[11.27.2707]The Future is in an Egg (Candidates)

[Kit]

Arktos smiled as he tacked the hide on to the notice board by the classroom. The Candidates would be excited to see it there, and he knew the feeling. Today they would finally get to see and touch the eggs that might hold their future lifemates. Though the rapturous looks on their faces sometimes made him think of things that brought tears to his eyes, it was all worth it in the end.

The notice said for all the Candidates to meet him at the Hatching cavern door, and that was where he stood, one hand stroking Forge's back idly, the bronze firelizard cooing with happiness.

[sorra]

Viarnie's eyes widened when she saw the notice. The girl grinned broadly and nearly started to jump up and down. She couldn't believe they would finally get to see the eggs. She had never dreamed that she would be anywhere close to a dragon egg, let alone maybe find her lifemate there. The girl spun on her heel and made her way down to the Hatching Grounds. She wondered just what they would be doing.

Ravis read the notice while he scratched Trig's head. A smile actually came to the boy's lips. Would it really be possible for him to be a rider? Even with a banged up hand? He wasn't sure, but he was willing to give it a try. The teenager quietly made his way down to the Hatching Grounds. He nodded a respectful hello when he saw Arktos.

[taenia]

Ranelli was still getting used to being a candidate.. it had taken a huge adjustment in her life, going from being someone...to being the lowest of the low, some would call it, but she'd been happy to make that adjustment, her life as a holder had not been the life she'd wanted, and if by embaracing the rules of a candidate she could find herself a new life... then she was happy to make that sacrifice. Rank was never important in her eyes.. even if she'd been brought up to see differently.

The girl meandered over to the sign when she heard Viarnie's reaction. The curiosity enough to get her to come over and investigate what he sign said that was so interesting. Her eyes widened when she read it, she actually got to see the eggs that close and personal? She wondered with excitment! Ranelli certainly didn't hang about, her raising knew better than to upset her elders and plus, she didn't want to risk all that Cybele had done for her..

...Ranelli respected Cybele very much, and wanted to prove to her that her efforts would be worthwhile. She would behave herself and stand to see if her luck changed..

[Mik]

Veekally had just returned from checking on Tanya and her brother and cousin. Her youngest brother had died only a few sevendays prior, shortly after the Weyr had allowed them refuge, another victim of the horrible CloudLung. There was a chance that her cold could have been the beginning stage of it, but no one knew for sure. Now, she was feeling much better and slowly filling out with proper food. Even Dankal and Siala were looking healthier with proper care that she had been unable to give them. And then as if Faranth knew that she had been taking the loss hard, a blue dragon Searched her within a sevenday out of quarantine, so she had only been a Candidate for just under a sevenday and was still getting used to the schedule and meeting everyone in her group. Stepping up to the notice when she got a moment, the golden haired Candidate read the notice and smiled. Maybe a dragon was what she really needed. A chance to have a steady home and a greater purpose, though nothing felt like more purpose for her than caring for Dankal and Siala, but now, the Weyr’s crèche was caring for them and she did not have to worry half so much. Following the others that were heading to wherever Arktos was waiting, she smiled politely and nodded in greeting to the WeyrlingMaster, standing quietly amongst the others as she waited for instruction.

Micala grinned when she saw the notice in the Classroom. She got to see the eggs! Up close and personal! Oh, how wonderful! An extra skip touched her step as she followed the others to the Hatching Sands entrance where they would be meeting Arktos. This was indeed a wonderful day for certain. Just wait until she told her brother and sister at mealtime. Time was growing near for her to have her first chance at a dragon all her own! Mikay trilled merrily as she flitted along beside her Pet, waiting to see what this excitement was all about.

The four GlassSmith brothers had just returned from a merry jaunt, all smiling and laughing with Pip zipping about their heads in search of a loose shiny or something to play with. When they saw the others looking at a notice on the Classroom’s board, they naturally went to investigate for themselves, each having similar yet different reactions to the information. Mikan was excited and perhaps a little giddy while Kanlar was more reserved about the idea. Tialar was all smiles and looking forward to it and Laret was just happy, but worried about it. What if no egg called to him? Would that be bad for when they hatched? Nonetheless, the competitive foursome headed for the noted destination, all talk and cheer to hide any nervousness, though Laret's still showed through a bit.

Kanretia waited by the Barracks to gather up any stragglers that might be around, noting that most of their charges were already heading toward Arktos near the Hatching Sands. Just a few more left to report to them...

