All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey.

03-05-01: Clutching
On the sands, Katarra walks carefully onto the hot sands, making sure not to disturb the queen or her eggs....

On the sands, Katarra walks carefully onto the hot sands, making sure not to disturb the queen or her eggs.

Jeretta waddles in, as the sounds of Ruulth settling down on the ledge to watch can be clearly heard behind her. "Ooof."

Kyla trails in behind her mate, pointing him to a large Phoenix contingent. "Sit there..the betting should be good as well as the wine." After all that's the only reason riders show.

Hanneke enters the galleries amoung a group of Harper Apprentices, lead by a young Journeyman whose enjoyment of this particular duty is marked in his petulant scowl. Hanneke darts free of the group to peer over to the sands as close as she can get, before a harsh word has her scuttling back to the group. "Harper's Duties to Ista!"

Liette walks sedately up the stares into the galleries, a slightly dirty rag dangling from one hand as she uses a corner to wipe at the other. She moves without really watching where she's going, though a furtive glance every now and then checks the growing crowd's craft content.

Above the sands, Mnemaxath wings in from the upper entrance.

Dominic is aimed at the Phoenix contingent, shrugging his shoulders, "Betting? And me without any more marks to my name..." He slides into a row, nodding at the riders around him, "Hey, hi, how's it going?"

Jeretta settles back in her padded seat -- she's entitled; she's pregnant -- and grins at Kyla. "You missed the first part of the betting already," she calls. "Better get your tail down here if you want in on the rest of it. And What's-his-name scored a couple of skins of good Benden white."

On the sands, Katarra rushes onto the sands, having retrieved a pitcher of something cool to drink just in time. Setting it down quickly on a small impromtu table, she hurries to Tajiath's side, placing a small hand gently on the queen's goldleaf muzzle. "I'm here, love," she assures. "I'm here. I told you I would be right back."

Kyla slips a heavy pouch from out from somewhere in her skirt. "Hey you've better luck than I do anyway." She drops it in his lap, from somewhere else comes the skin. "Here's some to start us with." Jeretta gets a chuckle, "I had to get dressed." Let's leave it at that.

Dalas appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.

Jestine creeps into the the cavern. She hasn't been here since Mesopha's Impression and still feels awkward in any place other than Fort Hold. She finds a seat close to the wall and the exit, hoping to remain somewhat inconspicuous.

Allowy appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.

Hanneke's feet move at a bounce, verging upon a gallop as she follows the Harper contingent towards a row of seating closer to the back. "Oh, how exciting!" beams the young girl, moving one hand up to smooth down her hair as she nudges the apprentice next to her. "Isn't it, isn't it?" Allowy's arrival catches her glance, and she grins, shoving at the apprentice next to her, "Make room, Allowy needs to sit with us. Hi! Yes, here I am."

Jeretta snickers, taking a pull from the skin in her lap -- it's juice, people, not wine, so no stealing it from her. "Uh-huh," is her reply to Kyla, a cheery twinkle in deep violet eyes. "Now, I wonder why it was you needed to get dressed, when it's very nearly evening..."

Allowy smiles, her eyes darting about at all the movement. When she spies Hanneke, she makes her way over, grinning widely to Dalas on the way, "Hello, Dalas" she manages. When she finds the 'harper seating' and Hanneke as well, she waits until everyone else is settled to also take a seat. "Thanks" she says to Hanneke.

Above the sands, Mnemaxath soars out the upper entrance of the grounds, heading back to the bowl.

On the sands, Mnemaxath walks carefully onto the hot sands, making sure not to disturb the queen or her eggs.

Betting with other people's marks? Dominic's game for that. "So, what exactly do you bet on at a clutching? Number of eggs? Time from the first egg to the last?"

Dalas comes up the stairs with four firelizards attatched to him in various places all chirruping at him and bullying him in one way or the other,"Shards, will you all please settle down I'm here already, and if you want to stay I suggest you settle." Looking towards Oscar who seems to be the best behaved of them all,"Will you settle them please."

Liette scoots forward a bit faster when people keep passing her up to settle into the seats that are closest to the sands. She tramps down toward the bottom and picks one of the less choice seats where she can see if she cranes her neck up, and lean against the wall at the same time.

From Dalas' right shoulder, Oscar gives a menacing sqauk and hiss to the other firelizards who immediately settle down on various parts of the healers body.

On the sands, Mnemaxath comes through the windtunnel, winging to a landing on the sands, his eyes whirling with anxious color - it seems the only time the bronze is ruffled as he peers anxiously at Tajiath, head extending to nuzzle along her neck as he croons...

Kyla gives Jeretta a little smirk, "A pregnant lady would have NO idea." she teases. Dominic gets a nod at his questions, "Quantity..what color first..how many of each..gold egg or not.." She takes a small sip of the now opened skin. "Did I miss anything Jeri?"

Okelani doesn't so much watch... as slack. Watching this means no cooking, and no cooking, at least right now, is a good thing. All she's been doing is cutting up fruit anyway, and this is a nice break from it all. Curled up in the back, wanting perhaps a wider view of the events, she watches, rather quiet beyond all the doings a few rows down.

Jeretta waggles her eyebrows at Kyla, a grin of purest innocence plastered on her lips. "Oh, no, no idea whatsoever," she demurs before grinning. "Nah, other than some rumblings from Tajiath and some rather spirited betting from our wingmates."

Hanneke rewards Allowy with a beaming smile, her eyes greeting the other girl for the briefst of moments before they fall towards the sands several rows away, but still in clear view. "Oh, no problem! Where've you been--I haven't see you in *ages*."

On the sands, D'san walks carefully onto the hot sands, making sure not to disturb the queen or her eggs.

Dalas smiles looking around and pipes in,"I'm willing to go ten marks that there will be a queen egg this clutch." Looking around to see if there are any takers while he holds his charcoal stick and piece of hide.

On the sands, D'san strides across the sands, a sheaf of hides in his hand as if he were interrupted right in the middle of something. "Kat?" he calls "For real this time? Mnemaxath says it is...."

Jestine glances around at the group already assembled. She notices a girl sitting alone and offers her a shy smile.

Allowy turns to Hanneke with a fair amount of excitement mirrored in her own eyes, "Well, I've been here at Ista of all places. I've been having the time of my life, to be truthful." She peers down onto the sands like everyone else is doing, just as fascinated.

Liette hunches down a bit when she's noticed, as if she'd rather not be noticed at all right now. She is, however, polite as she gives a little nod of recognition to Jestine and then curls a bit closer to the wall.

Above the sands, Peryth wings in from the upper entrance.

B'roughs walks in.

Above the sands, Peryth leaves for the Ledge.

On the ledge, Peryth wings in from from above the Sands.

On the ledge, C'shar swings down from his lifemate Peryth's neck.

On the ledge, C'shar heads down to be seated in the galleries.

C'shar walks down the stairs from the ledges above.

The scrawny, weasely B'nhead -- the world's lamest bronzerider -- calls out to Dalas, "I'll see that bet. Ten marks says there's no gold egg! No way there's a gold!" No one likes B'nhead, cause he says things like that.

On the sands, Tajiath extends her glistening muzzle along Mnemaxath's, crooning in return. With a flutter of gilded wingsails, she slowly moves, rising and stretching. The humming all around grows louder with her movements, her own throat vibrating in chorus.

