She was cold!

The chill in her bones was the first thing she noticed when awareness
returned. The numbing pain in her arms and shoulders made itself known second.

She rolled her body around trying to find a more comfortable position, and
ease some of the pressure on her limbs and then set her mind to remember
what had happened.

She remembered coming back the location they had found the Warrenlady with
Katrina, and then their decision to separate to cover more ground as they
searched for clues as to what happened. Next she remembered turning around
to find a rider she didn't know. Nor liked the looks of standing there
before her. She still didn't know where he ad come from.

Then she remembered being grabbed from behind and the first mans fist
connecting with her jaw... and that was all she remembered. So where was
she? How did she end up here with her hands and legs bound in this dark cave?

Had she been able to get a call out to Blanchie before the lights went out?
Were there people looking for her now as she laid tussled up and unable to move?

<I am here my rider!!> the comforting thoughts of her life mate entered her
mind. <But I can't get to you!!>

<<No Sweetie... I don't think you'd fit in here,>> here eyes traveled around
the confines of the small low cave she found herself in, and wondered about
the stuff on the walls giving off the faint light she could see by. She
could feel as well as hear running water near by and suddenly realized her
mouth was dry and she was thirsty.

A lot of good the knowledge did for her. Bound as she was, there was no way
she could move around to get at the water to quench her thirst.

<<Blanchie my love,>> she sent out a thought to the purple dragon. <<Please
tell me that there is even now as we speak... someone looking for me?>>

<No my rider> the beasts voice held a note of amusement. <Rooks rider wanted
too... but Tergath and Meritanth's riders' talked him out of it.>

<<I wouldn't put it past them,>> she groaned and had to move again as her
arms were falling asleep. No she wouldn't put it past the two of them to
delay the search just to pay her back for the trick she had pulled on them
when she found out about their betrayal in helping B`rand win their bet.

<<You're kidding...right?>> she asked.

<Well of course I am!> Blanchie sighed. <Even if they do think it would be
better for everyone at the Warren to leave you there so they can finally
have some peace and quiet.... Rook's rider convinced them to help look for
you. Even if they do think he's crazy for wanting you back!>

<<They're all heart,> the girl muttered, rolling her tongue around the
insides of her mouth trying to crate a little moisture. <<How long have I
been here?>>

<Oh...not long.>

<<How long!?!>> Lenna could hear the hesitation in her dragon's tone.

<Only a few hours..>

<<A few hours!!>> she moaned and began to think of all the nasty things she
could do to them for taking their time finding her. <<And no one has found
me yet!! Are you sure they are looking!?!>> she was more than a little upset.

<*They are doing their best, *> a new voice answered her. <*But there are so
many caves in this place to look into they are having to go slowly as not to
miss any one of them. *>

<<Well tell them to look a little faster,>> Lenna told her twins dragon.
<<It's no picnic being tied up in here let me tell you. Tel your rider that
if this is his idea of paying me back for the little joke I pulled on him...>>

<*Little joke? *> Meri's tone was amused.

<<...I'll make it my life's work to make his life as miserable as I possibly
can!!>> She declared heatedly.

<*I assure you, twin of my human... that they are doing everything they can
to find you, and so are the other riders. Azure's rider is making sure.
She's a spitfire that one. The two of you are well paired as patrol partners. *>

Lenna sighed feeling somewhat relieved. It was nice to know her partner
cared so much. the girl had become a good friend. Her humor and drive seemed
to parallel Lenna's to a tee.  She counted herself lucky to have been paired
off with the girl when she had arrived at the Warren.

It was getting harder to swallow, so dry was her mouth, and her arms and
wrists had long since gone numb. She could barely feel her fingers when she
attempted to wiggle them around. Tears filled her eyes as a feeling of
helplessness settled over her. Gods how long did she have to wait before
someone stumbled over her?

<They will find you soon, now that you are awake and can tell us if you hear
anyone coming near you,> two vices filled her mind.

<*Do not worry. *> Meritanth's words reinforced Blanchie's.

<<Well tell them to get a move on it would you?>> she sent back, her tone
sounding like that of a petulant child. <<I'm tired, dirty, thirsty and I
need to go to the bathroom!>> 

She rolled over onto her back and let her head fall back and rest on the
hard damp earth beneath her. Sighing for about the twelfth time since waking
up, Lenna closed her eyes and prayed that help would be here soon.

As she prayed she made promises to behave her temper from now on and another
one to apologize to her brothers for the trick she had pulled on them with
the Talos pepper. Thought at the time they really had deserved it....

<Don't go making promises you know you won't be able to keep my rider.>
Blanchie's amused thoughts entered her mind.

<<Oh shut up!?!>> Lenna returned.

<Uh huh!> The dragon chided her rider, but Lenna wasn't listening. Just then
she was sure she could here scraping sounds coming towards her and thought
it sounded like boots scraping against the stone floor of the caves.

"I'm in here!!" she tried to shout but only a raspy whisper emitted from her
lips. She tried a second time only to get the same response. 

Tears filled her eyes in frustration, as she heard the sounds becoming
dimmer. As if they were moving away from her.

<<Blanchie...tell them I'm here!! I can hear someone out there.. but they're
moving away in the wrong direction....get them to come back!!>>

<I'm sorry my rider but everyone wants to see the water,> her dragon
informed her.

<<WHAT WATER!?!>> Lenna cried.

<The big underground body of water Rook and Meritanth's rider's have found
while looking for you. They say it is like a larger lake hidden under the
cliffs. I wish I could see it. I wonder if it's deep enough to swim in?>

<<You wonder if it's.....>> This time her tears did fall. It was all
becoming to much for her. She wanted to get out of this place! She wanted to
never have to be in the dark alone ever again she wanted....

Damn!!! She'd been forgotten in favor of a damn body of water....
All that water and she was here laying in a damp cave dying of thirst.

Funny.. she had never pictured her life as ending this way....

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

Well I hope someone will find her....

*****Submitted by: ******

Barbara (a.k.a.

Lenna & Blanchie
Cleft Warren