A steady rain fell across the weyr, turning what little snow that remained on the ground into a muddy mess; with children, animals and younger dragons all tumbling about in it. Kadith loomed protectively over her eggs, ever the watchful mother. On a good day she was just a broody queen, hardly allowing the candidates near her eggs; now she was in an all-out protective frenzy over them. If anyone so much as breathed in their direction she snarled, growled and snapped in murderous maternal instinct until they skittered off. "I'll never understand how you got this way." Kayla said to the gold, currently turning all of the eggs and reburying them for the hundredth time that day. "You'll have to let the candidates near when they hatch, love. You know that."

I'll do no such thing! the queen exclaimed with a snarl.

Besides, some may decide not to bond, seeing as Opasth is Alskyrian and all... "I know that!" Kayla practically shouted into the stands. "You've only informed me oh, every bloody day since you laid the fardling clutch! One would think you enjoy bringing the irony of your choice to forefront of every conversation I have with you. Opasth and Shiffer too..." Hearing his and his rider's name, the male gold rumbled from the ledge Kadith had temporarily banished him to. We do not! Well...maybe Shiffer does... "No I don't!" the new weyrleader said from his new vantage point as well, just inside the sands entrance. Kadith really was keeping everyone at an arms length for this clutch.

Kayla rose with a smile and crossed the sands to hug Shiffer. "I'm sorry about Kadith's broodiness. She never really got this way with her first clutch..."

"Well, from what I've heard there was no gold in her first clutch. That could explain some of it. Besides, I don't mind that much, as long as I'm near you." He grinned and bowed to kiss her. Don't get too cozy, I think... But the gold was cut short by a flurry of movement from her eggs. "They hatch! Shiffer, our first clutch is about to hatch!" Opasth announced from above and began to hum along with his mate.

A few moments panic as the candidates were summoned and caretakers for those who wished not to bond arrived. It had occured to Kadith and Opasth, halfway through the search for candidates that some of their children might refuse to bond. As this came to light, there was a scramble for places to be found for unbonded to reside. The weyr could definately hold many more dragons, but Kayla thought it wise for a semi-selection be made for the unbonded dragonets. She was certain they might not all want to remain at Draco's Inferno, with their broody mother constantly nearby. Kadith had scoffed at the thought that she, of all dragons, would hound her children if they stayed, but sponsors were found and a representative of the Inferno would be onhand as well, if some did happen to want to stay home.

There was definately a variety of candidates for the eggs to choose from, more than the current clutch of eggs actually needed. The gender-indifferent shape shifter Tenebrae and her friend, Vid'domi, with whom Kayla had found a minor confusion when she first arrived. Every day, a new person and she constantly re-introduced herself. Finally, hoping to keep what remained of her sanity in check, she'd requested she stick to one form; a man from Earth who was an emergency medical technician, Mateo had enjoyed learning what he could from the weyr healers and showing off what he knew; an antisocial young man from the deep jungles of another world. Theran spent most of his time wandering the frozen forests around the weyr, and watching the dragons that came and went with a half-fearful, half-fascinated glare.

Another shape-shifter, Deira also came with her friend, Reihiin. Both had certainly gotten into their fair share of trouble with another lad named Quin. Lastly, a whole squad of explorers from Shivran Aerd had been discovered huddled on the outskirts of the weyr by B'wen and Tuzuth, who had entered the Records room and only came out for meals and chores. They had had to be found when the clutch began to hatch. As they entered the sands, there were a few sniggers here and there, along with pointing in the direction of Ombrae. The girl then turned and glared with pure hatred back at her fellow explorer, Mantala.

Once everyone was assembled, Kadith stood hissing over her clutch and weaving her head back and forth over the large gold egg carefully placed in the center. "You have to let them bond..." Kayla reminded her, placing a soothing hand upon her dragon's shoulder. Yes, but I do not have to make it easy, nor do I have to like it... the queen responded, shooting a warning glance at a pair of candidates who stepped too close. They stepped back quickly, watching the golden mother with wary eyes.

One egg which had been trembling more so than the others shook so hard it tipped over and rolled right out of Kadith's tediously prepared nest. It tumbled on until bouncing upon a tiny rift in the sand and shattering, leaving not one but two bronzes blinking amid the remnants. The stands filled with clapping at this traditional harbinger of a good clutch, not to mention the luck of twin bronzes! Still thinking, the first male bronze rose and padded toward the males side and paced back and forth along the line. It took some moments before the dragonet had made his choice, and in that time a small green and a female blue had hatched and were sheltering under their mother.