Hanneke turns back to peer at Allowy, straightening her posture as she folds her hands tidily in her lap. "How did you get over here? I thought you were living at Fort." Amazingly enough, perhaps she did think. "Ooh, it must have been fun, though! How very exciting." Beaming, she watches the sands with rapture--her enthusiasm clear through her ever move.

Zureile appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.

Allowy can't help but laugh as she hears the commentary from B'nhead. That's interesting..

Dominic picks two marks out of Kyla's pouch, and offers to no one in particular, "I'll put 2 marks down that the number of eggs at 26. Any takers?"

Dalas can't wait to prove B'nhead wrong for a change, he lost his last bet to the rider and wasn't happy about that, "Ok but when you lose don't make it so hard to find you, I was right there with my marks when I lost." Writing down the name of the rider on his piece of hide.

Dalaena slips her way over to Dalas, knowing the Healer and feeling most comfortable around him at the moment, most of the others less familar to her. SHe plops down ebside him and tries tow atch over several heads. "Do you think there'll be a gold?" she asks breathlessly, excitement taking her breathing reflex away for a bit.

Allowy smiles at Hanneke's question! "How did you get here? How does anything get to Ista on such short notice...I suppose it is nice to know a few riders, especially if they don't mind you hitch-hiking..." she winks.

Jestine glances up to see the source of the sudden outburst. She had no idea who this B'nhead was, and was not going to comment on it. She returns her focus to the sands and the queen's song.

On the sands, Katarra turns, a look of relief overcoming her features as D'san arrives. The relief turns to something else at his comment - one might almost think she was about to stick her tongue out at him, but restrained. There /are/ people watching, after all. "Yes, they're really coming." She steps back as Tajiath rises, proving her statement.

Kyla watches Dom and nods, not too extravagant a bet. "How many did Tajaith clutch before, Jere? Do you remember?" Green eyes sweep the crowd, "Does anyone?"

B'nhead scowls at the Healer, "Oh, don't you worry, Dalas. I won't lose. Your ten marks are mine. I'll be waiting right here for you to settle your debt."

Dalas considers Dominic's offer and says,"I will take your two marks Dom I think we may see thirty myself." Making another mark on his hide,"If neither of us wins the bet is nulled right?" Looking over at the big man.

Zureile grins and waves at Allowy as she climbs her way up the steps of the galleries. Puffing slightly, she puts her hands on her knees, and catches her breath for a moment before slipping into a seat beside her friends. "Did I miss anything?" Her voice is breathless, yet excited.

Jeretta snickers under her breath at B'nhead. "Just 'cause you were right last time," she mutters, before shifting in her seat. "Not like we ever -know- if there's gonna be a gold or not. Half the time Tajiath buries her eggs completely. So deal." Kyla's question gets a purse of lips. "Uh...it wasn't more than twenty, I don't think. I forget. Last time I was down there and I was more concerned with Isabeth's eggs than Tajiath's."

So many people...whats one more to the crowd? Very little. C'shar quietly skirts along the edge of the galleries, late as always. "This sharding thrummin' wokeme up from my nap." Comes the old harper's voice, kicking at some dust as he joins in a small crowd of riders -- the cronies.

On the sands, D'san grins - he knows Kat, it seems. "Well, it was a false alarm before, and I'm busy..." He waggles the sheaf of hides, peering past the Weyrwoman to the gold and bronze. "But Mnemaxath seems sure this time." He comes up on the goldrider, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "So don't get all shirty on me."

B'roughs slips into the gallaries, hanging back a bit, shaking his head at Inigoth's queiry a distinct not yet. He moves towards Dalase and nods politely. "Not betting. Always loose," He says in reply to B'nnhead and Dominic both. Then to B'nhead. "Though I tend to agree with Dalas."

Liette hunches down a little more in her seat, though her neck remains stretched to give at least a marginal view of the sands. For all that she doesn't really want to be out in the open right now, she's equally curious about what is going to happen on the sands themselves. She remains rather quiet otherwise, only looking every now and then at the others surreptitiously.

Well, that seems to answer that. Dalaena settles in, feeling a touch crowded, but used to it after working in the living caverns so long. Her blue eyes sweep the sands expectantly, and suddenly she titters at some memory.

Hanneke's companions seem quite suited to discussing how musical humming is, in fairly hushed voices that belie Hanneke's own: "Doesn't it just *sound* great." Her neck twists, her lips rewarding Zureile with a brilliant smile--"Hi!" She's sitting next to Allowy, in a row otherwise filled with Harpers. "Sit with us, Reile!" Aiming her words towards Allowy, she adds. "Oh. Yes. That makes sense. Ooh."

On the sands, Tajiath lumbers to and fro upon the sand, pacing out an elliptical area of considerable size. Her concentration is almost palatable, adding to the already thick and tense vibrancy that fills the air. Only when she reaches the point nearest the galleries do the sounds and voices from human watchers draw her attention. Sparks of red emerge from the depths of her whirling eyes as they rake the crowd.

Dominic nods with a grin to Dalas, "Sure, of course." He's not going to be a jerk about it, seeing as how it's Kyla's marks that he's betting, not his own.

Allowy shakes her head to the suddenly appearing Reile. "Nope, not yet. Just some interesting behavior from Mnemaxath. Things are just now picking up I think.."

B'nhead's gonna be pretty smarmy about his last winnings, "You're just jealous, Jeretta, cause you lost." To B'roughs, he smirks, "Suit yourself, if you want to side with a loser, that's up to you." Petty, petty man.

And from C'shar crowd, snickers of joy as he reveals his prize. Wine. A skin. Though half empty, by the looks of its limpness. "One o'them girls down in the caverns gave it to me. Says she appreciated the advice I was given' her 'bout her little fella' friend." C'shar, being the helpful and friendly guy that he is, hands the wine to the rider besides him. "Here ya go, T'mmy."

Dalas spying B'roughs he smiles, and speaking of spying he asks him,"So how did things go or were you able to make it over to you-know-weyr,yet?" Getting jostled a bit as the crowd becomes more and more so. "Looks like a lot of folk were in the right place at the right time this clutching."Well B'nhead, I really do hope to be able to rub your nose in a good loss of marks specially with your snotty attitude." He then turns back to B'roughs.

On the sands, Mnemaxath settles into one spot, watching the queen pace and thrumming his excitement in between soothing croons towards his mate, his own eyes whirling with still-anxious colors.

Kyla nods to Jere, "Make sense. Gotta love that Niabeth's green and I don't ever have to be down there." She adds quickly, "Well again..once waiting for her was bad enough." B'nhead gets a glare, "Calm down already." she mutters his way. C'shar's voice is heard and the next is aimed at him. "Congrats..here D'san gotcha."

B'roughs shakes his head. "Not today, Wing matters came up." he grimaces. "Tomorrow if I can, the next day if not, though I'll wait and feed Inigoth if it's any later than that, before going."

Jestine eyes grow as big as firelizard eggs, golds at that, as the queen begins to sway. She's only seen her Silence clutch and this was as different from that as night is to day. She glances around, wishing someone who had been to a hatching before was there to more about things or someone even to make guesses with. She has a guess about the eggs, but is unsure whether or not she wants to try to approach the group.

