[Hatching] Happily Ever After

[Mikki]

Now this was just frustrating. Another dragonet had hatched, another lovely green, but like her sister she refused to impress. Did they have a flair for the theatrics? Perhaps the dragonets just wanted to make the Candidates squirm. If that was their desire, they were doing a very good job of it. At least they were doing a good job of making Milune squirm. Why didn't they impress? Surly there wasn't anything wrong.

No, there couldn't be. She refused to believe that out of all the candidates on the sands there wasn't anybody suitable for them. Just the thought of the greens going between left a sour feeling in her stomach. They had just proved that they lived through all the odds, with unique parents, and now there was the chance that they might go between? Sighing heavily the woman realized that things like that did happen from time to time. She remembered how a couple hatchlings had gone between during the one hatching she had attended at Benden during her childhood. It was sad, but it was just part of life.

Still, she had hope remaining for these two. The hatching did just start and not everybody was there yet. Rising and falling on her toes anxiously, the girl eyed the two reluctant greens. Well, they weren't going anywhere just yet. But what of the other eggs? Her gaze roved over the other rocking ovoids speculatively. Which one was going to hatch next? Would something else besides green show up next? For all they knew the entire clutch would be nothing bug green, what with a sire being a Blue. Still, eggs were eggs and hatchings always got her riled up. She'd like to see some more babies now, thank you very much.

[ramba]

MINE! HATCHING! Ith cooed. L'ust was holding his head in his hands. Seriously, why'd dragons have to be so loud when eggs hatched. It gave L'ust a headache, and the brownrider was a nightmare to be around when he was grouchier than normal. The scarred brown dragon had a dislike for bronzes, but still thought it would be wonderful if one Impressed a prisoner, just to annoy the Warden's dragon. In fact, if the brown dragon was anymore hopeful, L'ust would have thrown something at him.

The brownrider didn't want to go to the hatching. True, it was polite and Ith wanted to go, but hatchings...they annoyed him. Sure, the Weyrlings were adorable, but when Ith tried to play tag with them, it never ended well. So, the brownrider mumbled something about feeling ill and not wanting to go, hoping his dragon would be content to see what dragons hatched after the event.

But Ith wasn't about to let his rider miss a hatching, and the first dragon hatching of this Weyr/prison no less. So the brown, after a lot of protest from L'ust, lifted the large man awkwardly into the air, and perched on the appropriate perch. Ith snorted at His, somewhat irritated.

Now look! You made me miss two greens hatching! For all you know, I could be chasing them in a few turns! Ith grumbled. L'ust looked up at the brown somewhat horrified. 'Ith! Whomever those greens Impress to will likely be half my age!' He grumbled. Ith snorted again, amused that he'd got his rider out of his grump into a much funnier mood.

Oh, come on L'ust, you can't tell me you've not been looking. The dragon taunted. Some colour rose to L'usts cheeks. 'ITH!' He yelled, somewhat indignant. The brown dragon chortled, in high spirits, despite there being bronzes around. If any hatched today, they'd better be nice, and perhaps Impress to a prisoner. Oh the explanations the Warden and his dragon would have to come up with to probably enraged holders and other weyrs...

Ith would most definitely feel a lot better if it happened.

[S'yal]

Z arrived shortly after Yari, his hands in his pockets and whistling a happy tune. He sauntered in, not even dressed properly for a hatching and damp from the rain. It was his way of protesting how the Dragon hatching got so much more attention then the fact that HIS Wher was having a Clutch and SHE was not crippled. Zalmask deserved so much more attention then these dragons. What were they good for? They couldn't even hurt humans. Scoff, that's what Z did! SCOFF.

Whers were so much cooler.

He changed his attitude once he was in sight of the Queen, though. He knew from run ins with his own Wher to never insult a Clutching mother. Shards and shells, horomonal draconics were the scariest things Z had ever encountered. Scratch that, all women were. Horrific things, really. The only one he could really stand was Bujare, though he had to admit that Milune girl had earned herself a special place in his heart. Any woman that helped out his darling Gold was a goddess in her own right. He was aware she was on the Sands, so he flashed a thumbs up to her. Good for 'er. I hope she gets a Brown. Which was really, the highest compliment from Z. He liked Brown dragons the best. Nice, solid things they were.

