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K’rou and Bronze Cadereth
She was coming over, no surprise to the man. Yunara did tend to cling to him, though he felt no particular reason to complain. She had become a constant in his life and well knew well her place. Now that they were safe here, he would no longer have to put his neck on the line to keep her head, or his own, attached to their shoulders. It felt good to relax on that front.

His eyes remained on her during the full length of her approach, still struggling with the sense of strangeness about her appearance. There was something about it that his mind just could not quite comprehend. He tilted his chin down to follow her movement as she curtsied. The leaves of her skirt touched the floor and flared out around her, and for a moment she almost looked like… a flower. He wasn’t sure why he’d thought of that.

Beside him, Cadereth had stiffened, his wings lifting in the beginnings of a threatening pose. K’rou casually reached down and closed a hand around the bronze’s nearest headknob. No words were needed for the dragon to understand his expectations. Glowering, Cadereth stretched out his wings to their fullest before folding them down halfway.

Meanwhile, K’rou nodded to Yunara’s greeting, still looking at her with just a hint of consternation. “Where did you get that dress?” He certainly hadn’t bought it for her, having never seen it before.

Kinyegele

It wasn't hard to miss the uncomfortable looking boy that seemed to have come from Western Weyr. Kinye looked down at the food thoughtfully, before puffing up her little chest and stalking around the tables towards where the young man had set himself to the side with his handsome new brown.

"Are you doing alright?" she approached S'lys, though was kind enough to keep from just bowling into his personal bubble. Looking down at Leoniath for a moment she quickly added, "Congratulations on such a handsome lifemate! What's his name?" It was easy to talk about one's dragon, right? Surely he'd be alright with indulging her at least that much.

S'lys and Brown Leoniath

The new rider looked at the buffet table for a long moment before a voice caught his attention. A girl, about his age had approached him. He shifted a bit, uncomfortable, but nodded his head. "Yeah. Jus' a lot of people." He had seen a lot of people before but this was.. different. While he wasn't a new gold or bronze rider, which he was glad for, he felt.. odd. Hopefully the attention of others was elsewhere. She then asked him about Leoniath and he gave a little sigh of relief.

"His name is Leoniath. He's the mos' perfect dragon ever clutched and I'm sure you've seen how nice his clutch was." The dragon's eyes whirled with excitement and pride as he stood taller. The young brown knew when he was being talked about. He tried to stretch his wings out to show how big they were but there were too many people. He gave a little huff of annoyance but made himself small again.

S'lys didn't seem to notice, or maybe care, settling to rub his eye ridges. "Can't wait 'til he can fly. I bet he'll put those bronzes to shame." Who needs a bronze when you can have Leoniath.

F'enn & Zezollath
Orri's arrival broke F'enn out of a slight reverie he'd dropped into, and Zezollath of course looked up at the very kind boy to whirl eyes of deep blue and purple. "Oh, hey Orri." A beat later he noticed the bandaging across his...friend's?...face, managing to grimace and c**k a brow at once. "Get in a fight with someone on the sands after we left?" Still, despite his apparent disinterest, he reached up to casually pull some of Orri's hair away from the area, fingers ghosting over the wrappings. "Not quite what you wanted to leave the sands with, I'll guess."

I'm sure he was, ah, I'm sure you were very brave, Orri! The green piped up, pressing close to F'enn's legs with a croon. She did not like that pain had come to the sands. And especially to someone who featured so interestingly in her rider's past! I'm sure he will impress in time. He is a such a good, kind boy, she informed F'enn, instantly drawing his attention away from the other boy, shifting away to cup her head instead, thumbs grazing over her delicate eyeridges. "It still doesn't seem real. I didn't...I mean, I expected...well." He shrugged. Orri knew, probably, what he'd felt was coming. This was not it, but he wouldn't say it, wouldn't dare distress that precious, perfect green.

