He consoled himself by saying that the dragon for him wasn't in that clutch. Maybe he was destined for a brown, or even a bronze. He quickly dispelled that thought. There was no way he, Cerathu, was worthy of a bronze.
Although, wouldn't it be nice, riding on the back of one of the largest dragons? Looking into a pair of swirling eyes in a dark bronze face, and knowing you were the rider of such a marvelous creature?
Cerathu shook his head. He wouldn't dare to dream of such a high honor. He wasn't worth it. Shards, he'd probably be lucky if he Impressed at all.
Suddenly, the first egg cracked as the inhabitant rammed his sharp crest against the shell. The red dragon that appeared crawled out of his egg. His body faded to white at the tail, a Light! The Light red hatchling walked straight past Cerathu and chose his rider.
Another red and a brown hatched, quickly pairing off with their riders. The next egg held yet another red dragon, which also passed Cerathu by. The boy tried not to focus on the shrinking number of eggs left unhatched. One of them held a dragon for him. They had to...
Three eggs hatched and bonded, and the only two eggs left were also two of the largest. They were probably bronzes. Sure enough, one of the eggs split open to reveal a bronze and white dragonet, a Light bronze. Cerathu held his breath, but he needn't have bothered. The dragon rushed right to the other candidate, who announced his dragon's name to the crowd.
There was only one egg left now, and it probably held a bronze. His suspicion was confirmed when the egg fell apart around a deep bronze hatchling. Cerathu looked down. He wouldn't get his hopes up, they'd just be shattered again.
But he still noticed that the bronze moved with unusual grace for a hatchling, despite his childish proportions. Cerathu's breath caught in his throat. The dragon was beautiful. He found himself imagining looking into those rainbow eyes, and the hatchling staring straight back into his. He shook his head, there was no way such a wonderful dragon would choose him.
The bronze walked gracefully towards the last of the candidates. Suddenly, Cerathu heard a soft voice in his head.
It was right, Cerathu, absolutely right. We will make it all right. I am Onilaath.
Cerathu's eyes were wide as he stared down at the bronze hatchling, and the hatchling's eyes were staring straight back into his.
Cerathu smiled softly as he knelt to embrace the bronze dragon. "You're right, Onilaath. Absolutely right."
