Sands

It is time, rider mine.

Sitting in on the stone benches surrounding the warm hatching sands, wasn't Brina's favorite thing to do, but her dragon was egg heavy, and there was not much else she could do. 

Are you sure?  Because you said that about 10 candle marks ago, and nothing happened.

That is true, but I have found the perfect spot, and it is time.

Sighing heavily, Brina prepared herself for more days of sitting waiting for Fananth to decide it was time for her eggs to leave her, and settle gently on the warm sands.  Then, suddenly, in the far corner of the sands, an egg appeared, followed by another, and yet another.  Jumping from her vantage on the stands, Brina raced over to embrace Fananth.  In her hurry, she forgot, that she had removed her thick riding boots, in favor of thin sandals, and as she bounded towards Fananth, her joyous dancing became an ungainly effort to keep both feet off the ground at the same time.   Reaching Fananth, she clambered up onto her forearm and with a joyous yelp, examined the first 6 pearl colored eggs.  

That can't be it can it?  Brina questioned anxiously, Fananth's last clutch had been 12 eggs,  and six was small for a green's clutch.

You have no patience dearest.  We must wait, the others will come.

And they did, another 14 eggs, each carefully inspected, before being nudged tenderly  into the desired spot and then covered meticulously in sand.  
How many beloved?  I counted but with all your nuzzling and prodding it might have been twice or half as much.  

14 precious eggs.  She stated mater-of-factly.

Any special...

All my children are special!

Of course dear, what I meant was..

Is there a queen?  Perhaps, I am inclined to say so.    And that one over there, she nudged a smallish egg off to the side. It maybe a small green, or perhaps a white, one never knows until hatching, does one.

No, I guess we will just have to wait for the hatching.  I will alert D'jul and Jath, 14 you say?

Yes dear 14, 14 beautiful, perfect, marvelous, glowing, precious, magnificent....

....I get the point, will you and your eggs be ok while I go inform D'jul?

Do what you must.

Having heard rumors that the Sr. Queen has laid yet another clutch you have ventured to the sands to see if there is any truth to the rumors. You enter the sands hoping that there are eggs on the sands, and to your surprise laying at the back of the sands is the Sr. Queen Fananth.  Fananth, is wrapped protectively around her eggs.  And before you set foot on the sands, you can feel her eyes burning into the back of your head.  Warning you not to come near.  And as you gaze at the 14 eggs from afar you notice that one of them has bit of a golden sheen to it.  And another, defiantly smaller then the others, is pushed off to the side.

This is not what Turquoise Weyr dragons look like, Jharnith was impressed by Ninara at Dawn Sisters Weyr

Get off my sands!

Was the enraged mental screech that the awoke Ninara, she immediately recognized it as Sr. Queen Fananth's, followed by the all to familiar voice of her own dragon, Jharnith.

I will do as I please!  And I am Clutching here!

Ninara gasped,  Jharnith hadn't even let on that she was going to clutch any time soon.

I am better  than any of  you or your bulky ilk! 

Ninara winced at Jharnith's all to obvious hatred of gold's which exasperated Fananth further.  As she quickly hurried down to the Sands she heard Fananth's infuriated bellow, followed by a shrill, taunting, warble.  Ninara's ears ached by the time she got to the Sands, which echoed with the enranged bellows of the gold and green dragon.

Jharnith!  Ninara mentally yelled at her dragon, Jharnith, stop it!  you can clutch in one of the smaller caverns around the main sands.

But that means that she Jharnith cast a disdainful look at Fananth gets the larger part, you think she's better, don't you?

Ninara was expecting something of the sort and had prepared an explanation to soothe her dragon "I don't think she's better, but Fananth clutched first so she gets the larger sands.  We need to get you into one of those caverns and then you can clutch."

"Is that what this is all about, Fananth being broody on 'her' sands?"  Brina questioned Ninara, making her jump in surprise.

"Not at all,  Jharnith has a... ...distaste for gold dragons..."

***An Hour Later***

You may come see my eggs now, rider mine.

As Ninara came in to the cavern ( Jharnith had forbidden anyone to enter, even her rider.)  she gaped at the shimmering globes around Jharnith.

How many dear?

Seven. Seven wonderful eggs.

I should go tell Brina and  D'jul, then I'll be back.

 Jharnith made a contemptuous snort.

As you leave the grounds you see a piece of parchment on the wall.  Upon closer inspection, you find that it is a list of candidates for Fananth's second clutch as well as Jharnith's.

    You hear a cough quietly to get your attention and as you turn around you face a tallish woman in her mid-twentieth turn, with long brown hair pinned up for wearing under a riding cap.  She comments, "If you want to be a candidate, there are still plenty of spots left."  Then she grins at you, "These are only the second and third clutches, I know that they are very  close together, but we are a growing Weyr.  After all F'sen and I have just branched off of Southern Weyr so there's lots of work to be done.  You can read the rules, "  she presses a piece of hide into your hand.  "And then apply if you wish."  Smiling cordially, "I would be happy to help you in anyway, but if you have no pressing questions, there are several matters in the Weyr that need my attention."  With that statement she exits the grounds and hurries off.

Read the Rules