At the forefront of the newborn quartet was a flashy red female--much like her father. Ergou, the father in question, was grinning widely to himself. His own children were beautiful... though it looked like he'd have competition, at this rate! Whatever the case, the little cream and red female was smartly heading towards the crowd, while a teal, red-headed female (they all seemed to have manes, much like both parents) kept only a step behind her. A brown male was trotting along a few feet behind his sisters, while a... well, a pickle green male seemed to straggle along, as if he really didn't care who he bonded.

There was a moments hush as the hatchlings, already seeming older then their few minutes of life, fanned out among the candidates. The only thing to break the pregnant pause was the clattering of eggshells, as Havranna's eggbound offspring furiously attempted to join their walking (if sopping) brethren.

Violet, set up beside her Star Dancer sibling, Groen, was the first to feel the eyes of a dragonet land on her. ~Well,~ Corrientre Selamputo said, coming to a full stop by the tiny candidate, ~You look like you've been standing around here for ages! If that's the case, then come get me something to eat, my dear. I'm positively starving!~

~Speaking of starving,~ the teal dragonet added, coming up alongside Ciora Byrne, ~I could use something to eat.~ She eyed the young woman like a farmer eyes a gift horse--not entirely certain of it, but willing to accept it all the same. ~I'm Guardiona... Guardiona Selamputo, I'm to understand, if certain sources are to be believed!~ The red-headed Rain dragonet led her new bond off of the hatching-moss, her richly green wings still half-unfurled to dry.

Balabanra Selamputo found himself at a loss for whom to bond. It wasn't because there was no one there, necessarily, but the little dragonet was having problems deciding just who to choose! In the end, he came to a jittery stop at Dobanis' feet, flapping his deep gold wings in agitation. ~I like you, but there's so many great people here!~ Balabanra psied. He then sighed (as in, the natural outlet of breath, not the telepathic sort), and flumped to the ground... very much like an exhausted puppy. ~Will you have me, Dobanis?~ he asked, his hazel brown eyes as huge as dishpans as he looked up at the Half Dragon imploringly.
The Ash hybrid blinked down at his new bond, and then let out a quiet chuckle. "Of course."
Balabanra's tail flumped over the ground, just like the aforementioned puppy's, and he grinned a hatchling grin. ~Oh boy, jee whiz!~ And then he was up again, and running circles around the biped. Poor Dobanis...

The dark green dragonet, the last of the squad, blinked a slow, cat-like blink, and surveyed the candidates arrayed before him. He took a minute to chew on a ruff of lime green hair that had fallen near his mouth, and blinked that slow, lazy blink again. Finally, he got off of his tail and started to head out into the crowd... when another egg shattered. His thunder ruined, the Wood-aligned halfbreed sat down again and went to licking his haunch with surprising vigor.

Another Fire-type dragonet had hatched, and this one was much quicker to get to his feet then his green brother. ~What's the matter, turtle-butt, can't figure out how to bond?~ the Fire asked, grinning in the most infuriatingly cocky way. The Wood dragonet simply snorted at him, and continued to work the egg-goo from his fur. Pendezapro Selamputo, realizing that he'd be here all day trying to incite a proper rage in his green sibling, shrugged his wing shoulders and headed out into the crowd.
It wasn't long before he found Tiiraen... and it was like iron filings to a magnet. The Fire laughed at the Saiyan, giving him a full inspection before coming to a full rest. ~My god, if that spindly thing is what you have for a tail,~ Pende' began, grinning good-naturedly, ~I'd hate to see you from the front!~ He cackled, then, the child-like sound completely disarming an angry Tiiraen. The kit acted a lot older then you might think... at least, if his lewd jokes were any indication! However, the bond was forming already, and it was too late to go back, now... and despite the Firey dragonet's rollicking nature, there was some undercurrent of understanding in the hatchling's thoughts. The big man decided that it would have to do. He led Pende' away just as the green finally got to his feet again.

Tef had been watching the whole exchange with mild humor, and wasn't at all surprised when the lazy dragonet approached him. "Took you long enough," the Chaos Cat said. He flicked his tail, and Guirines Selamputo mirrored the movement, accompanying it with a wing-shrug. ~Since when's time ever been a problem for you?~
The fire cat snorted, but broke out into a grin that revealed the tips of his pointy eye-teeth. "I suppose you're right."
~Only first of many times,~ Guirines replied, and began to stroll languidly towards the feeding tables. He was already larger then Tef would ever be--at least, naturally. Just how big would this Wood dragon get?

Finally, the last three eggs shattered and cracked and, yes, there was a good deal of popping, and in quick succession, a trio of hatchlings emerged. After the first few moments of obligatory hatching-recuperation, it became apparent that the dragonets were not necessarily interested in the candidates spread out before them. Of the two purple males, the darker one immediately headed for the food bowls. He grinned at Linaeas on passing, and tossed over his gold-plated shoulder, ~Me? I'm Mratanzas.~
There was a brief scuffle... but before long, Onessa, crammed into the audience section of the hatching bay as she was, discovered that she would gain possession of the gold and purple hatchling. ~Hmph,~ the hathhydra female said, one head suspicious of the perky good humor of her new charge, the other vaguely approving. ~At least he's got good taste in colours.~

The last two dragonets looked at one another. One was a muted green and cream colour, and the other was a vibrant violet. As one, they grinned, and Pirnario Selamputo looked up to his Firey father, Ergou. ~Nothing says we can't go home with you, right, pop?~
~Yeah,~ Artremisa added, moving meaningfully towards Havranna. ~I would really rather go home with you, then bond a stranger!~
~And I like the way you think!~ Pirnario finished, waggling his eyeridges up at Ergou.
The two temporary mates looked at one another, then down at their kits... Apparently this hatching thing wasn't going to be as one-time as they'd thought!
~Well,~ Havranna began, a smile creeping across her muzzle, ~I don't think I'd mind that.~
~You 'like' the way my mind 'works', eh?~ Ergou exclaimed. Wheels of plotting were already turning in that mind of his.
So it was settled.

Almost as quickly as the hatching began, it had ended. And that, frankly, was a thing to be thankful for!