Zalmask stirred in the back of his mind, with a soft question Babies hatch yet? She asked, from her place curled around her eggs in the Wher complex. She was still depressed over her deceased children. Z supplied her images of the two hatched Greens, and Zalmask snorted. Ugly! She cried, her voice scornful. Zalmask much prettier. Tell ugly babies stay away from Zalmask's. She growled, and Z was sent the image of Zalmask eating a dragon egg. He barked out a laugh before blushing and scratching the back of his head, trying to ignore the odd stares he was getting.

No Dragon wants me, Zalmask. You've ruined me!

Zalmask glad. Zalmask's need know Zalmask's belong to Mama Zalmask. Zalmask want Zalmask's to give foot rub when back. The imperious Wher, her message clear, proceeded to lay her head down and chew on the treats Z had left her. Z grinned, looking around to see if his squadmates were about yet. Nope. If they turned up, he'd be quick to drag them over to the little sections of the stands that he'd claimed. He was completely alone there, having frightened everyone away with nasty glares.

Alina was perched on his shoulder, and Z would have just dared someone to tell him he couldn't bring his Flit to watch. He was the Wherleader, and as far as he was concerned had just as much power as the Warden. The only difference was that Z was in charge when the sun went down and the old coot passed out from fellis overdose. Zalmask like Warden. Zalmask's be nice!

I ain't hurting him!

Zalmask will eat Zalmask's toes!

Alright, alright! I'll stop thinking bad things about your favorite bronzerider!

Yeesh, spoiled Gold. Z continued to watch the Hatching, his eyes going dazed as he shared what he was seeing with his Wher. She was eager to see a Dragon hatching, even if she had to stay with her clutch. So she'd sent her handler along to go watch!

Ugly baby dragons better stay away from Zalmask's... Zalmask will eat their toes...

[lithle]

At first, the Evil Queen Hatchling appeared to take no notice of her sister, continuing the ritual of grooming with care and deliberation. There was a grace about her movements. Perhaps she was vain, as some of the watchers thought. But she was also elegant, even new born, with little of the clumsiness usually associated with infants. No, this was a green with style.

Done grooming, the Evil Queen Hatching stood, stretched, and turned her gaze not to the candidates, but to her sibling. Those watching closely might have noticed the whirl of red that entered her eyes, but there was nothing particularly aggressive about her stance as she made her careful way across the sands, never stumbling, each foot placed exactly where she intended.

Weaving her way through the unhatched eggs, she reached her sister's side and crooned, her voice clear and sweet. Hello, pretty sister, the croon seemed to say. So nice to meet you. She circled the other hatchling, who cowered away but clearly didn't know where or how, to get away.

Then, with abrupt speed and precision, she moved, lashing out in one deliberate motion and cutting a deep slice in the White As Snow Hatchlings shoulder. Green blood staining her talons, she stepped away, still showing no sign of hurry and concern. Scanning the candidates, her gaze came to rest on Tiael. The red of her gaze intensifying, she moved, slowly, precisely, gracefully, in that direction.

[nozomi]

Babies!

Babies!

Mordanth had daughters!

T'di, for one, never thought that his blue boy would've ever had actually daughters, little creatures that were a part of his Mordanth. Sure, if one of them Flew, Mordanth would give chase but, really, that wasn't weird or odd, but his boy had helped make new dragons, even if they were of a smaller color. He twisted his hands together, grinned like a fools man, his eyes trained on the two newly hatched greens.

"Lesh! Lesh," hissed the redhead. He squirmed and finally looked over to the Goldrider. "We did it! Well- they did but - but look, they're alive and they hatched and- You're horribly awesome, Semith. You too, Mordanth." T'di patted his boys mottled blue hide. He looked back to the eggs, to the two beautiful, real hatchlings on the sands. Again, T'di squirmed.

Then--

"What the fu--"

SHHHHH, Mine! Mordanth hunched down, his eyes colored with worry at his two daughters.

*

Warden stood off to the side, small eyes hooded. The Candidates, prisoners and Weyrfolk alike, they all piled out onto the Sands with the same eager expression. That's what he'd like to believe, to think that they happened to be like the other Hatchings around the rest of Pern.

He squared his shoulders with a harsh clearing of his throat. Leshta and her sharding note, her snarky little - Warden drew in a breath and narrowed in on the two green hatchlings. While they were green, what else could one expect out of a blue and a deformed gold. In fact, Warden even looked at Leshta just as the greens came close together and the darker one attacked.

