(10.15.2707) Double Trouble (Attn:ALL)

[Kit]

Kanly woke to the pale morning light as usual, ready for another day. Life had changed so much since she had come to Nova, all for the better of course, yet she couldn't help recurring twinges of dread, the inborn expectation that nothing could be this good and soon her happiness would be snatched away. Perhaps it was lingering guilt over the death of her father. A part of her felt she should have tried to save him, though logic told her she had been otherwise occupies at the time. Further, a deep part of her felt like a horrible person, a truly ungrateful daughter, because she did not miss K;ain in the least. This morning, her feeling of discomfort seemed to increase for no reason, a feeling of slight nausea and pain in the pit of her belly.. She groaned lightly as she got out of bed and padded out to the ledge where Chrysoberyth dozed. The red seemed agitated in her sleep, shifting her wings and flicking her tail. The young red rider frowned, feeling her way down the link of their thoughts, something that was new to her in practice. The rebel weyr had not given their youngsters the deep instruction in the empathy link that Nova riders received. After a moment a worried gasp escaped her lips. The slight feeling of illness she felt wasn't her own fear and guilt, it was coming from Chysoberyth! Kanly trembled slightly with fear. What if her dragon was really ill?

Just as she began to really panic, a part of her that spoke with Chrysoberyth's voice even when the red was asleep gave her something like a mental slap. If the red was ill, there was nothing to be done about it while she was sleeping after all. and when she was awake, if Chrysoberyth felt ill, well they would just see the dragonhealer.. In fact, Quindara was a dragonhealer, perhaps Kanly would ask her later. In the meantime, she would take a bath. Chrysoberyth was too big for a weyrling's weyr, so the two had taken a small weyr on the ground floor for the time being. There were only a few others with whom she had to share the bath with, it was quite nice, though she wasn't used to such luxury or privacy.

She squashed her fears ruthlessly and went to the bath and got herself a light breakfast, she was just returning to the weyr when Chrysoberyth began to stir, with more than the usual grumblings. Kanly went quickly to her side.

"What's wrong Chrys? You don't seem well," she said worriedly.

Chrysoberyth stretched, her scarlet and rust hide stretched taut over her egg-filled belly. No Mine, I feel quite well...Oh! A ripple passed over the muscles of her belly, and Kanly felt her stomach gurgle in response.

"What's wrong?" she asked, trying to keep the panic from her voice.

Be calm, Mine. I think we need to go to the Hatching Grounds right away. Climb up now. Chrysoberyth said reasonably and Kanly was so nervous and excited she could barely comply. The red had what seemed to be an agonizing takeoff, but soon they had sailed into the Hatching Grounds. Chrysoberyth landed with a soft grunt and Kanly quickly slid off, wringing her hands with worry as the red settled herself on the warm sands of the smaller cavern off the main one. Seeing her rider's distress, Chrysoberyth called Artemth.

*****

In the Weyrling Bowl, the young silver was just finishing her morning oiling. Quindara was fitter than ever due her dragon's seemingly limitless growth, The dragonhealers assured her she wouldn't even be the size of the largest bronze at full growth, but that was quite big enough. Suddenly Artemth broke their companionable silence. Mine, Chrysoberyth requests your presence on the Hatching Gtounds. Apparently Hers is not taking the laying of Eggs very calmly. the silver said serenely. "Oh!" Quindara said aloud. "Chrysoberyth is laying now?!" She looked around the Bowl furtively, wondering if she should have spoken so loudly.

I'll go now, if you're sure you're fine. You'll have to make my excuses to Treoth and Peronith.

Artermth bobbed her elegant head in assent. Your friend needs you. I will be fine. Quindara dashed through the corridor with a parting wave.

Oh, better tell Chandrath and Reloith as well the weyrling said in parting to her dragon as she had already nearly crossed the threshold of .the Hatching Grounds

Of course. the silver dragon assured her rider before relaying the message to the two senior dragons.

Cybele breathed a deep breath to calm herself as her Gold gave her the news. She was worried for the outcome of this clutch. She hadn't made a decision on allowing reds to lay when Chrysoberyth had been thrust upon them. What if the dragonets were stunted, defective? All the weird colors were bad enough, but if the dragonets weren't healthy...well...she didn't know what she would do.

Well are you ready to go down, dear? she asked Chandrath, stroking the great cheekbone to soothe the both of them.

