gazed through teary eyes at the Gold whose eyes whirled angrily. Her eggs were not ready to be seen, just yet, and she didn't like having all these people around!