...

Weren't dragons supposed to maul the Candidates?

[S'yal]

Farrox watched both Greens with a keen interest, despite hoping neither would approach him. He would not do well with a Green, he thought. The Flights... oh faranth the flights! People wanting him in that way... He shuddered at the thought, trying to slam a lid on the horrible memories that threatened to flood in to his mind. No, he would not think of his past at an event that was supposed to be happy. However, it seemed he wasn't the only one tainting this event.

The darker Green had lashed out at the lighter one, injuring her. A distressed cry came from Farrox, and he had to fight off the urge to run to the injured Green's side. The poor dear! Poor baby! How many times had he been hurt, unable to get away? The thought of a dragon being trapped and hurt was the worst. He wanted to go to it and help it, but he knew that this baby was probably not for him. It needed it's rider, not a broken prostitute. He forced himself to step back into line and tear his eyes away from the injured Green. How could the other Green hurt her sister? It was horrible!

[ramba]

Reeva watched the Dwarf's beard egg hatch with interest. Another green! Oh how lovely. Whether the rest were green or not mattered little to her - she didn't mind what she Impressed, if at all. Both greens seemed rather reluctant to Impress, which was what worried Reeva. Perhaps theirs would arrive late after being delayed? The prisoner didn't quite know.

The first green begane to move, and Reeva felt herself relax slightly. She must be going to Impress - no, she was moving over to her sister. Crooning, oh wasn't that nice, sisterly lo--

Reeva heard herself gasp. The attack was unprovoked, uncalled for! But the dark green dragonet didn't stop there, instead heading off towards one of the other candidates, eyes a rather worrying red. She raised both hands to cover her mouth in shock. What would happen? Would the dragon Impress? Or attack the girl? Reeva shuddered.

This 'happy' event didn't seem that happy to Reeva. No one had said anything about dragonets hurting each other! Looking around the stands, Reeva noted several shocked faces. Obviously they didn't know about it either...

[nozomi]

For a moment, the White as Snow Hatchling almost rubbed against her clutch-sib, her small decorative head rolling against her shoulder. In fact, the green crooned a return just seconds before her older sibling lashed out and raked her claws over White as Snow Hatchling's arm, down along her flesh. The wound cut so deep that the young Hatchling wobbled and fell to the side, her new muscles too unused to even standing to be of much use against the onslaught.

She cried out in her pain, the noise sharp and piercing. White as Snow Hatchling tried to get to her feet once more and succeeded, for the most part, legs unsteady, lips drawn back with the fierce sting and hurt in her arm. But - Hers. Hers was around, she must get to Hers.

He would protect her. Yes?

Again the hatchling cried out, louder than before, a plaintive wail.

Farroxmine! Where are you? Your Snowth, she needs you![/color]

Name Snowth

Fairy Tale Snow White and Rose Red

Desc Color and pattern wise, Snowth is a little bit of everything: light lime spots along her shoulders, flanks, back, and tail, a darker, almost black green bleeding into the edges of her wings with those darker chest spots, the almost-yellow tint to her head knobs and claw-tips. Size wise, Snowth is a sturdy green, slightly thick for her breed and a smaller frame to boot. Her claws will be large for her size and her wings are long and strong, giving the girl more stamina and distance from the ground.

Personality
It's a good thing that Snowth has such a colorful hide! This little girl would hardly get noticed if it weren't for the many decorations on her skin, both those she was born with and the one given to her by her loving sister. Snowth herself is no where near as loud as her skin would suggest, being a quiet and mild-mannered dragon. She is no braggart by any stretch of the imagination, preferring to allow her actions to speak instead of her words or Hers (or Roseth).

If left to her own devices, the green's socialization would go to nill as she continued to work as hard as she could, thinking random tunes to herself. Whistle while you work, and all that. She finds the others enthusiasm for going out and being vocal admirable, and very much not something for herself. Snowth encourages such behavior, gently pressing the more outspoken members of the prison into speaking further, doing more with their lives, all the while watching from a distance and being pleased for them. Being alone with Hers and maybe a close friend or two is a much more appealing use of her time then going out and consorting with massive amounts of other dragons.

