Thoughts Before the Hatching

[Kyla]

Asmyra stepped onto the hot sands, and glanced around her eyes lingering on each and every egg. ”You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to them.” The large Amethyst Queen commented from the back of the sands where she laid with her 3 queen eggs within her forearms. “I know that, I am just a little nervous that is all.” Her rider replied as she crossed the hot sands, quick stepping so her feet wouldn’t be burnt.

”The Silvers and Crimsons stand guard constantly. The other Weyrwoman won’t get near my clutch.”[/color] The dragon reassured her as she went about turning her eggs. “I know, and they will hatch soon. What will we do with three new Queens? Perhaps repopulate one of the Weyrs?” Asmyra mused out loud to herself as she stroked the Queen’s muzzle, Zarinth hummed in content uninterested in what was not yet certain. ”They will be strong dragons.”[/color] Was the dragon’s only reply.

The Weyrwoman sighed. Where was her Weyrmate or Junior Weyrwoman when she needed to talk to them? “At least there will be more dragons to fight off the Acid and Thread and we’ll be better prepaired if the Fort Weyrwoman should decide to start her little war.” Zarinth nuzzled her rider, filling her mind of them flying peacefully over the nearby beach. “Your right Zarinth I shouldn’t worry over something that has yet to occur, let us focus on getting all of your children Impressed. At least I don’t think I see another Black dragon egg, I’m not sure though unless it is that tiny one over there near the edge. The last hatching didn’t go so well.” ”We will see.”[/color] The young woman frowned, thinking the dragon knew more than her. She often seemed to these days.

[Astarte]

You are coming down to the Sands.

It was not a request. Nothing from Anmedlath ever was. J'no didn't mind, though. His dragon might be pushy and demanding, but he was still J'no's, and if need be, the young man could force him to acquiesce to his demands. But there seemed to be no reason to do it now, and so he allowed the demanding snarls and pushes the Crimson made as he herded J'no down to the Hatching Sands.

It wasn't like he didn't want to go down, anyway. Anmedlath wanted to crow over his conquests, but J'no was genuinely interested in the eggs. He had been sending out tireless Searches recently, but he was still concerned that there would not be enough suitable Candidates for the eggs on the Sands. No dragon would between at this Hatching, or both J'no and Anmedlath would see heads roll.

Send more Searches, find Candidates for Anmedlath's eggs, Anmedlath agreed, giving a snarl of rage when J'no thought about the possibility of one of his young disappearing between. It would not happen. A quick mental shove from J'no calmed the Crimson somewhat, and as they approached the Sands, the male's anger was entirely forgotten. Bellowing triumphantly, in a way that reminded J'no altogether too much of a bull herdbeast, he strode up to Zarinth.

The eggs? he asked, ignoring Asmyra entirely and leaning down to bump his muzzle into Zarinth's shoulder. He spared little attention for the Queen eggs, gaze instead roving the larger eggs in the rest of the clutch. Zarinth had her daughters. The rest of the clutch was Anmedlath's.

J'no rolled his eyes at his dragon's behaviour, walking through the clutch slowly and pausing to look at each egg. The clutch would put them one step closer to capacity, allow them to fight more Thread. Less than a wing of dragons, all three turns of age, in a Weyr populated with teenagers. They needed to improve their ranks.

He drew nearer the Weyrwoman, sparing a glance to her before looking at Zarinth's three most precious eggs. Three Queens. Queens laid quickly during a Pass. There would be more clutches soon enough.

"Asmyra."

[Kyla]

”Anmedlath and his rider come.”[/color] Zarinth announced, freeing her rider of the soothing images. Asmyra looked up in time to see the Crimson and his rider stride onto the sands.

“Greetings J’no,” she acknowledged him with a small nod of her head. “How goes the Searches?” She too was worried about some of the clutch betweening on the sands. Asmyra shivered at the thought of loosing any of the new dragons, especially when constant threats seemed to loom around every corner.