It's easy to have a snotty attitude when you've got a nose as big as B'nhead's. Which also means there's more to rub. The big nosed bronzerider snorts once at Dalas, then one more time at Kyla.

On the sands, Katarra's lips part in an expression of affront, her hands coming to rest firmly on her slender waist. 'Shirty', eh? "I would give a dragon's weight in precious stones to see -you- go through being egg-heavy, D'san," she replies, affront slipping into an amused smirk, tilting her cheek to receive his kiss and immediately turning on her heel to retrieve a drink from the pitcher. "I'm sure you'd not be so quick to dismiss what those contractions can feel like."

Jeretta snorts at B'nhead. "Explain to me," she says, with an air of indolent uncaring, "why I would bet in favor of a gold when I was far more concerned with my -own- dragon's clutch?" That said, she grins back at Kyla. "Lucky you. The once, that was good enough for me...heya, Cash."

Zureile, for the most part, is thoroughly unimpressed so far with the clutching. Oh, it was interesting watching the gold pace, and the antics of the humming dragons, but aside from that, she is actually becoming quite bored. It's /hot/, it's /humid/ the galleries were crowded and noisy, and there doesn't seem to be anything worthwhile going on. Nostrils flaring, she stifles a yawn.

On the sands, D'san chuckles, following the goldrider. "I'm sure it isn't a pleasant sensation, admittedly. For dragon or human." He notes. "After all, Kabrielle must have given you just as much discomfort, hmm?"

"Musta had a bit much to drink when I let'em catch me!" C'shar calls back towards the greenrider, snorting rather loudly. "Figurin' I'll have to be getting up even earlier than normal now." He nudges T'mmy, "What ch'ya think, guy? Think them weyrlings will be wakin' me up all the time?" The bluerider simply nods as he too passes along the wine and C'shar shoots a grin at Jeretta.

B'nhead sneers at Jeretta, "You'd have done it if you wanted to /win/, Jeretta." Duh.

Dalas is bounced into Dalaena and smiles as he says,"Excuse me Dalaena I didn't see you there, so many people and all,"Giving a jovial shove back into the back of the rider that bumped him into the girl,"He friend, there are people in here you know take it easy, we are all friends here."Then turns back to those closest to him and Dalaena,"Were you saying something to me earlier, I heard something but with this crowd you really have to speak up."

On the sands, Feeling Tajiath's temper flare, Katarra turns to look at the queen. "Now, now, Taji. They're here to honor you and admire your eggs. You know that," she reassures. "They'll stay behind the railing and not bother you a bit. Stop fretting." She returns to pouring a drink from the pitcher. "I don't suppose you'd like some, D'san?" His reference to her daughter brings a brief smile to her lips.

Hanneke may be seated, but her bouncing, as yet, has abated negatively--it's perhaps even more so, as she shifts constantly within her seat, peering around heads to get a better glance at the sands. "Any eggs yet? I can't see any--ooh, this is exciting. Wonder if there will be a gold. I bet it'll be a big clutch, regardless. Ooh, how exciting." On, and on, she babbles, earning a cold shoulder from the apprentice sitting nearest to her.

Turning to Allowy, she fans the front of her shirt in an attempt to cool down. "How long will this last?" Besides, the gold seems to be a bit on the angry side, and Zureile's not too anxious to be around if her temper actually reachs the breaking point.

On the sands, Glowlight flashes off rivulets of molten gold as Tajiath spreads her wings and hisses once in unwilling submission, sending waves of sand in all directions. Apparently satisfied her point has been made, she slowly furls her wings inward, pulling them close to her side. Turning suddenly in a sharp pirouette, she examines the sands once again, picking up the path where she left off.

Kyla grins at Jeretta, "Well then don't let Ruulth catch." As if the rider has a choice? C'shar's words are heard and she chuckles dryly, "I remember those days. You gotta learn Cash. Run when you see someone coming at you with a knot." She hands her own skin to Dominic, "Thirsty yet?

Dalaena moves closer to Dalas, and sighs. "I just asked if you thought their would be a queen egg, but since you arebetting that their is, I took that as a yes." She chuckles. "How amny eggs do you think? 36? 29? What?"

On the sands, D'san shakes his head in response to the offer of a drink. "No thanks...not thirsty, yet. Might reconsider if we are out here for long," He notes, looking down. "The sands are hot as ever, I can tell." He tosses the hides down, watching the queen. "Poor thing. Well, hopefully it will be quick."

Dominic drums his fingers on his knees, keeping a keen eye on the scene below, gritting his teeth behind a forced smile as he tries to ignore B'nhead. Shifting his eyes to the right, and curling the right side of his lips into a crooked grin, "Yeah, Kyla, it's hot enough." Wine's not really his thing, but he's parched.

Allowy grins at Reile through all the din, her ears trying to pick out who is saying what. "I think it will last, as long as it takes for Tajiath to have every egg! In other words...a longtime! We'll be here all night and then some if we want to see every egg clutched, I'd bet?" She turns to Hanneke, "What do you think? The Heat does grow on you," fanning her face as well. She should have brought something stiff to wave.

"I figured I was to old to be getting anymore knots!" C'shar mutters, cursing vehemently under his breath. "This unjustice will not go unanswered, mark my words. I'll bet on it; better odds than guessin' how many of them eggs Tajiath is gonna let loose. Never know though, she might turn out like a herdbeast after supper!" Harhar. C'shar laughs. So does T'mmy and the others. "Catch you fellas later, gonna score me a better seat."

Jeretta just totally ignores B'nhead, but gives C'shar a winsome smile as she settles back into her seat again. "Like I have any kind of choice in the matter," she remarks dryly. "Last time, I was five months pregnant with my first. We'll all be glad that it was Isabeth that Ruulth snared and not Llawenth." Ow. "I'm bettin' on no gold, and around...oh...twenty-five. How about you?"

Jestine takes a deep breath, tries to ignore that too-cautious part of her conscious, and walks over to the outskirts of the melee. "Hello!" she says with as much confidence as she can muster, and doing a pretty good job of faking it. "I don't suppose someone coup (could) tell me what the current bid is?"

Zureile's sweating in earnest now, and not just from the heat. She's a bit nervous at being in such a crowded place; who knows whether or not her aunt was there? But... looking around at the heavy betting going on around her, Zureile's interest is at last sparked. Now, if she has something to lose or to gain from the clutching... "Hey, Allowy. Care to wager a few marks?"

Dalas smiles at Dalaena,"What are you wanting to place a wager?" Not thinking the shy girl had it in her,"Yeah I would think there would be a gold but there is never anyway of knowing regardless of what B'nhead says,"Smiling at the girl,"As far as size goes I'm going with 30 eggs,"He just likes the nice even number,"So do you want to wager a mark or perhaps something else on something?" He asks with a slightly sly grin of his own, the grin growing into his infamous smile.

On the sands, With a loud snort, Tajiath finishes her rounds and moves in a halting pattern to the nearest dip in the sand, her compact body awkward from the pain of oncoming contractions. Lowering herself to the sand, she slowly raises her dainty muzzle skyward, the low rumble in her throat growing until, with neck fully extended, it grows to a loud roar that rebounds off the cavern walls and announces the arrival of the first of her precious clutch.

