Her Largest Clutch

Writers: Ames, Devin
Date Posted: 14th April 2011

Characters: N'vanik, Janani
Description: Janani's gold Angdelouth lays a large clutch
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 18 of Turn 6

N'vanik

}:Mine!:{ The urgent voice of her golden dragon interrupted Janani's
sleep. Sitting bolt upright thinking something was wrong, Janani gazed
around her weyr with confusion. Then, suddenly Angdelouth's feelings
and thoughts nearly overwhelemed Janani. The time had come!

Slipping quickly out of her bed and grabbing for her clothes, she
dressed hastily and hurried out of the weyr she had moved into as
Angdelouth had grown egg-heavy and unable to fly. **Does Loseth
know?** She queried her gold as she hurried onto the hot sands,
shifting her feet quickly as the heat worked through the simple shoes
she'd grabbed.

}:Yes,:{ Angdelouth replied heaving a breath as she shifted her bulk
on the sands. Janani moved towards her golden dragon, who immediately
lowered her head, waiting for the soothing scratches that had become
their way during each and every clutching they had shared. Something
in her rider's presence and touch soothed the dragon and allowed her
to relax enough to begin the lengthy task of bringing forth new eggs.

Jananie rested her own head against her dragons as she scratched above
her eyeridge. "Sweet Angdelouth, you will do an amazing job." }:I am
always amazing,:{ Came the confident reply. Janani smiled, knowing how
important it was for Angdelouth to forgot for just a moment what was
happening. It was what allowed her to push forth the first eggs each
time.

}:They come!:{ Angdelouth declared as her body shuddered. Janani
stepped back from the golden head to give her space. She'd never even
noticed that someone else had entered the sands and watched their
little ritual.

"Will she let Loseth in?" N'vanik asked. He wore a pair of shorts and
boots, his hair tousled.

"Aye, I think so. You, too, as well, as long as you don't get too
close." **Love, Loseth wants to join you.** The golden beauty grumbled
as her body continued to ripple and her head moved back and forth.

"The first is always the hardest for her," Janani said quietly,
waiting anxiously for that very first egg to emerge. **Breathe, easy,
love. You are amazing." Angdelouth snorted, but then settled, shifting
on the sands to reveal the first of what would be many eggs to come.

}:He may come:{ Was all she said to her rider, her attention already
focused on the first of her children.

Loseth came into the cavern, watching his mate carefully. Then he flew
up to one of the lower ledges along the wall and settled himself to
watch her lay their eggs. }:There will be many. I flew her well.:{

N'vanik chuckled. "He's already bragging about the clutch size." He
watched Angdelouth fuss with the first egg.

Janani moved from the hottest parts of the sands to the front seats,
motioning for N'vanik to join her. "I do hope it _will_ be a good
clutch. They flew high and she's always clutched well in the past."
Still Janani was nervous, as she always was during one of Ang's
clutchings. She watched as the golden beauty moved the first egg into
position and hunkered down to lay the next. Her head thrashed a bit as
it was clear she was pushing forth the egg. She virtually ignored the
others as she worked at her task wholeheartedly.

N'vanik sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. "How many
times has she clutched?"

She found she liked his arm around her. The support was nice, as she
knew she was in for a rather long day of waiting, watching and being
there to support her lifemate.

Her brows furrowed a bit as she considered his question. Ang had risen
more often since the pass had started. She tried to figure a count.
"Twenty or so, I think." She looked at him with a smile, "It's funny
how they seem to all run together after the Turns. How many times has
Loseth been a clutchfather?"

"Twice, counting today." It was strange to be here again, with a
different woman and watching a different gold.

She chuckled softly, wondering what he was feeling. She remembered how
stressful the first few clutchings had been for her, but so many had
passed since then she'd learned what to expect. That didn't make them
any easier, but she was at least more prepared.

"I hope it will be a good clutch for both of them," she said, turning
to watch as Angdelouth rolled her third egg onto the warm sands. "I
imagine this will take quite some time," she sighed a bit, watching as
Angdelouth strained to bring forth the next egg.

}:Mine!:{ Andelouth burst into her mind. Janani whirled, instantly
primed. Her eyes darted to N'vanik as she rose and hurried to her
gold's side. Whenever she was having a particularly difficult time
with one of the eggs, the golden beauty always demanded Janani be by
her side, stroking her hide to soothe her through the rough patches.
The sands were burning hot as she comforted her lifemate. Janani
wished she'd thought to wear sturdier shoes as she shifted
uncomfortably. Finally, after some time passed, she knew all was well
again. Turning she stretched her back muscles as she returned to the
spot where she'd left N'vanik. Andgelouth was once again hard at work
bringing for more eggs to fill the sands. Flopping down onto the seat,
Janani sighed. It was _definitely_ going to be a long day.

"Want to borrow my boots? They're way too big, but at least they'll
protect your feet."

"That might work, but then what would you do? It's not like you'd be
able to fit into my slippers?" She snorted as she lifted her foot as
thought to emphasize her point.

"I'll just keep my feet off the sand." He shifted and sat cross legged
on the bench to demonstrate. "I'd go get your boots, but I don't want
to miss any of this."

"Well, as long as you're staying," she conceded. It would surely help
her out having to stand on the hot sands so often.
~*~
Her back and shoulders ached from standing so long at her dragon's side,
caressing the hide as she helped Angdelouth bring forth her eggs. Janani had
long since lost count, wishing she could find a bed to rest. Had she been up
for more than a day? She couldn't even remember. With a sigh, she turned and
moved back to the bench she'd occupied since the clutching had begun. At
various points throughout the day, someone had brought her food. She looked
tiredly at N'vanik as she slumped onto the seat.

"How many is that now?" She asked, not able to keep count when all she
wanted was to lay her head on his shoulder and rest.

"Forty-three," he said with unmistakable pride. It had been a long day, but
he didn't want to miss a minute of this. Maybe clutchings would become
routine in time, but he didn't see that happening any time soon.

From his perch, Loseth crooned encouragement to his mate. He was very
pleased with the size of their clutch so far.

Janani settled in to watch, knowing from the count that the clutching had to
be nearing an end. Angdelouth called out to her mate, pleased with his
support, even as she brought for another egg.

"Forty-four," Janani whispered, thrilled with the numbers. Angdelouth's
largest clutch before had been forty-two so she had already far exceeded
anything she had ever laid in one clutch before.

"Forty-five," she counted a few moments later, watching as Angdelouth
settled the newest arrival into its place on the sands. Janani thought for
sure that Ang was finished, until the golden beauty hunched down once more.
Her eyes wide, Janani watched as her dragon brought for one more egg to lay
on the sands.

}:It is done:{ Angdelouth announced. Janani turned towards N'vanik. "She's
finished. That was the best clutch she's ever laid."

}:I told you I flew her well,:{ Loseth told his rider.

N'vanik's smile widened. "This is inflating his ego. And mine. The first
clutch he sired had a queen egg, and now his second has forty six." He
kissed Janani. "This is exactly what this Weyr needs."

She smiled happily at his kiss. "She'll be busy fawning over her eggs for
some time now. I think I'd like to go rest for a spell. Would you care to
join me?" She didn't have any plans to do anything more than curl up and
sleep and imagined he might wish to return to his own weyrmate, but she
couldn't resist offering anyway.

"Yeah, I'd like that." He kissed her again, full of warmth and pride.
Forty-six eggs!

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Her Largest Clutch