Zarinth rumbled a greeting to Anmedlath as she went about turning the rest of the eggs within her reach. ”Ready to hatch soon.”[/color] The Amethyst replied coiling herself back around the three Queen eggs, and positioning her head on her forearm so that she could look at all three at once.

“Zarinth has informed me that the Iridescent that was sent up to Fort Weyr has returned. Her rider said that she isn’t positive that the Weyrwoman will do anything anytime soon, but a few blueriders informed her that we should be on the look out. Evidentally she has something sinister planned.” Asmyra told him gravely.

”No one would be foolish enough to touch or even come near the clutch or Weyr.”[/color] Zarinth spoke to her rider and Anmedlath at once so he could pass on the comment if he so desired. Asmyra nodded, knowing the fury it would spark between both dragons and their riders.

[Astarte]

"The Searches are satisfactory, but we will need more than a handful of girls and a double handful of boys to Stand for this clutch. I am sending a Crimson to Landing and the surrounding Holds to Search for us. Southern will forgive it; they have more than enough and we have too little." There was no doubt in his mind. J'no would not accept disrespect from the larger Weyr. He would accept disrespect from no one. "Fort will not touch us," he answered dismissively, everything but the flap of his hand indicating the breezy thoughtlessness with which he considered the possibility.

The eggs will be protected, Anmedlath rumbled in agreement. Everything about his bearing grew aggressive and taller. He rumbled, tail lashing in a direction safely away from the eggs, and bared his teeth. He hissed and for a moment, J'no tensed, ready to rip into the Crimson's mind if he began to flame in proof of his anger. But nothing but a furious hiss came of it. Attack, Anmedlath thought to J'no privately, not broadcasting his thoughts back to Zarinth. Lash and tear and kill.

If necessary, J'no agreed privately. "If Fort dares attack us, there will be trouble," he said aloud, looking at Asmyra with cold certainty in his eyes. "Dragon will rise against dragon, and we will kill them." Dragon against dragon, rider against rider. Bloody, yes. Horrible, yes. But J'no was prepared. If he needed to kill them all, he would. This was his Weyr. Others could step off.

[Kyla]

Asmyra nodded, “It looks like we’re going to need plenty of male candidates, it seems Crimsons and Silvers have the same knack as bronzes for finding suitable riders for the larger male dragons.” She looked over the larger eggs fondly, the two dragons had outdone themselves and it had brought even more hope to the young Weyrwoman. The young woman thought back to the day after Zarinth’s flight briefly. She had always considered becoming Weyrwoman, but not at such a young age, then again in a Weyr full of many riders around her age it wasn’t so bad although she sometimes she felt silly ordering around the older Fort riders who had come with them when they were banished. ”The Weyr follows you without question.” The Queen told her rider sternly as if reprimanding her for such feelings.

Mentally acknowledging the dragon with comforting thoughts of agreement, she turned her attention back to the Weyrleader, her bright blue eyes flashing with the same aggressive emotion Anmedlath displayed, even Zarinth felt the need to hiss a challenge and unfurl her wings in a brilliant display to some unforeseen, unknown threat that clearly wasn’t there as if she could show off her territorial display to all of Pern. ”Your going to put the Weyr in an uproar,” her rider warned her after another dragon outside answered with a questioning warble.

The dragon quieted down and proceeded to tend to rest of the eggs that had not yet been turned and looked over, allowing her rider to go back to talking. “On the brighter side of things I believe we shall see clear skies until after the hatching. I have asked to the Iridescents to take turns sitting outside the grounds that day as security, rotating out as needed. Their ability to turn invisible is turning out to be quite invaluable.”

“Also J’no if you have time I want you to check out the riders who followed us from Fort back in the beginning, make sure none of them still report back there or have changed allegiances again, I think you’re the best person for the job. Maybe ask O’sa to help you.” She smiled slightly, knowing what kind of mood the mention of Fort Weyr would put the girl in and knowing that between the two of them they would get any information of espionage.

