Revelio and Open Sesame! Double Clutch Hatching!

[Andranis]

Tarnaria

And there it was, terror! If she were a dragon, her own eyes would have gone white. As it were, the only went wide as Tarnaria tried to avoid the claws of the hatchlings. The outside of her thigh was hit, though, and she collapsed into the sand, crying out in pain. Her prior ability to remain still had gone out of her completely, and she did her best to crawl away, to look small, to not get injured further. It didn't feel crippling, but then she had no idea yet how it would look healed, or even how it WOULD heal. She spared a glance back only to make sure an angry dragonet wasn't following her.

Lady Grey

"Oh my SHARDS!" Hands flying to her mouth, Lady Grey stepped back in horror. That baby dragon had just KILLED a person! She thought dragons weren't supposed to be like that! Suddenly the fear Jacomus' brother felt made all the more sense to her, and she started to think maybe, just maybe, that dragon shouldn't be allowed to Impress.  

[medigel]

Arlie (phone)

In the midst of ensuing terror and biting, cruel dragonets, there were only a few options for someone like Arlie available to her. When it had just been Avada Kedavra, she clung tighter to Haveli and felt a light sheen of sweat break out all over her body. But at least his attention had been on the boys. At least they could scoot away and be safe. When Sectumsempra began her howling rampage, Arlie’s heart rate began to spike, and she dug closer into her sister’s body. But at least there were still a lot of people to buffer between them, right...? And then, Crucio screamed and sent stabs both mental and physical at them.

And that was simply too much to bear at once.

Tears welling up in her eyes, Arlie abandoned her sister with a scream in a sheer panic, and her tiny body was soon swallowed up in the crowd as she tried to run away from the bloody wave.

houllow

 

[medigel]

Arc (phone)

“Helpful”? It wasn’t funny enough to laugh at, but his silence was broken by a scoff. This woman had thought the dragons needed help, when it was clear the candidates were the ones who would be needing it rather soon.

In fact—snap went the poor man’s neck.

That was the thing of it. Even in the safest walls beyond a hold, there was danger. He had sensed a modicum of it when he touched the eggs, but to finally see that power in such a small form, to see Avada Kedavra simply stand over the dead candidate with the nonchalance of the confident—he couldn’t help but clap a few times in recognition. Weren’t they taught after all that candidates were the disposable ones in the end, that a dragon was never wrong? See how it played out now, in a simple act.

Arc was ready to fight. Was always ready to fight, really, under the cool exterior. It showed in the tension of his neck when the greens drew near, but not even the stabbing pains in his head made his gaze waver. There had been worse bouts than this. The question was, what would these would be heroes do now?

Princess_Feylin

not a lot to react to I am apology

 

[Meepfur]

Talis and Holleth
It was nothing more than offhand snark, not even all that clever, but in that moment, the only thing that had come to mind that wasn't just some platitude boiling down to 'I hope you Impress, too.' Maybe, in hindsight, she should have gone with that. Logically, there was no connection between what she said and what happened soon after, but it would inevitably feel that way: that she had caused this somehow. What passed in the moments that followed would determine whether or not it would haunt her until the day she died that her parting words to that boy had been...those. That no one would want his bloody robes secondhand.

They'd barely even taken a few steps away when Amortentia keened, rider and dragon both frozen in place as they watched - for even if the worst was to happen, how could they simply turn away from it as though it wasn't happening? - and then everything shattered. Avada Kedavra paused in his progress to kill a boy, calm as could be, and opened the floodgates of his sisters' rage. Even composed Holleth trumpeted shock as Sectumsempra ripped into first a girl, then a boy, and then-

Shock and rage - his? Talis'? both? - flooded the blue, and he and His, one's "No!" echoed by the other's No!, both sprang forward without thought. A beat too slow, a step too far away to stop anything, maybe too late and for nothing, but they couldn't just turn away. Not ever.

Not that one. Not Lauthisen. Please.