But a moment later it didn't matter. She was distressed all the same. Looking out at the crowd over her, her F'enn had spotted something or someone that'd locked him up, left him tense and wary. Without hesitation she whirled on the spot, tiny wings flaring as if to shield him, despite barely cresting his knees. F'enn managed not to bristle too much as K'ienn came to a stop, staring him down. If he was going to say anything about his Zezollath, anything about disowning him, well he'd tell him where to stick it. She was the only sharding good thing that'd happened in his life and he—

"You did well, son."

—Well. That wasn't quite what he'd expected. It was shaffing hard to let go of the feelings that'd come bubbling up...but he did try. The ripple of gracious affection flowing from Zezo upon the realization that though this person was Not Good to her F'enn's mind, he had come to do good...that helped. For her part, the little green folded her wings back, eyes fading back to blue with a quiet croon...even if she remained interposed between man and son.

"Thanks..." He was plainly wary, defensive. "...She did it. Not me." It was the truth. He'd simply waited for death to come with flashing teeth. She'd saved him.



Weyrlingmaster V'mel
V'mel paused in his continual scanning of the room to give Ashlyn a slight nod as she joined him. "Appreciate it. We'll need twice what we've got to mind them all, of course." He knew her situation, certainly, but he also knew that she was early enough along yet to not be bothered by it. Not to mention he counted on her to have the sense to check herself and to alert him at the point where she became unfit for duty. She was a reliable sort, after all.

"Been some time since we had so many. I imagine you'll be ready to help lead lessons once we're ready to split them." The first week or two they would all learn together, but after that it made more sense to divide them. It afforded each new pair a better chance to have the attention they were deserving of, a better education, and a better chance of success. And V'mel, much as he preferred to have his hands on the reins at all times, did only have the two hands. "At least until the Seniors are graduated, I think." That'd be coming along soon enough. He'd need to begin his reports to the Weyrleaders and Wingleaders on them.

"In the meantime, eat. They deserve to be celebrated. And I'd like to think they'll have the sense to mind their behavior better than they did as candidates. They'll face more than a slap on the wrists if they fumble now, unlike they did under Gr'del's roof." It was true enough that they had their work cut out for them. And he was not at all about to let a softer touch spoil the Weyr's future prospects. Even if that meant he had to grind them to a point himself.



Theo & Iweth
Theo had found himself indeed a nice quiet little nook to continue to admire Iweth in, though he couldn't help but glance up now and then as if to wonder if he might spot...oh. Ohhh. Oh no.

Oh no? Oh no what? The little bronze looked around just in time for his rider, exuding a sense of exasperated fondness, mild embarrassment, and familiar affection, was swept up into the arms of a tall, muscular man with wild blond hair. "H-herg'r! Yes, yes, please!" He wriggled in the larger man's grip, patting him ever so gently on the back and going red across the neck and ears at the certain spectacle of himself off his feet in a bear hug like he was all of eight turns old again. Near their feet Iweth flared his wings, eyes whirling as he hwonked and pranced about. He did very much want his rider back, but this! This was his Theo's clutchsib!! How exciting!! In playful challenge the bronze butted his head against Herg'r's huge calf, eyes flickering orange...then green unable to keep up the facade of irritation. Fight back, Theo! You can take him! You're the hero of this story, after all, and that means we've got to triumph over every challenge, right?

Eventually his feet did find the ground again, and after a quick (nearly unconscious) run of his hands over himself to make sure his clothes hadn't been mussed (he was a rider now! He had to look the part...!) he turned a soft smile to his big brother. On anyone else it might have been almost coy, but for Theo it was beaming. "I still can't quite believe it, you know! All those turns I...I"d honestly set that dream aside." Or just about. He grinned in full then as he felt the bronze thrust his snout into the man's hand. Even if you were eleventy-five I'd have come to find you! Don't worry about it—introduce me! We can't be rude to your brother! "He's Iweth, of course! Did, did you see him climbing the stands? Even then I didn't realize, but...but here he is!" He blathered on, eyes misting in emotion. His dragon. His own dragon!!



