Yikaeri lifted her head suddenly from where it had been resting next to one of the eggs on the rainbow sands, looking down at the egg with puzzlement, wondering what had awoken her. With joy, she watched as the egg quivered gently, hairline cracks already forming on the mottled shell.
Throwing her head back, she let forth a loud warble, unable to calm herself enough to use her magic to give herself words. Next to her, Revent stood swiftly, adding his much lower voice to hers, their warbling blending together into a simple melody that was soon reinforced as dragon after dragon swooped into the sands from wherever they had been, the song growing louder with each added voice.
Even the few off-world dragons that had found their way into the Clan slipped into the sands, though many of them remained silent, simply listening to the hauntingly sweet melody that the dragons were singing.
Selverat took it unto himself to herd the eleven candidates onto the sands, though some, especially Zhyinaer, found the 'herding' to be... rather demeaning... especially when Selverat decided to nag all of them - except for the one dragon and the three half-dragons - about proper footwear on the rainbow sands.
Yikaeri looked over the candidates that had been found, measuring them in her mind. There were the three half-dragons - Puk, Rothrale, and Kimosay - who seemed to feel better when standing together, that were easily the oddest of the bunch, while around them danced the irrepressible Javree, a pink bunny dragon with enough questions and tales for nine lifetimes. Zhyinaer, who was still shooting dark looks at Selverat, was the quietest of the gathered, and - from what she knew - had never truly socialized with any of his fellow candidates. Akate and Melanthe were speaking quietly together, the Islander and the Xidaver survivor... apparently they had enough in common to have formed what looked to Yikaeri like a budding friendship.
Her eyes shifted to the one candidate who stood farthest to the side, Lewis Temple, a firefighter with - she had gathered - a rather unhappy past. Yikaeri gave the tall man a reassuring smile, being careful not to show any of her teeth, before turning her gaze to the other three candidates. Taaj, or Black as she had sometimes referred to herself as, was looking on with partially-concealed excitement, eyes darting from rocking egg to rocking egg, as if trying to discover which would hatch first. The final two, L'div and Aseanelle, were standing more quietly, though L'div was shifting her weight around slightly with growing impatience while Aseanelle merely... stood there. Much like Zhyinaer was, actually.
With a soft pop the first egg cracked open, spilling its deep brown inhabitant out onto the sands. As the dragonet somewhat clumsily righted himself, the song of welcome faded softly into the background, though did not cease. Emerald green markings were mixed with the occasional pale blue, labeling the hatchling as an Earth and Wind.
Carefully picking his way across the glittering sands, the hatchling sat down in front of Akate and gazed steadily up at his chosen.
I am Devaelen, and you are my rider, Akate. Together we can soar upon the winds of whatever world you wish.
Smiling brightly, Akate started off across the sands with his bond ambling alongside him, both heading towards a cavern where a single Female Fire was watching over the large bowls of meat for the hatchlings.
While this was happening, a second egg had shattered, revealing a large golden male, with markings of silver and ice blue. After surveying the candidates coldly, the Metal snorted, My bond is not here. I will go to Winya Yesteae on my own. With that, the dragonet stalked off the sands, shooting back at the gathered people, I am Zelut, if you must know.
Elyissa nodded absently, glancing over at her hovering helper-sprite, who was recording the entire hatching so far. Satisfied that the creature had caught the name and where he was going, she turned her full attention back to the sands before her.
Two more eggs had collided, shattering with a loud crash as their inhabitants tumbled over one another in a jumble of pale blue and greenish-brown limbs.
Clumsy...
Hey! Watch who you're calling clumsy! I've beaten armies of a thousand men before! Compared to that, you're nothing!
... You just hatched, how could you have beaten armies?
Well, err, I... Javree! Help!
Oh, for... Rothrale, it seems we have become tangled beyond help.
Well if you wouldn't have thrashed around!
Me? It was you who were thrashing, just like you were thrashing in that egg of yours. I was perfectly content in mine!
Shaking his dragon-like head in amusement, Rothrale strode forward, using his dexterous hands to carefully pry one dragon from the other. Javree danced around the three, attempting to help but finding himself at a bit of a loss, as Rothrale had the entire mess sorted out in short order.
