First "Impressions"

[Aurelia]

A new day broke at Telgar Weyr. The sun, glowing like a newly-oiled dragon's hide, rose over the Weyr heights. It shone light on the herdbeast milling in the Bowl; it gleamed down like a benevolent mother on a blue fire lizard sleeping on a rock. This was no ordinary Telgar day--it was the day of a Hatching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hurry up!" snapped Granella. "I have no idea why you ten were chosen out of all the possible candidates, but it doesn't matter. Go! Get!"

The young children scurried out of the Telgar Headwoman's way. A stout woman of some sixty Turns, Granella sighed and placed a doughy hand on one rounded hip. After so many Hatchings at the Weyr over the Turns, she never got used to the new batches of youngsters coming in each time. Most Impressed and grew up, and she never realized who they were, after their names became honorifics. This group of children was no different than any other she had seen over the Turns.

As the children skipped off to various Weyr duties, a petite girl walked solitarily alone behind the rest of the group of girls. A gaggle, more like. The other queen candidates were all tall and pretty-someone any bronze rider would want in their weyr. She, Toresa, was small and homely in comparison. Her bones stuck out a odd angles, and short blond hair crowned a freckled, pale face. Why would anyone want her, let alone a dragon?

Toresa had grown up at Lemos Hold, the daughter of a minor Cotholder, Bredlan, and his wife, Toria. They had scorned the smallest and weakest of the children, and sent her off right after she was Searched with glee. Now at the Weyr, the Impression was due to happen any time now.

As soon as this thought crossed Toresa's mind, a vibration began to rumble throughout the Weyr. It sang along her bones, rumbled up her spine, and tingled in her brain. Behind them, Granella shrieked. "Children, 'tis time! The Impression is about to start!"

Toresa gasped. Was she ready? What would she do? She had little time to think, as Granella ushered them into a side room to change into their white Candidates' robes. Tehy marched with booted feet to the Hatching sands following this.

Toresa looked around with wide brown eyes. Perched on all ledges were dragons of all sizes and colors-emerald green, sapphire blue, klah[I] brown, and glowing bronze. In the center of the giant Hatching Ground was a huge golden beast. This was Dalath, the senior queen of Telgar. Her rider, Weyrwoman Polda, stood near her, soothing her dragon as the big gold swung her head agitatedly to-and-fro over the golden egg clutched possesively between her wing joint.

"Onto the Sands, now!" Granella hurried the sixty Candidates onto the Grounds. All of the Weyr dignitaries and Lords nearby were in the Stands, conversing until the eggs Hatched. As the humming from the dragons intensified, Toresa spotted H'rant, rider of bronze Tolanth, and the Weyrleader. He was talking to another bronze rider, a wingleader by the name of Br'tons, rider of Glirrath.

Suddenly, a loud, cracking sound echoed through the Cavern. A startled Toresa turned to see one large egg rocking, then splitting, as a wet bronze hatchling tumble onto the sand. Creeling anxiously, the dragonet moved towards a skinny young man of fifteen Turns-Waldesin. Kneeling to Impress, W'desin exclaimed, "He says his name is Rinneth!"

A sigh went up from the crowd. A healthy bronze Hatching first was a very good sign. Three other eggs Hatched, and two brown and a blue dragonet found their lifemates. As other eggs cracked, Toresa turned to the other six candidates. They were standing around the queen egg, which was now rocking vigorously.

With a crack, the golden Egg split open to reveal a beautiful golden form. A tiny, yet elegant, young queen stood in the shell, swing her head to Toresa knew it, the young gold was by her side, and a feeling of utter love and devotion swirled through her mind. [I]My name is Kabrath, said the gold queen in a loving tone.

Toresa knelt and clutched her queen to her. Weeping with happiness, she hugged Kabrath, and told her, I am yours. With that, the young pair walked off the Sands.

[Aurelia]

Thanks for the revision ideas! Here's another version of Toresa.

New Title:
Weyr Woes

A new day broke at Telgar Weyr. The sun, glowing like a newly-oiled dragon's hide, rose over the Weyr heights. It shone light on the herdbeast milling in the Bowl; it gleamed down like a benevolent mother on a blue fire lizard sleeping on a rock. This was no ordinary Telgar day--it was the day of a Hatching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hurry up!" snapped Granella. "I have no idea why you ten were chosen out of all the possible candidates, but it doesn't matter. Go! Get!"

The young children scurried out of the Telgar Headwoman's way. A stout woman of some sixty Turns, Granella sighed and placed a doughy hand on one rounded hip. After so many Hatchings at the Weyr over the Turns, she never got used to the new batches of youngsters coming in each time. Most Impressed and grew up, and she never realized who they were, after their names became honorifics. This group of children was no different than any other she had seen over the Turns.