[Kit]

Gailardian smiled slowly as he read the sign on the board, written in the familiar script of his friend and mentor, the Candidate Master. No matter how many times he went through it, the first time touching the eggs would never get old. He joined the group forming around Arktos, keeping a bit off to the side to avoid the crowd and *shudder* the girls... He swore that he saw Arktos flash him a sardonic grin.

But of course Litrona gravitated right towards him, like a bee towards honey. "Good morning Guy. Aren't you excited about the egg touching? They say you cant tell what color is in what egg, but I bet I could give a good guess."

He sidled away from her just as Arktos began to speak. "Well, I see most of you are here. Those late for the egg touching are only hurting themselves. So, without further delay, here are the rules. First off, you'll note that both clutches have been moved to the main cavern, this is to make it easier for all the eggs to get the proper amount of attention, and to make the Hatching easier on the dragonets, since its assumed that both clutches will likely Hatch simultaneously. The eggs are hard, so you may touch them gently, but do not move them. Both Kanly and Cybele will be on hand to make sure that no harm comes to the eggs, or to you. Please be respectful to both of them and to Chrysoberyth and Chandrath. You do not want them to take offense to yout presence. Absolutely no running, horseplay or yelling. Anybody caught doing that will be the personal object of my displeasure for the rest of their Candidacy, not to mention they won't be allowed near the Eggs again until the Hatching. "

"Now, the dragonets are at least somewhat aware in those eggshells, so try to keep your mind on pleasant loving thoughts. Also it surely shouldn't hurt to keep in mind the colors that you want, that way hopefully you'll be attracting those colors. For the girls that want to touch that silver egg, you will have to ask Chandrath personally, so she can take the measure of you. She's been quite protective of it. You may stay as long as you want today, all lessons and chores are canceled, just make sure you show up for meals. After today you'll be allowed on the grounds after dinner every day and curfew is extended one candlemark. We'll also spend every third day in here instead of morning lessons. Now if no one has any questions, you may go in," he said, standing aside from the doorway he'd been blocking and pushing the door open to reveal the hot sands.

Both Chrysoberyth and Chandrath could be seen, curled up on opposite sides of the Sands, and their clutches were arrayed loosely around them, clearly separate from each other but spread out enough to allow people to walk in between the eggs without bumping them. The silver egg, the Unbreakable Logic Egg, was protected in the circle of Chandrsth's forearms.

[sorra]

Viarnie listened closely, actually managing to stand still. The girl may have been flighty at times, but she knew how to behave and listen when the need arose. The girl clasped her hands together. She couldn't wait to be able to see the eggs. The little dragonets could actually understand them? Wow! Well, she would make sure her thoughts were happy. Although she still didn't know what color she really wanted. She'd be happy with any color.

Ravis nodded as he listened. Keeping quiet and not rough housing wasn't any different then having to be slow and quiet around an excitable runner. He had lots of practice there. He actually smiled as he thought about a black. That was the color he would really like. But really, any dragon that would be willing to pick a deformed boy would be fine with him. Trig cheeped softly, knowing he needed to be quiet.

Ravis and Viarnie walked in with the others. They both stared in disbelief. The eggs were amazing and seeing the two female dragons with their clutches was awe inspiring. Ravis actually smiled and moved to mingle with the eggs, being careful that he didn't hurt them. He gently touched them with his hand. Viarnie headed in the opposite direction. She wanted to see the egg that Chandrath was protecting, but she'd look at the other eggs first.

[taenia]

Ranelli kept herself to herself, as she listed to the rules that the candidate master put in place. They seemed like logical rules to her, she thought to herself as she scanned over the eggs within the hatching sands. She wasn;t the first to head into the sands towards the eggs, instead she followed in after a few of the others had, taking her steps carefully and slowly.

She split off away from the others as she passed around the eggs, taking her time to peer at each of them closely and pay attention to each eggs wonderful array of colours and patterns. She'd never been this close to dragon eggs before and was a little bit awed by the beauty of them. Gingerly, the young candidate reached out with a hand to touch the first one that she came across. Taking in the beautiful flecks of gold within the deep blue of the Royal Truth egg. She stood there for a while trying to think firstly about what colour would exist within this shell, or maybe what colour it was that she wanted? The candidate master had said for her to think of what colour they wanted, but Ranelli hadn;t considered that yet.. she was still trying to get to terms with the changes that had happened.. She smiled to herself and wondered over to another one, making her way way ever closer towards the beautiful gold that protected her clutch.