On the sands, Tajiath lays: Secret Ingredient Egg

On the sands, Green splotches scatter dully across the pasty blue shell, clinging like a fungus to a weed. Carefully preserved and stored away, it rests almost despondently in it's designated hollow as depressed as a science project in the hands of a forgetful child. A faint glossy sheen makes a sad attempt to brighten this dull demeanor, like glass over a specimen, but only serves to give the tired egg a preserved look, as if it were being stored away for some specific purpose, perhaps not so mundane as itself. It must serve /some/ purpose, for there seems to be a lot of it. This one is not small by any stretch of the imagination, boring, yes, small, no it isn't.

B'nhead gets ignored by pretty much everyone, so he just sits scowling with his arms crossed over his chest in a huff. You're all on his list now.

Hanneke, with a flash of intellect, adds, "Of course, it's interval, so it won't be as big as all that." Her eyes turn towards Allowy, expression wilting entirely--"Heat? Oh. It is kinda hot, isn't it? Ista is awful hot, yes." She shakes at her clothing, attempting to fan herself without much success, as her eyes catch upon Tajiath's first egg--"Ooh, lookie! Look at that! Ooh!"

On the sands, D'san curves an arm about Katarra's shoulder as Tajiath clutches the first egg, smiling. "Look at the size of that one. No wonder she's in a mood" He murmurs. Ouch. Mnemaxath just continues his soothing croon, moving forward to help Tajiath bury the egg in sand's warmth.

Dalaena laughs softly. "How about I wager a special dinner instead?" she offers, not willing to spend a lot of marks. After all she is saving up for a new dress. "And if I win, you have to buy me a new dress, if I loose, I have to fix you a special dinner, or some such. What do you think?" she offers, trying to think about it, and then her eyes go round as the first egg is laid. "Ooooooh."

Allowy gets a strange look on her face, and then she laughs, "Oh..well, here pool mine with yours," handing Reile about 7 marks, all she has to bet. Maybe if Hanneke pooled the marks as well, there would be enough, "What are we betting? I'd bet there will be a Gold Egg, might as well be optimistic!" She grins, and looks back down to the sands...it is rather intriguing.

Kyla waits for the skin back from Dom while watching Cash move through the crowd. "No room here." she teases.

"You're right. You're butt is too big." Cash retorts.

Zureile flinches in sympathy at the roar from the gold, then turns to watch the gold as she deposits the first of the clutch. Eyes wide, and throughly interested at last, she half stands in order to get a better look. "Wow. It's.. it's big." Exciting descrpition, Zureile. Great job.

Jeretta snickers under her breath at the interplay between C'shar and Kyla. "You're jealous," she fires back at the bronzerider, taking a sip of her juice.

Jestine is about to answer when she is distracted by a noise from the sands. "Oh !!! By Faranth!" She then remembers herself and turns back toward the group. "Sorry. Just want to see what the current bets are. I have a feeling I would be short a good couple of marks if I tried my hand."

Kyla beams up at C'shar, "Drink more and you won't notice how ugly the drudge is when you pass out tonight." Sweetness for sweetness.

"Hey." Dominic turns his attention and aims an index finger at C'shar. "Watch it." No one talks about Kyla like that. The finger is then aimed at B'nhead, "And don't even think about starting, either."

Dalas smiles at Dalaena,"I like the sound of that, so long as it isn't herdbeast." He adds with a chuckle, at least there hasn't been any need to worry on that account, and B'roughs will get to his mission of mercy when he can for sure,"I think I like that a lot.What color of dress are you looking to have?" His eye follows hers as the first egg is clutched,"My gosh thats a big one, I am almost willing to be that to be a brown or a bronze."

"Furs will cover faces." C'shar mutters, leaning over the rail to catch a glimpse. He wiggles his butt a bit, though -- just to prove it isn't so big.

Hanneke beams at the first egg, continuing her description with delight. "Big, and not exactly beautiful, but it's got a lovely--egginess to it, don't you think? Quite special."

On the sands, Katarra sips from her mug, leaning on D'san, and nods in response to D'san as she too admires the first egg and watches the dragon's at work.

Zureile looks helplessly at the money in her hand, then back at Allowy and Hanneke. She's never placed a bet before. "I don't know," she admits reluctantly. "I hadn't thought that far. I was kind of thinking on betting against you."

On the sands, Having finally started, Tajiath seems to gain strength with the release of the egg's weight on her form, which is small for a queen. With efficient strokes from her twitching tail and a few sweeps from her hind legs, the egg is quickly surrounded by a warm blanket of sand. The antique gold that sweeps across Tajiath's underbelly rolls with the next contraction as it speeds the arrival of another egg, depositing it within a handspan of the first.

Dalaena chuckles at Dalas, and nods her agreement. "Well, actually I was thinking a nice blue one. I have a green one already, and I'm not sure purple is my color, ya know?" she asks of the Healer. "I would say that there will be around fourty, maybe?" she guess, considering. "Yeah, anywhere from 35 to 45."

Kyla can defend herself, especially from /bronze/ riders. She can do that in her sleep. "Thanks hon.." she soothes Dom. "Don't worry about them."

On the sands, Tajiath lays: Crooked Little Wand Egg

On the sands, Poor little thing seems a little bent out of shape! Longer and thinner than your average egg, its majestic mahogany hues don't quite run true. A quirk and a crick mare the thinner end, as if made from a lumpy piece of wood. Has some master wand creator made a mistake? The 'grain' of the wooden shades runs darker, but bends and almost swirls here and there, as if even the color is confused by this turn of events. In cheerfully defiant protest of this summery, a bright smattering of color, like sparks from a sparkler, scatters across the very tip of the thinnest end of this egg. See? It's /not/ defective!

Jestine turns back to the sands just in time to see the latest addition. "Oh, everybody! Look!" She's caught hatching fever.

Dalas looks from the sands as another egg is laid,"This may go fast but..."Looking her over with an appraising eye,"I think you may look rather nice in a lavender color, not a heavey royal purple no but a nice springing pastel I think would look exceptionally nice on you."

Dominic is soothed and appeased, lowering his index finger away from any and all bronzeriders. Leaning over and planting a quick kiss on Kyla's cheek, he smiles, "Sorry, couldn't help it." Now the index finger points at the new egg, "That one looks kind of... off."

Allowy half stands so she can view the newly arrived Egg. My, it is long and thin, and has such a rugged color, all worn and warped. "It's amazing to watch, I feel very lucky" she whispers to Hanneke or Zureile, sure neither can hear her.

Dalaena mms. "Well, you can help me pick out the color if I win, alright?" she asks. That should ease his loss. Hehe.

C'shar snorts; unimpressed. "Give me a gold, Tajiath! Peryth needs a new friend!" He hollers out towards the sands, disregarding any semblance of mannerisms. "I'm bored of greenriders." He says to others, in a much more quiet voice.

Jeretta chuckles under her breath at C'shar's commentary, smoothing down the front of her tunic. "Your own fault for never looking beyond the gold and the green," she comments amusedly, taking another sip of her juice.

Zureile stands there, money in hand and jaw dangling open idiotically. The sweat rolls off her brow unimpeded, and she just stands there, staring as the gold as the eggs begin to come. So much for being apathetic. Her attention is so caught up in the scene before her that anybody could steal the betting money, and she probably wouldn't even notice.

Hanneke gives the newest egg a long and decidedly vacuous glance, blinking at it with blank charm. "It's--pec, pec, pec--odd."