E'dan & Galxath
Galxath, sadly, never really lied hatchings. Each baby seemed better than him, and the blue was a knot of worry that his E'dan might have liked to ride one of them more than himself. It'd taken hours of reassuring and cuddling and singing later to confirm to the blue that he was, indeed, the best and most beloved dragon, but even then, the blue did not seem keen to join the festivities right away. Still...his daughter (he had a daughter!) had impressed. And not just impressed...but to a gold!

He'd never been more proud of another human before...but also saddened.

If he did more now to build their relationship, would she think it just because she'd impressed? She'd have her pick of peers now. Why would she want her silly, rankless, absentee father around? Perhaps he was only picking up on Galxath's wary mood, he considered as he perched on the edge of their ledge, guitar in hand and looking down at the lights and crowd. He imagined he could spot her, her and her splendid, tiny star of a dragon down there. He really ought to go. Congratulate her, if nothing else. If she rebuffed him, well. He'd still have been there.

That was more than he could say for the previous turns.

Mind made up, he slung his guitar onto his back and boarded Galxath strapless to coast slowly down into the bowl, the blue crooning timid greetings to Eveleth as he passed, and then Rhianth and Fianth as he backwinged to land in an unpopulated edge area. "You think you can reach out to her gold, babyblue?" E'dan reached down to pat the dragon's neck comfortingly.

I...can try. I think her name was, uhm. Mictecath? The last was sent to the small gold as well as his rider, hesitant though he was certainly correct.



V'rind & Krahsujunth
Krahsujunth had been inseparable from Fianth since the hatching. Her pain was his own, and though he too ached for the lost green, he knew he would gladly take her pain on top of his own to spare her from it. That their family, just as it had begun, had been fractured...no. No, he would be strong. They had many beautiful and wonderful children here, and they did not deserve their parents' grief. For them he would be as strong as the mountains they called home.

Down in the bowl he watched as their children came to greet their mother, curled against her side, but letting her take the focus of their hatchlings' affections. Of course, when one of his little bronze sons began to call out around the area, he shifted to turn his head to scan about for him. Valseth. Of course. I am near your mother, though my V'rind is within the feasting area, if yours would like to find her. Of course, he relayed this interest to V'rind, who was at that moment piling food onto a platter for herself. With the twins turned over to the creche for the night, she was free to feast and drink her (and Krahsujunth's, through their bond he could not hide it) woes away with T'at.

That wher-headed miner, right? She remembered when they'd searched that one. Thought I'd have to ring his head like a bell, but you always had the nose for it. She smiled to herself as she jammed a slab of roast between her teeth. Outside the blue rumbled, eyes briefly showing warmer hues of ire. It itches terribly. I hate it. I'm glad that one impressed so now I don't have to smell all that wasted potential. The blue scoffed to his rider, but could not help feeling some affection for the man that had been right for one of his.



U'zan & Balizarth
Ahhh, another hatching, another feast. U'zan had seen a number of them in his turns, and though none of course could compare to his feast, they were all grand enough. He'd posted up early, his Balizarth gone to skulk on the heights for any flash of foreign bronze hide to be ripped, and found himself a fine, fine vintage of wine to pull from. The new weyrlings couldn't partake—he would in their stead. And eat, and dance, and who knew where the evening might lead! His bronze's blood was up with anger—his was up, but he wasn't terribly put off, to be frank.

Of course, there was the matter of his son. The boy'd not impressed, which of course was disappointing. But neither had he fled when the chaos had grown thick. He'd not seen the boy's fear on his face from his seat (never mind that a pretty woman had turned his eye more than once during the affair) but at least he'd not gone running away, or been left a bleeding, bawling mess like some. There would be more eggs. Better clutches, according to Balizarth. Of course, his nieces had done very well, but none could ever compare to his august sister's production. There would be other chances, indeed.

He felt his bronze rumble up there on his perch across from Eveleth's. He was not part of her immediate throng, no, but that was his intent. Had he wanted closer, he could have gone. Let the others pay her her rightful tribute of adoration. He would stand guard for any undesiarables that even thought to approach her...from within or without the Weyr.