Quiet and unassuming parts of the gentle dragon aside, underneath it all lies a core of steel-covered marshmallow fluff. When pressed, Snowth will defend herself verbally if she cannot flee a bad situation, momentarily giving the idea that she can kick someones butt between and back. It's all an illusion, that rare huffing and puffing, a smokescreen of tough to hide the dragon that wants to run off to avoid a fight or an argument. Ultimately, Snowth will always depend on Hers to protect her.

When the tables are turned, one does not harass or abuse Hers. Just because a dragon cannot hurt a person doesn't mean that Snowth won't do her best to scare the living daylights out of anyone getting near to Hers with malicious intent or snatch Hers up in order to pull them off. It may be hard for Snowth to stand up for herself - it doesn't mean that she will be so forgiving when it comes to her bondmate. She loves Hers, after all.

Snowth is very much a doting mother. Taking over infant-duties a bit beyond her, she pampers and cares for Hers any way she can. They are special, they are Just Right and only for her. 'Protection' comes in many forms, Snowth's most obvious being the affection she holds for Hers: nibbling at clothing, nudging gently when sad, murmuring soft words of love and reassurance when the mood gets down and stakes go up. Not an easily jealous dragon, Snowth takes care of any stray beasts Hers may bring in, lovers included. In return, she expects to continue being loved and cared for the same as she had been.

Why Me? Farrox needs love, a protector, a mother. He is a broken young man, one that Snowth desperately wants to fix and take care of. He is her darling, and she wants to be his help out of the depression and sadness. In Farrox, Snowth will find someone who will love her even if she isn't the most talkative of greens or the brightest, a man to stroke her nose on the bad days and hopefully defend her when others become too pushy.

In terms of Flights, Snowth will be caught only by males pre-approved by Hers or not at all, fighting to not Rise unless Hers is suitably comfortable with the mate chosen. It may not always work but she will never the less try - for Farrox.

[nemix]

As the dark green hided dragon from the Poison Apple Egg sat, methodically cleaning herself it became clear that she was not going to be rushed. Instead as the Dwarf's Beard egg also split, she continued to sit and make sure she was clean. It was puzzling, she'd seemed so harsh and angry in her egg yet here she sat, innoccent as anything.

As her sibling approached Tiael couldn't help but watch her closely. She seemed so calm, collected, poised, where could that temper be? It didn't take long for Tiael to find out. Without provocation she struck out at her sister, despite the apparent submissiveness of the other Green. She was precise, accurate, almost scarily so. Tiael frowned slightly, that was a bit, unusual wasn't it? Dragons attacking dragons didn't seem well, normal, but then she'd never been to many hatchings at all.

As the darker Green began to move, Tiael found her gaze following it. So that was it, the Green tended to hide her temper, lashed out suddenly and without warning. What became worrying was she was closing the gap between the clutch, and the line of Candidates. Even more worrying, was that the gaze, a decidedly angry one too, was fixated almost. On her. There was one thing very much apparent, it wasn't a look of love in those eyes and no mistake. Carefully and without causing fuss to those around her, Tiael backed away slowly, attempting to keep out of her way and while watching her movements, tried not to stare at her. Well now, what else had L'vey said? Don't touch them, fat chance, she'd back right off the sands if she needed to, dragon hide was thicker than skin and she'd sliced that shoulder clean open with no trouble. Hopefully Tiael could come out unscathed, she didn't fancy trying to recover from talon scratches again.

[Zen]

Ever was not superstitious. Or perhaps she wasn’t that superstitious. But when the first green hatched, she couldn’t help but feel the sinking feeling in her stomach strengthen like an unliked wooer singing right in one’s ear. She shifted her feet uncomfortably and her eyes strayed to the rest of the clutch. A Bronze had to have hatched first, right? There must have been a Bronze not a Green. Oh Faranth. Oh Faranth, the knowledge that a Green hatching first would spell disaster to a clutch made Ever shiver despite the heat. Of course it was just superstitious belief… that’s all it was.

Giving up searching for a Bronze, Ever switched her gaze back to the two dragonets that had hatched. Two Greens had hatched. Two Greens, not a single other color. She gulped, especially when the Green, the firstborn that is, stalked over to the second Green and… did she slash her? Ever’s eyes widened perceptibly because of the sudden shock of the event. A. Dragon. Intentionally. Hurt. Her. Own. Kind. And she didn’t even look like she cared!