Yes, the young one needs our support and I.... the Gold suddenly stopped for a moment, and Cybele felt a shudder go through her. Actually, we'd better just go anyway...it seems I too am ready. I will tell Reloith, Aylinth and Demnoth. Also..Arkysk I think. I would like the Candidate Master to see. the gold said, calm after so many successful clutches. Cybele nodded, her heart racing as she mounted the Gold.

Just moments later, she was sliding down onto the Sands, and as Chandrath settled herself, the Weyrwoman walked over to the two nervous younger women. "Well, it looks like there will be two clutches today. Sorry to steal your thunder, young Kanly."

"N-no ma'am!" the redrider stuttered. "Chandrath's clutch is much m-more important!" Cybele waved her hand dismissively.

"The Weyrleader and both Seconds should be down shortly, and the Candidate Master. Chandrath invited him. Did Chrysoberyth ask for Nocheth?"

Kanly blushed. "I think she said she would call him when she was done." Kanly was dying to see Z'zak really, they had not spoken but briefly since the Flight. But what would she say? He was probably angry with her after all. She turned her gaze back to her dragon as the first egg plopped into the sands, a brown one, small to her eyes, but on the large end of middle for an egg. Cybele smiled.

"See, she knows what to do. Hopefully everything will go easily for both," she said, almost as a mantra, turning towards the entrance hopefully for a sign of T'tarel. She could use a strong arm to lean on.

[sorra]

Reloith had been sleeping peacefully when he felt Chandrath move. The bronze opened one eye and looked over at the gold. It hadn't taken him long to get used to the idea of sharing Chandrath's ledge. Reloith watched her quietly as she and Cybele disappeared. There was no reason to wake His yet.

The bronze sat up as soon as both Chandrath and Artemeth called. T'tarel! Hatching Grounds! Now! the bronze said excitedly. This would be the first clutch he had ever sired.

T'tarel joined his impatient bronze a few seconds later still tying up his shirt. He jumped onto Reloith's back and the bronze glided down to the Hatching Grounds. T'tarel slid off and walked inside. Being Weyrleader was still so new to him. Reloith poked his head into the Hatching Grounds.

Chandrath? Are you okay?

T'tarel walked to Kanly and Cybele. "It looks like this is a very special day indeed," he smiled to the two women.

[Jazzeh]

Toniel was just getting started with her day, waking just before the first light rays could touch Nova Weyr's peaks. Throwing on a set of fairly warm, but dingy, clothes, she scrambled aboard Aylinth and together they went to the lake to bathe. She was just finishing scrubbing the last few feet of hide when Aylinth turned her head to look at her rider. Chandrath has called. Chrysoberyth is laying her clutch...and so is Chandrath.[/color] Toniel looked up in surprise, dropping the brush in her hands. "They are both clutching? Right now?" she said aloud.

Yes. Right now. Let's finish up and go to the sands. I am sure Demnoth and Q'del will meet us there.[/color] As requested, Toniel resumed the bath, as soon as she found the brush. Just over a half candlemark later, they were on their way to the Hatching Grounds. Aylinth was careful to land outside of the cavern instead of within, not wanting to disturb either female and arouse any jealousy. She was not, after all, Senior Queen, and she knew very well she did not have run of the roost. Toniel dismounted swiftly and strode quickly into the cavern. "Weyrwoman! Aylinth said Chandrath and Chrysoberyth are clutching?"

[Kit]

Cybele smiled at T'tarel as he entered. "Indeed. I hope it will be a double Hatching as well. That'll be an occasion to celebrate."

Chandrath glanced at her bronze mate, being somewhat preoccupied, and crooned. I am fine, Reloith. It's all perfectly natural.

Kanly nodded nervously as she watched Chrysoberyth intently. Quindara patted her shoulder comfortingly, but she too was engrossed in watching the two dragons.

Q'del and Demnoth were on their ledge, the bronze half-asleep as his rider finished oiling his red- bronze hide. Suddenly the dragon sat up, nearly knocking Q'del off his neck ridges. Chandrath is clutching. Chrysoberyth too. The Weyrwoman requests our presence.

"Both of them?! Shards. Well, we'd better go." the Weyrsecond righted himself on his dragons neck, and soon after they came to a landing outside the Hatching Grounds. Q'del slid off, and seeing to his slight dismay that Aylinth had not yet arrived, he went to greet the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader.