There, finally! The male Wind chirped brightly, his pale blue and ruby red markings glowing faintly, Javree, I'm Xerist! I'm also hungry! Race you to the food!
You're on!
Rothrale snorted as the two dragons bolted towards the cavern with food, then glanced over at the medium sized Earth hatchling that stood in front of him, emerald, pale green, and sapphire markings, "And you are mine then?"
Yes. I'm Kelrest. Thanks for untangling me from that too-hyper Wind. Kelrest stretched much like a feline is wont to do, I suppose we should head over towards the food for now. Then, perhaps, a nice nap?
Nodding as he stood, Rothrale answered in kind, "That sounds perfect to me, Kelrest."
Two female dragons stood side-by-side, conversing quietly between themselves, their hatching having gone unnoticed in the chaos of the last two. One, an Earth of reddish-brown hide, with markings of bright emerald and soft lavender, easily dwarfed her Ice companion, who's markings were purely icy blue in color.
Men. The Earth commented with a snort, Can never get themselves out of any difficulty. I'm rather surprised that they actually called for help.
The Female Ice grinned, True. With that, she cast her sapphire blue eyes over the gathered candidates, ignoring several attempts to attract her attention, Well, I must admit that I see none here that I wish to bond with. So I, Esiell, will head to... Vella Crean. If my mother and father will allow, that is?
When she glanced upwards, it was to see the accepting nods of both Yikaeri and Revent. Esiell smiled as she nodded politely back, before sauntering off the rainbow sands.
I'm with my sister, there's no one here I wish to bond with, though I'm going to Dragonwillow, and not to Vella Crean.
"And your name?" Yikaeri spoke just loud enough to be heard over the ever-present song.
Veccasi.
The next egg cracked open with a sound like a gunshot, shards of shell flying everywhere as the dragon forced his way into the world.
L'div! I am Dakoret! The fiery hatchling attempted to roar, though it came out more like a kitten's mew than a true roar. He didn't seem upset, though, and his ruby markings glowed somewhat brightly against his fiery hide.
The muscular woman laughed, "I think you need to work on that roar, Dakoret. But you'll get better with time."
Smirking, the Fire hatchling nodded, as they strode off the sands together.
Mental laughter drew the eyes of all remaining to one rather playful hatchling who was patting at several rocking eggs, his pale yellow hide almost making him look like a very oddly shaped - and limbed - egg. The sole spot of bright color upon his hide were a few scattered markings of sapphire, while the rest were either pure white or soft lavender.
Yikaeri smiled indulgently, as she lowered her muzzle and nudged the small Light out from amongst the eggs, "Do you not want to bond?"
Oh! My bond isn't here! The Light responded with a bright smile, I'll find him or her later, but first! There are many in Tygiri's care that could use some cheering up, so I'll provide it!
Revent had to chuckle as the enthusiastic Light bounced from the sands, then glanced up at Elyissa, "His name is Lanet."
Meanwhile, Puk's eyes were drawn towards one of the larger eggs in the clutch as - with a final quiver - it split gracefully into two halves...
And each half held a dragonet!
Only the dark gray one seemed inclined to move, though, and she bolted up and out of her half of the shell within seconds, the rainbow light of the glowing sands catching on her lightning-streaked hide, and causing her bright yellow and pale green markings to glow brightly.
Puk! You are mine! The Storm female chirped, And I can help you with anything you want!
Laughing, the half-dragon scratched under the female's chin, the action rewarded with a feline-like purr, "Aye, I suppose I am now. Well, come on then, Ashikisa, there's food over yonder."
Meanwhile, the second hatchling from the egg had risen gracefully from her spot, blue hide mottled with green in a definitely watery look. Sapphire and opal markings glittered as she moved forward towards the candidates, mindvoice quiet as flowing water, Mel... Melanthe... I hope I do not make you nervous? I will never grow as big as any of my other siblings...
The woman smiled as she knelt and embraced the tiny hatchling, "No, you could never make me nervous, Nalekai."