Tsunake

 

[demon_pachabel]

No!

Ichor dripped readily from the blows Go The Distance had taken, but he stood steady, not backing down. They didn't deserve pain like this! Neither did Amortentia, but...no!

Imperio remained steadfast next to Amortentia. No, no. She had done absolutely nothing wrong. There was absolutely nothing wrong with his perfect sister. He offered a nuzzle, all sweetness as he covered her with a wing. When she was ready, he'd take her to get whatever she wanted. She deserved no less.  

[Excited Apathy]

This might be it. That might have been the thought Helaku would have thought if he could think clearly. Avadra Kedavra had killed with what seemed like hardly a thought, and while he had paused atop his victim, there were two more out for blood. But Helaku's mind was under assault, pain radiating from the vengeful Crucio as she lashed out in all the ways she could. He could...he could barely think. Think, shaffit!

Get away. They needed to get away.

He tried to turn away, trying to keep himself between the greens out for blood and Saekagi as he did. He felt something rake across his lower back as he did, drawing lines of fire, and he stumbled with a cry of pain as he tried to push the other boy back, away from the green that had struck him. He needed to get away, but he couldn't--wouldn't--leave those near him to her mercies.

It seemed like one of the dragonets had a similar idea, his head turning to follow a bronze blur streaking to interpose itself between the Candidates and Crucio.

"No--!" he protested, reaching towards Go The Distance as one foot began to twitch, to lift in a step...and set itself back down. He drew his hand back, wincing as new wounds were opened upon the brave dragonet. He could not interfere, no matter how it pained him to see the ichor upon the bronze hide. But maybe...maybe he could help in a different way.

"Get out of their way!" he ground out through pain-gritted teeth to those around him as Crucio's mental lashings continued. "Get back from them, try to keep away!" He couldn't let that good-hearted bronze's efforts be for naught. He started trying to move away himself, stumbling now and again from the pain in his head. The wounds on his back seemed almost an afterthought in comparison, as they started staining his robe red.

Ryuthulhu

he's gonna try to save New Friend k

 

[Sweet Symmetry]

Keleres [WW] - 21 - she/her/hers - JM Masseuse (spy)

It seemed to be devolving into violent chaos. She was not spared Crucio’s mental shrieks, gripping her head and gritting her teeth. Fortunately, having positioned herself closer to the Disney eggs, she was not quite at risk of being physically harmed.

It was Amortentia and Colours of the Wind who concerned her the most. The first seemed so distressed that she might just Between from it. Keleres kept her feet firmly planted, but focused her mind on sending positive thoughts towards the dragons. If negative thoughts could cause death, surely positive ones could help? Surely. She had to believe she was making an impact. It’s okay little one! You are loved here! You will be a fine dragon! Please, you can do this. If she could pour enough of her heart and love into those thoughts, perhaps the dragon would have enough strength to stand?

Oh, it was just too awful to think of what might happen if she didn’t… No. Kel didn’t let the fear of death into her mind. That a candidate had died, and several others, as well as some of the dragonets, were injured… that was just a part of the Hatching. But Betweening because one could not survive in a world without love? She just couldn’t accept that reality.

Quote:

open, Keleres trying to stay out of harm’s way and panicking over Amortentia and Colours of the Wind

Mr Cheri

Keleres is attempting to send some positive thoughts to Amortentia! <3

 

[Sweet Symmetry]

Nyaranau [HR] - 19 - she/her/hers - App Beastcrafter

“Boy, I would love to be a bronzerider... It would give those hidebound traditionalists something to cry about, that’s for sure.” Nyara grinned at Vaali, although the mischief in her eyes spoke of the jest more than her tone did. Still- she would count her lucky stars if she Impressed at all- and any dragon would be great if it wanted her for a rider.