[Astarte]

"I certainly hope the predictions are true," J'no answered quietly. "A Hatching during Threadfall would be disastrous to no end." He thought about it and scowled, stroking his dragon's neck fondly as he thought. For the dragonriders to be confined to the skies during the most important event of Weyrlife would be...disappointing. Looking at the eggs, he shook his head. "There are so many," he said, and his voice was fond again. Reaching out to stroke the nearest shell, he smiled in a way that was nearly cruel.

"They will need to learn quickly." And three Queen eggs....did they have two turns for the females to mature? They would need to. But then? Clutches! A Weyr brought to capacity. But until then? "I will speak to them, of course," he answered. "But until then, we are in dire need of riders. Fort should have more weyrlings by now...." his expression was peculiar for a moment, a look of sly contemplation on his face.

Perhaps they could do something. He would look into it. "Shall I find a traitor," he went on, suddenly snapping back into the thoughts he had originally been following, "they will be eliminated. I will not suffer treachery in my Weyr." He bared his teeth in something that might have been a smile, but an unsettling low growl from his dragon seemed to contradict the expression on his face.

Anmedlath gaped his jaws in a furious expression, swinging his head around and pressing his nose against his rider's chest. J'no scratched his eyeridges absently, giving the Crimson a fond smile. Yes, my dear, we will see.

Rid the traitor, Anmedlath said, broadcasting it to all around, his voice carrying an undertone of fire and combat. He would kill if he needed to, to keep his eggs, his Queen, and his Weyr safe. And J'no was no different.

[Darwin]

Mine, have you seen the eggs? The citrine asked her Rider out of the blue.

Yes, why?

I would like to see them again. I want to have a clutch again. Tillenth's mindvoice was tinged with envy.

Are you envious of Zarinth's clutch, my heart?

Tillenth snorted. No! Well, yes. A little.

Rillis rolled her eyes and stood up. Alright, we'll go and see Zarinth's eggs again. She walked to her lifemate and mounted up, no riding straps or leathers. Tillenth launched from her ledge and glided to the Hatching Grounds entrance. Greetings, Zarinth, RillMine and I would like to see your eggs, please?

Rillis dismounted and stood at the edge of the sands. She could see Asmyra talking to J'no. Or so she thought it was J'no. She couldn't really tell from the distance. She hoped the Searches were bringing in many Candidates. She would not want any of Zarinth's babies to not impress.

[wylvaren]

I can see Anmedlath and Tillenth are down at the Hatching Sands with Zarinth,

[/color] Wy'ren heard, making the Silverrider think that the statement would have been random, but with Jyanrith there was always a point to his words. "Your point?" he asked after a long pause from the Silver dragon. As my Rider, you should be down there, looking at the eggs too![/color] Jyanrith hissed, already twisting his body so that he could look down at the Hatching Grounds with one eye and see Wy'ren sitting at his desk in his private weyr with the other.

"Is that a hint that you want to go see them?" Wy'ren asked, even as he stood, slowly running one hand through his long, black hair. He hadn't been up long, long enough to use a bit of cleansing sand on himself and throw on some breeches and wher-hide boots. He could already see Jyanrith flaring out his wings, which would mean he wouldn't have long before the Silver dragon took to the sky and left him behind. Just a moment . . . I need a shirt . . . or my leathers! Wy'ren sent, grabbing the first clean shirt he could find and throwing it on.

By the time Wy'ren got his shirt on and walk toward the ledge, Jyanrith was fuming about how he wanted to see the sharding eggs and that His was taking to long. I'm here, Wy'ren sent, as he climbed up the Silver's foreleg and was seated just as Jyanrith took to the sky. About time![/color] Jyanrith bugled as he leapt over the edge of their weyr and dropped several feet before opening his wings.

Greetings, beautiful Amethyst Zarinth and Citrine Tillenth, Jyanrith crooned as he landed on the sands long enough for Wy'ren to dismount, before pumping powerful wing muscles up to a high ledge. Once a guardian, always a guardian. The Silver was only interested in keeping His informed and seeing the eggs. That did not mean he had to speak with any dragons.

