Court Clutch
2023
Hatching
Story
The island's Aelith
geneticists had arranged for the eggs to be brought to the dunes. Due
to the larger than regular size of the offspring, they had deemed it more
ideal to install some means of living off-land on the largely water-based
planet. Both Amarlon and Liciya had however promised that the resulting
court dragons would be able to prosper both in the water as on land and
that their adult forms would be capable of flight. None of this mattered
much to Amaria who
remained close by to guard the eggs.
Eguth who had donated
the eggs and Merel, her bond, helped while
Komenth, the clutch's opal
court father, provided the three ladies with anything they asked for.
Which turned out to be a lot but the opal-speckled blue did not complain.
He was granted his bond and mate's biggest wish so it was all worth it.
It was late in the afternoon, the sun's rays still warm and welcoming but
not as hot as they'd been that afternoon with a cool breeze that showed
that the weather was changing. Amaria had been worrying about what the
colder weather might mean for the eggs but she would worry no longer as
small cracks showed that the eggs were indeed ready to hatch. Excited and
proud, she let Komenth know, at the same time letting out a sound that was
between a bark and a cough to alert those around her.
"The eggs are hatching! Come to the bay!" the dragons picked up on
her excitement and relayed the message while Eguth bugled.
The green blood court dragoness would play the second fiddle for now, but
anyone who would hurt these dragonets would have her to answer to as both
Amaria and Komenth were far too kind to deal out proper punishment for
such a grave misdeed.
Within half an hour the beach was filled with people, shifters, sea elves
and a few oddities that weren't as easily classable. The 6-armed
centauresque Lyteek was one of them, but the red-skinned 8-tentacled
Waratah was equally noticeable. But not all that stood out were strange in
build. A couple of humans from a place called Schwung were dressed in
ornate robes and wore turbans in bright colours on their heads. And though
largely going undetected, Laz the gem faerie was definitely the oldest
candidate ever recorded at Lantessama. The shipmate dragonkin Gid and the
dwarf Mts'Are had strange names but hardly fazed the locals as they'd seen
their kind before. But of course all that mattered were the hatchlings and
who they'd pick. Locals were already wagering with friends about which egg
would hatch first or what colours would appear. Court clutches tended to
not have as many colours as Lantessaman clutches. Would a white or a black
appear today? Some dared to bet on the chance.
A hushed silence overtook the crowd when a loud crack signalled the first
hatching. A beige-bronze hatchling with a white belly and stripes rolled
out of the egg, right into the water. When he got up the first thing the
people noticed was the absence of wings. The little bronze had finned ears
and a couple of small appendages at his tailtip that seemed to be able to
move independently. The hatchling moved toward those waiting in the water
and finally settled on a passionate, dark-skinned sea elf.
"Krydderi, you're mine. My name is
Haitinth."
More hatchlings had hatched and while some also headed for the water, a
few were also exploring the beach moving with just as much ease. One of
those, a red male with a faint rainbow speckle, headed for a Pernese young
man, the healer Aredan.
"It's a good thing I saw you here. Why didn't you
wait in the water?" the hatchling asked with a playful wink.
"I didn't know what to expect honestly, Pavelth. And the eggs were on the
beach."
"Fair enough."
A blue female with a lighter belly and zebra-stripes on parts of her body,
had also wandered toward the candidates waiting on the beach. She seemed
to have a hard time deciding, looking all around but never venturing
closer to any one in particular. Finally she started to dig, sending sand
flying. Surprised chatter broke the focus of the hatching as people
started to only look at the blue with the strange behaviour. But this
little one knew what she was doing as she uncovered the Lapis Lazuli gem
that was the resting state of her bond. Awoken by the sudden closeness of
her bond, the gem faerie Laz changed into her more mobile form and
stretched.
"Oh hi Juleeth, I must have fallen asleep while I was waiting for you."
"I don't mind, it was a fun game."
A larger hatchling with a hide that was mostly green but also had a bit of
a blue sheen to it, had taken the opportunity to go to her chosen while
Juleeth had been causing a commotion. She was after all one who believed
more in being quiet and discrete. And she knew just who would appreciate
those qualities in her. It was to the sea that she headed and to Nezreo,
a somewhat misunderstood sea-elf who could use a bit of support.
