At the entrance to the immense hatching ground, white Aphelionth paced back and forth, her tail lashing and her silver horns glinting in the starlight. Will they not come faster Darkwind? I sense my children's impatience! The shapechanger just moaned in her sleep on the borrowed bed in the Hatching grounds weyr, the reality of what her white was saying failing to register. It was only when the dragon's warble of distress followed by the sharp crack of a shell splitting did the raven haired celerien jump clear out of bed and throw on clothes, any clothes, and race out to the grounds. She appeared just in time to see Aphelionth leave the entrance and go to the comfort of a black hatchling who creeled in hunger and dejection. I am Rath, why is no one here? Does no one wish to see us hatch? Aphelionth's reply was lost when Darkwind heard Copper yelling at her for not giving enough warning. Mindful that Galaxiath was probably due to rise again, Darkwind carefully schooled her expression, and pretended not to hear.

Another, larger, egg cracked, and as the groggy candidates filed in, one face of them all was awake and hopeful. A bronze snout appeared and the scantly gathered crowd gasped, first a rare then a bronze? That boded well for the rest of the clutch. Bets were flying as the sharp-witted took advantage of muddled thoughts and feelings. As the large bronze struggled free, he creeled and looked forlornly at his inky brother, who stood within the shards of his egg, a sad shadow of what should be a glorious happening. Then the bronze warbled happily, and now free, bounded across the sands to land in a heap at the feet of Easbalair. The weyrbrat smiled, and knelt to cuddle the downy head to his chest, as the bronze made deep rumbling sounds deep in his throat. I am Ryuchotenth, you are E'lair, and the sky is no longer the limit for us. And as E'lair led his new bond from the sands, neither felt the eyes that followed their every move.

Rath watched the newly bonded leave and he ducked his dark head, struggling with himself so as not to let on how sad he truly was. A small egg cracked to his right, but he didnt hear, all he saw were the candidates watching him waiting for his choice. But the wise young dragonling remained silent, and carefully stepped aside to allow his small green sister room.

As the black hatchling stepped aside, the gathered girls gasped at the faultless model of perfection that was the emerald hued dragon. Delicately, she picked her way across the sands towards them, then stopped, and arched her long neck, her glowing eyes fastened on one. Zaqa I am Midorihath, and I shall help you all I can, together, we shall return to Hermoso and make that Weyr shine with our presence! The young elfmaiden only nodded through tear filled eyes as she helped the small green beauty negotiate her way off of the sands. Behind, Rath only sighed, his eyes attentive, and forlorn.

Two eggs split at once, but the differences, even at this early state, were glaring. The largest practically exploded, with the impatience of a mature red dragon, the medium sized copper rolled out, his glowing golden eyes fixed immediately on one. Standing on unsteady legs he shook the hot sand off and peered around nonchalantly, his eyes never leaving one face, slowly he moved forward, first towards the boys, then abruptly he veered off, in the direction of the girls, and in particular to one who stood far from the others. Calypso regarded the copper approaching her with some mistrust and apprehension. But once the little dragon touched her mind, the link was forged. Hello Calypso, I am Tolvathan, you may not know a lot about me, but I know a lot about you right now, The copper paused and planted himself at the red dragonesss feet, And I like what I have seen, do you like me? I seriously hope your not expecting to be my mother though. Then the hatchling's tone took on a touch of arrogance. I can take care of myself, but I do hope you will show me how to fly. The red dragon in human form laughed then knelt to scratch the coppers eye ridges and around the stubby silver horns. "I shall teach you to fly little one," and she looked up, her eyes met those of her master, " and perhaps we shall return to my world, and visit many places you have only seen in my mind." The copper rumbled happily, then complained that while he was perfectly capable of feeding himself, he did have to get there.

As Xanthos watched his pupil bond to the spunky little copper, he totally missed when the other egg hatched, as did most of the crowd, at least until he felt a feather light brush on his mind and felt something butt at his leg. Startled he moved away, felt unhappiness, and looked down, and was lost in the bottomless depths of two dark amber colored eyes. "Lyveana" he whispered, hardly believing what sat patiently at his feet. The small, delicately proportioned ice dragon looked up at the unicorn mage with eyes that spoke of wisdom beyond her years, and her soft voice that only he heard rang with a gentleness common with that of a delicate flower. Kneeling to be at her level, Xanthos peered into those entrancing eyes, "You want me?" Acceptance, it rang through the bond he felt between them. Then he smiled gently, "I see, shall we find Calypso and some food for you?" The little ice trilled and nudged him with her small head. Standing, Xanthos gathered Lyveana in his arms and went off in search of the lower caverns and the other new dragonriders.

Rath watched as the healing ice dragon chose his only hope for a bond, but yet he felt no resentment, the unicorn mage had been one of many options, not the one Rath was truly waiting for, one he was beginning to doubt he would ever find. He sighed, and ignored the query from his snowy mother. Looking up at the stands his gazed filled many with hope, then he looked away, and the amount of sighs that were heard was uncountable.

Another large egg split, as the glistening shards fell, a regal silver with hints of white walked out at a sedate pace. She stretched her glistening wings and peered around her with wide opalescent eyes, fanning her wings she yawned. Looking over her shoulder she looked at the black unbonded dragon quizzically, then up at her softly glowing mother. Nodding a little to herself she marched up to the holder girl. Rohna, I am Fellitanth, honor is a good virtue, and the truth is always important and builds trust. Shall we spread the ideals of these concepts throughout the world? Rohna only nodded.

