Even now, he was living up to being a truly responsible mate. "Usaro'," he murmured to her, his voice somewhat groggy as he slowly woke. The day-shift was nearing, and the lights in the bay were just beginning to brighten.

What is it, love?

"Look, the eggs..." The Earth dragon shifted slightly, enough so that he could nose one of the shells. It was indeed rocking slightly... no doubt it would be shaking full force in no time at all!

Usaroflyin shook off sleep, the excitement of hatching settling in on her already. Call of the candidates! she cried, waking her rider from a sound sleep. The eggs! They're about to hatch!

Well... there was more time then the purple dragoness gave credit for. By the time that the candidates had assembled in the bay, and the spectators had lined the gallery (and there weren't that many of them, at this time of the morning), the eggs were just starting to rock violently. It was more then enough time for an Archivist to be called (not the Master Archivist... he had announced that he was taking a short break!) and to set up near the feeding tables. A mere human, this one, but she looked nice enough. She watched the candidates and the eggs with as much anticipation as anyone.

For a few moments after everyone had fallen into place, the shells simply rocked and rolled and cracked, then, finally, the first of them shattered, and a pale purple dragonet spilled out to the mossy ground. Just like Usaroflyin, this hatchling had a feathered crest and tail-plume, and just like her mother, when Usaroflyin was younger, this dragonet's wings were merely a second set of arms... quite ugly, too. Hopefully a good swath of feathers would grow over them... As for her parentage, she was obviously of Pailuathak's line. Neither Usaro' nor Laudu sported the silver horns that this dragonet had... Hathian traits, in this case, bred strong and true.

As soon as she'd gotten herself to her feet, Realiex was headed towards the candidates. She wanted to bond, and she wanted to bond now! Amaree Zoreiin, pulled out of a light sleep, was not altogether surprised with the purple dragonet ended up at her feet. Or... perhaps that wasn't true. She'd been surprised for a moment when the hatchling had made contact with her mind, but as soon as they'd gotten a good look at one another, the both of them knew that neither of them would do for any other. The pair were moving out of the group of candidates even as the rest of the clutch began to hatch.

Two more hatchlings, much like Realiex in shape, burst from their shells, followed by a different type of dragonet. One of Laudu's children, this one... while the first two were different shades of blue, this dragonet was a rich brown colour. He had his father's horns and tail and even the typical Earth dragon gems... though he sported those ugly wing-tines, just like his other siblings.

The three dragonets fanned out. One of them, the unmarked blue, pranced up and down the line of candidates just twice, and then, little mouth gaping in an amused grin, moved away from them altogether. He'd had his look, and, no... there wasn't anyone here for him. The Archivist at the feeding tables was intercepting him as the half-breed Earth dragon made his choice. Zotto Usadah paused before a giant dragon (at least, in his eyes), and stared up at Museitetsujinth, deeming to say nothing. The bronze dragoness blinked down at her peculiar new bond for a moment, and then smiled, herself. You don't say much, do you? she asked the little male, who, in return, shook his head no. Well, come with me, let's get you fed. And the pair of them were off.

The second blue had already found his bond. He was stopped at the feet of Aka, a green dragoness who, for all the world, didn't quite look like she knew what was going on. Yu smiled patiently up at her, and when the green finally understood that, yes, he did want to bond her, and, yes, he would appreciate a first meal, she was more ecstatic then she'd ever been before. Yu waited out her spat of glee, and then all but led her to the feeding tables.

Another slow moment occurred, during which a second of Lenudah's get quietly hatched. This female was quite a looker, already... even just out of the shell! Her rich brown body was mottled with gold, her green tail contrasting nicely with the rest of her body. She took a moment to stretch and to get her bearings before moving out into the ranks. After a few pauses, she finally found who she was looking for. Guari Usadah nodded to herself when she reached Deravia Astelith's foot, and then gave the elfin woman a small smile. "I think you'll do..." she said aloud, then noticed the baby that Deravia had slung over her chest. "Oh... may I see her?" She asked, for all the world sounding as mature as any adult.

You can't bond her, she's mine already! a voice sent from the stands, as a young bipedal dragon mantled over the railing.

I wasn't going to bond the baby, Guari sent back, I only wanted to see her, silly. I'd rather have Deravia then some infant.

The auburn-haired elf made a small noise of dissent. "Don't I get a choice in the matter?"

"Of course." Guari replied. "Now let's get me something to eat." And Deravia, though she put on a show of objecting, already knew that she'd chosen. She led her bond (her real bond, not like when she'd tried before, and managed to attract the green female, only to have the starry-winged hatchling bond her daughter!) back to the feeding tables.

The last of the eggs hatched one after another, and immediately the dragonets looked to one another. Where the last half-Earth dragon had hatched simply and cleanly, the last of Pailuathak's brood was covered in sticky eggy bits, dripping and disgusting. The blue-mottled half Avengaean turned her nose up at her green half-sibling almost as soon as she saw her, and hefted herself to her little feet, ready to find a bond.

...The green followed her, then stopped when Ordina Usadah stopped. Then followed again when Ordina moved on. Finally, The half-Earth stopped by Raera Tonn's side, glanced up at the two mini-gryphs perched on either of the horsy girl's shoulders, and clucked her tongue. "Such dirty little things!" The kit reprimanded, squinting up at the earless brown, Ari.

Ray giggled and raised a hand to stroke the brown, who chirped. "Of course they're not dirty! I groom them every day!"

"Still, they must make such messes!" Ordina made a face, causing the girl to giggle again.

Well then, a third voice butted in, and the green dragonet pranced over to them. Criss sat herself down right next to Ordina, grinning and all but rubbing the pieces of shell stuck to her side against her half-sibling. If you like messes, I can be of service!

"Eugh!" Ordina tried to back away, but the green dragonet was sitting firmly on her tail. "Let go'a me!"

Nope! Criss grinned all the more and bobbed her head from Ordina to Raera. We're both bonded to the same person, now, so you gotta start putting up with me!

"I do not!" Ordina retorted. One of Raera's pets began squawking, unsure of the shouting dragonet. Raera, of course, bent to soothe the half-Earth, upsetting her pets more... and chaos ensued. Other candidates were already backing away from the loud clump of bonded dragon-human-gryphlet madness, and, upon seeing that the last of the eggs were hatched and gone, filtering out of the bay.

While Raera was left to sort out things for herself, or to wait for her parents to come help her, the archivist was waiting with the unbonded dragonet near the sands. Siche, for one, had decided to actually attend this hatching, and almost wished that she hadn't. Already, sponsors swamped her (as usual), and it was her job to make sure that someone got the dragonet, in order to take care of it. And, of course, the moment that she chose someone, she knew that she'd be shouted out by other who said 'it wasn't fair'. Well... enough of that. She picked the person closest to her--a human woman with chestnut hair, and pointed at the sands. "You want him?"

"Well, to take back to the Nidus, yes..." the human replied. Siche raised an ring-laden eyebrow, and the human added, "yes, we want him. I'm Toshi, from Nidus Ryslen."

"Well, it says his name is Fadelain. Just promise me that you'll take care of him, please."

"Of course!" Toshi blinked at the Minister as if she didn't understand... why wouldn't she? The Minister knew better, of course... many of these off-station visitors seemed to want to grab newly hatched dragonets like they were collector's items, or something... In any case, she gave the human a hard stare, and then relented. If Toshi said that she'd take care of them, then she would... Siche hoped!

It seemed odd... but the hatching was over, already! Another day was just beginning... and now there were seven new dragonets--six new pairs, or trios--to embrace it.