Once dropped off like a sack of grain, Wy'ren moved toward the other Riders, absent-mindedly trying to put his silky hair behind his ears. There had been little time to grab clothing, no time to grab something to keep his hair back. Normally, he would have had something on him, but he hadn't been up long, thus unprepared. He gave a short bow to Zarinth, before turning to the two female Riders and J'no. "Weyrwoman Asmyra. Weyrleader J'no . . . Junior Weyrwoman Rillis," he nodded to each, not missing that Jyanrith hadn't greeted J'no's Crimson. Play nice, Jyanrith. Show some respect to the sire of Zarinth's clutch, he warned, though did not demand. To the Amethyst, I repsect . . . The Crimson only gave chase to catch and control. These eggs seem to hold very little weight past the fact that they are his,[/color] Jyanrith hissed, leaving it at that.[/size][/blockquote]

[Kyla]

Asmyra looked at the Weyrleader, perplexed by his sudden slyness. “J’no you aren’t suggesting we take their Weyrlings are you? I am happy to provide a weyr to any Fort rider who feels that their Weyrwoman is unfair and are no longer loyal to her, like the Fort riders who came with us originally. I am not sure about such plots though. As much as I dislike the Fort Weyrwoman I would prefer that she make the first move and not us, otherwise I feel the signal we send the rest of Pern.” Asmyra knew the Fort Weyrwoman was campaigning that the newly colored dragons were a threat to Pern and she felt uneasy about any idea that might give the other Weyrwoman the excuse she was looking for to prove her point.

“However though when it comes to the traitor, you are right we shall rid him from the Weyr.” Zarinth rumbled her agreement from nearby. Report any information to mine, or Anmedlath’s.[/color] Normally the Amethyst Queen wasn’t demanding but her broadcast to the Weyr was clearly an order, and the Weyrwoman hoped that they wouldn’t have to wait long before they found something out. Even the slightest rumor would be investigated; this had to be deal with. If the traitorous Fort rider knew what was good for him, he would leave the Weyr before he or she was discovered.

Before Asmyra had time to add something onto her last statement she saw Rillis and Tillenth appear at the entrance to the Grounds followed by Wy’ren and Jyanrith. Greetings Tillenth and Jyanrith,[/color] the Amethyst greeted the two with a croon, and then added on You may come see them.[/color] Zarinth was proud to show off her eggs to the members of her Weyr, but remained close to them, still feeling uneasy about all this talk about traitors and spies in the Weyr.

“My greetings to you Junior Weyrwoman Rillis and Wingsecond Wy’ren. How is your day so far?” She asked politely, while part of her was hoping one of them had heard Zarinth’s earlier broadcast and had something to share, the other part was eager to forget such talk for a few brief moments and enjoy a pleasant conversation which was something she rarely had been able to do these days, with her duties as Weyrwoman, and taking caring of Zarinth and her clutch, and now the traitor that was hiding under their noses.

[Darwin]

"Fairly calm. Tillenth loves to see the clutch and is a bit envious of Zarinth," Rillis replied, with a wink for Asmyra. "She misses having a clutch of her own to brood over." She entered the sands and walked over to where Asmyra stood with J'no. She waited for the Silverrider, Wy'ren, to join them. She liked him, he seemed to be a nice sort of man. But she didnt' know him very well yet. She'd heard the rumor going about a traitor in the Weyr, and she hoped it wasn't true! But they will find the traitor and deal with him when the time comes. She didn't relish the Fortian Weyrwoman. The woman just rubbed Rillis the wrong way, with her ravings about the new colors being Pern's ill fate if they weren't 'taken care of'. What rubbish. "How is Zarinth faring today? She looks as healthy as ever."

Tillenth entered the sands but only half a dragon length, not wanting to get any closer to them. Especially should she bump one of the eggs and Zarinth flames her. She bowed her head to the Amethyst, out of respect. Thank you for letting me and RillMine see your eggs, Zarinth. They are beautiful. She turned to the Silver. Greetings to you too, Jyanrith. How are you and yours today?