"Odd is right!" C'shar laughs. "Looks like Tajiath sat on it first." For Jeretta, he just scoffs.

Jestine raises and eyebrow at the not-so-gentlemanly comment. One would think we was playing dice. She sighs and dismisses it with a shrug.

Liette slowly leans forward a touch more in her seat, her eyes narrowing as she watches the eggs finding their places upon the sand one by one. "Much more... interesting.. than Sheve's ever are," she comments in a low, low tone as she watches more intently now and pays less attention to who is around her.

Kyla cocks her head as she follows Dominic's finger. "It does.." after hearing C'shar's remark on the egg, the greenrider one is ignored, "I'm afraid Tajiath might have sat on it.."

Dalas chuckles as he hears C'shar's words and turns his attention to the girl who is amazingly good company,"I will be happy to do that Dalaena, and honored."That wicked smile of his still glued to his face,"What kind of dinner are you thinking of makeing for me when I win?" He asks then changes,"I tell you what we can talk about this over klah or juice when there is a break in the clutching how about that?" He asks her letting the crowd press him a bit closer towards her.

On the sands, Katarra's smile seems pasted in place, wavering from smirk to grin to motherly mush, but always there. "Mnemaxath is being very helpful," she remarks, sparing a glance to look up at D'san. Sounds from the galleries reach her ears as well, barely heard over the dragon humming. She picks out a number of familiar faces, catching an eye here and there.

Dominic raises his eyebrows, "Hasn't she sort of been sitting on all of them, though?"

Dalaena chuckles, being squished against him. Daral won't like that. Well, actaully he would be too shy to say anything about it, so who cares? She laughs softly as she spies the egg. "I think C'shar is right about Tajiath sitting on it first..." she trails off in an atempt to contain ehr giggles.

Jeretta snickers, smoothing her tunic out a bit. "Scoff all you like. You'll just never know what you're missing." And she takes a sip of her juice, quite thoroughly amused.

On the sands, Tajiath turns, making quick work of covering the newest egg, and giving it a slight nudge with her muzzle as if to position it just /so/. Her attention is focused solely on the work at hand, a constant humming vibrating her throat as she dips her head close to the soft mounds. Not much time is given for admiration, however. As her body stiffens, she backs up several steps to another dip in the sand and rumbles deep as another egg is rolls onto the sands.

On the sands, Tajiath lays: Mysterious Orb Egg

On the sands, A swirl of colors beckons from within what appears to be a translucent casing. Nearly spherical, the egg looks more like a fragile orb of mysterious origin. Soft pine greens dance delicately with goldenrod and the blushing pink of rose petals. Together the colors meld, combining with deeper lapis and glaring, bright carnelian, forming amorphous shapes and blending shades together. The orb's shell seemingly changes with a subtle consistency though this may only be a result of light's refraction upon its smooth, resilient surface.

On the sands, D'san rubs Kat's shoulder as he watches another egg hit the sands, and his bronze help to bury it "Yes....only time he ever unbends enough to show some emotion" He notes with a grin "To others, that is." Seems D'san has no problems with his dragons moods. "He likes being a father, I think. We share that."

Allowy is quite taken with the newest egg. She elbows Zureile with rather boyish flair of her own, her eyes widening at the sight of the strangely swirling colors. Wow, that one is exquisite for some reason! Just the look of it. She grins, "Oh my, she laid another, and it's very...pretty! I mean, er....it's so round! Like a green pearl.."

Hanneke emits a gasp of sorts at the Mysterious Orb Egg's arrival, romantic tendancies overplaying her delight at it. "Ooh, that's *beautiful*. I like that one best of all!" This one isn't odd, ergo, it's very good. "Did you see it, huh, huh?" she queries towards her companions, bouncing up and down.

Jestine grins at the queen's almost artistic taste for burying her eggs. It reminds her of a mother tucking the covers around her little ones. She glances back at the group, but seeing they are busy with their betting, glances around at the other spectators.

Kyla chuckles and nods to Dominic, "True enough." Skin is stolen from him and she takes another draw. Shard this heat.

C'shar is apparantly loosing interest fast as he turns to gaze at those faces in the crowds; grinning broadly at the pretty ones. "We should have drudges up here servin' wine and cheese." He comments, randomly, and to himself, mostly.

On the sands, With her swollen body in the way, the third egg clutched is not at first completely visible. Not until it has been securely surrounded by comforting sand. Her dark gold tail wraps around the egg, twitching slightly at it's tip. Only when another ripple begins it's flickering path across her withers does she move aside to reveal the last arrival, and immediately proceeds to produce yet another.

Above the sands, Paniliath wings in from the upper entrance.

Above the sands, Paniliath leaves for the Ledge.

On the ledge, Paniliath wings in from from above the Sands.

On the ledge, Fiora makes quick work of slipping in a controlled fall from Paniliath's neck to land with a bounce at her side.

On the sands, Tajiath lays: Translucent Talisman Egg

On the sands, Blinding brilliance defines this egg, its painful luminosity at the same time pleasurable, full of warmth and fulfillment that bathes all in lambent prisms of rainbow colors, the pastel flickers dancing along the shell in refractory elusiveness - the orb is no color and yet all colors at the same time. Along its curvature, graceful lines trace the longitudes and latitudes of unseen worlds, its power originating from nowhere and everywhere at once, embedded deeply into the egg's surface with indelible indestructibility. Its essence is true purity of spirit - it is nothing and it is everything all at once, vibrating with hope for the continuance of goodness, singing sweetly of the rightness of being.

On the ledge, Fiora heads down to be seated in the galleries.

Fiora walks down the stairs from the ledges above.

Dalas manages to catch a passing wineskin and offers some to Dalaena,"Here maybe you should have a bit of something to drink I wouldn't want you to get over-heated and pass out or anything." Holding the skin towards her and making sure she is able to get something liquid and refreshing into her."I hear from the crowd that its pretty good."Though isn't really happy about the communal skin thing.

Zephre appears at the top of the stairs in the very back of the galleries.

Jeretta rolls her eyes cheerfully at C'shar's lecherous ways, before waving at her friend. "Hiya, Fi," she says cheerfully. "Come on over here and have a seat, would you?"

Zureile finally remembers to sit down, and shoves the money into her pouch firmly. She turns to her companions, and fans herself absently as she struggles to come up with the appropriate words to define this momentous occassion. "Uh... yeah." She grimaces. No.. that wouldn't do. Thiniking a moment, she tries again. "It's great." Boy, put her down for a speech award tonight; she's on a roll. Shrugging her shoulders, she turns back to the sands.

Allowy gasps, just as she thought she had seen one of the most impressive eggs yet, out pops the blindingly bright rainbow colored orb! Oh my gosh! She grins at Hanneke, nodding wildly about her earlier comment, even more taken with this egg. Her light blue eyes are open largely, taking in the glistening colors. "Reile...Hanneke..look!" is all the intelligible words she utters.

Hanneke attempts once more to peer around the heads of those in the rows in front of her, only to have her vision obscured by Tajiath herself, and the sand that is placed about the eggs in turn. "Can't see!" she complains, her voice straining a crescendo up the scale, hardly delightful to hte ear. She peers at Zureile. "You're not excited!" How is that possible? Eyes turn back to Allowy, and she peers, "I'm looking!"