"My name is Yeuldath and I will stand by you."
she told them quietly.
At the edge of the water, a sun-tanned, beach-blonde young woman was
waiting next to her friend. Both had come from Ryslen and had come as one
of the most recent arrivals. They hardly knew anyone here but still they
tried to look the part. Kimberis for one, didn't like to look weak
so she stuck out her chest and tried to remain calm when a dark purple
male with bright blue stripes approached them. She figured he'd go to
Toheril but as she stepped out of the way to accommodate the match, the
hatchling mirrored her move.
"Wait, are you here for me?" she asked.
"Why else would I change my directory?"
the purple asked.
"I can think of a number of reasons but I'm glad they're not true,
Veulenth."
Two brown dragons had dropped from one of the larger eggs some had pegged
to house a gold. While one had darker patches at his snout and paws, the
other had zebra striping on part of his hide. They looked pretty much the
same otherwise though and it was difficult to see which was which when
both headed in roughly the same direction. The one with the blood-court
like points finally settled down in front of Ziad, who dressed in
his red and orange finery looked very formal.
"Ezgurpth is here to help you govern your lands."
Ziad let out a relieved breath and held out the offering he had poached
before the start of the event. It was always wise to bring a gift to a
strong ally after all.
The other brown hatchling seemed to shy away from the more densely
populated areas of the beach and in the end made his way to the treeline
where a grumpy dwarf called Mts'Are was watching the hatching. He'd almost
given up on bonding a dragon so he was quite surprised when the brown
hatchling approached him. In fact the young court dragon seemed to perk up
when he got closer to Mts'Are and quickly sniffed the dwarf's
hands, smelling the sweets he had handled today.
"You want some of those? You're in luck little one."
"My name is Mukiath and I won't stay little."
the little dragon said matter-of-factly.
Another purple dragon, this one a zebra-striped male, was having fun in
the water, splashing his tail and paws so the water hit the people he
passed. When he passed one who had similar colouring though, the hatchling
stopped and stared. Portent, a Sagan Nymph with white hair was a
fortune teller and a good one too. Only they didn't know what would happen
to themselves. But Atruith knew. They would be together from now on.
"Maybe you won't be able to read my fortune
either." he told Portent.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because that would spoiler your own life."
A green female without markings, was in the vicinity and felt a happy
surge as she saw the matches around her. Only, she wanted one of her own
and not just anyone would do. She needed someone special. Next to her a
sea elf laughed at the top of her lungs, clearly enjoying life. And
Silkeuth knew that only good things would come to this person.
"Nalkaloun?" she asked.
"Are you talking to me?" the lively sea elf asked after having looked
around.
"Yes. My name is Silkeuth. Might I join you?"
"Don't mind if you do."
Lilium, the cat-eared Raksha who was still on Kynn but also at
Lantessama, was resting on a blanket, watching the happenings. She was
here to bond but how could she miss the festival atmosphere with it's
music and dancing? She might have just enjoyed the festivities a bit too
much the night before but she had managed to come out. So she did see the
bright blue female with zebra stripes and a yellow belly hurry her way.
The hatchling tripped and fell on top of her but actually felt quite cosy
in the cooling air.
"Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Nefrizyth."
she said, a bit shy suddenly.
"Thanks for picking me." Lilium replied simply.
Three females, a red, a purple and a green met each other on the beach and
decided to play a little game of tag. They chased each other, none of them
wanting to be the one to lose. They growled and taunted and bumped into
more than one candidate before Waratah finally got them caught in
her tentacles. She lifted the red one up to her face and said:
"Now dear Inbaruth, it's not nice to make a lady wait."
"I'm a lady too!" Inbaruth challenged
back but then her stomach grumbled and she was ready to get food.
Waratah gently placed the other two hatchlings down and left them to seek
out their own bonds.
The purple hatchling, who had bright yellow stripes, finally sagged down
next to the travelling bard Hani, nuzzling her hands and then
dropping down to sleep with her head on the woman's lap.
The green with the bright belly and stripes, turned her attention to
Toheril, the other novo from Ryslen.
"Want to play tag?" she challenged
"Shouldn't you be hungry or tired, Zoamuth?" Toheril asked.
"Far from it." the feisty girl grinned
a draconic smile.