The other twin, a female bronze, stared thoughtfully off into space, before sighing and saying only to her mother, There is no one here for me. then allowing herself to be led off the sands by one of Draco's Inferno's residents and being fed. Kadith turned and said to Kayla, Her name is Museitetsujinth , and she will be staying with us.

I think...yes, you'll do... the first twin bronze finally said to Walan. With one of his characteristic smirks, W'lan led the dragonet off the sands murmuring, "Took you long enough, Multumith." Like rider, like dragon. was all the bronze said in response. Meanwhile, the litte green had been wandering up and down the females, just as her bronze brother had done. No, you're not a doggy...you're not either... "You are, yay! Why were you hiding like that?" she asked her chosen, Deira stubbornly, the last half said aloud in an almost sickeningly sweet and perky voice. "I wasn't hiding Neònachcùth." Deira insisted as she followed her green off the sands, stopping every so often to help the slightly clumsy green untangle her limbs.

The blue, however, stayed huddled close to her mother. They can't make me bond... she snarled, sounding much like her mother in Kayla's opinion. No they can't, my child. the queen soothed, bowing her head to nuzzle the little female blue. Glaring fiercely out at the candidates who were inching closer in hopes of catching her attention, the little blue hissed angrily. Kadith looked up and roared at them, extending her neck and flaring her wings threateningly.

Leave my child alone! she shouted to them all. Kayla forcefully asserted her will over the belligerent dragon and whispered, "Calm down! They didn't know she doesn't wish to bond!" Reluculantly, the queen backed off as Opasth leapt from his perch and landed next to her. He cooed soothingly and nuzzled her shoulder. They will not harm our children. he said calmly and gently nudged her back from the eggs. Lying down next to her, Opasth stayed tensed to prevent Kadith from attacking the candidates again, as did Kayla and Shiffer.

While of this battling was going on, the female blue had crept away to where the sponsors had been instructed to wait. She approached the silver fox shifter from Shivran Aerd and announced herself to be Sõdivith and that she was hungry. After being taken and fed, the dragonet laid under the table, away from the noise and people, hissing at anyone who dared approach.

All of the fuss had knocked a few more eggs from their tight nest and sent them rolling into each other. They shattered upon impact, the largest yeilding twin female reds, who leapt up and away from one another in a burst of sibling rivalry. With a snarl they parted ways, one for the males side, one for the females. Whipping her tail from side to side in stubborn irritation, the red that had approached the females side glared darkly back at her sister. Look at her, thinking she's special by choosing to bond a boy...humph. I'll bet she's really a boy in disguise, that's what I'll tell everyone, anyway... All while she was contemplating her sister, the litte red had kept walking and hadn't noticed the set of legs in front of her...until she ran into them at least.

Mantala had been busy thinking of new ways to spread more rumors about that hateful Ombrae when she was knocked off of her feet by the inattentive hatchling red. "Lognsmoreth!" she cried before she knew what was happening. Jumping in surprise, the red crealed up at her chosen. I'm sorry, rider mine. "It's okay..." Mantala said after a moment, rising and dusting off her rear. "Let's go get something to eat for you, I'm sure food will help our...thought processes..." Shooting a wicked glare at Ombrae, Mantala assisted her bonded off the sands.

She thinks she's so special, with that wicked tongue. No matter, you and I can make a real difference, saving peoples lives! Isn't that right, Mateo? Startled by the appearance of the red dragonet gazing lovingly up at him, Mateo took a step back before grinning and kneeling before her. "That's right, Fiksproth. We'll be able to do much more with your help!" he said, escorting the red off the sands.

Of the three to roll away, the smallest held another vibrant blue, but this one was male. He traipsed over to the males side full of confidence and ego, until he tangled his newly-hatched limbs and took an embarrasing tumble. There he lay, blinking in astonishment and shame until he called aloud, "What are you waiting for, Quin, an invitation!?" Nearly jumping when he heard the voice shout his name from the sands, Q'n hurried out to help his newly-bonded dragonet up. "Thank you." he said, standing regally as if he'd never fallen. "By the way, my name is Sotsekajajath." The two exited the sands, heads held high with pride in each other.

Several more eggs had hatched at this point, Kadith squirming in motherly agony at watching her precious children bond. The third hatchling to come from the trio of eggs which had rolled away turned out to be a medium sized male black, and from the looks of things, he also chose not to bond. He'd remained in the spot where he had hatched, gazing forlornly at the hopeful candidates before crooning sadly and teetering over to where the sponsors waited. There he settled sadly next to a large silver dragon from Darkling Dawn to wait for food to be brought. Only later did Kayla learn his name, Harruarhijeth.

