Dan'yar
********

He stood there watching as another healer came over with a canvas stretcher.
It was placed on the ground next to C'aranth, and he was pulled on to it. In
a moment
C'aranth was whisked away to the med center.

He still felt that by leaving the man back in the caves, a few problems
would have been stopped before they could start, but he knew his duties and
that didn't stretch to leaving men behind. No matter how much he'd wished he
could in this case.

Looking around he spotted Cynthia coming towards them and knew she'd be
wanting to hear what had happened. 

"Dan'yar, what happened?" Cynthia asked.

"We met with highly organized resistance," he replied.  Dan'yar described
the events in detail.  "In the end we saw 3 dragons with riders and 6
wilder's that were working with them.  The woman that wounded C'aranth
wasn't a nomad, and I don't think was with Roland's
Rogues."

"I'll ask H'riol about her.  Could there be a second group of rogues out
there?"  Cynthia asked.

"I think there is, and from their actions so far, they seem much more
hostile toward us than Roland's group," Dan'yar replied.

"Until we determine what is happening, I want you to increase the number of
patrols that we're sending out.  I want to reduce the chances of another
surprise."

"I understand," Dan'yar nodded.

Above them, another dragon appeared in the sky over Cleft.  Dotarth
descended rapidly and landed on the ground a short distance from the group
of riders.  M'yer dismounted and ran over.  "She's been kidnapped," he said
slightly out of breath.

"Who's been kidnapped?" Cynthia asked.

"Ankara," he explained, "We were looking for pigments for her to use on her
weaving.  We were at an oasis when a dragon swooped out of the sky and
carried her off.  By the time I got to Dotarth, she had already teleported."

"What did the dragon she was carried off by look like?" Trevor asked.

"It was a light yellow color."

"Damn," Dan'yar swore, "She certainly keeps busy."

"And she could be anywhere," Cynthia said.

"Perhaps," Trevor replied walking over to Trissana and pulling out a map,
"but I'd guess that if she was near this oasis, it was because she was
heading back home.  After the confrontation with us, she and her
dragon were probably both tired."

Cynthia ran her hand through her hair, "I don't think it's wise to fight a
pitched battle in the dark, however scouting might be easier now.  Our
scouts would be hard to spot, and camp fires would be easy to see. Dan'yar
select three pairs of riders and have them check this out.  Make it clear
that they are to scout only, and report back anything they find."

Dan'yar nodded, and turned to M'yer, "We'll find her."

"I want to come with one of the patrols," the man told him. "I need to try
and help somehow."

Dani wasn't sure this was a good idea, but remembered how he had been when
Brisse had been kidnapped. He knew how the man was feeling right now,
because he'd felt the very same way. How could he deny this man the chance
when he himself would have done anything and had to be part of the teams out
looking for Brisse. 

"Very well," he agreed and saw the look Cynthia shot him, but ignored it.
"You can go with Lonnie and B`rand. B`rand is in nominal charge of the group
so you will do what he says."

M'yer reached out and took the Wingleaders hand. Their eyes  met and Dani
didn't have to guess at the man's feelings. 

"Good luck."

The two men shared a moment the Dan'yar turned back to Cynthia. "I've had
Shinner relay the message to several patrols. They'll do their best to find
the girl and bring her back safe... if they can."

<Blanchie and Azure, Rook and Meritanth will be here soon. As will the
others you had me call. They know what they are suppose to look for and will
do there best to find the human. Do we go too?>

<<In a few minutes Coppertop,>> Dan'yar told him. <<I want to assure Tymor's
rider we're okay first.>>

<She knows. I told them.>

Dan'yar chuckled slightly at his dragons reply. He just didn't understand
the human need to feel and see for themselves that one was all right. A
simple word sometimes didn't fill the need that a touch could.

<<Thank you for doing that my friend, but I still need to see her.>>

<It's one of those silly human things right?> Shinner asked.

<<Right.>>

It didn't take him long to find her. Or rather her to find him. He turned to
go look for her and there she was, standing not ten feet away looking him
over to make sure Shinner hadn't been lying when he'd told Tymor his rider
was unharmed. 

