Arathi shivered, despite the heavy woolen sweater she was wearing. Frost glittered on every surface outside, giving the Nidus a jewel-like appearance. Arathi's only thought, however, was that it was cold.
"Brr! Spring better hurry up and get here quick, I'm freezing." She grumbled.
Analu laughed. "You'll be waiting awhile then, Arathi."
The siblings' attention was drawn by a rumbling noise from the hatching sands, and the announcement that Usodorith's eggs were hatching. Excited, they both raced to the hatching sands. Or rather, Arathi raced excitedly to the hatching sands, dragging her reluctant brother behind her by the arm.
"Watch it, Arathi! You're going to pull my arm out of its socket! It's not like the eggs are gonna stop hatching before we get there!"
The sands were filling up as they entered with the rest of the candidates. Novos...Analu corrected himself mentally.
Arathi watched the eggs excitedly, arms wrapped around her. At least it was warm here on the sands, at any rate. The first medium-sized egg split to reveal a dark green hatchling, about the size of a brown. The green climbed to her feet, and selected her rider from the string of female candidates, and they left together.
The next egg revealed a brown, who quickly chose his own rider. A green hatchling spilled out of her own egg, squawking indignantly to her bond. A large egg cracked, revealing a stately bronze dragonet, which several of the boys watched anxiously. The bronze was beaten by a smaller blue hatchling, who seemed eager to get to his own rider. The two pairs left the sands as the gold egg began to rock.
Arathi watched the queen egg anxiously. After all, what girl hadn't dreamed of being a goldrider at one point or another? But the gold headed inerrantly to another girl, leaving way for a blue and a second bronze to choose their bonds from the males.
A green appeared, bonding quickly. Another, larger green hatchling approached, and stopped, looking up at Analu's shocked face. "You have chosen me...Feycirath?"
The green crooned, butting Analu's leg impatiently as she begged him to lead her to the food.
Arathi watched her brother leave wistfully, but her attention was distracted as a blue hatchling tumbled into her feet. She looked down at the same time he looked up, and her eyes met the hatchling's whirling rainbows. One Arathi, two Arathis... He said dizzily.
Arathi grinned, kneeling to hug the hatchling. "Just one, Athuiteth."
Whatever. The blue said crossly. My head hurts, Arathi. Get me some food.
Arathi grinned as she lead her dragon away. "Whatever you say, Athuiteth."