Out of the middle of the clutch, and from the second largest egg, hatched a large male silver who immediately bounded to Maniki. Here I am M'iki. To help you rope those lazy good-for-nothings into shape! The little male puffed out his chest and bugled what would mature to be quite the booming bellow. With a grin, M'iki helped the male silver off the sands, saying, "I can't hardly wait, Feszültvezetoth.

There were still six eggs left, including the queen egg, but seven candidates remained on the sands. Suddenly and violently, one of the smaller eggs displayed in front exploded to reveal a lively little green. She merrily zipped to the males side and flopped in front of Kulathe. "Have no fear, Ku'the! Akahaiokoth is here!" she shouted, playfully butting her chosen off the sands.

Two more small eggs trembled and shook, teetering over before they finally cracked and broke, to reveal a dainty female white and a burly little male cream. The pair both sauntered over to the males side, but the cream took off at a run once he spotted Vid'domi. Hi! I'm Vedrajedanth!Wanna hear a funny story? Vid'domi laughed at his little bond's exuberance. "Not quite yet, Vedrajedanth. Let's wait until Tenebrae and her bond can hear it." Casting an assuring glance at his friend, Vid'domi escorted his new bond off the sands to the meat table, the little cream babbling happily along the way.

Complete opposite of her brother, the small white slunk almost miserably across the sands to stop in front of Vederan. I am Surullihenkith, and I hope that I am to your liking, even though I'm sure no one could ever love me... A little saddened by the miserable, lonely tone of his bond's voice, V'eren scooped the small dragon up and soothed her as best he could. "Don't sound so sad, little one. I'll love you no matter what." He smiled uncharacteristically and took his bond from the sands, where she questioned how sanitary the bowls of meat were as he fed her.

For a few moments, there was complete silence upon the sands. Not an egg trembled, not a candidate dared move. A soft crackling noise issued from the distinctly less-crowded nest, and one of the larger eggs near the center collapsed in on itself. A few more breathless seconds, and a dark purple head peeked up slowly from the midst of her unhatched siblings. Aware that all eyes were on her, the female purple slunk across the sands in much the same way her white sister had done earlier, but the mood of her movement was different. She slithered with stealth and wariness on her mind. Eyes never resting on any one thing, the purple arrived at the female's side of the sands and approached Tenebrae. Tenebrae, why are they all looking at me? Make them stop... the purple said, in her soft, almost hiss-like voice. "We can leave, Abeopulluth." And they did, Tenebrae carrying the secretive purple.

A collective gasp filled the stands and all thoughts of the purple and her bond were driven from their minds as the queen egg began to shake. Both Kadith and Opasth tensed with parental worry, their hearts already torn by the rest of their children bonding and leaving. The shimmering egg rocked back and forth, tipped over and out spilled not one but two twin gold dragons! Like the two bronzes earlier, the pair was of opposite genders. The larger and darker female stood and spread her damp wings, gazing regally out at the three remaining candidates, only one of which was female.

And it was the last female who she approached, standing before Ombrae and crealed loudly, almost demandingly up at her. Where is my food!? she asked threateningly, her wings still half-spread to make her seem more imposing. "Calm down, Tillgistravth, it's just over there." Ombrae said, torn between the emotion that filled her at bonding the little queen and indignation at being ordered. Helping the fiercely combative dragonet across the sands, Ombrae smirked and beamed at all her fellow explorers once she was seated.

The second gold, smaller and lighter in coloration, crept bravely across the sands and right up to Theran. He watched the male gold warily and with great respect as he approached and walked away from him. Come, Th'ran. I am hungry. he said in a soft, silk-smooth voice. Slightly flabbergasted, Th'ran followed his new dragon, who neglected to mention until he had a mouthful of meat that he was Adarashikarith.

No one noticed, in the flurry of excitement over twin golds, that the last egg left in the empty nest had hatched and from it came a large brown. It crossed the hot sands slowly and left with the last candidate there, Reihiin. You know that I will never leave you, right R'hiin? Because I never, ever will. the brown promised his rider. "I know, Fielcamaradath, I know." And you know that Deira will never leave you too, right? Smiling down at the brown as they approached the feeding table, R'hiin said. "Of course."

Kadith and Opasth gazed broken-heartedly at the now-empty sands and their shell-filled nest. It happened so fast...we didn't even get to say goodbye to all of them... She crooned sadly and stood, lifting her eyes to see her unbonded bronze daughter gazing out at the happy candidates with their dragons. "They haven't left yet, love. See? Museitetsujinth is here still, she needs you, as do the others who went unbonded." Kayla stroked her dragon's side, and Kadith lowered her head for her to hug. My Kadith, they leave because they must. They may go to other worlds, other dimensions, but they will always be near you. You are their mother, and I am their father...nothing can change that, not even distance or time.