Arktos arrived moments later, looking bleary-eyed and yawning. He'd mostly gotten rid of the limp that had dogged him ever since his fight with K'ain, but the Healers said he might never be free of the pain of it.

"Arkysk said you needed me in the Hatching Grounds, Weyrwoman? What..?" His eyes finally seemed to take in the crowd and the presence of the Senior Queen as well as the young red. "Shards."

"My sentiments exactly," Q'del replied.

"As you can see, you'll have to get those Searchriders working double-time, Arktos. I think around thirty eggs is likely," Cybele said with a smile.

Just then, Aylinth and Toniel arrived. Q'del smiled more brightly than most people had ever seen and Cybele waved. "Yes, Chrysoberyth started first but Chandrath went soon after. I think maybe she just didn't want to be upstaged," she said with a chuckle. The Queen had already laid three eggs, a banded green, a sparkly blue and an egg that somewhat resembled molten lava. Chrysobeyth had laid her second egg, a white one with very sublte patterns.

[sorra]

Reloith crooned softly and lay down at the entrance of the Hatching Grounds. He would not enter until Chandrath asked him to. He wasn't sure how protective of her eggs his gold mate would be and he didn't want to upset her. Oh good, the bronze crooned. They are very lovely. As are yours Chrysoberyth, he said.

T'tarel smiled as he walked up to Cybele. He liked to think that the two of them had gotten closer since Chandrath's Flight. "That would definitely help bolster the Weyr's morale," he agreed, putting his arm around Cybele's shoulders. He looked over at Kanly. "How are you holding up?" he asked the young red rider. This would definitely be an interesting clutch. No one knew what to expect from a red.

The Weyrleader looked over when Q'del and then Arktos joined them, soon followed by Toniel. T'tarel couldn't help but cringed as he watched the Candidate Master. The fight with K'ain had definitely taken its toll on a lot of the riders. "I'm glad you could all make it," he said, a smile lighting up his face. This was a good day. No questions asked.

[Jazzeh]

Toniel shivered slightly at the sudden temperature change between the cool air outside clinging to her wet breeches and the all-encompassing heat of the Sands. But more important than her personal comfort were the patterned eggs that already lay on the tan dunes. She caught sight of Q'del's smile and couldn't help but smile privately herself, a girlish joy causing the corners of her mouth to twitch upwards. She directed her attention away from him at the moment, thinking that she could have her time with him later. She smiled, too, at Cybele's comment and chuckle, though this smile was a little more reserved. "We will be needing many Candidates, then, I'm sure. Thank goodness our Searchriders don't relax too much in between clutches and have already found several Candidates already," she remarked in her soft voice.

[taenia]

The first clue she had that something important was going on was the excitment in peoples voices as they spoke loudly, the second clue was the change in the atompshere and the final clue was that everyone dropped what they were doing and left the lower caverns to leave Ranelli standing there almost alone confused and wondering.

"You'll miss it!" Someone called as they rushed past her, obviously in a hurry to avoid missing this mysterious event that every was all excited about.

"Miss what?!" She called back, not expecting her words to reach the womans ears.

"The clutching! Chandrath AND Chrysoberth are clutching!" The woman had stopped to answer her before heading off again, leaving Ranelli to wonder and make up her mind - could she join them? Was everyone allowed to go and see? The lady seemed to think Ranelli would be able to attend.. so she decided to follow her out, heading towards the hatching grounds, she knew at least where these were.

There were already a lot of people there when Ranelli made it to the scene of the event, people standing in every gap possible to get a look at what was happening, which dragon was laying which egg.. from the gossip in the caverns, she'd come to understand that this was the first clutch of a red dragon, and no one knew what to expect.. Ranelli was curious!

Inching closer she managed to get a little look through the gaps between peoples heads, and watched in wonder as the two dragons gave into instinct and started to lay their eggs. This was a first, she'd never seen a clutch laid before. She remained quiet as she stood at the back of the group, not wanting to get in anyone elses way, but enjoying watching such a thing..

I bet the candidates that have already been searched are excited... Ranelli thought to herself enviously, what it must feel like to know that your dragon perhaps laid within one of those eggs.. she'd never really considered the life of a dragonrider, she shared the same childish dream that most hold kids did of being a dragonrider.. but only as a dream, never as a possibility..

