Xanadu Weyr Hatching Sands
The large circular "stage" is surrounded on one half by a towering wall, thin slit windows high overhead letting in some light without truly endangering the objects on the sands, though plenty of lights are spaced at humanlevel all the way around. The other half is ringed by the dark blue seats of the observation level, rising upwards towards the back wall. The circle itself is filled with a mix of red and white sands, deep enough to cover the largest of dragon eggs with ease. To one side, a small door is visible, hidden away behind a platform meant to provide a place for the clutch parent's lifemates to stand during the on goings.
It's a sleepy sort of fall afternoon, warm and hazy more reminiscent of summertime than autumn. The Weyrfolk drift about their chores unhurried, while candidates have just been let out of a postlunch class for some free time. Those that could be found, a small group, have been taken to spend time with the eggs. Orionth is off in the feeding grounds, so it is just Sahazyth who is calmly watching the AWLMs usher the few onto the sands.
Step, step, step, then a steady little bow to Sahazyth from Marel, before she turns and slowly makes her way towards the outskirts of the clutch, steps slowing almost to a halt midway through her journey. But no, she makes herself continue, and keeps walking in the direction she's chosen, any lost faith swallowed down as she resumes her path towards one egg in particular, that which she touched last during her previous time on the Sands. Girl on a mission, she comes to a gentle stop before it, palms slowly lowering to make contact with the This From Afar Egg. Hello again.
< Marel touches egg 1 This From Afar Egg >
Wait, this isn't Marel gasps and grabs both hands back and away from the egg, staring at it accusingly, for when she looks up and around, she finds the egg she wished to return to /over there/ and not before her. So why has she been so blindly pulled to this one? It's enough to make her linger and not turn her back on it, and despite a longing look towards the Anthem of the Ages Egg, she returns her hands to its shell like she could demand answers of it (or herself). Gritting her teeth, she steels herself to keep palms pressed to it no matter what.
"No, don't…" Marel murmurs, taking a halfstep back from the egg, though her palms remain pressed to its shell. "Who…" It's at almost arms' length that she stands from it, ready to turn and seek out the company of another of the clutch, or to escape the Sands entirely, but pride or determination makes her stay and not turn her back, her eyes now pressed tight shut.
Marel sways forward now, but lets her hands slip from the shell of the This From Afar Egg and redirects her momentum to carry her a stumbling step away just to the left of it. Balance regained, she retreats a few more paces, then attempts to blink back to clarity, visible pale, even with the heat of the Sands. Once she's steady enough, she looks over at the Anthem of the Ages Egg once again, then starts out in its direction, a fond smile dawning as she reaches palms out to it, like greeting an old friend.
< Marel leaves egg 1 This From Afar Egg >
< Marel touches egg 10 Anthem of the Ages Egg >
"Hello…" Voice barely more than a murmur, Marel sweeps her hands carefully over the curves of the shell, inching just a little closer. Her smile lingers, colour beginning to return to her cheeks as panic and fear is replaced by serenity. Rather than clamp shut, her eyes drift closed as she exhales a long, quiet sigh.
Marel's green eyes snap open in shock, smile vanishing as she stares at the shell of the egg, features twisting as what foolish trust she had put in a presence not yet visibly /present/ is seemingly betrayed. "No, no, I /had/ to," she protests, voice trembling. "He had to and I couldn't let him…" She shakes her head, though can't seem to draw her hands back to her sides. "And then… Then there wasn't any choice, about any of it!" Exclaiming higher and louder than she means to, she startles herself and looks around for any who might have noticed, watching the other Candidates for a reaction like hers. Is this /normal/?
Staring between egg and fellows, Marel lets her hands lift away from shell and arms swing back to her sides, shoulders slumping. She looks not at any other eggs, and turns from the Anthem of the Ages Egg to slip quietly away from the clutch, pausing only to pay respect and thanks to its dam, before she makes to escape, half in her own little world. Panicked by one and betrayed by another it's about all she can take for one day. And if she's distant for the rest of the day, at least there's one Candidate not apt to get into any trouble for the next few hours.
< Marel leaves egg 10 Anthem of the Ages Egg >