With slight confusion, Ever’s eyes continued to track the firstborn Green (the horrid creature) who now stalked over to another girl she had little idea about. Oh shards, was that… did that Green want to hurt the girl? Then the sinking feeling she’d felt before came back as she realized that this Green was the Green from the egg that had so viciously attacked her mind when she’d unearthed the egg. Oh crapping shards-aholic. Make herself as inconspicuous as possible, please. “I just hope that Green doesn’t Impress to me.” Ever told the girl who’d asked who she wondered would Impress or not.

---

Tanyrion was not as superstitious as Zen’s other character, Ever. In fact, he thought nothing of the Green hatching first and a second Green hatching second. It might just have been Ever and her sinking fear of being a prisoner. But no one else, at least none of the prisoners, seemed to be out of place at this time. Tanyrion wasn’t thinking about the fact that prisoners were standing all around him. He was too excited to even think about anything other than the Hatching.

Sure, Tanyrion had been angry before, but the excitement of hatching had swelled inside his heart and his stomach and now it blossomed in full bloom. The man watched with veiled eyes as the Green attacked the Green and ichor was spilled on the sands. The Green didn’t even look like it cared that it had spilled ichor. The other Green sulked to the ground and looked very hurt.

Tanyrion growled low in his throat. Seriously, a dragon should hurt one of its own. That was horrid, and why the shards would one want to hurt ones clutchmate? With a shiver, Tanyrion wondered if the worst was yet to come.

[S'yal]

Farrox couldn't resist staying away any longer. Even before the dragon called to him, he was moving forward, his eyes filled with tears. Suddenly all trust and love he had for dragons began to trickle away, replaced by a sudden fear of them. Not for himself, but for Snowth. She'd been hurt by her sister, and that meant other dragons could hurt her too! Farrox went from moving forward mechanically and slowly, to flat out running at the plead for help. He stumbled and nearly fell in the sand, his hands hovering over the injury when he reached her.

"Snowth! I'm sorry!" He choked on tears. It was his fault, all his fault, that his dragon had been hurt. He should have run to her sooner, he should have... done something! The thought that her sister had hurt her made him sick to his stomach, and he frantically looked over her wound. "I-i'll make it better! Promise!" In the back of his mind he knew that there must be healers, dragonets mauled candidates all the time, and he looked about for one. Snowth whimpered and nudged his hand, pleading for him to make the pain in her shoulder go away. He eventually spotted the food buckets and the healers and began to lead the limping Snowth there.

He didn't think about the flights Snowth would have, or the fact she was female. He didn't worry about anything but the fact Snowth HURT, and that was horrible. Horrible, horrible. His dragon would never hurt again, he'd keep her safe! "I'm sorry you got hurt, Snowth. I'll never let you get hurt again!" Farrox promised, and Snowth nuzzled his hand.

I love you, Farroxmine. Farrox immediately flagged down one of the healers and, with his face set into a mask of determination that hadn't been seen in a long while, began trying to get them to heal Snowth. He didn't really have to try, as it was what the healer was there for, but the second the healer was looking at her injury he went to get a bucket of meat.

"Here you go, Snowth." He crouched, beginning to feed her a piece of meat, one at a time. He was careful to offer them to her slowly so she wouldn't get excited and move too much trying to get them, or choke. "I'm sorry you got hurt. I'm very, very sorry!"

Don't apologize, Mine! Her eyes whirled a mixture of sadness, worry and pain. It wasn't your fault! She tried to reassure him, only earning a panicked sniffle as Farrox- Or F'ox, as he would later decide his new name was- tried to restrain tears. Oh! His poor, poor dragon! She'd gotten hurt!

[lithle]

Most eyes were on the newly impressed pair, or on the Evil Queen Hatchling. And that suited the Spun Gold Egg just fine. Its movements were subtle, careful little twitches that served to dig it deeper into the sand. But, it was moving, oh yes. Anyone paying careful enough attention would notice.

Then again, anyone paying careful attention to the Spun Gold Egg would be risking life and limb. The Evil Queen Hatchling was still in on the move, each careful step bringing her closer to the retreating Tiael, and the malice was all in her eyes. If it weren't for the red of her gaze, one might suspect an impression was imminent, she looked so delicate, so affectionate, as she continued forward.