[Astarte]

"I am suggesting we take nothing, but perhaps the weyrlings ought be told of the sanctuary and freedom offered here. There is no chance of exile at Skysong," J'no said with an ironic smirk, running a hand through his hair and watching the arrival of first the Junior Weyrwoman and then his Wingsecond. He inclined his head to Wy'ren as the man dismounted, and watched as the Silver winged away. He would not stay with the rest of the clutch.

Insolence. Anmedlath hissed to him, and J'no realized that neither Tillenth nor Jyanrith had spoken to his dragon. Raising an eyebrow and slapping the Crimson hide affectionately, J'no turned to the newcomers.

"Rillis. Tillenth. Wy'ren. Jyanrith." He inclined his head to the newer visitors, stepping away from the women as they put their heads together and began the typical chatting of best friends. Becoming Weyrleaders hadn't stopped any of them from being young, and though J'no was both intelligent and grave beyond his years, he too was inexperienced, and prone to the occasional rash decision. He'd let Asmyra and Rillis have their ladies' time. He turned instead to Wy'ren, giving the man a wan smile that didn't quite seem right; his face was better-suited to grave frowns than smiles, and probably always would be.

"I'm afraid I have been speaking with Searchriders all day, and I'm a bit behind on today's news. Anything interesting from the skies?" He doubted it; he would certainly have heard about it before now if that was the case. And if he hadn't...well, there would be hell to pay, wouldn't there?

A bugle from Anmedlath alerted J'no, as well (unfortunately) as the others, to the fact that Anmedlath had no interest in being ignored, but for once the dragon's voice bore no malice as he spoke, though J'no noticed the Crimson could not keep the tiniest flickers of red from his eyes. Tillenth and Jyanrith. Welcome. He rumbled as he looked at the eggs, a noise of pleasure that was almost a purr as he leaned in to gently nudge one, arching a wing over the eggs nearest him (and consequently his rider) and looking up at Jyanrith.

They are fine eggs, are they not? Three queens for the Weyr. It was the most focused he ever was. J'no was impressed. But there was a threat in the look the Crimson gave his Wingsecond. Not an open challenge, but certainly something. These eggs, this rider, this queen, this Weyr. Anmedlath's. The wing. Anmedlath's. He would permit visitors but not incursion. And Jyanrith would do well to recall that.

[wylvaren]

Wy'ren dipped his head to the Weyrwoman, as she was the first to speak with him. There is nothing to report, beautiful Queen, Jyanrith hissed from his ledge, looking down at the three dragons below. He did his best to unclip his statements around the Amethsyt, but it was hard to remember sometimes. His comment earned his a harsh look from Wy'ren. "We fare well, Weyrwoman Asmyra. Thank you. How fares our brooding mother and her anxious Rider?" he questioned, cocking his head to one side and winking at the Weyrwoman, showing he meant no disrespect, simply trying to lighten the mood his Silver was intent on putting on the Hatching Grounds. Jyanrith!

Hearing that he could gaze upon the clutch, Jyanrith clawed his way along the way, moving from ledge to ledge, until he was above the Amethsyt, able to look down upon her and the eggs within her care. It was a beautiful sight, to see the Queen glowing with her pride at her clutch, the eggs within her grasp, the three Queen eggs. He crooned his pride of being the brother of the Amethsyt. Beautiful little devils, they will be, he clipped out, before lifting his head and trying not to glare at Anmdelath for his vainty and sharding pride. Zarinth. "Jyanrith! Show respect!" Wy'ren warned out loud, seeing as his Silver was allowing all to hear him. If he didn't know any better, Wy'ren might have thought that the Silver was looking to challenage the Crimson. You said it yourself, after Zarinth Rose, she would not be to the only Amethsyt, that you would have better! You insulted the Queen, yet now you want to pick a fight with her mate for her and his clutch? Enough Jyanrith! he sent, watching as Jyanrith hissed, but pulled himself back from the ledge, turning his gaze on the sky to watch for anything.

