Early morning-Day 6

 Katrina was beat, and was ready to collapse right where she stood at
Azure's side. First there had been the scuffle at the caves with the
rogues and wilders. Kat's part there had been small weaving and dodging
dragonback with the rogues and wilders until the latter retreated. Then
the search for Ankara and the mysterious rogue woman's hideout. That
search, which had taken the rest of the night, had been unsuccessful. Now
as Kat
mounted Azure she was thankful Dan'yar had given her the chance to get
some sleep and patrol later. As Kat headed up to her apartment she couldn't
help but think, yesterday had not been the way she had wanted to spend
her 20th birthday.

******************
 About five hours(give or take) later

 It was nearly lunch when Kat awoke to head out to patrol. She got up and
prepared to dress when she realized, she still had her clothes on from
yesterday. *Great I must have really been out of it when I got here.*
Her dragon's gruff voice entered her mind.

 <Tell me about it! Do you know what? You were so out of it when you got
back that you forgot to unsaddle me. Do you know how uncomfortable is to
rest in a saddle. Not to mention getting something to eat with a saddle
strapped to my back. The other dragons thought I was nuts going round with
a saddle and no rider. I was so embarrassed!>

 <I am sorry Azure. How bought if I bring you a couple sweet cakes to
make it up to you?>

 <Sure bribe the dragon! Ok, sweets are good, but don't expect me to
forgot completely, yet.>

 <Of course not. By the way, how is the saddle?>

 <Eek, there is a saddle on me! How did that get there?>, came the
flippent reply from Azure.

 <Ok I get the point. I'll speak no more on the saddle. I'm going to
go wash, change and then get a bite to eat.>

 <Don't forget those sweet cakes>, sent Azure.

 Katrina grinned to herself and replied, <Gee know why would I want
to get those?>

 To which Azure huffed, but didn't reply knowing her rider was only showing
the same wit that Azure had earlier.

********************
A short time later-Dining Hall (Lunctime)

 After Katrina filled her plate, and picked up a couple sweet cakes for
Azure, she looked around for a place to eat. She didn't see Lonnie, Lenna,
or P'ker about, but she noticed Meena and her little boy currently at a
table by themselves. Kat had met Meena at the joining part, and had seen
her flying with Trevor's mom yesterday during the scuffle at the caves.
Katrina had yet to get to know the two new residents of Cleft a bit more
so she went on over. As Kat headed on over Azure sent:

 <Did you know that her dragon Vonn was hatched at Norwall? And Vonn's
mother was Amethyst, just like me. We could be related.>

 <No I didn't know that Azure. I've seen Vonn, and I believe she is older
then you. I don't remember much about Norwall though, we never stayed there
long after your hatching and came here.> Katrina arrived at Meena and her
son Demee's table.

 "Hello, mind if I join you," asked Kat?

 "No not at all, have a seat."

 Kat took a seat and greeted Demee who gave a slightly shy hello while he
peered around Meena's arm. Kat and Meena talked about the new group of
rogues, the search for Ankara, and about Syren's redecoration of the
hatching ground. Kat also listened to Demee, who now wasn't as shy as he had
been earlier. He asked questions about Azure, and talked about Vonn, and
about his frinds Dan'yar's girls. As the trio finished eating Kat noticed
Demee eye Azure's sweet cakes. Kat smiled to herself, Demee reminded her of
her younger brother Seth back home with her parent's.

 Demee asked with such innocence,"So you really like sweet cakes?"

 "Demee," said Meena.

 "It is alright. As a matter of fact Demee these are for Azure," said Kat.

 The boy asked with surprise,"Your dragon eats sweets?"

 Kat replied,"Yes she does, but she seldom gets them, and I tend to keep
it that way. Today however, I was so sleepy after the long search last night
that I forgot to remove Azure's saddle when I returned home to rest. Azure
wasn't happy about the saddle. So the sweets are to make it up to her."

 Demee who had listened intently to Kat's words looked a bit sad
and said,"Oh I see."

 Kat smiled as she said,"But if your mom will let me, I will give
one of the sweet cakes to you. Azure wont mind since I'll still have
some left."

 Demee turned to his mom and said please with that look on his face
that only a child can give a parent when they are trying to get something
they really want.

(tag Kris G if you wished to add to any of this)

***************
Evening- Dining Hall(again?)

>>"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.

 Kat had to admit to herself that she was glad Lenna was willing to finally
go to those caves that so unnerved her. Unlike before though, when the topic
was brought up, Kat had been eager. Now Kat thought about the scuffle with
the rogues which had occured at those caves yesterday. Kat was still eager
to abate Lenna's fears, but was wary of an encounter with the unruly lot of
rogues again. But Lenna was willing to go, and Kat didn't want to miss this
oppurtunity again. Kat's attention returned to her partner.

>"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.

 Katrina pondered B'rand's statement knowing she heard it somewhere before
but couldn't place it. Azure supplied an answer, which startled Kat
since she didn't think her dragon would know such a term.

 <Blanchie's rider is going to have a baby. I didn't say so before because
Blanchie's rider wanted it to remain quiet at first.>

>>Lonnie just looked at Lenna 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.

 After Kat withdrew her hand, she added with a grin,"Help us, what about
that poor wittle bunny!" There were a few chuckles to that line. The group
then talked some more and finished their meals.

NRPG:
******************
All: Just a little something, so you know I'm still around.
 The Norwall bit with Azure I had discussed with Kris G previously,
and I also drew from Katrina's bio. And speaking of bio's, Kat's b-day
was on day 5, and I believe I changed the age in her bio.

Barb: The part where I mention the caves and the scuffle. Those caves
that the group met the new rogues in were the same caves that Lenna had
been in right? I don't have the NRPG e-mail that refered to those caves
anymore. Speaking of caves, any 'return to the caves' idea that you have
feel free to put by me.

Kris G: Feel free to add to the lunch discussions with Kat.

Alton: A bit off topic but--I'm working on an ASR post, really I am.

Respectfully,
Kris Berg
Katrina/Azure
Cleft Warren