Naith lay awake on the sands, even though it was nearly midnight at Draco's Inferno. Though at first ecstatic about her very first clutch, she'd quickly become impatient, and just wanted the eggs to hatch and get it over with. Besides which, it was hard to sleep when they kept twitching.

Naith blinked and looked up in surprise. Twitching? Looking down at the clutch of eggs, she realised that they were, in fact, rocking slightly in the sand.

Happily, Naith lifted her head and began to hum as she called for her rider and mate. Ceissa! Vaakth! The eggs are getting ready to hatch!

Ceissa strode out onto the hatching sands with a scowl on her face. "Couldn't your kids have better timing, Naith?" She groaned. The green snorted. What are you talking about, ridermine? My children have perfect timing.

The rest of the Weyr was duly notified, and those that could pull themselves out of bed began to fill the stands. The candidates walked onto the sands, several wincing from the heat or rubbing their eyes.

The two vampires were not affected; for them it was barely midday, after all. Vrygas smirked at the other candidates, showing a glimpse of fangs before he turned away. The other four candidates somewhat less amused as the eggs continued to rock. Now that all the eggs were in plain sight for everyone to see, it was plain that there were only five eggs after all. One of the candidates might not bond this time around, unless there were twins.

Finally, the first egg shuddered, and a large crack appeared down the middle of the shell. A bright green muzzle appeared at the top of the egg, and it split apart as the green hatchling emerged.

She shook her head and stumbled towards the candidates, looking over each of the girls carefully. Finally, she stopped in front of Rheina, and nodded in approval. I think you and I will be good together, don't you think?

The vampire smiled and crouched down to rub the dragonet's head. "Yes, Shifeth, I think we'll be very good together."

Shifeth crooned as she followed her new rider off the sands to be fed. Another egg cracked open, revealing a deep blue hatchling. He jumped up and shook the sand from his hide before trotting to his chosen candidate. Hello, Dirlaxupuv. I'm Lhuketh, and you're going to be my rider! Now get me something to eat, please?

Dirlaxupuv grinned and muttered something to his new bondmate, but another egg was cracking. This was the largest one in the clutch, and it rocked furiously before bursting apart. Two smallish greens crashed to the ground, their pale hides blending together and making it hard to tell where one hatchling ended and another began. The two sisters picked themselves up and looked at each other. Silently, one held back while the other moved forward, letting her twin be the first to bond.

The light green trotted to the remaining two male candidates and looked up at Fiorion. My name's Akuaneth, Fiorion. I...I hope I'm good enough for you. she said shyly. Fiorion smiled. "Of course, Akuaneth. You're great!"

Really? Akuaneth preened, before her stomach got the better of her, and Fiorion led her away to get food. The other light green moved forward now, and she moved to Sian, and sat looking up at the girl. I'm Dhith. You'll be my rider, won't you, Sian?

Sian grinned and stroked the green's head. "Definitely, Dhith." The last two eggs were rocking now, and it was hard to tell which would hatch first. Finally, the larger of the two broke open, spilling a small blue at Vrygas' feet. The hatchling looked up at him, lying on his back, and said, Hi! My name's Yithith. Will you help me up, Vrygas?

The vampire grinned. "Sure, but I think we're gonna have to work on your balance, Yithith..."

The last wriggled back and forth, and finally, a bright white head and wingtips emerged from the shell. The last candidate watched in awe as the female rare emerged from her shell and stood looking around her. Liliwen approached the white hesitantly, until the dragonet saw her and crooned. Liliwen! Mine, what are you waiting for? I am hungry, won't you feed me?

Liliwen gasped and hugged the white dragon to her. "Maeovinth!" Once her last child had exited the sands with her rider, Naith stood up and stretched in relief. Finally, she crooned. Remind me never to do this again. The green grumbled. Ceissa laughed and stroked her dragon's eyeridges fondly. "You say that now, Naith, but just wait till you rise again!" The green only grumbled a low reply as she walked away.