He opened his arms to her and she rushed forward. 

"I was worried," she told him when his arms closed around her. 

"You shouldn't have been love," he told her, enjoying the feel of her body
pressing against his. "I wouldn't take any chances with you and our son
waiting at home for me. I will always remember what I have to come home to
and that will keep me for taking dumb chances."

His lips found hers and through the contact let her feel what was in his
heart. His kiss left them both slightly breathless when he finally raised
his from hers and looked down at her. 

"I need to go back love," he told her though more than a little reluctant to
release her. "We have to find the girl who was taken by that bitch on the
yellow beast."

"I know. But do be careful, and good luck. I know how she is feeling about
right now, and it's not something I wish for anyone else to have to go through."

He felt her body shaking and held her closer. He knew what she was thinking
and wished he could take those memories away so they wouldn't haunt her any
longer. 

"We'll find her somehow."

Then he kissed her one more time before letting her go to mount Shinner and
the two of them took to the air to join the others already searching.

Lenna
*******

[The next morning]

It had been a long uneventful night. Though they had searched everywhere
they could think about while the sun had still shone them the way, and even
for a time after it had fallen, they still had been unable to find the girl
who'd been with M'yer's. 

Finally, against his better judgment, Dan'yar had called off the search.
Telling them they would start again at first light.

When the morning patrol's had been given out, Lenna had noticed that hers
and Katrina's name had been left off the morning search teams and added to
the later list.

Blanchie had told her it was because Shinner's rider felt they had done more
then enough the day before and wanted them well rested in case they needed
to go out later.

So since she had the time, she was on her way to the med center to make up
for the appointment she'd had to miss out on yesterday due to all the
excitement going on, when she ran into Dan'yar. 

She'd been avoiding him lately, so she wouldn't have to answer any question
about weather or not she'd been to see the mind heal yet, but this morning
she couldn't disappear quick enough and knew he was going to ask.

He did. The first words out of his mouth had been to ask if she'd gone to
see him.

"I'll have you know brother dear, that I'm on my way to see a healer right
this very minute," she told him, but left out the real reason why. "So what
are you doing here instead of out searching?"

"We just got back," he told her and she could see the disappointment in his
eyes. "Shinner decided I needed something to eat because we left here this
morning before breakfast was severed."

"Ammm Look Dani, I'm sure Katrina won't mind if we start our patrol now if
you need us," she told him.

"No.. I meant what I said about you and you dragons being rested before you
go out," he replied, placing his hand over the one she'd put on his arm.
"Besides we already have half the wing out there looking right now and I
don't want this place left without a watch. Now you go on and go see the
healer."

...................

"And how much time has passed since your last period ?" the healer asked as
he moved around the room collecting the things he would need to do the test.

"I'm more then two weeks over due," she told him, as she took the little cup
he held out to her. "And I'm never late."

"Well we'll soon find out if what you suspect is true or not. You know what
to do with this I take it?" he asked, motioning towards the cup. 

Lenna blushed slightly, but nodded her head. 

"Then off with you," the healer grinned. "I'll be waiting for you right here
when you're finished. Then go do the test so you won't have to wait long to
find out.

..................

Lenna decided to get up and move around while she was waiting the results of
the blood test the healer had just taken. she was to nervous to just sit
there and wait. So she wondered down the hall and heard a familiar voice
coming from one of the rooms.   

"So is there a guard outside my door?" she heard the man ask and the healers
reply. Something about the man inside bothered her. She'd heard the dragons
protest before Triss had finally agreed to bring him back and the reason
causing it made her want to know how an ex-rider could have done something
so sick as to cut off a part of the dragon he had killed.

Lenna waited until the healer had left the room, turning away in case she
was noticed, and then let herself into the room and saw C'aranth look up to
see who had entered, but just stood there staring back at the question in
his eyes.  

"Can I help you?" he asked wondering why she was here. 

"I just wanted to see what a rider looked like when he had lost all meaning
of what it was to be a dragonrider." she said in a cool even voice. 

