"Farr'in, Callana, and Lenna, you are excused.  Katrina, if you 
would stay a few minutes, I would like to talk with you about 
something," Cynthia said smiling.

Callana did not envy the girl's staying behind.  She was the first 
out of the office.

"Well partner you ready to go," Farr'in turned to face Callana 
when the three walked outside.  "No time to begin learning the lay 
of the land like the present."

"I'm ready if you are," she threw back his challenge and nearly 
smiled when he saluted her.

"Have fun you two," Lenna called after them as she moved to stand 
by Blanchie. Callana mounted Slaire, with Farr'in close behind.

"Lead on with the tour, O great guide," Callana said, her voice 
tinged with faintly mocking, sarcasm-laden humor.  Farr'in smirked 
and Tergath took off.

<<Tergath I want you to make sure Slaire has a clear picture of 
where we're going before we teleport.>> he told his dragon and 
then had the beast send the picture to the other dragon.

<She had it and says they are ready.> the brown relayed the 
information back to his rider who held up his hand and gave the 
signal to go.

The area of the Cleft they popped into the air over, was one of 
the most opened areas around here. Several of the landbound people 
who'd followed the others to the new Warren had found this place 
and set up a farm here.

As they flew over the fields, Farr'in noticed fresh work had been 
started to prepare the soil for the next planting season. Soon they wouldn't
have to send back to the other Warrens for fresh supplies. 
If these crops did good they might even be able to repay the others 
for their generosity.

He turned and motioned for Callana to follow him down as he landed 
on one of the few cliffs in the area. And then dismounted and waited 
for her to do the same.

"This is one of my favorite views around here," he told her as he 
swept his hand out over the area below them. "The farms down below 
remind me that life will always be new and fresh as time goes by. 
No matter what bad happens in our world, somewhere things are growing 
and being reborn. It's what we do with it afterwards that matters."

"Makes sense," the girl standing beside him said. 

"What ever happened in the past," he said turning to face her. "Is 
in the past. Just like the crops growing below us, each season we 
change and grow. Some of us grow wiser if we work at it and let it 
happen, while others stay the same and never learn."

He was trying to tell her something. Wanting her to believe that 
her past was just that. Here in the Cleft she had the same chance 
as the seeds below, making themselves into something. It was up to 
her to decide in what way she would grow.

She looked at him and nodded her head in understanding.

He smiled and then turned back to remount the brown. "Let's go, we 
still got quite a bit of land to cover."

As they flew, he filled her in on the troubles they'd been facing 
since moving to the new Warren. Everything from the Nomads who'd 
already been here before them, to the threat of the rouge 
dragonriders who'd been plaguing the area. 

It didn't seem like enough time had past when his dragon was 
telling him that their relieve had just popped into the air off to 
their left and that it was time to go home.

<<Make sure Callana and Slaire have a good picture of the Cleft,>>
he told Tergath.

<You know my rider,> the brown came back with after relaying the 
message. <Were I those two and we had someone like you constantly 
asking us if we had this picture or that picture like a hatchling 
pair....I think I'd be upset. I wonder why she hasn't told you to 
mine your own pictures yet???>

<<Maybe because she has more sense that you do you brown glob of 
wit.>> Farr'in replied. <<Maybe because she knows that she doesn't 
know this area as well as you think you do and she's trying to learn
everything she can.>>

<Yeah right,> Tergath snorted. <I give you until mid-way during 
tomorrow's patrol before she has Slaire tell you to quit checking 
up on her.>

<<You're on,>>

----------------

<Meritanth said his rider wants to see you when you dismount.>

<<Did he say why?>> Farr'in asked the brown.

<<Blanchie's rider has taken off and they can't find her.>>

<<Taken off!!>> the man was puzzled. When he and Callana had left 
earlier for their patrol, Lenna had been in good spirits. What 
could have happened? 

It didn't take long for Lonnie to fill them in on what had happened 
after they had left the Warren. Farr'in was still finding it hard to believe
Lenna had taken off like that.

"Hell what did she expect B'rand to do...shoot his dragon to keep 
the black from following after the Queen?" he asked and then 
remembered that there was another of their family he should be 
concerned about. "How'd Dani take it?"