“Of course they are.” Nyaranau nodded in agreement with Lusialu. “It’s fine to have a preference- but having an open heart and mind to dragons and dragonriding is best. My… father-” It was still a strange thing for the young woman to consider, “is a Bluerider, and a lovely man,” as far as she could tell, at any rate, “and besides, greens and blues are just as essential to fighting Thread as browns or bronzes, or shells, even golds. Everybody has their part to play.” The young beastcrafter chattered on and on, wearing a genial expression on her face. She could have talked about dragons all day, if they weren’t in the middle of one of history’s most spectacular hatchings.

It did not remain spectacular for too long- or perhaps, it was a great but terrible thing, and not truly in the sense of spectacular anymore. It seemed someone or something had caused one of the dragonet’s distress, and now her sister was out for blood. Alongside Crucio’s blind desire to hurt and maim, Avada Kedavra tore into a man and killed him. Nyara heard the body and the screams, even if she didn’t see the man fall, or the blood spurt. Faranth have mercy.

Ruunan? She found herself wondering, but there were more pressing concerns at hand. “Move, both of you. Now.” And with the practice of Turns of herding, she attempted to press her arms against them and force them away from the unravelling carnage before them.

Her heart hammered a war tattoo in her chest, but there was no desire to hurt- only to survive. Avada Kedavra would kill again, given the chance, the opportunity- she was not going to let that happen. Crucio would lash out- her mental screams were already building in the back of her mind, pressure points of pain similar to headaches, but far more intense. The young woman stepped back, hoping the two girls were smart enough to stay within range of the protection of her arms. If they could just find a bit of sand that wasn’t going to be covered in blood, they could continue to Stand and not jeopardise their chances…

If not, well… Nyara wasn’t sure if she’d be able to- or want to- fight a baby dragon in the throes immutable anger.

teiha

Vaali

Uta

Lusialu

Quote:

Leaving whether or not they follow instructions up to you guys, and wasn't sure if they were inadvertently injured, but in my headcanon Nyara isn't going to let them get hurt without putting herself on the frontline/body-blocking.

 

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Ticene // She/her // High Reaches Candidate

A keen ripped Ticene's focus away from her knew acquaintance. Her head whipped around and the sight nearly broke her heart. Oh, that poor, sweet, girl. The green had been hesitant before, but Ticene had put it down to just nerves. This hatching alone had proved that it wasn't uncommon for dragons to be intimidated by the candidates, but this was entirely different. The way the newly hatched dragon shrank away from the candidates it was as though they had already harmed her. This wasn't baseless nerves, Amortentia had been wronged. Ticene still didn't know to what extent the unimpressed dragons could hear her. Did they need to be focused on her to know what she thought? It didn't matter. The candidate tried to focus her mind on reaching out to the dragon. Tried to conjure the feeling of safety and affection. This would pass. It hurt now, she knew that, but Ticene truly believed there was someone here who would adore Amortentia with everything they were. Whoever she wanted. Ignore those that thought the things that upset her, she didn't need them, there were dozens of people in this cavern who would give her everything in a heartbeat. The cruel ones might sound the loudest, but the ones who would love her were so much more numerous.

She was so focused on her attempt to communicate with the new green there was no way she could predict what happened next. Shouts and screams registered first. Something was terribly wrong. Looking around Ticene saw the bronze, the candidate on the ground, and froze. He had just... A squeal had her head turning once again. Oh no, Amortentia. Ticene was sure that the other candidate only had wanted to help, but clearly the green didn't see it that way. Her gaze flicked to Crucio as the green tore away.

Unfortunately there was another green she hadn't noticed. Ticene wasn't sure what it was, maybe a wing or a tail, but something struck her across the back of the legs as Sectumsempra streaked past her. Unprepared for something to come from behind the candidate went down hard on her front. Pain shot through her wrists as she caught herself, but fortunately the fall hadn't done her any damage. A quick look around confirmed that in that regard she was very lucky. Her luck wasn't going to last however. Just as Ticene was bringing her knees up beneath her to get to her feet again a sharp pain ripped through her back. The green, in her rampage, ran directly over the candidate, baby claws making short work of the young woman's soft flesh. In a moment the green was gone and only pain remained.