"I guess I am not a rider by all respects now am I? Now, anything else I can
do for you?" The man sat up under her cold stare, his voice sounding
slightly sarcastic as he regarded her. 

"Maybe you can tell me what happened to bring you down so low?" she asked.

C'aranth leaned back against the headboard and looked at her his eyes
narrowing, leaning forward slightly, his pain revealing itself on his face,
"Why should you care?"

"Maybe help me to understand. Where I come from a rider would never think to
count *coup* the way you did," she sneered slightly. "Not someone who had
been a rider and understood what that meant."

C'aranth was beginning to wonder if all the females were this bold, if they
were the warren would either succeed wonderfully, or burn fiercely.

As she watched him a strange look came over his face and his hands wrapped
in the hands in the sheets to cover the slight shaking she could barely make
out. 

"It was just a wilder..." C'aranth looked her in the eye.  "Nothing really
to worry about is it?"

"You know they almost had to leave you back there in the caves," she told
him, smiling sweetly. "The dragon's couldn't understand why you killed it.
Wilder or not. It was one of their kind and they thought it a terrible waist."

"Not like it had a rider, not like it was bonded.  Not that it would ever
understand that bond would it.  It had no respect for life..."  His hands
ringing the sheets his eyes locked hers.

"It was still a dragon... a beast we as riders are sworn to protect," she
raised her voice some to emphasize her point. "Yet you seem to get off
killing it as if it were a wraith or a wasteland monster."

C'aranth looks at her a bit confused.  "It would have killed me." He leaned
back against the bed, his body slumping into the white sheets.  His black
leather arm wrapped around his chest

"This time maybe you were right," she conceded. "But what of the past? What
of the other dragon's you've killed. I'm sure they weren't all out to kill
you. Wilder's generally leave humans alone unless provoked."

She tried another track when he didn't answer her. "Tell me... why did you
come here to Cleft?"

"You want to know?"  His voice is soft and his eyes look past her. "Just a
standard patrol, nothing new.  Just flying the delta pattern over Kerith pass.

C'aranth pulls his legs to the side as he seemed to remember she was in the
room, and patted the bed.  "Have a seat at least."

"No thanks," she said, and continue to lean against the far wall. "I asked
why you came here? I can't understand how you can live around dragons all
the time. Knowing you were once a rider, but to kill one just as soon as
look at it. That I don't understand at all."

"Doctors, that is why."  he carefully closed the book he'd been reading,
making sure the book mark was placed squarely in the page.  "I only hate
wilder's, the bonded ones are fine, in control.  They have order.  But
wilder's are out of control. Chaos creates destruction, order creates life.
They are forces of destruction, when they leave here.  I simply am evening
the score."

"They are still dragons!" she said heatedly. "You were a rider. You knew how
your own dragon would have felt about killing one of it's own. Even if it
was unbonded. Have you forgotten all that?"

"I know she feels, but she didn't have to die like that!"
"I don't understand," she started to say something but saw him whip the
sheet off and slowly rises to his feet supported by the bed frame.  

"I cannot let them do it again." he said slowly. "You know you can feel it
when they die, every claw, every burn it is inside you.  She tried to save
me, I know she did.  But I could still feel it.  Then it was the hollow."

"Would she have wanted you to go on this way? With little regard for life...
any life? How do you think she would feel is she knew what you were doing?"

Slowly his knees crumble under him and he sat back down on the bed.  "She
said the same thing you did before the doctor came in."

"She sounded like she was pretty smart. Is this how you 
chose to honor her memory?"

C'aranth sat up, straitening his clothing, making sure the lines are strait.
"I have to fill it with something don't I? The hollow?  But you really don't
understand do you.  What it is like to lose your dragon, or love."

She couldn't help but flinch at the question.

"The scale, is that what is wrong?  Is that what is really bothering you?"
He looked up at her with a small smile. "You know for a time I filled it
with drawing, but the pain was still there.  Then it was music, but that
didn't help either.  I took up my fathers trade, 14 hours a day I worked a
forge, burning everything I could to forget.  But you never forget."