It seemed wrong to ignore the gold completly on the sands. She thought to herself as she found herself looking at a little egg, the shell consisting of few colours and many sharpe line patterns. She looked over at the gold, voicing "Thank you Chandrath" with a grateful smile to the gold, before she placed her hand on the warmth of that strange egg, turning her attention back to it. "..and what beauty to do you hold within?" She whispered to it, enjoying the feel of it under her skin. It felt like the egg gave her strength.. answers to questions and a certaintess about life..

She looked towards the silver egg, could she dare touch it? Would Chandrath allow it? Was she worth of such things? She wondered walking through the sands towards the next of Chandrath's eggs. She was aware that she hadn't made it as far as Chrysoberyth's eggs yet, but she felt that because she had been given the privilidge of being a candidate in the first place, she needed to spend the time with each egg.. and give each wondering creature within the time and attention it deserved.

It was after the third egg that she got the courage to ask the gold if she was allowed near the silver. "Chandrath" She asked gently, wondering if she was addressing the gold appropriately. "I am very sorry to bother you, but i was wondering i could step closer to see the beautiful egg that you protect?"

[‡§åkørü‡]

Shemmoral really hadn't been doing much of anything except playing a game of chase with Preske. The white flit invariably won, of course, since he had an annoying habit of popping between right when she was about to catch him. Still, the trek to the classroom seemed like the perfect time to do this, and the odd girl didn't seem to notice that she might look rather... well... weird chasing her flitter down the hall. At last her hands closed on him, however, and the candidate hugged her flit to her chest, petting his soft hide with a little giggle. "Gotcha!" she whispered, and then paused, noticing the hide tacked up on the board next to the classroom. What was this?

"It's a mystery, Preske! Let's solve it!" she whispered, setting her flit on her head and leaning closer to the hide. It took her no time at all to read the notice, and then with a gasp of delight, Shem spun around and trotted down towards the Hatching Cavern. Oh, joy! She'd been dying to see the eggs! She hadn't dared come in here in case the two mothers wanted to eat her or something, and imagination just wasn't enough when you were trying to imagine a clutch you'd never seen. But now...! Oh, she got to touch the eggs! Oh, happy day! Although she listened intently to everything Arktos told her (after greeting him with a cheery 'hello, candidatemaster!' at the door), there was a burning, insatiable, wonderful desire within her to go over and see the eggs. She wanted to touch them! And...

Oh, there was Ravis! Delighted to see him, Shem padded quietly over (knowing better than to be over-exuberant in front of the two clutch-mothers) and grinned brightly at her friend. Preske trilled a greeting to Trig, but didn't move from his post on the girl's head. He knew that some dragons liked to bite flits and he wasn't fond of being eaten, so he behaved himself. "Ravis!" she whispered brightly, "aren't they beautiful? They're like... like dreams, or something. But real!"

Thrilled as she was to find that her friend was here, Shemmoral also wanted to investigate the eggs, and she bent over each one, touching them gently - so very gently - with weavers' fingers, tracing the patterns on the shells. One of the tiniest eggs - the Prism Fire egg - caught her eye; gazing at it, the candidate couldn't help but smile. The bright colours were pleasing to her eye - she'd always loved bright colours, and especially in such a beautiful pattern as this egg possessed. "You're beautiful," she whispered to the egg, running her hands lightly over its surface. Would the hatchling within pick her? Or would it be one from another egg? Maybe none at all? She didn't know.

She wanted to see the egg that Chandrath was protecting, of course, but seeing the huge golden dragon, so beautiful and protective, made the candidate's courage fail. Smiling, she moved among the other eggs instead, touching every one. She tried to pick her favourite colours in her mind - grey, and red and blue and white (like Preske!) - but it was hard to love any dragon more than another. They were all so beautiful, so lovely, so majestic! There were so many lovely, elegant, beautiful words to describe every dragon, so how could she pick just one or two colours? Every egg was told that it was beautiful, powerful, majestic, moving, heart-breaking, lovely... every warm adjective Shemmoral could think of was applied to each and every egg. And they were all fitting, too - every egg, Chandrath's and Chrysoberyth's, was indescribably lovely. Especially since she knew that there were wonderful dragonets just waiting to be born out of each one!