Then, as she'd almost reached Tiael, her attention shifted, her red gaze on Ever, now. With a half-hearted swipe in Tiael's direction, one the candidate could avoid if she tried, the Evil Queen Hatchling set off toward the other candidate that had somehow earned her ire. She was crooning again, high and sweet, but she was also picking up speed, Ever quickly coming within range.

[nemix]

Tiael was so fixated on the approaching Evil Queen Hatchling that she didn't even notice the bonding of the first pair of the entire event. She'd run out of sand to back away on if she wasn't careful, still, it seemed to be keeping her just out of reach. At least, until the hatchling seemed to find someone new to focus on. The pause, made Tiael pause, and thus brought her within talon range. Despite the apparent change in focus, it didn't stop a swipe in Tiael's direction. Well, she should have seen that coming now shouldn't she?

Alas she hadn't, quite, and spent the next few moments stepping back and ascertaining the damage. Mostly robe, her skirt was quite neatly ripped in lovely flowing gash lines and her leg underneath? Grazed, bleeding slightly, but nothing serious. Tiael wrinkled her nose in distaste, but was mostly grateful that she hadn't come to more harm. Edging away from the newly fixated hatcling, she eased into place next to Romethia, swirling her slightly tattered robe closed around her leg. It stung, would quite possibly ache later but wasn't much worth bothering over. Still, it wasn't something she should be flashing about so she settled in to wait and tried to ignore the irritation her leg now brought.

It took her a few moments, but then she realised the first Impression had taken place. To a prisoner no less! His collar, cuffs and hem clearly marked him out. Well, that was going to cause a bit of a stir now wasn't it? Tiael smiled at the thought. Wardens was going to get very interesting if more happened like that. Quietly, she scanned the clutch again, mumbling quietly to Romethia. "One down, what's the betting there's a few more hmm?"

[lithle]

The violence of the greens was not lost on Leshta, nor on Semith, who crooned anxiously at the injured dragon but kept still. Leshta, for her part, looked to T'di, giving a slight shake of her head. It wasn't the first attack between clutchmates she'd seen at a hatching, but such things were never pleasent. Still, she couldn't bring herself to hate the sleek, violent green. It was new hatched, it would settle when it found it's rider.

If it didn't kill its chosen first.

And then, a prisoner ran forward, taking the lighter of the two greens into his arms. Leshta relaxed marginally, knowing that the green was safe. Still, that tension remained was clear enough. It was a prisoner who'd taken the dragon. So, they could impress. Well, that was for the best. Otherwise, half the clutch would be lost between. She glanced at the Warden, then turned to T'di.

"That was a prisoner," she said, her voice low. Close enough to the Spun Gold Egg to see the cracks, she watched it, missing the first mauling of the evening. "And Semith's shiny will hatch soon."

Take care of her! Semith sent to Farrox, mindvoice darkened by worry. Be gentle.

[Zen]

It was Tiael that the Green was headed for, but why did it feel as if the Green was for her… not for her, headed for her. Just as suddenly as the Green had attacked her sibling, the Green attacked Tiael. But no, she didn’t exactly attack. The Green’s slash looked half-hearted, as if she wasn’t exactly the one the Green was after. At the last second, the Green swerved.

Toward her.

She took a slight step back, her breath catching. This was the malice that she’d felt during the egg Touching. But then she caught her breath, breathed in the stifling heated air of the Sands, and stood her ground. She wasn’t afraid, she told herself, even if the ball of fear had become more like a large fruit or something. This Green… this Green could hurt her, that’s for sure, and possibly kill her. But if she showed fear now then it’d all be over.

She had never shown fear even to her father, not even when she had become estranged. She was not very sure what had happened to make the Green hate her so much, but she was sure that the Green hated her with all of her heart. She glared eagerly at the Green, wanting to know how far the Green would go. Would she kill her? Maul her? Pass her by?

Unfortunately for Ever, she didn’t notice the Gold’s ‘shiny’ egg start to fracture from the stress the dragonet inside was giving it. Unfortunately for Ever, also, sweat was beginning to crawl down her back. Her hair trapped some of it, but she could feel a lone line of sweat fall down the nape of her neck to trickle down the middle of her back. It sent shivers down her spine and goose bumps through her arms. But her gaze was locked on the Green. She feared for her own safety, but this was what she had given up in order to Stand.