"Better than Lenna did," Lonnie frowned. "He was more concerned 
about Brisse being able to handle what came with it all, than the 
fact that it was happening. I know he'd have preferred it to have 
been Shinner who won....but Lenna... man she just flipped out and 
lost it. I've never seen her like that before. B'rand has no idea 
where she could have gone either. He's not to happy right now. I 
hope she doesn't give him any grief over this when she does make 
it back. He's good for her."

"What you mean is he can handle her better than the rest of us," 
Farr'in grinned. "we need to find out how he does it. But it 
still doesn't explain why Lenna took off."

"Women in love sometimes do silly things," Callana said joining in 
on the conversation. "Especially if what I understand about this 
being the first time for her."

"You could have a point there," Farr'in told her. "But that doesn't 
tell us where she got off to. Meri can't find her?"

"Either she's out of range or just not answering his calls," Lonnie 
told him. "I've tried finding Blanchie and she's not answering 
either."

"Well I don't think I'd worry to much about her," the older brother 
said. "She can take care of herself as she's always telling us. I 
think she just need time to deal with this on her own. Then she'll 
come home."

"If she doesn't," Lonnie gave a short laugh. "I'd hate to be her 
when B'rand finds her."

"Why is that?" Callana asked, looking from one brother to the next.

"Fireworks..." Lonnie grinned. "The best thing to do if that happens 
is to find someplace deep and stay undercover. The two of them can 
get a little...ah... volatile at times."

(My'kel)
*********
(Before the mating flight)

"Okay.  Training is over for the day," their trainer announced.  
"You can all get lunch and have the rest of the day for apartment 
hunting."

"Cool!!" My'kel thought as they landed. Flying was totally cool!!
He'd watched Brisse as her and Tymor had gone up and then he had 
Voger follow behind them when the two of them had gotten off of 
the ground. He hadn't wanted any of the other to get anywhere 
near the Queen and her rider. 

The word had gone out among the other newly joined males that he 
had set his sights on the girl. Those who knew him well knew better 
than to challenge him. The others that he hung with usually got the 
message acrossed.

Brisse got ready to leave when he stopped her, "Hey, would you like 
to apartment hunt together?"

She shook her head.  "There are only a couple for me to look at, 
really, 
and I don't want to tire Tymor out.  I'm sorry."

"That's okay.  Frog already asked me to go with him.  Just thought 
you might like the company." Damn!! He thought as he watched her 
walk away. "Someday she'll be begging us to become mates with her 
Voger. After Uncle Dani has gotten what he wants from her and 
leaves her in the dust.

"My'kel!" He heard someone calling his name and turned to find 
Frog and stopped.

"Man we gott'a think of something else," Frog told him, then 
looked around to make sure no one else could hear them.

"Jasper and I tried getting at the girls all of yesterday, but 
these two guys were always with them every where they went. And 
then last night two other guys were seated outside your aunts 
house. Do you think someone might know what we're about?"

"I don't see how," the tall blond said. "If you two were careful 
when you took him out. I don't see how anyone could have found 
out."

"Well we were careful and I know no one saw us leaving your 
Uncle's place," the shorter one said. "Else they would have come 
questioned us by now. Don't you think?"

"Yeah.." he thought of something else. "Okay.. here's what I want 
you two to do. While everyone is watching the girls and Uncle 
Dani... Who do you think is watching his place?"

"No one...Why?"

"Because my friend you and Jasper are going to trash it tonight," 
My'kel told him, a evil grin spreading across the young mans face. 
"Tonight while no ones watching... I want you to tear the place 
apart. And when you're through leave a big note somewhere where 
he'll be sure t see it that says..."leave her alone".

"Ah..." Frog grinned finally understanding. "There won't be 
anything worth saving by the time we're through."

"I hope not," My'kel muttered as he watched his friend walk off. 
Just then the sounds of the mating female filled the air and he 
took off to find out who it was.

<Tymor!!> Voger told him excited as he took off after the rest. 
<It would be good to win the Queen.>

Yes. My'kel thought as he moved to join the others gathering 
around the Queens rider, it surely would!
-------------------------

Kris: Lenna will be there for her morning patrol with Katrina. 
Though she might be a little tired and untalkative at first.

Keri: Turner is ready to help work on your apartment at anytime 
you wish to ask for his help

****Submitted by: ******
Barbara (a.k.a.
Lonnie & Meritanth, Farr'in & Tergath, My'kel & Voger