[Kendrall]

Mordecai grabbed his writing materials, then shouted over in the direction of the girls' barracks before making a beeline for the classroom. "Tara! Come on! We'll be late for class again!" His friend had been late before, but something told the young man today would be different. He couldn't quite put his finger on what that was, but he somehow knew the day would be special indeed. It turned out his intuition was right, for as soon as he arrived there was a note tacked to the notice board. Egg touching!

His eyes now widening with surprise, Mordecai's jaw nearly dropped as he read the note again. That meant there had to have been at least one clutch, and the instructions left by the Candidate Master indicated to meet him by the Hatching Sands. Several other Candidates were already on the way, and Mordecai wasn't far behind the larger group, just as Arktos gave his instructions. "...both clutches have been moved to the main cavern...touch them gently but don't move them...be respectful...no running, horseplay, or yelling. Keep your mind on pleasant, loving thoughts..keep in mind the colors you want..." He seemed to drone on forever, but finally Mordecai gave Arktos a respectful bow of the head. "My apologies for being a bit late, Candidate Master, but I wanted to make sure Tara was on her way here so she wouldn't miss out on this." He really didn't have much more to say, so after lingering slightly at the entryway to acclamate himself to the heat, Mordecai stepped foot onto the Sands.

The young Harper tried to keep himself from thinking of just how warm it was on these Sands, but it was important to do his best on keeping his mind focused. Bowing respectfully to Kanly and the Weyrwoman, he made his way towards the clutch. Gold Chandrath, the Senior Queen was on one side, and the red, Chrysoberyth, on the other. The first Egg that drew his attention was a dark colored one, with sharp-looking lines striped across its surface. Much like a dark knife, Mordecai mused as he made his way over. The longer he stared at it, the more he realized what the pattern meant: it was much like looking into his own soul. I'll admit I'm far from perfect, but if this one holds my future - my dragon - it will help me overcome my weaknesses and remain true to myself and to others. Gently, he laid his fingers on it, brushing his fingertips over it as he tried to think pleasant thoughts, then made his way over to the next Egg. A grayish-looking Egg that seemed to have a lava flow pattern on it; Mordecai thought it looked like it was forged in the heart of the world. Oddly, he felt nothing but unyielding strength as he approached it, lightly brushing his fingers over it before moving on.

Over towards Chrysoberyth's clutch were three Eggs that now commanded his focus: a large egg with a pattern of golds and oranges, another egg marked by an odd-looking symbol, and a bluish-colored egg. Cautiously, Mordecai made his way over, ever mindful of the Red's presence; and his fingers lightly brushed each of the three. His mind felt somewhat sharpened as he touched the latter two, but didn't know what to make of it. Pausing to reflect on his experience, he felt drawn back to one egg in particular...

The one marked with the odd-looking symbol in Chrysoberyth's clutch.

Mordecai looked up at the Red to gauge her reaction, then tried his best to block the heat coming up from the Sands as he knelt down next to the egg. He couldn't explain how or why, but for some reason this one egg seemed to hold his future...

[sorra]

Ravis turned around when he heard Shem's voice. Surprisingly the boy had become good friends with the other candidate. He liked her even if she did seem to jump topics from time to time. "They are beautiful," he whispered, gently running his fingers over one of the eggs. "What color do you hope to Impress?"

Viarnie carefully made her way over to the eggs Chrysoberyth was watching. She bowed to the red dragon. "Do you mind if I look at your eggs beautiful Chrysoberyth?" she asked politely.

[Kit]

Cybele and Kanly both gravitated to where Arktos stood watching, his face pensive. Cybele knew how watching this must hurt, and the Hatching even more so. They had been good friends during their Candidacy, and she knew him well. Had Bjornth lived, she would not at have minded having Chandrath flown by the brownn, once or twice. He had been a large handsome dragon and Arktos was a good man. Now, though, they both had someone and she was almost as happy to see him happy as she was to have T'tarel, Kiyoni had been good for him.

Kanly just wrung her hands and tried to watch everything at once. This whole process was rather nerve-racking for her and she had agreed rather gratefully to have Chrysoberyth start chewing firestone as soon as the clutch had hatched. After several moments of silence, Cybele spoke quietly. "It seems like a good group of Candidates, Arktos."

It took him a moment to respond, she had a feeling she'd dragged him out of a memory. "Hnmm? Oh, yes, they seem like good kids. Too few though... Still too few," he said, frowning with worry.