Ticene bit down hard on the scream that wanted to erupt out of her. Still on the ground her hands curled into fists. She needed to get up. She was only a target down here. But every move sent fire racing through her skin. The claws had torn two large wounds from just under her left arm across to her right hip. Several smaller ones had also caught. Ticene couldn't feel individual wounds and the blood seeping into her robe was rapidly obscuring a clear view of what had happened. Got to get up, got to get up. The candidate grit her teeth hard against the oncoming pain. It took all her effort just to get her knees under her, and that was as far as she was getting for now. Kneeling in the sands, her fists sinking into the sand as she tried to focus on not passing out.

Revel1984

Welcome to the splash zone.

 

[Prism Shine]

Nonami - Western Candidate

Fear was not helping to help Nonami keep an open periphery -- what they’d been taught to do. Keep an eye on all dragons while on the sands. Suddenly Avada Kedavra was on the move, teeth bared, a fast blur on the sands -- and in the next, the bronze was standing over a dead body of his own doing …

And Sectumsempra was on the move.

Nonami whipped their head around to the rage-induced screech of the green dragon, every fiber of their small being drawn taut like a bowstring as they watched in horror. Candidate after candidate that they took down--bloody, but alive. Moving on to the next… And suddenly, those jewel-like red eyes were on them. Their throat tightened like a vice, seeing the green tense up to lunge. Nonami took a staggered step back, as if to run but their feet refused to listen, the sand shifting under heel. Suddenly Amare was in the way, and in their panicked state, tried to push their sister away. They’d only just found this sibling. Amare was so important--take them instead.

Yet they stagger and fall to their knees as another scream broke out, and another green tackled the one set to savage them out of their path. Nonami needed to get up, needed to move away. Yet all they could do was sit a bit dumbly, shaking, stunned.

Mr Cheri

/ / / /

Ielin - High Reaches Candidate

They’d made their way a bit closer. Not too much, as his nervous new friend seemed to quake at the proximity of the dragons. Yet he’d never expected Amila to straight run out to Amortentia when the little green’s eyes went from grey to white. But Avada Kedavra’s presence suddenly making itself known, claiming the life of a candidate so quickly to be snuffed out, makes his heart ache -- and fear for the nervous girl’s safety.

But it’s Crucio’s and Sectumsempra's sudden actions that make him act, and quickly.

“Shaffit -- get over here.” He’s trying to take strides to get to the candidate’s sides, for she’s in such a hot zone. But the furious green gets to him first in her bloodthirst. A whirlwind of teeth and claws that tear his arm and a large spanse of his chest to absolute shreds, the gauzy material of the red robes soaking his spilt blood so eagerly like a sponge. Ielin tries to hoist his arm up to protect his face, and his vision goes a bit blurry as suddenly there’s blood in his eye. His fingers are numb as Sectumsempra moves onto her next target--and he keeps moving onto his.

“Amila, back up. Now.” It’s an order through gritted teeth, the blood in his eye stinging, the right side of his chest and arm in a varied state of burning like hot coals, cold stinging, and aching nothingness. He tries to not look directly at it as he shakes her with his left hand--and tempted to drag her away with his good arm. “Let’s go.” Sectumsempra was busy with Go The Distance, but he doesn’t doubt she could double back -- especially with as close to Amortentia that they were.

NovaCracker

/ / / /

Cavera - High Reaches Candidate

She’s half behind Rizdax when chaos completely erupts--she’s barely able to register Avada Kedavra had moved when suddenly her brother’s hand is out of hers--and she’s being pushed back. The noise to come out of her mouth is more of a strangled gasp as Cavera is suddenly on Rizdax, and the sounds, seeing his blood splatter.. It’s when Crucio has gone on her rampage elsewhere that she grabs a fistful of his robes, the other on his back as she moves with him to back up.