[Kit]

Arktos nodded at Toniel's remark. "I don't think we'll have a problem funding enough Candidates, but my classroom will be full. G'fal will have it harder than I once these hatch," he said with a slight grin. Seeing the eggs brought back some difficult memories, but the Candidate Master tried his best to focus on the here and now.

Kanly seemed to relax as Chrysoberyth laid her third egg, a warm orange one, and Quindara looked back at her brother, surprised to see the smile on his face. She raised her eyebrows, but he seemed not to notice.

Cybele, meanwhile, noticed the crowd gathered at the entrance. Chandrath, dear, do you think you could let them come in. Everyone is anxious to see.

Just make sure they are careful and do not touch them. They are still soft.

Of course. Cybele was glad her dragon was not terribly broody, though the fact that she would remind her lifemate of such a basic thing showed she was still a little anxious.

"Kanly, is Chrysoberyth ready for visitors? We'll make sure they're careful with the eggs." Cybele asked the young redrider. After a moment of deliberation, Kanly nodded.

"Everyone can come in, slowly. No touching the eggs!" Cybele shouted to the onlookers. Arktos prepared to manhandle anyone who disobeyed as Chandrath finished laying her sixth egg, a large golden one. There were hopeful gasps.

[sorra]

Reloith shifted slightly in the entrance to make room for the new comers. Although he wasn't going to move far. He wanted to be close to Chandrath. The bronze was proud. He had never sired a clutch before. Or even won a gold Flight for that matter. He crooned softly to his mate. I will not let them hurt your lovely eggs, he promised the gold.

T'tarel stepped back by Cybele to let everyone in. "Word travels fast," he smiled as he watched the gold and red lay their eggs. Everything seemed to be going just fine. "I can't believe they both clutched on the same day." The new Weyrleader was beaming. This was all exciting to him. Sure, he'd been at clutchings before, but this one was different. This was his bronze's first clutch. T'tarel kept his arm around Cybele's shoulders, smiling broadly.

[Mik]

Nocheth got wind that there were clutches being lain and it only took him a moment to figure out that Chrysoberyth was among the commotion. His clutch, too! The normally keep-to-himself brown was as excited as a Weyrling at the idea and he flew from the high ledge where His was held under guard and landed carefully away from the people heading for the Hatching Grounds. He did not want to see any of them. He only wanted to see what his catch of Chrysoberyth had created. The huge, sandy bulk of a dragon made his way carefully toward the Grounds, not caring if some looked at him strange from the scars that rittled his hide. He was curious and he was going to see if he could. Stopping within view of Chandrath, he looked about in confusion. Where was his mate? Looking at the great golden dragon, he bobbed his head slightly in respect and bespoke her carefully, a tone of absolute pleasantness to his older voice. Beautiful Chandrath, where might Chrysoberyth be? I wish to see hers and mine eggs. He knew better, even after twenty turns in isolation, to make his way onto Hatching Sands without the brooding female's okay.

[Kendrall]

G'rett was busy down in the forge repairing a few broken beltknives when Coth interrupted his thoughts. G'rett, Mine, Chrysoberyth and Chandrath are clutching. Shall we not go and see this miracle for ourselves? The Wingleader stopped for a moment, blinking his eyes rapidly as he attempted to contemplate what his bonded had just told him. Chrysoberyth and Chandrath were Clutching? At the same time? What were the odds of such an occurrence?

G'rett grabbed the nearest towel to wipe the soot and grime from his face. Coth...are you sure? He was having a hard time grappling with the very idea that a gold - the Senior Queen, nonetheless - and one of the Reds from the now-absorbed group of rogue Riders were clutching at the same time. It hadn't been an easy process, but things had seemed to go well at the last feast. Kanly was still a bit unsure of herself, it seemed, but Quindara took the young girl under her wing and eased her into how things were done at Nova. G'rett had no real love for what K'ain put him and Coth through, and the younger man nearly had his way with the older man's daughter as the result of Chrysoberyth's Flight. Thankfully, Q'del and Arktos had led a group of Riders from Nova on a rescue operation - one that had turned deadly. Many Riders were lost on both sides that day, many dragons had gone between. Others like G'rett were injured during the fight; a few others came through unscathed.

Since that day Chandrath had Risen and was subsequently caught and flown by Reloith, and in spite of his loss, G'rett wound up bedding his lover once again. Quindara. That thought brought a question to mind. Was she present at the Clutching?