Gailardian wandered through the groups of eggs, idly touching some of them. His mechanical mind loved the gear pattern of the silver egg of course, but he felt no connection to it. Silvers were for girls anyway. There were several that looked like metal... He liked the coppery one especially, and also the golden looking one. There was one that looked like a lava flow that he touched for several minutes as well. All of the eggs were beautiful really, and he tried to spend some time with each one.

Lirona at first didn't take it seriously at all and wandered idly amongst the eggs for several minutes but even she couldn't fail to be taken in by their beauty. There were a few she liked especially, a vibrant sparkling red egg, and one of Chrysoberyth's eggs that reminded her of a good meal in front of a fire. Also there was a green one that was covered in vines that somehow made her feel hot all over. She looked towards the silver egg that Chandrath was holding. She wanted to get a good look at it too, but she wanted to wait until it was less crowded, just in case the Queen said no.

Chandrath looked down at Ranelli turning her head so that one eyes was focused completely on her. You are the one that Mine got into such a tizzy about the other day. She said you were strong, you stood up to your parents and left your family to come Stand. I remember. You may touch the egg and maybe she will hear you.

Chrsoberyth looked up in surprise when Viarnie addressed her. Oh, yes if course. Thank you for asking.

[sorra]

Viarnie smiled when Chrysoberyth answered her. The girl bowed again. "Thank you kindly," she said before moving to gently touch one of the eggs. She couldn't believe how they felt. She hadn't known what to expect, but the one she had chosen to touch almost seemed to warm. She smiled as she got a warm sense of love from the egg. Would this one hold a dragon for her? She didn't know.

[taenia]

The smile faded slightly from Ranelli's face as Chandrath spoke to her, not because the girl was unhappy, but because she was concentrating on what the golden queen said to her, hearing a voice in ones's head was something that Ranelli wasn't certain she'd ever get used to.. "Oh, Thank you" She said kindly, the smile returning to her face a million times bigger than it had been previously. She would not let this golden dragon or her wonderful rider down..

That smile still plastered on the young girls face, Ranelli came to stand in front of the beauty that was the silver egg, the gorgous oval shape that her mother protected so carefully. Taking extra care to not damage the special egg, Ranelli placed her hand on it, confidently. The egg was mesmerising, beauty.. and something she couldn't take her eyes off of.. the way it had a sheen to it.. if the egg was anything to go by, the young dragon within would be just as beautiful.. "I bet you are going to be a stunning beauty..." She spoke softly to the egg, what else did one say to an egg?

After a long while of studying the egg, the difficult designs benefitting a master smith's mechanisation, Ranelli looked around her, remembering that there were other eggs that she could lavish her attention on, and regrettably, she left the protected egg behind with a curtisey smile to the dam. "Thank you, kind Chandrath" She said before heading out to spend more time with the other eggs.. best give someone else the chance to spend some time with the special egg, better to ensure that every person had a chance to impress her.. and hopfully she would find her partner on the sands..

[sorra]

Bresala quietly walked around the Hatching Grounds. She hadn't been a candidate long and still hadn't made any friends. Although she smiled slightly when she saw her one brother among the other candidates. At least she had one familiar face anyhow.

The girl quickly pulled her thoughts away from her brother and her nervousness. She didn't want to pass on her nervousness to any of the little ones in their eggs. She stopped by one of the eggs and knelt down beside it. She smiled and gently ran her fingers along the hardening shell. She had been surprised by the way the eggs felt when she had touched her first egg. They all seemed so powerful to her.

[Mik]

Veekally listened quietly with mixed feelings about being so close to dragon eggs. One of the mothers was a red from the Rebel Weyr and it had been a group of their dragons that had killed everyone she knew a couple turns prior. When Arktos opened the door to reveal the Sands and she stepped onto the warmth of them, those worries were replaced by awe as she stood still a long moment, taking in the array of beautiful eggs and the two mothers guarding them. This was something she could only dream of. …

After a few moments, she gazed at each dragon in turn and gave them each a partial bow of respect before continuing onward to touch and admire all of the eggs, not being drawn more to one or the other as of yet, quietly weaving throughout both sets of eggs.

Eventually, she found her way over to Chandrath and stopped to gaze at the egg she held close. Smiling, she gave the golden dragon a bow and looked up at her. “May I see your lovely egg, beautiful Chandrath?” she asked calmly, no hint of boldness or daring and only respect to be heard in her tone.
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Micala listened quietly, her excitement contained the best it could be at this chance of a lifetime. Two clutches. Twenty-eight eggs to hope that a dragon of her own lay within one of them. As Arktos opened the door, her first sight of the Sands was beautiful in her eyes. Eggs and mother dragons, all calmly and serenely arrayed within on the warm sands. Remembering Arktos’ orders she refrained from rushing onto the sands in her excitement. This was just wonderful!

