It had been a long time since there had been a hatching at Draco’s Inferno. So when Linaeth announced that her clutch was hatching the Weyr came alive with excitement. The candidates were rounded up and marched onto the hot sands. The seats were soon filled and everyone waited anxiously.

Everyone held their breath as the eggs continued to rock and shudder. Suddenly one of the larger eggs cracked down the center, spilling a bronze dragnet onto the hot sands. The dragon stood shakily and peered at the candidates. One tall dark haired youth caught the bronze’s eye and he walked confidently up to Keynshi.

I am Dermonth. We can wait for the others outside.

The mood in the caverns lightened as the first bonded pair left the sands. Dermonth was a strong bronze. Linaeth and Crith watched the rest of their clutch proudly. Linaeth was nearly purring with delight.

Another egg swayed and shattered revealing a delicate green. She rose and walked over to the group of girls. She stopped at the feet of one. The girl looked down amazed.

You can stay with me now, Rulena, and everything will be alright. The little dragon said confidently.

"Of course, Amath." Rulena said with a smile.

A small egg rolled a few feet out of the pile. Linaeth caught it gently with her snout settling it back into the sand. A moment later a crack formed in its side and a small blue snout poked its way out. The little blue pushed and was soon squirming away from the shell. It inspected the group of boys, but found none to his liking, so he turned to the girls. Everyone watched as the blue stopped in front of one, looking up into the girl’s eyes.

I’m Mondoth. The blue said simply.

"I know," Oyahe said wrapping her arms around the blue's neck.

Another bronze hatched next. He walked slowly over to the group of boys eyeing each carefully. He walked up the line and back down it. Each boy watched the dragon with a longing look. But the bronze ignored them all. Finally he pushed past the boys and approached one short boy in the back.

There you are! The bronze said with relief. Uzirren glanced about him, but the bronze had spoken to him. I’m Boerth.

As Boerth and Uzirren were bonding no one noticed a small egg break open and a delicate green wiggle her way out. She moved stealthily for one so young and silently. She came around the canidates and stopped next to a slender elf woman. But what the dragons said to her new bond none could heare. She began to walk away when someone from the crowd called out asking the dragonet’s name.

"Her name is Telfuth." Tuiri said simply and continued out with her bond.

Two eggs started rocking at once. Through the widening cracks of the larger one, brown hide could be seen. The little brown broke free and at nearly the same moment a green emerged from her own shell. The brown stood slowly shaking the sand off his wings with care. The green however didn’t waste her time she leapt forward bounding towards the canidates. But she was moving too fast and tripped on her own feet. She ducked her head and rolled forward to land at the feet of Jericonialituianith. The large blue looked down at the sprawled form between his paws.

Hi, Jericonialituianith. I’m Obonixtenathramarth the green said cheerily.

The blue glanced over at Abyss as he helped the green to her feet. I’m afraid you’ll have to find someone else to be your guide. the dragon said to the blind girl.

I will help her. a gentle voice said. Abyss felt soft hide form under her hand as the brown hatchling nuzzled her. I will help you in many ways, Yara-luna. I am Adjnonth.

A large green hatched from the next egg. She wandered over past the boys with a sniff. She inspected each of the remaining girls before making her decision.

Dezha, I am Omalth. the green said matter-of-factly to the girl. I’m hungry, is there food anywhere around? Omalth looked about her as if to find food lying at hand.

"It’s over here." Dezha said with a laugh, following the green off the sands.

One of the large eggs rocked erratically. A small hole formed on the top the egg rolled on its side and another hole was poked out of the side. Suddenly the egg cracked in half and a pair of blues blinked into the light. One of them crawled out and blinked at the group of boys. Finally spotting one, he bounded across the sands. He slid to a stop at the foot of one wiry boy spraying sand everywhere.

Lokien! The blue cried happily nuzzling the boy.

The boy laughed. "Calm down, Gilonth. Come on, let’s go find the others."

The second of the blues hung back looking over the canidates. Finally he stood with a snort and walked over to his golden mother. I will not have any human as my bond. the blue said for all to hear.

Linaeth nodded. As you wish, little one. Kayamith will stay with me.

The last egg wobbled in the middle of its siblings broken shells. It tipped and spilled out a good sized brown onto the hot sand. The brown blinked about seeing that he was the last.

I’m sorry Reluzen. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. Am I the last?

"You are, Zalonth," said the brown haired youth. "But it doesn’t matter now that you’re here."

And with that the hatching was over. Galaxia sighed as she looked out over the broken egg shells. "Well, it’s done."

Until next time. Linaeth said slyly and nuzzled Kayamith at her feet.