"No I'll bet you don't forget," she shuttered again trying to imagine what
her life would be like without Blanchie, but decided it hurt to much so she
quit thinking about it. "So how did you finally become a dragon killer?"

"She was killed by wilder's, they had formed a pack.  They ambushed and
murdered her.  All I could do was watch. The warren thought it would be best
for me to come here. I would be away from the dragons who killed her."

"Tell me what would you do?"  He looked up at her standing near the door.
"What would you do if your dragon was killed by men.  They cut her up and
left her carcass to rot, what would you do?"

"They sent you here to live among dragon kind when they knew how deeply
effected you were? How could they have been so damn stupid!!

"You shouldn't pass judgment on superiors, you should let your commander
know, and he will take care of it.  Until then you follow orders.  You
should even know that."

"Some orders don't make any sense at all," she told him. "I would have told
them what they could do with an order like that and just left."

"Somehow I believe you would have at that," he snorted 
and waved her off. "Now I'm kind of tired and don't wish to be questioned
any longer... go please."

Lenna left.. not really happy with the answers he gave her, and still more
than a little upset by his attitude. 

She wondered back down the hallway to the healers office, slipped inside,
and was in her seat just seconds before the man walked in the door.

"Well I suppose you'd like to hear the results of the tests now instead of
after I give you the standard...."

"Just tell me!" she interrupted him, then took a deep breath and flashed him
a beautiful smile. "I mean yes. Please. I would like to know if the results
were yes or no."

"You're going to have a baby Lenna," the healer smiled and nearly fell back
over the top of his desk when she jumped up and hugged him.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!" She kept muttering over and over
as she squeezed the healers neck.

"I don't think it's me who you should be thanking my dear," he chuckled as
he finally unwrapped her arms and sat up. "I mean it *was* your mate who was
helping you. Was it not?"

"Oh yes..!!!" she grinned and did a little dance.

With the news still fresh in her mind, Lenna left the med center. Her first
thoughts were to find B`rand and tell him the good news. 

She didn't notice anyone else around until she heard her name called out and
felt a small hand tugging hers. 

"Hi, An' Lenna!" he cried grabbing the young woman's hand. "I'm Demee, 'member?"

"Of course I remember," the girl smiled at him. Then knelt down beside him
to bring herself to his eye level. "Now how could I forget someone as sweet
and lovable as you?" she teased, her hand reaching out to tickle his middle. 

"I really am sorry .."

"It's all right," she said. "You're Meena right? I'm sorry we haven't had a
chance to be properly introduced yet."

Meena nodded, with a smile, "And you're Lenna." 



The blond nodded her head and was confused a second later when Meena started
walking around her. She walked around, first one way then back the other.
The whole time her eyes were moving up and down the other woman's body until
finally she came to a stop in front of her.... A mischievous grin came over
her face, "You know I may have just missed them... but I couldn't find the
horns and tail Farr'in told me you had."

Lenna stared at the woman for a minute in shock over her words, then broke
out laughing. Gods she was going to like this young woman her older brother
had taken a shine to.

"She has horns'en tail mommy?" Demee asked and took a better look at his new
Aunt and frowned when he didn't see them.

"I think your Unk Farr'in was teasing you," Lenna laughed at the child's
expression. 

"So no horn's'en tail?"

"Well maybe little ones," she confessed kneeling once again beside him. "But
I don't like to tell anyone so they'll just be our little secret okay?"

Demee looked from his mom then back to his An' Lenna. A slow grin crept over
his face when he looked up at her. 

"'Kay An' Lenna.. out secret," he agreed then added. "Does it mean you're
baby will have horns'en tail too?"

Lenna was so shocked by his words that she fell back and landed with her
backside on the ground. How could he have known? She'd just found out herself.

<I told him,> Blanchie informed her. <He can talk to me. You didn't say I
couldn't tell anyone. And he's such a joy to talk to... asks a lot of
questions too.>

<<Do me a favor my lovely gossip.>> Lenna sent back. <<Please tell me you
haven't told Rook yet?>>

<No.. I would have but he's a little busy eating right now and I wanted to
wait.>

<<Well don't tell him! I would like to be the one to tell his rider that
we're going to have a baby, before everyone else in the Warren knows about
it besides him!>>

<Oh very well,> Blanchie sighed. <But you know you're taking away my fun?>

<<I'm sure you'll survive my love.>>

"A baby?" The other woman asked with a smile on her face. "You're going to
have a baby?"