Stepping through the doorway with the rest of the Candidates, she managed to still her young gray from merrily flitting off to conduct her own investigation. The Runner’s pause was one of awe as she gazed at the eggs, then the dragons, then back to the eggs again. Where should she begin? After a few moments, she finally ventured toward the eggs, deciding that the smaller cluster would do first and quietly drifted her way through the eggs, a fair few catching her eye and mind, but none calling out above any others just yet.

Eventually, she wound her way through the larger clutch and eventually approached Chandrath. “Chandrath, may I touch your special egg?” she asked as calmly as she could, Mikay unusually quiet perched on her left shoulder.
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Mikan could not stop the giddy grin on his face as he listened to Arktos’ instructions, glad to be taking a peek at the clutches that he had been kept from seeing up until now. Only dragonriders and certain weyrfolk got to see the eggs before now, but at a careful distance from the eggs and their dams. Now was his chance to actually see them and even touch them. His mother always said that knowing that you were destined to be a rider made the egg touching all that much more magical. When the door was opened, he was among the first of the Candidates onto the Sands.

He paused for a brief moment before jumping slightly as he realized how hot the Sands were beneath his booted feet. Never mind the heat, there was eggs to see and see which one attracted him the most…Only a handful of Chandrath’s eggs attracted his excited attention and he spent some time with each before wandering toward Chrysoberyth’s clutch where three more beckoned him their way. Perhaps his lifemate lay within one of these eggs….
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Tialar kept smiling in anticipation as he listened to Arktos’ every word. Finally, his chance at a dragon of his own to follow in his mother’s footsteps. At least their father would be proud of them if they ended up Impressing. He always spoke highly of their mother’s Impression.

Finally allowed onto the Sands, the young GlassSmith stopped and studied the cavern a long moment before being drawn toward a cluster of eggs, stopping long enough to give Chandrath and Chrysoberyth the respect they deserved before continuing toward the group of eggs nearest Chandrath. He started amongst four of Chrysoberyth’s eggs before wandering toward Chandrath’s were several more seemed to attract him, either by their color and pattern or just some odd reason that he could not explain.
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Kanlar listened quietly to Arktos, dark blue eyes glancing toward the door to the Sands while he listened. This would be his first chance at seeing this and it would be something that he would probably remember for a very long time. The ladies were far from his mind as he focused on what lie beyond that door…

Finally let through, he moved with the others and walked quite a ways before stopping to bow to each mother in turn, then his dark eyes drifted across the sea of eggs, waiting to be drawn to a specific area or another. Not many called his attention, so he drifted throughout the eggs in hopes that one might spark a stronger interest than the fact that a dragonet lay within and could possibly be his lifemate when it cracked shell.
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Laret wrung his hands as he listened to Arktos, Pip crooning softly against his cheek in comfort of the feelings he was giving off. This was it. Beyond that door lay twenty-eight eggs. Could one possibly hold a dragonet of his own? His smile hid most of his nervousness, but anyone that knew him and Pip could tell that he was a bundle of nerves about this.

When they were let through the door onto the Sands, the young GlassSmith stood quietly for a long moment, waiting for either his nerves to settle or something to attract his attention. It was Chrysoberyth’s clutch that suddenly seemed to draw him toward it and he followed the invisible tug to investigate. A few eggs started gaining his attention as he neared and the more he wandered around them, the more calm he felt and eventually, he headed for Chandrath’s clutch to a number of eggs there, Pip behaving on his shoulder under a gentle command as well as this unusual feeling of nervousness and awe.
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Once all had straggled through, Kanretia led them to the Sands entrance, giving them a quick speech in much the same fashion as Arktos so that they knew what was expected of them. Stepping onto the Sands herself, she smiled at the different Candidates and their reactions, her boys a natural concern of hers, but the loving feeling of when she had first touched eggs came to mind. The strong pull that brought her to the egg a few Standings down the road, that contained her beautiful Oceanth. She knew that Arktos would have mixed feelings and she was glad when she saw him nearby Cybele, probably gaining a sense of the present mixing with that of his past. She always felt bad for him at this point in the Lessons.