The familiar voice came back to his mind. Yes, I am quite certain of this. And yes, it seems Artemth's is there as well.[/color] Coth apparently picked up on the question, and gave his answer before G'rett could form it.

I'll be right there, Coth.

It took him nearly a quarter of a candlemark to get himself washed up and dressed before making his way to the Hatching Sands, and already a small group of onlookers were hovering around like VTOLs to sweet nectar. G'rett shook his head, then quickly caught sight of Quindara. Walking up to her, he wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a warm squeeze, followed by a soft kiss on her cheek. "Coth told me the good news," he said softly, then turned his head and bowed it to Cybele and T'tarel. "Weyrwoman. Weyrleader." He then turned to look at Kanly, and bowed his head at the young girl and gave her a reassuring wink before looking at the current Clutch. Among the eggs was a large gold-colored one, and G'rett nodded thoughtfully. This was a good omen indeed.

[Kit]

Cybele smiled up at T'tarel, glad to see his excitement, and even mire glad at the reassuring warmth of his arm around her. "Well, their Flights were only a few days apart, and the hormones of the females can affect each other. I'm sure the kitchen staff is glad to only have to cook one Feast," she said wryly.

Chandrath crooned at her mate, pleased by his assurances, her wings mantling slightly as another egg was laid, a shiny copper one. Then her head turned quickly at Nocheth's call, and she nearly snorted with laughter at the brown's stealthy creeping. Do not fret. She was waiting to call you when she was done laying, I believe, though you might ask her yourself. She's in the smaller cavern behind me. You can get there easier by the upper entrance. the Queen said, sending a mental picture of the huge cavern in the side of the Weyr Rim, an entrance to the Hatching Grounds that could only be reached by air. It passed through the auxiliary Hatching Grounds before the main ones so it was perfect for this purpose.

Quindara smiled at the appearance of her chosen mate, returning his kiss on the cheek with one of her own. "I'm sure the whole weyr knows by now," she replied with a chuckle.

Cybele nodded to G'rett, squashing all the mixed feelings she had about him. He was a good Wingleader, but she had not quite forgiven him for the Fight at the Hatching Feast. Added to this was the mixed guilt and anger she felt over the K'ain incident. All told, G'rett made her feel uncomfortable and she retreated closer to T'tarel for reassurance. Casting about for a distraction, she spied the gold colored egg just laid by the Queen.

Is that a Gold Egg my dear? she asked Chandrath, who turned in surprise to look, flicking her tongue over the shell.

No, not this one.

"Chandrath says that's not a Queen Egg. Must be a big male."

[taenia]

Ranelli was memerised by the laying of these clutches, her eyes darting about the eggs that had already been laid and always moving back towards the senior gold as she laboured in the birthing of her clutch. This was something that she hadn't expected to see in a million years.. and she couldn't help the smile that plastered itself across her face, the good feelings of the weyr were contagious, and who would have blamed them! This was a joyous event indeed!

[sorra]

Reloith rested his head on his forelegs. The bronze glanced back when he heard Nocheth. He seemed to chuckle softly. The brown was being as cautious as he was. First clutch? he asked the brown, before turning back to his mate. He crooned softly, encouraging Chandrath.

T'tarel kept his arm gently around Cybele. He had gotten used to the idea of being her mate. And he was still hoping that it could lead to a lot more then just Weyrwoman and Weyrleader. He had to admit, he truly enjoyed Cybele's company. He chuckled. "I'm sure she will definitely be happy about that," he smiled.

T'tarel nodded in greeting to Toniel and Q'del and gave G'rett a smile. He didn't have anything against G'rett. Although he felt Cybele move closer to him. He glanced down at her, wondering what was going through her mind. "Well, so far it seems like an extremely good clutch and having two on the Sands will be an added advantage," he smiled. He was curious to see what type of eggs Chrysoberyth would lay.

[Mik]

Nocheth bobbed his sandy head respectfully and stepped back from the entrance. Thank you, lovely Chandrath. Your eggs are beautiful so far, he told her in compliment. Well, at least that was his intention.

Stepping back further to clear himself of the gathering folk and to allow room for his great wings to spread out for flight, he bespoke Chrysoberyth just as cautiously. Beautiful Chrysoberyth, may I see our eggs you've lain so far? He would only proceed once he had heard from the young red. He was actually a polite dragon in that respect.