As the children skipped off to various Weyr duties, a petite girl walked solitarily alone behind the rest of the group of girls. A gaggle, more like. The other queen candidates were all tall and pretty-someone any bronze rider would want in their weyr. Tandra, the leader, was the daughter of Lord Ferin of Benden Hold; and the others were weyrbred. She, Toresa, was small and homely in comparison. Her bones stuck out a odd angles, and short blond hair crowned a freckled, pale face.

Suddenly, a curious vibration began to rumble throughout the Weyr. It sang along her bones, rumbled up her spine, and tingled in her brain. Behind them, Granella shrieked. "Children, 'tis time! The Impression is about to start!"

Toresa gasped. Was she ready? What would she do? She had little time to think, as Granella ushered them into a side room to change into their white Candidates' robes. They marched with booted feet to the Hatching sands following this.

Toresa looked around with wide brown eyes. Perched on all ledges were dragons of all sizes and colors-emerald green, sapphire blue, [i]klah[i] brown, and glowing bronze. In the center of the giant Hatching Ground was a huge golden beast. This was Dalath, the senior queen of Telgar. Her rider, Weyrwoman Polda, stood near her, soothing her dragon as the big gold swung her head agitatedly to-and-fro over the golden egg clutched possesively between her wing joint.

"Onto the Sands, now!" Granella hurried the sixty Candidates onto the Grounds. All of the Weyr dignitaries and Lords nearby were in the Stands, conversing until the eggs Hatched.

Suddenly, a loud, cracking sound echoed through the Cavern. A startled Toresa turned to see one large egg rocking, then splitting, as a wet blue hatchling tumble onto the sand. Creeling anxiously, the dragonet moved towards a skinny young man of fifteen Turns-Waldesin. Kneeling to Impress, W'desin exclaimed, "He says his name is Rinneth!"

A gasp went up from the crowd. A blue Hatching first was considered bad luck. The last time this had happened, the Weyrleader, Y'morn, had died of a burst capillary the next day. Three other eggs Hatched, and two brown and another blue dragonet found their lifemates. As more and more eggs Hatched, the crowd watched anxiously. Where were the bronzes? Telgar Weyr was notoriously short on bronzes at the moment, and most of their wingleaders were inexperienced brown riders. In a few minutes, all of the eggs, save that of the queen, had Hatched with no bronzes. This could only spell disaster for Telgar. As other eggs cracked, Toresa turned to the other six candidates. They were standing around the queen egg, which was now rocking vigorously.

With a crack, the golden Egg split open to reveal a beautiful golden form. A tiny, yet elegant, young queen stood in the shell, swing her ungainly, wedge-shaped head to survey her candidates. Squawking, the queen ambled awkwardly across the Sands. She approached Toresa, and reared up on her hind legs, screeching. She swiped her claws across Toresa's hopeful face, the young Candidate falling to her knees, blood pouring down from deep and unremovable gashes. The young gold turned to the snotty Tandra, and creeled anxiously. Smirking at Toresa, Tandra knelt and pet the young queen. She announced, "She says her name is Kabrath!"

The Weyr cheered, as Toresa lay untended on the Sands, forgotten.

[Aurelia]

Weyr Woes

A new day broke at Telgar Weyr. The sun, glowing like a newly-oiled dragon's hide, rose over the Weyr heights. It shone light on the herdbeast milling in the Bowl; it gleamed down like a benevolent mother on a blue fire lizard sleeping on a rock. This was no ordinary Telgar day--it was the day of a Hatching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hurry up!" snapped Granella. "I have no idea why you ten were chosen out of all the possible candidates, but it doesn't matter. Go! Get!"

The young children scurried out of the Telgar Headwoman's way. A stout woman of some sixty Turns, Granella sighed and placed a doughy hand on one rounded hip. After so many Hatchings at the Weyr over the Turns, she never got used to the new batches of youngsters coming in each time. Most Impressed and grew up, and she never realized who they were, after their names became honorifics. This group of children was no different than any other she had seen over the Turns.

As the children skipped off to various Weyr duties, a petite girl walked solitarily alone behind the rest of the group of girls. A gaggle, more like. The other queen candidates were all tall and pretty-someone any bronze rider would want in their weyr. Tandra, the leader, was the daughter of a minor Lemos cotholder, Dagrel, and his wife, Ratanda. She had an air of command about her that few other candidates did. The other queen candidates were: Pranna, daughter of D'ran, rider of blue Zaventh; Lissir, daughter of Masterfisherman Clasran and his wife, Siara; Jorayne, daughter of B'jay, rider of bronze Galdeth; Yoritta, daughter of Holder Wesden and his wife, Torya; and Halrie, daughter of H'tall, rider of brown Viridith. She, Toresa, was small and homely in comparison. Her bones stuck out a odd angles, and short blond hair crowned a freckled, pale face.

Suddenly, a curious vibration began to rumble throughout the Weyr. It sang along her bones, rumbled up her spine, and tingled in her brain. Behind them, Granella shrieked. "Children, 'tis time! The Impression is about to start!"

