Chapter Text
By the time P’dan left Karathael at the Hatching Grounds, Shenette was already deep in discussion with the Weyrwoman. At least that’s who they assumed it was, embroidering something on the other side of the cavern, dangerously near the giant queen. All of the dragons were big, but Ralenth was the biggest of them all. She could easily fit a human or two in her stomach, if they wandered too close.
“Did you want to speak with Weyrwoman Vanira, too…” the Weyrlingmaster narrowed his tired eyes, trying to remember the candidate’s name. Karathael relaxed a little. He looked much less imposing today than when they first met. Younger, without his official coat and knots.
“Karathael,” they offered. “And no thank you, I’m content to look at the little darlings from here.” They took a seat in the front row, a way off from the smattering of other candidates that were already laughing and talking amongst themselves. Gr’lin seemed increasingly overwhelmed, greeting more and more young people as they arrived. There had to be over two dozen new arrivals by now, mostly boys. But Karathael wasn’t interested in the candidates - they saw people all the time. Much like everyone else, they were intrigued by the clutch of dragon eggs.
Twenty-three eggs, including the large gold one. Twenty-three precious treasures which would soon be enriching someone’s life - and after that, protecting Pern from Thread. Karathael looked at each one in turn, trying to imagine the color and personality of the dragonet inside. Did dragons even have personalities? Or were they all more or less the same, like wherries? They’d have to ask, if they couldn’t tell after the hatching.
They sighed, knowing that the Hatching was as close as they would ever get to being a dragonrider. A queen would never want them (the feeling was mutual), and the rest were fighting dragons destined to Impress brave young men. A dragon would have no use for someone like Karathael. But maybe that was alright. They would hold firm and let the future shape them, just like Granny Shorka said.