Jestine glances up at the latest arrival. Seeing the flash of red, she thought it might be her friend Tessa or Mesopha. Seeing it was not, she sighs slightly and turns back to the sands.

In the distance, the drums announce the departure of Craftsecond Byre.

Fiora does head on over and plomp herself down, draping across a seat with boneless ennui. "More eggs..eh?"

Dominic counts, "One, two, three, four... Yeah, there'll definitely be 26 when it's all said and done." He's got a logical explanation as to why that's the case. Just don't ask him to share it.

Zephre strolls in, and down into the galleries, glancing once toward the Sands to see that, yes, indeed, a clutching was in progress, once again Miyoth's gossip was on the money. Then she starts people-watching, scooting into a seat near a wingrider she played poker with once at the Spring Games.

On the sands, Tajiath heaves a tremendous sigh, her withers expanding with a shimmer of gold reflections. Her initial burst of energy seemingly spent, she takes the time to meticulously inspect the most recently delivered egg, her tongue darting out to delicately caress it's smooth surface. Once it is safely ensconced in a bed of sand she turns to check the others, casting a weary but pleased blue-green glance toward her bronze partner.

"No, we're all just hanging out in the galleries where it's hotter than it is anywhere else for our health," Jeretta comments amusedly, passing Fiora her juice skin. "Four or five so far."

Jestine detaches herself from the group, due to the heat making her slightly sleepy. She walks back down to her spot near the entrance and and reclaims her seat.

Allowy has a soft chuckle at Zureile's enthusiastic "Yeah, It's great", her own eyes are full of mirth mixed with excitement. As she glances back and forth between her friends and the sands all at once, her eyes grace C'shar's a moment. Oh, that one has lovely blond hair..and green eyes, but it's only a momentary thought, once more sucked to the expansive sands, the unique view afforded by the galleries is something else! Definitely a rare experience.

Kyla tries to follow Dom's logic but gives up, "Whatever you say dear." Gotta love that wrote response.

Allowy waves at Zephre, catching the green rider's shape for a brief moment before the crowd swallows her up. It seems word is spreading rapidly, and with the eggs already on the sand, she can see why.

Fiora sniffs at the skin and passes it back just as quick. "What..that's juice!" In the same tone of voice she'd say, "What..that's watch wher spit!"

On the sands, Mnemaxath croons at Tajiath again, scrabbling the sand away to bury this latest offering from Tajiath, his neck extending to touch softly to the gold's soothingly as she rests.

Dalas looks around as he is waiting for Dalaena to accept of refuse the offer of a drink in the heat of things. He takes a drink from the skin seeing as her attention must still be on the sands,then spying Fiora he waves,"Hello Fiora, how goes things for you? Enjoying the heat?" Almost laughing when he sees her reaction to the juice,"A little more juice and a little less wine will keep the healers from having to check up on you."

Zureile glowers momentarily at Hanneke, but her look is lost on the bouncing girl. "Of course I'm excited." Well, she is. "I just want to enjoy it in peace, that's all." Clutching the corners or her seat, she eyes the drop to the sands warily. Well, it seems like a drop to her. She looks at the two friends, and asks in a very offhand manner, "Do you want to find a lower seat?"

Kyla dangles her skin out to Fiora. "I've the good stuff." And a few more skins stashed, "Care for some?"

Jeretta chortles. "Juice, dear. You know full well that Jorrin won't allow a drop of wine anywhere near me right now. Cash has wine, though. Got any of that Benden left for Fiora?" she hollers in the bronzerider's direction.

Dalaena chuckles and takes the skin, taking a slow drink before handing it back. "They're right," she ifnorms him, and then looks at the latest addition. "Ooooooh."

On the sands, "Mmmmmmmmmm," Katarra responds gratefully as D'san rubs her shoulder. "Didn't realize how tense I was." Gotta love dragon intensification. Watching her lifemate over the rim of her mug, she takes another slow sip, savoring the flavor even as it begins to warm in the heat of the sands.

On the sands, Tajiath rumbles pleasantly, twisting her sinuous neck upward to the myriad of swirling lights that dot the ledges above as those of her kind watch on and hum supportively. Keeping protectively close to her clutched eggs, her glance falls to the galleries and in a sudden change of mood her eyelids flicker, the facets again sparking with wary crimson hues.

Fiora looks at Kyla plaintively, "Is it Mango?", even as she 'Pah's ' at Jorren's old-auntie behavior. "Man acts like ya gonna break."

Dominic leans behind Kyla, tapping Jeretta on the shoulder, "Mind if I have some of the juice?" Wine's not really his thing. Much to the dismay of everyone who tries to corrupt him with it. He's an ale kinda guy, through and through.

Hanneke opens her mouth as if to give an affirmative towards Zureile, at which point a well placed nudge from the apprentice on her other side has her shut it again. Sulky, and with a petulant note to her voice, she responds, "Can't." An indication is given towards the other apprentices, and the Journeyman currently in charge of them. "It's so not fair," she adds, rebelious.

Kyla shrugs as she peers at the skin then at Fiora, "I don't know. It's stuff from the Passionfruit Pit. Took some home with me the other day."

"I'd rather have that than someone who can't be considerate to save his soul," Jeretta retorts, taking a pull of her juice before handing the skin back to Dominic. "Go for it."

"Fiora," Cash greets cheerily enough, his verbal musings about wine and cheese apparently over. "I'd not drink that stuff, Fi'. Look what it did to Kyla's....." Silence.

On the sands, D'san smiles down at the goldrider by his side, watching her drink. "We've done this before, Kat' He notes, "I remembered from last time." He continues to rub her shoulders, turning his gaze to the dragons again. "Looks as if she's getting ready to go again."

On the sands, Abruptly, Tajiath begins to move again, drawing close to the previously laid eggs just as another set of convulsions brings another shining ovoid onto the sands. With a strenuous hiss Tajiath twists about, lowering her muzzle to breath softly over the soft shell. Digging with her fore-claws, she circles it with warm sand and creates another dip for the next egg that quickly follows.

Kyla knows that ale thing about Dom, yep she does. Green eyes rest on C'shar's familiar face. "Go ahead.." Make my day. "Finish that particular thought Cash. We are all so intrigued now."

On the sands, Tajiath lays: Spell Book Egg.

On the sands, Earthly tones of rust and brown heightened by a sense of knowledge held deep within encompass the visage of this homely egg. Celebrating not the splendor of the collection about it, this sole oval of independence basks upon the sands with an aged grace. The mural of patters, haphazard and without consistency, resembles that of a child's picture; a splash of wheat, a dab of earth. Atop this chaotic mixture of neutral tones is a layer of dust, collected from the balmy sands on which it rests until its fateful day. Leftover, perhaps, from hatchings past, this egg seems destined to be forgotten.

"No ma'am." C'shar answers, shaking his head. "Faranth hath no wrath like a greenrider scorned, my ma' always said."

Jeretta grins broadly in C'shar's general direction. "Your ma, she was a wise, wise woman," she says with a chuckle.

Dalas takes another drink of the wine before passing it into the crowd,"It will come back around to us or we'll snag one of the others that will be going around,"Always something to drink during a clutching got to keep the people from dehydrating during the festivities and all."Rather pretty eggs don't you think," then seeing the new one adds,"Oh I think I like that one best of all so far, that one there that she just laid." Moving his arm over Dalaena's shoulder and guiding her around a bit so she can see it better.

