2024-07-29 - I Can Show You the World 4.9.1

Gwillanth didn't need to stretch her neck very far -- as soon as her tempering influence (like a soporific blanket over the area) let up, the entire area began to jump and wiggle, every egg in its own private dance.

"Oh," she says, emotional. "Oh, look at them all."

It is time.

The air is alive, humming with a song of hope and new beginnings. Welcoming new souls to life under the sunny sky. This is where one journey ends and a new fantastic, uncertain, musical, and wonderful, one begins.

It is time.

The song spurs movement - gentle at first, testing known boundaries and finding give where before there had been none. Emboldened, they push more firmly, limbs extending outward.

But they are not the first of their clutch to emerge, blinking into the sun's embrace. Green sister Xyloth, one of his Near Others, has broken shell before all others.

Xyloth!! You are out? Is it wonderful? Is it bright and musical and how many people ARE there? The fact that it was one of its Near Others that hatched first just tickled Ilrioth. Soon, soon he would join her.

Each freshly hatched sibling is addressed as those first thoughts register Out. To some, Ilrioth sings songs of soothing and comfort, such as blue Mycelleth, others with melodies of warmth and excitement as is the case with brown Rioth - a fellow musician.

Then, at last, with a final great stretch, his own shell holds, buckles, then breaks, autumn-hued pieces falling away to reveal its precious contents.

They squint in the sun as the world comes into focus, wings reaching up towards a matching sky. This is, he is-!

Blue! I am blue and I am here! A voice as sweet as any Harper’s song calls to a newly revealed world. I am here!

Ultramarine and indigo striped through with blazing cyan contrasts pale sand as surely as any summer day. Bright eye sweep the sands, taking in Candidate, eggs, and fellow newborns alike. The weakness of new legs does not stop him from flap-hopping his way across sand, touching minds, shells, and bodies alike.

Rioth! Are you there? What a glorious day, what glorious music! It trills out, then to its nearest compatriots, Muxiaoth, Xlyoth, Auth! Join me in song!

Amongst the Candidates, they pay special attention to those it had connected with at Touching. But he does not choose, not yet. It is not quite ready to settle down, not when everything is still so new and bright.

They were singing now? Far out in the throng of weyrfolk, the Weyr's master Harper grins to himself. Jemeer's apprentice looks at him from behind, smiling a little too.

The thoughts of the Harpers are familiar and dear. Ilrioth turns towards Jemeer and his apprentice, trilling happily. Thank you for much music! Perhaps now they can at last make merry together. Then his attention is back to his siblings, waiting until each has hatched, greeting them in their turn. Its hasty attempts at movement are not smooth by any means, but they are full of vibrancy and gusto for life and movement. Stumbling, but delighted, Ilrioth makes their way to each of their hatched siblings, touching each gently with the tip of his nose, humming a quiet verse just for them before moving on. I am yours. Now and always. Remember this, if nothing else.

Muxiaoth and Auth are given extra attention, two minds of three Ilrioth is most familiar with even among those most familiar minds of its clutchmates. This meeting is brief, though full of love and joy, there would be time enough for reunions later. With a parting nudge to Mu and Xyloth, he turns, singing out a greeting to Pertemarth and Mother, Gwillanth. It is so nice to meet you, to see you! I have known you for long and I will know you forever, our songs always entwined.

Now, now there was something more pressing to attend. A siren's song, stronger than sibling or food or sky. He had visited the Candidates briefly before, wending his way amongst them, reaching out to those who had reached him at Touching. But now, now was a time of choosing, and, much as he wished for the contrary, he could only choose one.

Gwillanth looks too at the singer, Ilrioth. Privately to him, she says, "There are some on the sands here today who would adore you beyond anything. Go... here. Look for someone in blue."

Someone in... blue? Ilrioth blinks, turning towards the sea of white Candidates. I will go look! He declares, bounding, well that might be a generous term for his gate, away in the direction mother had indicated.

Blue, blue, wyer oh weyr are you? It sang to itself as it searched, having to slow and weave once it was amidst the crowd. Blue, blue weyr are- oh! It's you! Ilrioth looks up, bright new eyes meeting those of the Harper's apprentice. Yes! Yes you would adore music, wouldn't you? Would you adore me, too? I am Ilrioth!

Dragonets coming up among the spectators wasn't anything new, but really, they couldn't have put up at least a few ropes and stakes to keep them all out?

"Shoo!" he says openly to the blue who wanders by. "Take your stripey little nose elsewhere, young sir! If indeed you are a sir. Go on, the white robes, they're for you. Go -- go... ah..."

Jemeer looks behind him. No apprentice.

He looks back at the blue.

His apprentice....

Jemeer's voice is nearly as familiar as Mother's, the Harper's visits had been looked to with great delight by the young blue. But it was not the Masterharper he is here for. And he would not be taking his 'stripey little nose' anywhere. That is, anywhere without...

Mine.

As his eyes swirl with the rainbow of Impression, Ilrioth knows the apprentice's name, his rider's name, just as instinctively as he had known his own. Z'ren. It hums, stepping close as the boy kneels down in awe. Our hearts sing the same song. I am yours. And you are mine. With a reverence and gravity the boy could only begin to grasp, blue Ilrioth presses his forehead against his newly dubbed rider's and croons out his two favorite, his two most important words, I promise.

A sibling's tentative voice briefly draws Ilrioth's attention away from the wonder that is Impression. I am well, Auth. I will see you at the food, yes? I am famished and I want to know what food tastes like! We are going there now, but I will not leave without you. Come find us as soon as you find Yours!

Together again for the first time, boy and blue make their way towards where food has been gathered to sate the hunger of the Weyr's newest dragonets. These are the first steps of many in their, hopefully long, and very musical, journey as dragon and rider.