Citrinerider Rillis' voice startled Wy'ren for a moment, but the genlte rumbling from his Silver told him that he hadn't missed the female's words. Jyanrith! he warned once more, as the Silver dragon started to move once more, coming to rest on a ledge near Tillenth's general area. Both my Rider and I fare just fine, beautiful Tillenth. How fares you and Yours? he crooned, his tongue might have well been leaking acid as he could have burned a hole through the sands right to the hard stone below with his forced sweetness. You're going to hurt yourself trying to be so sweet, Jya, Wy'ren mentally laughed, causing his Silver to snort.

Of course, it wasn't hard to see that being ignored wasn't one of Anmedlath's favorite things. Though, as the ladies seemed to be drawn into female talk, J'no seemed to reach out for Wy'ren's company; not that Wingsecond minded. He actually enjoyed the Weyrleader's company . . . on occasion. "All is well, Weyrleader. Jyanrith and I spotted wild wherry nests, but nothing was within them, to close to the herdbeast pins. I took the liberty of having Jyanrith freeze them and removed them myself," he reported, trying not to look up at Jyanrith, who was way too engrossed in Tillenth.

Anmedlath's words were not lost on Jyanrith, though he did try to ignore the Crimson, until he spread out his wings over Zarinth, the eggs, and his Rider, claiming them all as his. In the process of claiming what was his, Anmedlath's wings came to close to Wy'ren, standing next to J'no, for the Silver's comfort. Instantly snapping to attention, Jyanrith hissed, flaring out his wings a bit, before forcing himself to flatten them against his hide. Fine. Eggs. Jyanrith clipped out, watching his tongue and trying not to snap. We leave! NOW!

[/color] Jyanrith bugled within Wy'ren's mind, watching as he Rider just stood there. Wy'renMine! . . . . MINE![/color] he suddenly bugled out loud, causing a twitch just above Wy'ren's eye to start fluttering.[/size][/blockquote]

[Kyla]

Jyanrith and his have not seen anything.[/color] Zarinth informed her rider as she passed the message along from the Silver. Asmyra nodded, slightly more calmed by the fact that they hadn’t seen anything. Perhaps the rumors were just indeed rumors, at least she could hope they were. “Zarinth as well, she takes pride in showing off her eggs to the Weyr, but as of late is more protective, but who can blame her with all this talk of traitors and spies. I myself am doing fine; mostly anxious for the eggs to hatch and see the Candidates make their Impressions.” She replied to Wy’ren with a small smile. This was the first time she would be watching her dragon’s children hatch and find their new partners in life so she was plenty nervous and hoping it would happen without any problems.

They will be beautiful,[/color] the Amethyst replied to Jyanrith her voice filled with pride over the magnificent clutch. She arched her neck and touched her nose to the egg nearest her for a brief moment as if it straighten it up. Her rider chuckled and stroked the dragon’s muzzle, knowing that Zarinth was pleased with all the praise her clutch was getting and then turned to Rillis and smiled. “Don’t they all. Perhaps Tillenth will have a clutch to brood over soon as well.” She smiled, trying to remember when the Citrine last rose. “Zarinth is well, she is not as stubborn about leaving her clutch to go eat as some other Queens I’ve heard about.” Thank you Tillenth. The Queen replied, delighted to be showing off the eggs.

While Zarinth was showing off her eggs, Asmyra couldn’t help but notice the tension growing between the Silver and Crimson. ”Zarinth don’t let this get carried out of hand.” She told the Queen causing Zarinth to look up towards Jyanrith for a moment before she touched her nose to the Crimson’s shoulder and crooned fondly, her eyes starting to show flecks of yellow of alarm. What is the problem Anmedlath, Jyanrith?[/color] She asked, deciding to act as a mediator. “J’no, Wy’ren please calm your dragon’s down,” the Weyrwoman spoke politely to their riders, understanding that the dragon’s were the ones that had problem with each other but no idea as to what the problem was since neither she or Zarinth had not heard the conversation.