That time again

Writers: Emma, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th March 2013

Characters: K'ale, Teseada
Description: Teseada and K'ale watch as Onnyth clutches
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 26 of Turn 6

K'ale

Teseada

}:It is time again:{ The gold was clearly egg heavy and ready to see them on
the sand where they could harden. and more importantly, where they could be
admired by the population of the Weyr and the candidates in particular.

**I'm on my way love, but make sure you tell Imalkyth, he and his rider have
never seen a clutching before, you will let them in?** Teseada asked of
Onnyth as she gently blotted the hide she had been working on.

}:Just them,:{ Onnyth insisted. }:Others can come after.:{

K'ale got the message and ran down the stairs while Imalkyth sailed
down to the hatching grounds from the heights. Imalkyth got there
first and hovered by the entrance to the grounds crooning to Onnyth.

K'ale peeked in not wanting to disturb the queen until Teseada was
there. "Hello?"

"We're in here," came the reply.

He slipped in the door and went toward where he had heard Teseada. He
bowed to Onnyth on his way.

"Am I in time?" He didn't want to miss a single thing.

"Yes," she said simply. "I think she wants an audience."

"Oh," he brightened. "We're glad to be that," he said as he hurried over to
her.

Imalkyth's wings flared in the entrance as if to confirm K'ale's
statement. He was full of pride for the eggs that were about to be
laid on the hatching sands,

And the statement about an audience was true, as Onnyth moved herself to the
centre of the sands, slowly smoothing over a spot until she was ready. Once
she was happy, and as comfortable as she could be, the first egg emerged.

"Oh wow," he breathed. Waves of encouragement and devotion flowed to
Onnyth from Imalkyth.

It wasn't a particularly big egg, but Onnyth seemed pleased with it. She
nudged it into place, then slowly moved away settling herself again before
producing another egg.

"It's beautiful," he smiled. "Isn't it kind of small though?"

"That first one is. But Onnyth is satisfied, she'd tell us if something was
wrong." And as if to prove that fact, another egg was produced.

K'ale couldn't help the grinning even when his face began to hurt. He
moved closer to Teseada. "Is it always this exciting?" He could feel
Imalkyth's pride at each of the eggs. His soft croons of encouragement
to the laboring gold never flagged.

"Always," she said. "Makes everything seem insignificant some how"

"Yeah," he agreed and put his arm around her. "I bet it's been worse
for you than it has for me."

She leaned into him for a moment, knowing it for the friendly gesture it
was. "The Weyrwoman seemed to think it was my fault that Imalkyth won, but I
don't regret it in the slightest. Onnyth made her choice, and it's up to the
weyrlings from these eggs to show the rest of the Weyr what these two can
do." It was no secret that the leadership hadn't been too happy with the
result of the flight, especially in the first few turns of the pass.

"The dragon decides, the rider complies." He quoted his own harper
lessons just like when he was a child. "I can understand why they'd be
upset, but they can't say it was your fault! That's just wrong." He
squeezed her and rubbed her arm before he let her go.

"They will, I know they will," he affirmed. "Oh..." he said pointing.
"More."

"How many is that now?" She counted quickly, "I think that's nine so far."

"Yes," he agreed. "Ooop ten, he added as the gold uncovered one more.

Onnyth seemed to pause in her labour for a few moments, slowly moving
further across the sands until she found another spot that suited her. Then
she settled back to the task at hand, another egg making an appearance.

"How long does this usually take?" He hadn't exactly paid attention in the
past.

"A couple of candlemarks more or less," Teseada said.

"The eggs are beautiful," he said as he watched another one emerge. He
remembered his visits to the eggs before his own Impression and how
wonderful they'd looked to him then.

"They are," Teseada said with the same hint of wonder in her voice. "It
looks like they've done well."

"Are you thirsty?" he asked. The heat of the Sands was making him more
parched the longer they were there. "I can get us something.

"Juice would be good."

Another egg was settled on the sands, even as they waited.

K'ale left and came back as quickly as he could with the requested
juice and a plate of snacks. The cook had fried up some tubers and
breaded fish. He found he liked them very much with a little seasoning
and the sauce she'd provided. "This is really good," he said after he
swallowed a mouthful.

"It is," she said. "Onnyth doesn't look quite done yet."

She was beginning to look almost normal. There wasn't that distended
look to her there had been when she was full of eggs. "How many more
do you think?" He had been hoping for many more eggs than he saw on
the Sands now.

"There are fifteen now, no, sixteen," Teseada said looking about. Maybe, no
the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman were being proved right that the clutch would
be small.

"Ok," he said and helped polish off the last of the food. Onnyth
looked like she was moving again. "Is that another?"

"I think so," Teseada began, before Onnyth interrupted.

}:I'm done here,:{ the gold told her and her mate. }:We have made beautiful
eggs.:{

}:You are a marvelous queen:{ the brown gushed back. And after some
more effusive praise that made K'ale throw a questioning look in
Imalkyth's direction added, }:May I get you a snack? A nice fat doe
perhaps?:{

}:I would like that,:{ Onnyth told Imalkyth.

However her rider was less than pleased. "K'ale, they were right, only
seventeen eggs."

**Oh no.** But he prevented himself from sending his dismay to
Imalkyth who had flown off toward the feeding pens to grab the
promised snack for his mate.

He sighed and moved to put an arm around Teseada. "I'm so sorry Tes,"
he said. "I had hoped we'd prove them wrong."

"I thought we would," she put her head in her hands, conscious of how he was
supporting her. "I suppose we have to go tell them."

"Yes," he said softly and just held her for a moment more. Truthfully
he didn't want to bring the bad news to the Weyrleaders but he had no
choice and he wasn't going to leave the burden to Teseada. "Come on,"
he said after a moment and stood to help her up.

"I'm glad you're here." And at that moment she truly meant it. "Let's get
this over with."

He nodded and slid a hand down her arm to take her hand and lead her
off the sands toward the Weyrleader's rooms.

Last updated on the April 1st 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

That time again