Fiora wants to hear, her eyes say as she looks between Kyla and the randy Cash. "What's this? Who got ruined?" she asks as she reaches for Kyla's skin. "I like their wine."

On the sands, Tajiath lays: Wrinkle in Time Egg

On the sands, A creamy white oval, it's smoothness orderly and neat -- all is perfectly in place as it should be. But wait, a trick of the eye? A flicker of movement? The edges fade, becoming indistinct, waves of oppressive heat blurring the lines of reality as if shifting from one phase to another, one time to another. There - and not there. A miasmic swirl of chaotic colors clash together in a wriggling string, winding their way along in an eerie undetermined path, a twist of scarlet red, a turn of cobalt blue, a wrinkle of vivid violet in that otherwise flawless white vista. A seething, teasing strip offering mysterious glimpses of things unknown, yet keeping it's secrets in a blur of confusion.

Dominic nods a thanks to Jeretta, taking a drag from the juice skin. Handing it back to the brownrider, he keeps nodding, "Yeah, wise." Go ahead, say something C'shar. Someone gets vewwy vewwy protective of his greenrider.

Dalaena looks at the mentioned egg, and then spies the newest egg. "Oh, Dalas, look!" she breathes breathlessly.

Zephre butts heads with a few of the riders nearby, those from Ista and those visiting. Apparently, marks are being exchanged, or at least bet with, on the contents of those eggs being laid. The argument never reaches high volume, luckily.

Kyla shakes her head at C'shar. "As if you had room to speak.." She waits for her skin back. "He's just upset I kicked him out of my weyr all those turns ago." Isnt' that how it went? It's how she remembers it.

On the sands, Katarra catches her breath suddenly, back going rigid as two eggs follow in quick pursuit. The mug droops in her hands as she strains, sharing somewhat of her lifemate's pain. "Look, D'san," she manages to say. As if he wouldn't notice.

Liette stretches her legs a bit as she shifts upon her seat and takes only the shortest look about herself before scooting between two riders to get closer to the edge of the stands.

Above the sands, Llynth wings in from the upper entrance.

Allowy is starting to get the hang of this egg watching experience--at least she feels that she is. Truthfully though, she can only *guess* at what each strange and wonderful sphere actually contains within its enveloping midst. She peers at Zureile, the view seems to be _ok_ from here. She spends a great deal of time visually examining the Spell Book Egg, each one is so varied and different from the previous, and yet all are intriguing in their own way.

Above the sands, Llynth leaves for the Ledge.

On the ledge, Llynth wings in from from above the Sands.

On the ledge, K'rill gives his lifemate a parting pat, then swings a leg over Llynth's neck to slide quickly off.

On the ledge, K'rill heads down to be seated in the galleries.

K'rill walks down the stairs from the ledges above.

Hanneke moves her fingers to her hair, pressing sweat-dampened curls into submission with the help of a few replaced hair pins. "Was that another egg? And another! Ooh!" Her soprano cry is no doubt one easily heard throughout the galleries, as she pushes her upper body forward in another attempt to get a better glimpse.

On the sands, D'san reaches for the mug to save its contents, just in case, and smiles as he does look "Yes....two at once. She's doing well" he notes, offering encouragement to the rider just as his bronze does to the queen, pushing that last egg into position and piling the sand around it.

Dalas nods as he sees the even newer egg his arm still perched on its new resting place, Dalaena's shoulders, kind of finds this nice to be in such close proximity to a pretty girl,"I still like the one before that one,"He tells her making it so that she can mover a bit closer to the railing and holding his arm gentlemanly on her shoulder.

"Pah!" C'shar hisses. "I've been kicked out of lots of places. But yer weyr wasn't one of'em!" so sweet is his smile; oozing with goodness.

Jeretta chuckles dryly at Fiora, reclaiming her skin from Dominic and taking a pull on it herelf...oh, newcomer. "Ista's duties," she yells to K'rill. "Come on in and have a seat. The betting's just getting good."

Dalaena lays her ehad on his shoulder, watching from the mostly comfortable position, the heat not really bugging her. "I can't decide, they're all so lovely..." she breathes, awed.

Allowy tugs on Hanneke's over-excited shirttails..well during an event like this, can anyone actually be 'over-excited'? Still, her good harper friend is obscuring her view, and that simply won't due. Not that it's a bad view, Hanneke's rear is sure to be a real 'guy' pleaser, but oh...Allowy is missing something, she's sure of it. "Hanneke...move off a moment.."

Fiora hears that and gives the bronzer a long look. "Eh..can't say I blame her. Not like I'd kick ya out of bed for eatin bubblies."

Hanneke turns her head, face alight with excitement -- she who is easily pleased -- which fades promptly for a few moments as she pushes back into her seat. "Sorry!" she half trills, verging on a musical note--which would not be an advisable progression. "Didn't mean to."

K'rill's head perks up at Jeretta's call, eyes immediatly spying a skin being passed around. Obviously this is the place to be. Fingers roughshod comb through his hair before he moves around to approach her. A sidling grin, but attention keeps flickering to the skin, "Good evening, ma'am. 'Tis a fine evening for a clutching."

Allowy spies K'rill and waves to him with a great deal of enthusiasm! She's not sure if he caught the glance, so she shouts, "Hello K'rill!" Baring that, it doesn't matter if he heard or not, she did her duty. OH, and Hanneke has finally shifted positions, this is a big, big improvement. "Thanks," she offers to the Harper.

"You wouldn't boot him out for crumbs in the sheets?" Jeretta asks Fiora curiously, taking another pull of her juice before blushing at K'rill's formality. "Oh, honestly, none of this 'ma'am' business. Jeretta, rider of brown Ruulth. Jeri, if you prefer. Have a seat? There's juice, or Kyla's got a skin of the good Benden white if you prefer that."

Dominic updates the count, "Up to six. Twenty more eggs to go. Won't be long now till I've won two marks." Jackpot baby!

Dalas smiles as Dalaena seems to be getting comfortable this is nice and remeniscent of youthful days, well he isn't an old codger yet though from the looks of things his hair may silver before its time,"I like this,"He tells her as he watches the sands having someone in his arms again really makes him feel good in such a nice way.

Kyla chooses to loose C'shar's comment in the lovely mill of conversation. Jeretta gets a glance, hey she's trying to give away her wine. "Um sure..anyone want it?" Go with the flow. There's a safe stash in the weyr.

Zephre notes K'rill out of the corner of her eye - she knew to look, of course. But she doesn't bother to try to attract his attention since a rather burly bluerider from Igen is busy telling her, at the top of his considerable lungs, why all five of the most recently laid eggs will hatch blue. "That's nice, H'kon."

Dalaena grins at Dalas. "So do I," she says, feeling quite comfortable. "Think I may win that bet or not?"

K'rill is more of a wine person, and thus aforementioned Kyla is spied, as is the skin, "I wouldn't mind a bit of a nip, if you would be so inclined, lady?" A grin just for Kyla, dimples flashing and everything. "I'd be in your debt forever."

On the sands, Grumbling from the strain, Tajiath spreads her wings over the two newest eggs, nudging them with her muzzle and heaping even more sand against their sides. Finally, she withdraws, and begins pacing the grounds. Her gait is unbalanced, awkward. Still, she keeps her head held high, the flickering glowbaskets alighting off the burnished gold of her polished headknobs. Suddenly, muscles flex across her stomach and sweeping her tail to one side, she lays a soft, leathery egg.