After the silver and her bond left the sands that left four, and one egg. This one gleamed somewhat, and many had placed bets that it held not a gold, but a variant, perhaps a gold/white, or another rare, but they were all wrong. Aphelionth trilled and nudged the egg, a fissure appeared, grew longer, then stopped. A faint creeling could be heard inside before it too stopped. Rath looked up and stared at the egg, and trilled a bit in a soft musical voice, as if to encourage his clutch mate to greater strength. The egg quivered, and all the assembled held their breath, and then, with a loud bugle, the egg shattered, revealing a solid golden queen. Regally the gold stood amongst the needlelike like shards of her old home. She trilled, in excellent imitation of a certain red/gold and looked not at the candidates, but at her brother. Why do you not choose? You urge me to break free, to bond to one of my own, and yet you have not done so. Why? Are none of them worthy? With that she glared at the remaining candidates, growling a little. But young Rath only shook his head. All are worthy sister-mine, choose well, one awaits you here.

Throughout the exchange, one girl held her breath. She couldn't take her eyes off the slim golden queen, all her petty desires for dresses and jewels were gone, all she knew was the intense longing to be accepted by the dragoness, to be acceptable to Weyrfolk and to be acknowledge for something other then her beauty. Thoughts of her sister whom she thought less then worthy of a gold, and of Easbalair whom she desired because he hadn't fallen for her had vanished like a candle in the wind. Then the dragon turned after one last forlorn look at her brother, and in her heart, Creeoilid also pitied the black dragonling. Perhaps that was it, or perhaps the queen already knew she wasn't all that she seemed, but before Creeoilid could blink the gold dragoness was there, her amber eyes thoughtful as she studied her bondmate. I am Flihaen, you desire me Creeoilid, and I tell you now I am not an object to gloat over. As my name implies I am much more then a simple Pernese queen, no, in me flows the blood of great dragons, ones who could control the forces of nature and the magic of ages. In me, they live on. Do you understand? I know you have no magic of your own, but together, all of Pern will feel the power of our combined spirits, and all of Eien tremble beneath to force of my magic. But before the gold could continue, she felt a hand on her muzzle. "Yes, but as you are not to be gloated over, these worlds are not to be ruled, that is not something I have ever desired." Then the hand was gone, and Creeoilid was smiling behind her tears. And Flihaen relaxed. Rath was correct, one out of all was worthy, and you are my one true bond. Gently she nudged the girl with her nose and Creeoilid knelt and stroked the sleek scaled neck. "Now we eat with the others, and you can meet E'lair."

Rath smiled to himself at the outcome of that particular bonding, and in his bemusement, he almost forgot the other candidates, standing there, watching him, all trying with all their might to link with him. One did not mean too, she lay on the scorching sands, her mind crying out for death. As he felt their minds touch his, he snorted and backed away, and stumbled over something, grunting in surprise, the black dragonling toppled over backwards then found himself at the mercy of twin viciously sharp red claws. What the! As his eyes met those of the red hatchling his mind cried out to her. I meant you no harm sister please release me! But the young red was not to be dissuaded. You! You tried to take her! I felt you trying! No, I dont want any of them! Over-head Aphelionth roared and was answered by Galaxiath, but before the red could seriously maim the black or the mother and the Sr. Queen could intervene, someone was there, trying with all her might to pull the ruby hatchling off Rath. " No, stop Alethath, he means what he says, stop this!" Eyes wide, the red stopped her attack, and swiveled her head around. Karwana? The dragons tone was incredulous, then changed. You, you still dont want to live do you? Tears fell freely down the womans face as she looked down at the red she held so tightly, slowly, she released her. "Ididbut, no more Alethath. If this were not right, you would not be here now would you?" Slowly a smile crept onto Karwanas face. Alethath sighed gustily, and turned to look at Rath. Brother Imand she stopped.

Before her Galaxiath stood tensely, her right fore claw placed in front of the still fallen black dragon protectively. Slowly he climbed to his feet, Galaxiath lowered her head to his level, eyes whirling worriedly. Are you all right? Rath nodded, and bowed his head to Alethath. No need sister, I understand. The red nodded in return and looked up at her bond

Karwana wiped her eyes and knelt, scooping up the red dragon, who was crooning encouragement, then left the sands.

          Then there was only one.  Rath watched the young man standing before him, felt the prescence of the Sr. Queen behind him, heard the crowd's intake of breath. But he shook his head and stepped back, the boy, Ysidro, cried out, stretching out one hand, then let it fall dejectedly to his side.

"I see, I was not meant to impress." he whispered, voice trailing off. Then Aphelionth crooned, and nosing at a small pile of sand, revealed another egg. The crowd gasped, Copper was positivly mind boggled that there had been not one, but two hidden eggs. Darkwind was furiously scolding her white at not telling the truth while Ysidro just stared with wide eyed as the egg spilt, and exploded, revealing a dark brown dragonet.

Ysidro! I am Magneth! Don't leave with him! I am here, you will never be alone! The the conversation went silent as magneth soon found himself entangled in the arms of his bond.

                 Time passed as the last two left the sands. Aphelionth came over and crouched down, her nose level with Rath. Whatever was said the two never revealed, but soon the stands were empty, and so were the sands, except for Darkwind, who now realized she was wearing some of Vr'lae's clothing, Rath, Copper, Galaxiath, and Aphelionth.

                   Rath looked up at the circle of faces, Copper was scowling, Darkwind looked confused, while both mother dragons were expressionless. Finally Copper sighed and knelt, scooping the surprised Rath in her arms. "You my boy, are staying with me and Gali, I can't have an unbonded youngling running a muck" rath nodded, and laid his scaled head against her warm chest. suddenly he sensed something, peering around he looked, but once his head left her body, the feeling vanished. Startled he tensed, then relaxed and snuggled closer, feeling like he was home.