The weeks went by with the Trainees learning about every Weyr's fighting style along with dragon care and geography. While the new Weyr was being built, many were pressed into assisting with the cleaning and others gave new ideas that led to amazing innovations. Occasionally, the riders would fly Thread, sometimes not returning for several days. At last, the news came of another Hatching, this time at Benden.
…
Natsu gaped at F'rus. "What, me?"
"Of course. We will stagger your Hatchings but each one of you will get the chance. Grey was to be the second pick but he still has that habit. Thankfully, Erza kicked her armor wearing habit and will supposedly be presented to the Queens." F'rus said, tossing the boy a robe. "Unfortunately, you can't wear the scarf."
"But."
"However, we will keep it locked up in a special vault whose code will only be known by me. You are masquerading as the result of a Benden Search."
Natsu sighed before taking off his scarf. "Well, I suppose I can… Hey, what are you doing?"
F'rus looked up, holding a long thread of the scarf. Then, she tied it around his shoulder with a very loose knot. "I remember you saying that you got this from your father. I was lucky that thread was loose so now you can hang onto one thread."
Natsu looked up as F'rus attached the Candidate Bar to Natsu's robe and then turned it a little so that the bar was hidden.
"I have to warn you that it will be extremely cold Between with that robe. Every other Weyr hands their Candidates their robes after they are at the Weyr. Aside from that, I wish you good luck."
…
Natsu stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a thick boned boy and a weedy one, now wondering if it would be a good idea to even Impress. However, he heard the Dragons begin to hum and was forced to walk forward onto the sands. As he did so, he felt the thread around his shoulder blade before looking at the slowly rocking eggs. He could see Erza near one of the Queen eggs, fiddling with her hair nervously. At that, he looked at the stands, noting some of the faces he now knew by name and Dragon. It was strange to see Pole Riders wearing something other than the white and black diamond but he had learned about secrecy early on. At last, he was forced to look down as a dragonet broke its shell.
…
Up in the stands, F'rus had her eyes peeled for the special riders she looked for. There was that one weedy one next to Natsu… What was his name, Keevan?
Keevan's a good choice but his father is a rider here. Came L'ssa's voice over the microphone.
"Understood. You said that tough looking guy was a nuisance?" F'rus whispered.
He definitely has cronies.
"Might make a good third." F'rus thought for a second before continuing, "Of course, it might also make him more trouble."
Peelair would be a good choice. His father and mother died recently so if he Impresses he can certainly be snapped up.
Now, the dragonettes were racing to find their riders, causing F'rus to pay attention. A queen, green, and blue were attempting to enter the stands, leaving F'rus to groan. It had been determined that stand dragonettes would be obvious choices for the Weyr after F'rus had seen the Impression of Jaxom's Ruth. Sure enough, the three dragonettes were shortly in a clearing with S'mon helping them to feed their new charges.
…
F'rus landed, shrugging her gear off as Lucy, Gajeel, Wendy, and Grey came crashing down on her. She ignored them until she had the last piece off. "Two Bronzes. We also had a few renegades."
This caused the four to cheer until F'rus quietly reminded them that the next three days would tell the tale.
"Actually," F'rus conceded. "It should only be one and a half, two at the most."
"Really?" Lucy asked.
"The last group came in from Southern so they had a harder walk." F'rus then eyeballed Grey, "Boy, clothes."
Grey shrieked before locating his shirt and putting it back on.
"And that is why you were left behind." F'rus hissed.
Grey growled something, prompting F'rus to clock him. "And no, you will not be permitted at the Telgar Hatching."
"Who is going then?" Lucy asked.
"Well you are."
Lucy stared.
"Gajeel, you've done great work with that attitude of yours, you will be attending with Lucy."
As soon as this sank in, Lucy puched the air, "Yes!"
"Unfortunately Lucy, if you Impress, your name will be a mix of both your first and last names."
Lucy groaned but F'rus quickly ordered her to go find something to knit.
