Hatching 23

Celi laughed as her green dragon Huavith twirled her tail around one of her eggs. Though her own dam had been impatient and had had a hard time staying with her eggs, Huavith enjoyed the leisurely life she led. Days at Lantessama were mild and pleasant and though the dragoness couldn't go out for a swim or take long flights, there were enough people and dragons passing by to keep her occupied and entertained. Celi had been giving a small but comfortable room that could be accessed directly from the sands and both she and Lokren were usually around as well. As was Gwyveth, Lokren's bond and sire to the clutch. The two humans had been talking about sailing across the planet toward Gineya Isle after the hatching but they had a lot of time yet to plan the trip.
Although...
"My eggs are hatching." a yawning Huavith remarked as she got up from a quick nap.
"Really?" Celi asked, "I thought they'd still need a little bit longer."
"Our babies are strong and eager." Huavith said proudly. 
Behind them Gwyveth launched himself to the sky before he roared to announce the hatching, his blue hide disappearing against the blue of the sky but the brown streaks that marked his wings and body standing out. 
The sun was just past it's zenith when the candidates gathered in front of the wobbling eggs and the watchful eyes of their parents. The gathered group was diverse but the majority was human or had a humanoid form. They ranged from the small elf Starcap who was doing a silly dance, to the two shifters Garnet Dawn and Kanon who were joined by their friend Xenze who had bonded at the previous clutch. Morata and Rialar both hailed from Pern and were busy discussing biology with Wyatt, the healer from Khylar, all three of them quiet, studious people who'd gotten along while they waited for the clutch to hatch. Lastly, Odhil, the viking rune farmer turned warrior was standing to the side.
A lot of watchers had gathered and the buzz of whispered conversations was so loud that the first egg hatched almost unnoticed. The topaz female was almost the colour of the sand and it was only when she opened her brightly coloured turquoise wings that people noticed her presence. The hatchling carefully flapped her wings to dry them in the sunny afternoon and stepped gingerly around the eggs of her siblings. She knew who she wanted after all and headed straight for Morata, the shy and polite girl from Pern who'd stood at a prior clutch before coming here.
"I'm so glad you decided to come here." the dragoness remarked, "My name is Torvith."
Morata hugged her dragon and led her to the waiting tables to feed her while the spectators cheered and applauded.
Two eggs at different sides of the sands hatched next, one cracking in half, spilling a deep blue Tanzanite on the sands while the other nearly exploded when a spunky red Spinel leapt from the scattered shards. Both seemed to be male and were a healthy size. It was the energetic Spinel that made the first move. He almost roared when he approached the lion shifter from the Empyrean Stair, Garnet Dawn, but didn't quite accomplish the effect, his roar followed by a hoarse cough. 
"That's harder than it looks." he commented.
"You'll learn, Grahvul." Garnet commented and helped his young dragon find some water.
The blue dragon meanwhile gazed toward the candidates. He took his time to make a choice but as his gaze met the last candidate Odhil, it lingered. Something about the man was very appealing. A strength and some vulnerability. And a defiance that called to the Tanzanite's nature. 
"I'm Uryndor." was all the dragon said before he nudged his new bond toward the buffet. 
Next the largest egg of the clutch broke in half and a mass of white-silver limbs and some Tiger's Eye brown wings fell to the ground. It looked like another duotone dragonet which got the crowd roaring. But as the dust cleared and the dragonet got up, the crowd got even more excited. There were two dragons there, twins! The largest of the two who was normal-sized had the white hide from a Quartz dragon but the soft brown of a Tiger's Eye. The second was a lot smaller, and looked like it would only be about pony-sized when adult. She too had a Quartz-white hide but her wings were the silvery-blue of a Moonstone. Though she was small, the Moonquartz let herself be heard as she made a straight line toward the smallest candidate around. 
"Starcap", she crooned, "I want to meet the other elves and see their magic."
"You'll like them Nibora." the elf nodded eagerly. 
Her sister then made her way toward the aspiring record keeper and looked her over. The Malakym was pale with blue eyes. Her long purple hair hung loose and small white horns could be seen on several body parts. 
"You're like me! I like that. You can call me Rodari."
Kanon smiled broadly as the dragon's presence filled her heart, "I like that you're like me too."
Two eggs remained and Gwyveth sighed. So far all of the duotoned hatchlings had been females and all of the males had been a solid colour. Not that he was prejudiced, but would none of his sons carry on his colouration? Gwyveth stirred impatient and watched as the next egg hatched. Purple limbs pushed out, followed by a grey-blue wing. Gwyveth held his breath, but when the head of the Beryl-winged Amethyst hatchling poked out, her elegant features and smooth lines betrayed that she too was a female. Gwyveth couldn't be sad to have another beautiful daughter but he couldn't completely hide his disappointment and got a small lashing of his mate's tail before he bugled a welcome.
The Amethyst hatchling had 2 candidates left to choose from, both were male and both had ties to the healing profession though only one was an active healer. So she headed for Wyatt and nudged his arm with her head.
"I'm Sigrith." she sighed happily and was just about asleep on her feet before Wyatt caught her when she toppled over. 
When the last egg hatched just a few minutes later, Gwyveth could finally let out a happy bugle as the hatchling was both male and sported two vibrant colours. His body was bright Amber orange but his wings were a deep Ruby red. With that combination of traits this hatchling was sure to be a handful, both passionate and excitable with lots of energy. And that energy was already as the hatchling bounced toward the last candidate, the geneticist Rialar.
"Hello. Can I play in your lab? Can I?"
"Maybe when your bigger..." the diplomatic reply came. 

Rialar (m) and Ruby winged Amber Geneith (m)
Morata (f) and Turquoise winged Topaz Torvith (f)
Odhil (m) and Tanzanite Uryndor (m)
Wyatt (m) and Beryl winged Amethyst Sigrith (f)
Garnet Dawn (m) and Spinel Grahvhul (m)
Kanon (f) and Tiger's Eye winged Quartz Rodari (f)
Starcap (m) and Moonstone winged Quartz Nibora (f)

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