On the sands, Tajiath lays: Glittering Dust Egg

On the sands, Pink and white and blue and green glitter across the effervescent surface of this egg. They scatter in wind blown patterns against the pale cream of this egg, and seem to be trying to lift it right off the ground. Light and airy this small egg seems made of bubbles and shattered bits of rainbow powder. It seems almost a work of magic in and of itself, rather than a vessel for magic, almost floating off under the delightful weightlessness of its own secret. What could it be, this mysterious prize, this glorious secret? A bit of string, or perhaps a touch of Faerie magic is concealed in this delightfully illusory shell, but magic can only be revealed if it's believed.

Kyla hmms, now that's something she can live with. Skin is held out to K'rill. "Wellmet to you."

C'shar only grins at Fiora. One of those Cash grins. Big. Bright. Cheery. Begging for a reaction. Kyla is forgotten. Easily.

Dalas smiles,and thinking to himself that he hopes that she does says,"I don't know, maybe, Ah look another one, I would almost bet marks that one could be a golds egg, its just so outstanding and all." He tells Dalaena,"Though the other one with the multi colors could be as well, I guess we won't know for sure till Tajiath has time to coddle, whether or not there is even a gold down there."

Jeretta flutters her eyelashes in C'shar's direction artistically, before settling back in her seat. "Hey, how many eggs is that so far? I lost count." A spare pillow is produced and set out for K'rill, if he wants it. Pillows are good things.

"No problem!" trills Hanneke towards Allowy, although she's almost immediately straining forward once more, her attempts at perfect sight failing with each shift of her body. "Can't see!" she whines again, earning dark looks from her Harper companions.

Dominic answers out of the side of his mouth, "Seven, Jeretta. 19 to go."

Dominic does math. Oooo.

Ask and ye shall recieve. Fi gives the bronzer another long look. "So..you do anything else besides eat bubblies and drink wine?" Her own teeth go on display. Bright. Glinting. Somewhat feral.

K'rill takes the skin from her, dashing in a bit of a wink as well. "Much oblidged." As he lifts the skin, eyes fasten upon Allowy, and he does that chin-lift sort of greeting thing. He would bellow out a greeting, but somehow or another, he doesn't think that would be appreciated. Instead a single finger is raised to placation. He'll talk to her later. A long swig of the wine is taken before he sets it back down, handing the skin back to Kyla. "That hit the spot." A glance to Jeretta and her pillow. Ohh, such service.

Dalaena nods to Dalas as she watches the eggs laid, eyes round and awed. "Yeah..." she breathes. It's strange, it's like watching someone have a bowel movement, yet facinating. Must be the eggs part. "I hope their is a gold, almost. For your sake I mean."

Kyla receives the skin back with a smile. Good he didn't slobber all over it or drink it all. "Glad it did." Dominic gets a chuckle, "Enlander through and through.."

Zureile is not exactly pleased with Hanneke's sudden, jarring movements. "Sit down," she hisses through her teeth. "We can't see while you're standing!" Of course that's why she wants her to sit. It has nothing to do with the fact that she's gripping the seat so hard her knuckles are a pasty white.

Jeretta peers at Dominic in bewilderment, until..."Oh, until twenty-five," she finally says, with a grin...which promptly turns into a very amused chortle in Fiora's direction. "He ain't a piece of meat," she notes, before grinning at K'rill. Pillows are good, like she said.

C'shar scuffs his feet a smidge, looking at the sands as T'mmy besides him finishes his bottle of wine. "Ah, I guess Kyla isn't so bad. For a greenrider." But to Fiora, his attention is turned. "Not really." He admits. "Peryth is real big, though."

Zephre keeps right on arguing and betting, changing her mind with each new egg.

Dalas looks a bit puzzled,"A gold for my sake?" He wonders what that means,"Ahs," As he begins to understand,"Yeah I could use the marks to bring in some new furnishings for the healers office, least some more tapestries, I know a weaver down in Southern Boll that weaves the most intricate tapestries you have ever seen."

On the sands, For being as egg-heavy as she is, Tajiath is surprisingly active. After securing the most recent egg in a warm pocket, she moves about her marked out territory, digging into the sand with gleaming talons, making an especially wide hollow near the back, farthest from the gallery's view. "I bet that's where she's going to bed," Katarra remarks idly. Her lips purse thoughtfully as she looks about the indicated area. "And if that's the case, then I'm going to set myself up right...over...there." Pointing with one slender finger to an area left of Tajiath's proposed sand-couch, she nods, adding with a sardonic twist to her lips, "Should be cooler along that wall. At least marginally."

Zephre goes home.

Allowy pouts, Hanneke is in the way again! Silly girl...you'd think she has never been to a clutching--well, come to think of it, neither has Allowy. She takes a moment, ceasing her huffing to peer behind her, somehow catching K'rill's chin nod at the right moment. Ah, drinking wine again. Well, is that such a bad idea? She maneuvers about Zureile, "Excuse me, too, Reile.." and wanders over to where Dalas and Daelana are. She doesn't want to spoil the carousing, but asks anyway, "Would either of you have any wine to share?" her most winsome smile presented thusly.

Dominic grins at Kyla, "So much so that you'd think I /was/ one of them in a previous life, huh?" Shaking his head at Jeretta, he informs her, "No, till 26. 7 and 19 makes twenty-six." Really. He checked. Counted on his fingers, toes, and Kyla's fingers.

Dalaena smirks slightly, a bit of the old atitude starting to return. "And don't forget to buy me a new dress," she informs him with a laugh.

Fiora blinks.."And?" Peryth is Paniliath's concern, should she want to be. Concerned, that is.

On the sands, D'san chuckles at Katarra's sardonic comment. "You wish. I'll have the handymen set up a cot, Kat?" he suggests. "Perhaps two...I'm sure Mnemaxath won't be leaving here for a bit." He sighs. "Cots are never quite long enough for me." is noted wistfully....

Kyla leans forward, watching Tajiath. "Is she done for now?" Finger points to the queen digging out an apparent wallow.

Jeretta can't count. Ah, well. "Hey, I'm betting on twenty-five," she pouts in Dominic's direction, before shrugging at Kyla. "Y'got me. Usually takes a couple days to do this sorta thing, though, you know."

Hanneke raises her head in some surprise as Allowy strides off, although she manages to rest back within her seat for a few moments, arms crossing within her lap in ladylike cool. Tossing her head, she remarks, "There'll be another soon, I bet. Another beautiful one, if we can see it."

Liette leaaaans against the railing, her back arching as she lifts up onto her tippy-toes and peers out over the sands --now regretting her choice in placement. It's becoming obvious she needs not to hide at all, for no other smiths (at least ones that would know of her transgression) have showed their faces --so far as she can see.

Kyla nods as she stretches slightly. "Ya, seems to be that way." she returns to Jeretta. Eyes rove over the eggs, "Pretty odd assortment."

K'rill makes a cursory glance over the contingent in the galleries, noting this familiar person or that... but no R'ea or for that matter Reilk. Eyes track 'til they see Dalas, and this grants the bronzer quite the exaggerated blink. Haven't seen that one around in a while