A second bronze, this one with darker stripes and lines, stumbled away
from the minefield of sharp eggshells. He had avoided injury but had spent
a lot of energy in his efforts. Sagging tiredly, he called out for his
bond and she came for him. Lyteek scooped him up with ease and
returned to a safer spot away from the crowd.
"Are you alright Kavyketh?" she asked.
"Yes, just tired." the bronze replied
and dozed before he could eat.
An impulsive blue had found a quicker path through the shards. He'd simply
dashed through, straight into the arms of Ambel, a reptilian
handyman.
"I made it!" the blue said smugly.
"Good work, Rouendith." Ambel praised, "Let's get you some food."
Another blue, this one darker with opal speckling, sat down on the beach
and yawned. A strange rainbow-haze escaped his mouth and seemed to settle
on the beach with varying effects. The hatchling bugled in triumph and
turned to Iminti, one of the sea elves to say:
"I did that! I helped!"
Iminti couldn't help but smile at the sudden enthusiasm although she
hardly ever showed her feelings.
"I see, Gaorkth." she said, quickly regaining her cool, "How about we go
celebrate with food."
A purple female with opal speckles had snuck quietly away during that last
bonding. It was difficult to hide but it would be worth it to surprise her
intended bond. Gidun Launches from the Prow, "Gid" to his friends, could
feel something approach him but played along and acted very surprised when
Jalanuth finally jumped him from behind.
"I caught you!" she squealed.
"That you did." the dragonkin replied and led her away to get food.
The hatching was reaching the end as only a red and green female remained
on the sands along with a single egg that was still intact. All eyes were
upon the two The green was definitely the most striking in appearance with
zebra stripes appearing on her limbs while the red was more subdued with
only a lighter belly. The green seemed to not be all that hurried to head
for the remaining candidates but the red was having none of it. She wanted
the green to bond first and she would not move until that had happened.
Finally the green got the memo and she lazily made her way toward the sea
where Thread was still looking for a bond. Her dad Tapestry stood
right beside her as the small - even for a green - hatchling came toward
them.
"I guess you knew I was coming." the
hatchling said.
"I never doubted it, Unalinth."
After that, the red made her way to Qarsa, the old witch who was on
Lantessama by chance.
"Nineteen is a much better number."
the red said, "My name is Dezigith."
"It does make you rather unique." Qarsa agreed.
No hatchlings were left but the last egg, as if the dragon within had been
waiting for this moment, finally shattered and released a bright golden
dragon with lighter stripes and lines. Letting everyone have a good look
at her, the hatchling sauntered toward Tahira, who dressed in
turquoise blues looked regal as well as she stood with perfect posture and
poise. The two looked at each other and Tahira gave a little bow with her
head.
"My name is Tulkaeth." the hatchling
announced to her.
"Be welcome to all that is mine." Tahira replied
The spectators and remaining candidates were ushered toward the nearby
fields where music was playing and people were partying. Food and drinks
were handed out to all who came asking and the light slowly faded to dusk.
Tahira
(f) and Gold Tulkaeth (f)
Lyteek (f) and Bronze
Kavyketh (m)
Krydderi (m) and
Bronze Haitinth (m)
- to Neishai
Ziad
(m) and Brown Ezgurpth (m)
Mts'Are (m) and
Brown Mukiath (m)
- to Phe
Qarsa (f) and
Red Dezigith (f)
- to Dragonflight
Aredan
(m) and Red Pavelth (m)
Waratah (f) and Red
Inbaruth (f)
Portent (nb) and Purple Atruith (m)
Hani (f) and
Purple Bavulath (f)
- to Dragonflight
Gidun Launches from the Prow (m) and
Purple Jalanuth (f)
Kimberis
(f) and Purple Veulenth (m)
Iminti (f) and
Blue Gaorkth (m)
- to Molly
Laz (f)
and Blue Juleeth (f)
Ambel (m) and
Blue Rouendith (m)
- to Ktrenal
Lilium (f) and Blue Nefrizyth (f)
Nezreo (m) and
Green Yeuldath (f)
- to Neishai
Thread (f) and Green
Unalinth (f)
Toheril (m)
and Green Zoamuth (f)
Nalkaloun (f) and
Green Silkeuth (f)
- to Ktrenal