“We got you, Riz.” Her voice catches, eyes wet in a way she’s trying to shake off. It wouldn’t do to cry when there was still a possibility to be hurt. Yet, seeing him carved up, having placed himself between the angry green and his friends.. Seeing him hurt when he’s hurt so much already. “Wont leave you, stay with us too..”

Hattaki

SilverLutz

magnadearel

Dea and #Teddy#

/ / / /

Tuelarua - High Reaches Candidate

While she had been prepared for the unleashing of the dragons, staying physically aware of their presences enough to keep a distance, what she hadn’t expected was Crucio’s mental assaults.

Tuela staggers slightly, the mental pain that blossomed from a lash. The migraine that instantly bloomed had her duck her head, the littlest bit of noises, dragons shrieking, so much, so much… The red head tried hard to blink the spots away from her vision, her small form curling in as her head ducked into her shoulders, as if to shield herself from the psychic attack.

/ / / /

Amiari - Western Green Rider

She’s been honored to help shuttle candidates to High Reaches Weyr for the swap, and with having three of her babies standing on the sands and the chance to not only catch up with R’til but also introduce her youngest to her blood father? She’d jumped at the chance to come back for the actual hatching.

Yet she’s glad to have momentarily passed her toddler off to her friend.

The happy, devil-may-care mother of many felt an odd coldness in her body. Her eyes were trained to flit between her children where they stood, but it’s with a rising sense of horror just how close Nonami had been to all the chaos. The bronze from Rhianth’s clutch had taken a candidate down quickly, a quick kill for an early hunter. Yet it’s not that that attracts her attention, it’s the screaming green on the sands that had been poised to leap onto Nonami.

Another green, this one from Fianth’s clutch, had leapt to her aid, yet Amiari’s heart nearly stopped as her child stumbled and fell--and failed to rise. Were they okay? Shocked? Hurt? “C’mon Nonny, get up, be safe..” The words are a choked whisper, trying hard to remain seated.  

[Sweet Symmetry]

Ruunan [HR] - 16 - he/him/his - App Woodcrafter

“Dessert?” Ruunan asked despite himself, his smile quirking upwards in humour. Huh. He hadn’t thought about that possibility… maybe dragons would be drawn to the thought of sweet things? Bubbly pies sure were great…

But thoughts of sweet treats left his mind as the growling began, as Amortentia’s distress increased. Ruunan bit his lip, peering at her in the hopes of figuring out how to ease her pain. “Oh no… I hope she’s okay…” He murmured, though perhaps he ought to be more concerned for the human hopefuls; Crucio was angry that she wasn’t okay, and now it was time for the candidates to pay.

Her mental lashes caused him to gasp in pain, at first, and he stumbled backwards in surprise, falling in the process. But he had to get up! He just had to! Being prone meant being vulnerable. Hot sand burned the skin of his palms, and he shivered as he heard more screams- candidates’ screams. Terror washed over him, and his mind grew numb. There was no time to think anymore. No time for anything. He needed to get out of the way, to run, to leave…

But as he got up, he saw Amortentia beneath Imperio’s wing, and the love the brown had for his sister… it was a flicker of hope in the midst of dark despair. He teetered to his feet, wiping his hands on his robes. His breath caught in his throat as he finally saw Avada Kedavra, standing upon the unmoving body of a young man. “Oh…” He began.

No. No no no. This wasn’t right. His eyes were glued to the bronze dragon, painfully aware that he was unable to tear his gaze away from that calm ferocity, the perfectly honed desire for murder and death… what… who was this dragon? Ruunan felt his knees shake, certain his legs were made of jelly. That wasn’t right at all. How could he be so calm… The young boy fought back tears.