Toresa gasped. Was she ready? What would she do? She had little time to think, as Granella ushered them into a side room to change into their white Candidates' robes. They marched with booted feet to the Hatching sands following this.

Toresa looked around with wide brown eyes. Perched on all ledges were dragons of all sizes and colors-emerald green, sapphire blue, klah[i] brown, and glowing bronze. In the center of the giant Hatching Ground was a huge golden beast. This was Dalath, the senior queen of Telgar. Her rider, Weyrwoman Polda, stood near her, soothing her dragon as the big gold swung her head agitatedly to-and-fro over the golden egg clutched possesively between her wing joint.

"Onto the Sands, now!" Granella hurried the sixty Candidates onto the Grounds. All of the Weyr dignitaries and Lords nearby were in the Stands, conversing until the eggs Hatched. Toresa noted the ones she knew, including Weyrleader Dr'zay, Lord Garwis of Telgar, and Weyrlingmaster C'sav.

Suddenly, a loud, cracking sound echoed through the Cavern. A startled Toresa turned to see one large egg rocking, then splitting, as a wet blue hatchling tumble onto the sand. Creeling anxiously, the dragonet moved towards a skinny young man of fifteen Turns-Waldesin. Kneeling to Impress, W'desin exclaimed, "He says his name is Rinneth!"

A gasp went up from the crowd. A blue Hatching first was considered bad luck. The last time this had happened, the Weyrleader, Y'morn, had died of a burst capillary the next day. Three other eggs Hatched, and two brown and another blue dragonet found their lifemates. As more and more eggs Hatched, the crowd watched anxiously. Where were the bronzes? Telgar Weyr was notoriously short on bronzes at the moment, and most of their wingleaders were inexperienced brown riders. In a few minutes, all of the eggs, save that of the queen, had Hatched with no bronzes. This could only spell disaster for Telgar. As other eggs cracked, Toresa turned to the other candidates. They were standing around the queen egg, which was now rocking vigorously.

With a crack, the golden Egg split open to reveal a beautiful golden form. A tiny, yet elegant, young queen stood in the shell, swing her ungainly, wedge-shaped head to survey her candidates. Squawking, the queen ambled awkwardly across the Sands. She approached Toresa, and reared up on her hind legs, screeching. She swiped her claws across Toresa's hopeful face, the young Candidate falling to her knees, blood pouring down from deep and unremovable gashes. The young gold turned to the snotty Tandra, and creeled anxiously. Tandra knelt and pet the young queen. She announced, "She says her name is Kabrath!"

As Tandra led Kabrath off the Sands, Granella; the WeyrHealer, Vadrone; and Assistant Weyrlingmaster N'bort ran to help Toresa. Concerned figures aided them from all aroundMoaning, she peered through blood-streaked fingers at the blurry shapes hovering above her. [I]Gold, she moaned. Gold, my golden dragon.

Granella whispered to Vadrone as they carried the injured girl off to the Infirmary, "The lass has gone mad. She wanted to Impress so badly, she's making herself think she did."

Vadrone shook his blond head. "No. She did want to Impress, but she's not mad. I think I know something that can help."

Granella, after placing Toresa on her bed, snapped, "Nothing can make up for a permanently scarred face and not Impressing the gold, my young buck."

Vadrone smiled slightly. "We'll see."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toresa woke to a throbbing pain on her face. She placed one finger on her forehead, and gasped. She remembered Kabrath's scarring her, and the Impression disaster. Moaning, she lay back on her pillows. Granella hurried over to her.

"Relax now, poppet," she crooned. "It'll be all right."

"How?" Toresa queried. "How will it be all right?"

Just then, Vadrone entered, gasping from a lack of breath. "Hurry...Sands....must go now! Toresa...go....to Sands!"

Toresa muttered, "I don't want to go. I can't...".

Varone moved over to the bedside and swooped her up. Squealing, Toresa was carried to the Sands.

When she got there, the Sands were empty. The makeshift stands had been taken down and there was no sign of any recent Impression. However, there was an odd-looking lump in the Sand. Vadrone carried her onto the Sand, wincing as the hot Sands minced his toes.

He let Toresa down near the lump in the sand. Taking his belt-knife, he uncovered the lump-it was an unhatched, buried egg! Toresa gasped. It was an egg!

"They must have forgotten about it. It was small to begin with, so they didn't think it'd live. It's going to Hatch soon."

Just then, the egg began to rock back and forth. It rocked furiously, then split. Inside was a tiny green form, much smaller than Kabrath, but, to Toresa, even more beautiful. Creeling piteously, the small form made its way to Toresa, butting her hand. My name is Calanth. I love you., the tiny dragonet said, love filling her faceted eyes.

Ignoring the pain on her face, Toresa hugged Calanth, and Vadrone, as well. I am yours, she told her dragon.