Winter Clutch 2006

Snow was falling outside for the first time that year. It didn't seem like it would stay, but the effect was pretty and so was the timing. Lucas hurried over to his holiday cavern through the hatching cavern since it meant he could pass through a pleasantly warm hatching cavern in stead of braving the snow. Decorations for once had been finished in a timely fashion. Lucas had been aided by the local children who'd had a blast while their teacher got some well-deserved vacation. Maybe the cavern wasn't as neatly organised as usual, but the atmosphere felt very friendly and warm. It was mismatched but cosy.
Lucas sighed contently and then asked Besanth to alert the candidates that the time of the hatching was near. Five candidates had been found this year, three IceLanders from the North and two runic warriors. It was slightly troubling that only one of the candidates was female. Lucas hoped any other female hatchlings would not mind cross-gender bonding.
As the eggs began rocking the first candidates entered. Just about fifteen minutes later the first egg crackled and a spiderweb of jiggly lines appeared on it's surface. Soon the lines connected and the egg fell neatly in half, allowing a white and yellow hatchling do drop out. The hatchling was wingless with a ridge of very peculiar outcrops over the entirety of her body. Markings riddled her skin on her head and tail.
Stepping carefully around the eggshards, the female yellow crystal hatchling looked around the candidates. She finally walked toward Tygra stating.
"You are definitely mine. My name is Dagmar."
Two more eggs hatched and two males, a blue and red crystal walked away from the wreckage of eggshell. They seemed to ignore each other as they each went into a completely different direction. The blue crystal headed for the runic warrior Kenaz who was a pacifist despite his large frame and firey red hair.
"I am Eisje." he said, "I wish to go with you."
The red crystal male headed for another IceLander, Marnyx who was quite unusual with his black hair and lithe built. He was a serious man on the other hand and the red dragon seemed to like that.
"We are two of a kind." he said, "My name is Glorun, rider mine."
The fourth egg hatched and a purple crystal female fell out. She looked around for a while. As Lucas had feared there were more female dragons than female candidates. But this female did not seem to mind when she headed for the second runic warrior, Dagaz. Maybe the warrior was the most gentle of the two candidates left, loving nature and the sun.
"My name is Gnijs, mine." the dragon said, "Can I come with you?"
Of course you can, Gnijs." Dagaz said, feeling the odd name take form in his mouth.
The two remaining eggs hatched, spilling a violet crystal female and a green crystal male onto the sands. It was the green who made a move first and he headed straight for the last candidate, IceLander Yor. Without much effort he stopped before the tall, bearded man and spoke:
"You are mine! My name is Pygel."
That left only the violet crystal dragoness. There were no more candidates but she had not liked any of the ones gathered anyway. She had in stead loved the image some of them had carried. With a swish of her tail she turned to Lucas and announced:
"My name is Krim. I shall not bond but I shall travel with my brother Eisje and my sister Gnijs to the land of these runes."
"That's noted." Lucas nodded, closing the hatching and then leaving too for the party that followed it.

Riders:
Tygra and Yellow Crystal Dagmar (f)
Kenaz and Blue Crystal Eisje (m)
Marnyx and Red Crystal Glorun (m)
Dagaz and Purple Crystal Gnijs (f)
Violet Crystal Krim (f) sponsored to Cyan
Yor and Green Crystal Pygel (m)