There were heroic dragons, too. Go The Distance seemed to be set on protecting them- and Crucio hadn’t come near him because of it. The pain still lingered in his mind- that terrible, awful pain… and Sectumsempra also looked to be out for blood. And Poor Colours of the Wind, trying to help in any way that she could…

“We should go... We should go?” Ruunan found himself asking Rykin and Meztli, wide-eyed and pale.

smerdle

rykin

ShinosBee

meztli

Quote:

Not sure if you wanted your candidates injured- Ruunan is dealing with shock and trauma and is effectively useless, other than possibly not getting mauled by AK. ^^;

 

[dawns_aura]

Melhaika // on the sands

Well, well, well. Things were finally starting to get interesting. Though not exactly what he'd had in mind when hoping for something to happen. A whirling dervish of a green, one that was sending out lashes of mental pain, which while admittedly bad, were nothing he couldn't handle, and a cool collected bronze on a mission. Even if that mission was death. Now he would move. Now he wold act. Perhaps His was one of the Three.

While the bronze might seem the logical choice for him to go for, he was a male after all, and wasn't he supposed to be more interested in the brilliant metallic, or at least a brown or blue? But it wasn't color of hide that drew him to move towards Crucio. Inflicting pain on others physically was crass. It was something he had known enough from his life on the streets. Mental pain was deeper, harder to ignore and heal from.

So while it might have been a smarter thing to stand back like he had been doing, rather than to risk the sharp claws and teeth of the whirling dervish green that was Sectumsempra, or the coldly collected lethality of Avada Kedavra, he took a step forward, then another. He would make his way to Crucio one step at a time.



Faranie // watching from outside the sands
This was not happening. Not the bloodshed, as that was par for the course at any hatching, but for a dragonet to feel so worthless as to go Between? That couldn't be happening. It couldn't be allowed.

Her heart nearly stopped in her chest until something seemed to cause the baby to be uncertain. To stop. Even though she was breaking more than a few rules, Faranie couldn't help but rush onto the stands towards the little green. She probably wasn't Hers, but no deserved to feel so rejected.

Little one, it's alright. I might not be Yours, but you aren't alone. You have siblings who love you, and Yours is here somewhere, just waiting for you. You need to be strong. To stay here and keep looking. And if you don't feel strong enough on your own, you can take some of my strength. Just, don't go Between.
 

[Mewsings of An Angel]

Zyanzi

The candidate was breathless, his right arm split from a swipe from crucio's angry rampage. Blood had spilled and his white robes were soon not so white, the cloth soon spattered with his own blood. He thought absently how the candidate master would oh so loathe the state of his robes after this, but his thoughts were quickly elsewhere as his eyes took in the absolute disarray and terror that had fallen upon the sands. Zyanzi finally found his feet and made it a point to move as far away as he could from the angry dragonets.

But he paused, a wailing thought echoing in his mind. His eyes searched a bit tearily as the slice on his arm smarted. Amortentia was the dragonet, he knew. Her eyes spoke terror and pain, and despite his own pain he let out a small sob. "No dragon is worthless, never... Everyone has a place... A purpose... Just because you don't know at this moment... Doesn't mean you are worthless, beautiful darling..." He whispered.  

[Teiha]

Grumioll
Witnessing the death of another candidate at the claws of that bronze was as turning a tap and releasing adrenaline like a flow of water. It was second nature to Gru, boosting his awareness of all that surrounded him and setting his reflexes to even keener heights. He’d be ready if the bronze or any other hatchling came for that one.

With cool collection he watched the greens rampage until another bronze blocked one of them. What happened after that was a blood red haze.

As she found her progress stymied, the green began to broadcast bursts of mental pain that struck the boy with what felt like fire in his head, sharp pinpricks of lightning punching through all semblance of restraint. He clutched at his head and bellowed, nearly dropping to his knees. The need to escape, to stop the attacker was overwhelming, and in his confusion he lashed out with a fist toward the nearest blurry form—another candidate. He was not gentle, throwing his full weight into the punch.

”Anyone”

If anyone wants the novelty of having your candidate mauled by another candidate during a hatch, now’s your chance!