Hatching 09 (Yinnith's Clutch)

It began quickly and ended much the same. That day, Yinnith called for the candidates privately, so that a much smaller crowd would be in attendance for the births of her children. As the four candidates assigned to her clutch filed into the Nest area, Yinnith sighed peacefully, the mountain air tickling her nostrils. It would be over soon.

By the time the candidates had arrived, some of the dragonets had already broken shell. To the delight of Yinnith and her mate, their children were speckled in a similar way to them. And the first, a pale green like her mother, showed off her brown and shining silver speckles as she strode up to her chosen.

Mine! she squeaked, nuzzling up to Arroganith. I'm Viyith, and I like you!

One down. Yinnith bent down and nudged her largest egg with her nose, prompting it to hatch more quickly. As if on cue, the white orb split directly in two - and so did its contents.

Verliiiiin! A childlike voice ran through the mind of Verlin KaRook, the anthropomorphic rabbit who stood near Yinnith's nest. Suddenly, another speckled pale green blur was darting between the feet of the candidates, among them three dragons - Arroganith and Viyith had yet to depart for food.

Heyhey! Yinaleth! Come back! To everyone's surprise, a second dragonet came rushing through the small group, this one pale blue but with green and silver speckles. Seeing as the two moved together, and their colours were of similar, it was assumed that they were the twins who had just graced the nest of their mother.

Don't be so uptight, Rinaleth! the green hatchling replied, smiling brightly up at her new bond. Verlin, you're gonna be our big brother, right? We'll be the bestest siblings ever!

And upon Verlin's consent, it was confirmed: there had been a double-bond that morning, and with twins no less!

Without warning, Shivaith felt a quick piercing pain at her foot. She looked down to meet the impatiently whirling eyes of a little blue dragonet, pale in colour like the rest of his siblings, but slightly bolder than his brother. His green-and-silver speckled hide was clearly visible, even in the faint light of dawn.

About time, said little Kalith, mindvoice as impatient as his gaze. Hurry up. I'm hungry and by the looks of it, you are too.

Last of the four candidates was Akuchi Foundling. She had been transfixed by the twin dragons hatching, and failed to notice a small figure creeping up behind her, concealed by the shadows.

Boo, came a voice, startling the girl. The dragon she spun around to view was much unlike her siblings, but her green colouration and coloured speckles were far darker than them - or either of her parents, for that matter. Um... hehe. Guess I'm comin' with you, then?

"Guess so, Yikarath," was Akuchi's bemused reply.

Following the hatching of Yinnith's last daughter, she stood and flexed her wings. That was that... She called silently to Vanireth, and as Mei came to her side, so did the brown and his rider Ralto.

Every one of them knew that, as much as anyone wanted to deny it, Meira and Penina both had proddy dragons at their hands... and by the sound of it, the pair of greens would be rising much sooner than their riders would have liked.

Pickup 09