Yelanath swung her head nervously over her five precious eggs. They were rock hard and would hatch very soon. Masaoth crooned to his mate, trying to calm her.

They will hatch soon! Call the candidates! Rider mine, my children come!

The gold bugled as the eggs began to rock. Masaoth trumpeted, awaking the whole weyr as Yelanath hummed. Dragons converged upon the Hatching Grounds, and dispite being awoken, the riders all seemed excited. Deep humming filled the room as more and more dragons arrived. The candidates were led in, forming a semi-circle arond the eggs, which were rocking even more furiously. A murmur ran through the crowd at the large number, twelve candidates for a five egg clutch! Suddenly two cracked at once, and a large brown shattered his shell and let out a short bugle. He began fervently digging in the hot sand. The second egg exploded and a blue sat blinking amid it's remnants. He seemed to think for a few seconds before joining his brother in digging. Soon they had uncovered a huge mass of eggs, far more than the five previously thought.

"Yelanath! You kept all these eggs from me!?" Certa exclaimed.

I thought it good to keep the total size a surprise. the gold queen remarked smugly. Having finished uncovering their brothers and sisters, the blue and brown hatchlings turned to the candidates. The little blue headed straight for Dilas and plopped down on his feet.

D'las, I came! And I helped the others...can we go find some food now?

With tears in his eyes, D'las knelt and hugged his little blue. "Of course Loarth..." The two headed to where the headwoman had set up a table of fresh meat.

Meanwhile, the brown contemplated the boys until he spotted Baalthazar. He crealed as he bounded to his astounded bond.

What's a sword? My name's Zallath by the way. "You'll know what a sword is soon enough, Zallath!" With a quick glance to his wife, Baalthazar led his brown off the sands. Luena smiled proudly after her husband, but turned quickly to the eggs as the crunching of breaking shells resumed. A large bronze tumbled from his egg, and landed upside-down. He flopped onto his back as his choice, Rodilon, rushed up to help him. "Are you alright Atasarath?" he asked worredly.

Of course I am R'dilon. Maybe I should be asking you that question.

R'dilon stepped back, surprised at his new lifemate. The bronze crealed assuredly and R'dilon stooped down to lift the bronze and carry him off the sands.

A gasp arose from the crowd as the golden egg began to rock. The bronzes began to hum as the new queen struggled to free herself from the egg. Two girls moved closer to the egg, but one, held back. She was sure she wouldn't Impress so why bother? Finally, a gold claw pierced the shell, and the rest of the dragonet soon followed. She wriggled free of her egg and paused momentarily to spread her damp wings. She examined those who hoped to bond her, and saw Jaime hanging in the back.

You are not excited to see me, Jaime? I am Agliyath. The gold dragon playfully butted Jamie's legs as she stood, flabbergasted that this beautiful gold would want her, of all people. "You....you're here for me?" she asked, still not sure.

Of course I am, silly! who else would I be here for?

The gold nudged Jamie's legs again, and the girl led her new lifemate off the sands, weeping. The two other girls were dispondant at not Impressing the new gold. They began to head off the sands when two voices called to each of them.

Where are you going, Cilla? You're not going to leave me are you!?

"Never, Mirth!" Cilla exclaimed to the dainty female black. She gathered her up and went to find some food.

A small white had approached Lanorx and lovingly nuzzled her hand.

I'm here, and I can help you with She-Na.

The white looked lovingly up at her new rider. "I know you will, Sonneth." Lanorx said with a smile, and led her off the sands. "This has been a wonderful clutch so far." T'lir said, glancing down at Certa. "I always knew it would be." she smiled and leaned against him. One of the original five eggs virtually exploded, a energetic green bumbling across the sands. She stumbled and fell, looking up at Yimana.

I need to learn how to use my feet! the little green exclaimed. Laughing, Yimana scooped her up and said, "I can help you with that, Armeniath." A blue up in the stands bugled exuberantly.

Another of the five shattered, revealing a sturdy-looking blue who stood and shook off bits of egg. He bugled triumphantly and tackled his choice, Hinel. "Oof!" Hinel grunted as they both tumbled to the ground. "Be careful, Sventh!" he shouted, then gaped as he realized what had happened. Sventh pushed H'nel from behind to get him off the sands so he could feed him. A dainty green squeezed out from her confining egg and crealed as she looked around.

Luena! Where are you? I can't see you!

"Here I am, Chrysanth!" She hurried up to the slightly panicking green who crealed happily upon seeing her choice.

Now I can help you scare those bandits stupid! the green trumpeted happily as they left the sands to join Baalthazar.

Tanthry had been watching all the excitement, but was unable to hear it. He nearly collapsed when a small voice in his head asked,

Are you happy to see me, T'thry?

T'thry looked down to see an unnoticed green sitting at his feet, looking curiously up at him. "Oh Loketh yes, yes I am! Your voice is so beautiful!" He began to cry as the green gently nudged him off the sands.

Two more candidates left, one boy and one girl. Two eggs left. Certa feared that they would be duds. She hated to see candidates left over after hatchings.

Harumph, I would never lay duds! Yelanath said indigantly as the two eggs began to shudder. "I never said you would, love." Certa said, relieved. The first to hatch was a prim looking green, who trounced up to Chayl.

Sorry about being so long, I had bunches of those eggs on top of me!

The green crooned happily up at her bond. Chayl smiled lovingly at the green and said, "I didn't mind waiting, my Morgoth." She led the green off the sands, leaving just Rowar. He stood anxiously, the final egg shaking fearfully. Suddenly it stopped and a plaintve creal issued from inside. He rushed forward and began to pound on the unyeilding shell. "Help! He can't get out!" he called to the others. Yelanath lowered her head and took the egg into her powerful jaws, shattering it and freeing a tiny blue.

I never thought I'd get out of there! The blue righted himself and looked up at Rowar. "I would never have left you in there, Betroth." he said as the two left the sands.

Yelanath bugled happily at the outcome of the hatching. "I could never have guessed that those others were there." T'lir said, scratching his head.

I told you, I like surprises.

The golden queen lowered her head to be scratched. "I thought it was beautiful, Yel. You should be proud too, Masaoth." The mighty bronze trumpeted triumphantly from the rim.

I am proud! They will all be strong dragons one day.

Certa and T'lir laughed as they left the sands as well, arm in arm.