A Large, Healthy Clutch

Writers: Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 30th April 2025

Characters: N'vanik, Cyradis
Description: Panitath lays her clutch with her mate and their riders watching.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 25 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: L'cor

N'vanik

Cyradis

N'vanik sat in the shade in his "outdoor office", looking over the
weather reports to plan for Threadfall the following day. }:Panitath
says it's time. Come!:{ Smiling, the Weyrleader gathered everything up
and hurried to the Hatching Caverns.

As always, both dragon and rider hung back at the entrance, waiting
for the golden Queen to give her permission.

**May Loseth and his join us,** Cyradis gently asked her lifemate.

Panitath was circling a spot on the Sands of the hatching cavern as
she moved imaginary things out of her way getting ready to deposit
the first of her eggs in the warmth of the cavern. }:Yes:{ she
answered shortly as her labor began to push the first egg from her
large belly.

Cyradis waved to N'vanik and motioned for him to come in.

N'vanik bowed to Panitath and made his way inside. Loseth took up his
usual position on the closest ledge above Panitath -- nearby but not
in the way -- and crooned encouragement to his mate. N'vanik set his
work down on a bench and joined Cyradis, slipping an arm around her
waist. "Definitely can't miss this."

She couldn't help grinning at him. They'd gone through so many of
these now. She leaned against his side. "Any bets on the number of
eggs?"

He thought for a moment. "Thirty-nine, like last time. Or maybe forty,
to match my age." He chuckled.

She nodded. "I think it's going to be a big clutch. Maybe not as big
is our first. That one was massive. But still... big." Panitath had
already laid another three eggs in quick succession as they'd talked.

"Yeah? What makes you think that?" N'vanik asked.

"I don't know," she said. "It just feels like it. Do you remember our
first clutch? It felt this way to me back then."

"I remember things being tense," he said with an amused look.

She bumped him with her shoulder. "Well yes, there was that," she
chuckled. "But it was the largest clutch Panitath had ever had. Over
40 eggs."

"Loseth does good work." The bronze watched his mate with pride. "So
does Panitath. And if you say she's going to have a big clutch, I
believe it."

She couldn't help herself as she ticked off another two eggs. "That is
thirty four and she hasn't even started to slow down. Her sides
aren't as swollen with egg bumps but they're not back to her normal
shape either."

"A nice big clutch without any murder attempts would be nice," N'vanik
said. "Shard it, I want to have _fun_ this time. Enjoy the Hatching,
enjoy the Feast, not be lookin' over my shoulder constantly."

"Yeah," she said. "I'd just like to watch the Impressions without any
drama interfering. Unless it's something like when Corowal couldn't
hold in his pride and acknowledged L'cor as his son when he Impressed
bronze."

"Or another female bluerider. Or a Stands Impression," the Weyrleader said.

She nodded her head as she kept watching Panitath. "Those too," she
said. "Oh look, that is another three eggs but it looks like she's
finally slowing down. That means only one or two more. "

"How many is that now? Thirty-nine?" The Sands were full of eggs, like
a promise of a better future. Like hope.

"Forty!" Cyradis clapped her hands. "That last one is kind of small though."

"Maybe a green?" N'vanik hoped it would be healthy.

"I can't imagine another color coming from an egg that small," she
smiled. "But you never know." She leaned over and wrapped her arms
around his waist. "This will be a great clutch."

"Always is." He kissed the top of her head.

Last updated on the May 12th 2025

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A Large, Healthy Clutch