Zelaya
They had failed. Failed to impress, and failed as a member of the Weyr's candidacy, which had on the whole displayed entirely unacceptable behavior. It had been a somber mood in the barracks since, and the news of Gr'del's relief of duty had been...a conflicting thing. He had been a kind enough man, though clearly there was some conflict of interest between him and the Weyr to have let things get to this point. Perhaps, they reasoned to themselves, it was more a trouble of the searchdragons, in their eagerness to supply the two clutches, had brought in those who might have, in times of less need, been ignored. Eventually they would come to see the debt they owed the Weyr, and hopefully improve.

As it was, there was nothing to do but press on. Head up, properly dressed to be a representative of their home. They might have failed, but they would be there to support and lift up those who had found success.

And, of course, their father. He was not hard to miss as he entered, though they did not make haste to intercept him. He was an important man, with important things to see to. And more important people to seek out. Still, they kept an eye on him as he moved about the crowd, quietly eager to present themselves to him if he sought them out.

Seeing the cane they'd given him in hand, at his side...well. It felt, a little bit, like they were there with him too.

Kinyegele

The girl absolutely beamed when Leoniath bumped his head against her, giving him a questioning look before reaching out to offer a hand to the brown as well. "May I?" it wasn't a question for S'lys, but rather one for Leoniath instead. If permission was granted, she'd eagerly reach out to offer scritches around his eyes and headridges. Otherwise, she knew better than to touch without permission.

Kinye inclined her head slightly at the slightly off look on S'lys's face, but didn't pry. "A lot of oiling too, I'm sure," she added, tone absolutely brimming with sunshine. "Oh! So you'll get to have most of your chances with him! That's good. Means you'll mostly adapt to it together," she offered as a positive spin, squeezing his hand tightly before relinquishing it again. "Have you gotten a good chance to take in the Weyr? I don't know how it stands compared to Western, but I hope it's not a hard change for you."

She absolutely beamed at his inquiry. "Yep! This was on my second time standing, but it was different from the first time. Lots of opportunities to go, though! I was born in the Weyr, though, so if you need anything I'm sure I can help!" Kinye offered eagerly.

orri

Orri felt his cheeks warm at the surprising gesture and tried to laugh it off, rubbing his neck self-consciously. “Less brave and more clumsy, really. I-It wasn’t a big deal,” he said, also not willing to say anything that might distress Falienn’s dragon. “I just had a bad fall and hit my head, that’s all. All those excited candidates in a tight group, baby dragons, me being an excited klutz myself, you know...” He wasn’t sure how that cover story would work out when the bandages came off, but he could worry about that later.

He felt his smile growing the more he looked at them. At least here was a pair Orri could feel genuinely glad for, along with apparently Soui as well if the introductions from earlier were remembered right. Whatever Falienn had believed he deserved, this was right.

“Now are you going to be a gentleman and introduce me?” he asked Falienn, about to crouch to be at proper eye level with the green, when someone else approached. It took him a moment to properly put a name to the man’s face, but then Orri stood ramrod straight when he did with a mixture of surprise, anxiety, and respect. But why were Falienn and His—

Son. Oh. Faranth, today was just a bit of an emotional ride for his friend, wasn’t it. And Orri just kept continuing to find himself the third wheel in someone else’s scene. He didn’t dare say anything and kept his hands at his sides. Falienn looked ready for a confrontation...Even his sweet green looked ready to defend. Orri couldn’t help but grow more curious, even as he hoped K’ienn didn’t give him a second look for staying there. He felt awkward enough, thanks, in his stiff, neutral position, eyes glancing between father and son.