Lenna looked up at her and nodded her head, a slight blush crept in to color
her cheeks. 

"I just found out. That's why I was in the med center."

"Oh congratulations! That's wonderful!" 

"Well I like to think so," Lenna remarked as she got to her feet again. "But
I'm not sure the rest of the Warren is ready for it."

....................... 

"You're sure?" B`rand asked for the forth time since she'd told him the
news. "We're really going to have a baby?"

"That's what the healer said," she grinned and then got a little worried at
the expression on his face and his lack of any kind of happy response to her
news. Could he be regretting his decision to have a baby with her?

"You know what this means?" he asked, emerald eyes meeting blue ones.

"That you and I are finally going to be a real family with kids and all,"
she said somewhat heatedly, still not understanding his mood. "You did agree
to this you know, so if you're having regrets it's just a little to late!"

He reached out and took her in his arms, stilling her struggles with gentle
touches. 

"Oh I'm not regretting the fact that we're going to have  baby love," he
assured her between kisses. "But you know the first thing everyone in the
Warren will be thinking of is how to re-enforce the place by the time the
child is up and walking. Especially if they take after you."

"Oh like you're sweetness and light," she commented. 

"Well you will have to admit that people don't flinch back and hold their
hands up with the sign to ward of evil spirits when I walk into the dining
hall." he teased. 

"Oh you!" she pushed him away and hear him groan.

"Now what?" she asked.

"I just thought of something," he grimmest.

"And what was that?"

"That with the baby coming, we won't be able to stay in this apartment. We
have to move again! And that means I'll be stuck going around on another
apartment search while you can't make up your mind then I'll get stuck
moving all your stuff again."

She grinned as she moved towards him and slipped her arm around his middle. 

"Well maybe I can come up with some kind of reward to help make things a
little better," her voice was low and teasing.

"Oh.. I don't know... It'll have to be one hell of a reward, he informed her
between the tiny nips she was inflicting on his lips.

"Well I'm sure given time I can come up with ... something... but In the
mean time..." her hands hadn't been idle while they stood there, and slowly
lowered his shirt down over his shoulders. "Maybe I can give you a small
example now..."

....................

"Okay so we'll go back to the caves tomorrow morning and no excuses or
backing out this time?" Katrina asked Lenna later when they had met for dinner. 

"I told you I would go," Lenna pouted. "Can I help it if our plans got put off?"

"Just like your plans to go see the healers sis?" Lonnie asked.

"I'll have you know I went and saw a healer this very morning brother dear,"
she smiled sweetly as she turned to face her twin.

"Yes you did love," B`rand spoke up. "But I don't think Dan'yar will count a
trip to see if the rabbit died with the trip to the healer he ordered."

"The rabbit?" Katrina asked somewhat surprised. 

Lonnie just looked at her in surprise. 

Lenna shot B`rand a look and then fumbled with the coffee cup in front of
her, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"So tell me sis... did the rabbit die?" her bother teased her.

All eyes turned to look at her now. B`rand chuckled.

Lonnie covered his face with his hands.

"May the Gods help us!" he moaned and felt Katrina's hand hitting him.

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

Nrpg's:

This was the post from hell to write... the first night I lost 4 pages 
of it and had to rewrite it... the second night just as I was getting 
ready to send it my computer froze up and I lost 5 pages of it... so I 
had to re-write it again and lost something I'd done before but couldn't 
get right this time... 

nrpg: Okay Kris... the caves the next morning... 

Gabby I'm starting on the Vascone post right now and will have it out in a
little while...  He won't be too nice to you girl... he's a real bastard
towards women... 

John will try to do something with K & T too... 

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

Dan'yar & Shinner
Lenna & Blanchie
Lonnie & Meritanth
B`rand & Rook...( with permission)
Cleft Warren

aka 
Barbara