Altair looked up as he heard the bugling voices of the two brown dragons, the parents of the clutch. Originally, the Dimar was only going to watch the Hatching from the stands, but after they had made it clear that they needed candidates, as the clutch was slow to fill up, he had generously volunteered. He wondered whether he'd be regretting that now.
He strode slowly to the Hatching Sands, still managing to get there before most of the other candidates. He sat, flicking his spade-tipped tail as he waited for the Hatching to start. A few of the humans in the stands were looking at him oddly; even though there had been dragon-dragon pairings before, Altair wasn't actually a dragon. It was obvious they'd never seen a Dimar before.
Some of the other candidates were fidgeting nervously, glancing at the eggs impatiantly. Altair made no pretense of hoping to Impress, and just wanted to get off the scalding sands as soon as possible.
He watched as the first two eggs hatched into browns, waggling his ears as he noticed the Weyrwoman stand up in shock. He blinked as the next egg split, sending the large green dragon inside rolling. Altair reached out, stopping the hatchling with one of his front paws as he stared at the green dragon.
She blinked, eyes traveling slowly up until she saw who it was that she had bumped into. She blinked her left eye first, her right eyelid closing a little bit more slowly as if she would not see him again if she let both eyes close at once.
Altair? Altair blinked, startled, as he heard the soft voice in his head, and wondered how the green dragon had known his name. Of course I do, silly! I'm your bond!
But that was not the last surprise the green had in store for him. Gazing up at him, her eyes whirling blue-green, she spoke up, "I...am Solath."
Altair stared down at the green, eyes wide. Apparently, he wasn't the only one now who could speak telepathically, as well as out loud.
Of course. He thought to her, ears waggling happily. Why don't we get you fed then?
He picked up the tiny green dragon, large for her kind and color, but still small to him, placing her gently on his back. Solath happily snuggled into the thick blue fur on his back, agreeing whole-heartedly with him as they left the sands.