Roana and Green Ulendoth

Ulendoth jerked her head up at the sound of another voice. She had not been broadcasting for all to hear, her words had been for her mother and rider. So she was surprised to have someone listening in. Never the less she listened and returned the a blossom of affection for uncle. The discovery and introduction to new family was never to be shunned yet her answer was quite firm. I did not misspeak Uncle She might have been less than a day old but she already was quite clear in her own mind.
I did not speak to her as a weyrwomen second. I spoke to her as my mother. But she can reply as she wants.

Roana had not been party to the brief exchange but she could tell her beloved was talking to someone.

Who are you talking to now?

To uncle. He did not like the way I was talking to mother but I set him straight.
Ro almost put her head in her hands. Oh sweet Faranth. She loved, adored and cherished Ulendoth. She would never be parted from her little green for all the riches of pern, would not even be able to live without her now, but she could already see that she was going to be a handful.
Still Ulendoth plowed on, when Fianth lowered her nose the little green rubbed up against it like a happy feline. Lavishing in the attention and pulsing love back to make sure Fianth knew that there were grudges. I cried for sister too. I know you would not want more sadness so better to tell you everything, so no bad feelings can be held onto. It's no good keeping it all in the shell, no good at all, Ulendoth also had all the confidence of a child secure in their parents love and her riders, now everything was aired out it could settle again. She was also (maybe wrongly) Secure enough to push at hierarchy boundaries.

Roana eyed Olliah as she spoke, sharp enough to pick out some of the veiled meaning behind her words. Something in her longed to make a wry comment in turn but at that moment she saw a familiar pale blue hide from the corner of her eye. Her heart leapt. She quickly bowed to Olliah instead. "I'll keep that in mind. And I'll talk to Ulendoth about this." she promised before turning to Ulendoth. Speaking aloud. "We shouldn't take up to much of your mothers time, looks like she is busy enough as it is, come on."

Ulendoth might have argued, but she had also sensed the budding excitment in her rider, so instead she gave her mother one last nose boop and followed after Ro as she folded back into the crowd.

As soon as it was safe to do so Roana had picked up speed to a jog, then a run, Ulendoth hot at her heels. Yes, there! She almost flew out of the crowd to tackle the unsuspecting Nicara, twining her arms around the smaller frame and spinning her in a hug. "You came!" she laughed with pure joy, hugging her close. "I was so afraid they'd find some excuse to turn you away at the last minute." Ulendoth trumpeted ,honked and danced her approval as well, even if she didn't quite understand who this person was, happy rider, happy green.

The pun was enough to make the little green grunt to herself, but there was no way to respond to it without, in her mind, only encouraging her sister to continue. I'd noticed. She replied tersely, distracted by her search. Of course, it didn't take long until their father called out to them, and after a moment, Skerath gave Alegriath a rough, if not unkind bum with her nose. Go to him. I must see mother. Alone. Something like dancing would be much more up Alegriath's alley, surely. It was supposed to be an uplifting activity, from what she'd gathered from Hers.

Iathe immediately recognized the small, pale girl as one of High Reaches Candidates--no, Weyrlings, studying her face intently even as the other mumbled into her plate. "She didn't, actually," The girl admitted with a rueful twist of her lips. "She's an independent little thing. It's nice to meet you..." She prodded at Skerath mentally for an answer, and snorted when she received a shrug in reply. Well, that was easy enough. She extended her own hand. "I'm Iathe. You Impressed one of the whites, didn't you?"

White hatchlings... and several, to boot. That wasn't common, nor were the high number of bronze dragons between the two clutches. "I don't bite." She said dryly after a moment, unsure if her reputation proceeded her in that regard. Well, she had no doubt that they'd add to the Weyr's strength, regardless of what some of the more bigoted riders thought.

Skerath, in the meantime, carefully and determinedly scrambled up to where her great, golden mother was. Her sparkling hide was dulled, and that alone was enough to irritate the small hatchling. Her eyes whirled irritably even as she approached, craning her neck to stare up at Rhianth's face. I will never forget his face. The bronze. Venom dripped from every word. I will punish him appropriately one day, mother. It felt right, to inform her of her planned vengeance. She couldn't quite say why.