(NRPG: Hope I got the timeline right.)

*****************
 Day 3
 (Kitchen storage area)

 In all her days at Cleft, Kat couldn't recall having seen so much
rainwater. Currently, Kat was in the kitchen storage area helping move
supplies to higher ground. Nary a spot on Kat was dry as she stood with
rolled up shirt sleeves and pant legs as she lifted containers of
foodstuff which would be ruined if water got to them.

 Kat had Sandbags placed at the entrance and around the base of the
room to help keep water out. In the hall outside were wheeled barrows
and people to receive containers, and sacks of foodstuff. Everything was
carried, or pushed outside where dragons waited under a hastely put up
tarp. Once loaded on the dragons, the goods were covered with waterproof
coverings and transported to higher ground. There were some unfinished
rider apartments on the upper levels of the warren where the goods could
be stored until the flooding diminished.

 Katrina had Alpha wing, the kitchen staff, and an assortment of
unjoined divided into two groups helping. One group worked around Kat,
and another worked beyond Kat's in another storage area nearby. Both
groups did their work in assembally line fashion. This helped move things
along quickly and smoothly. So far, with the two lines, things were going
well. Everyone was moving efficiently, and the sandbags helped keep
large amounts of water from seeping into the rooms.

 Out in the hall though, Kat could hear the haulers and loaders sloshing
through water. Indeed, Kat's current wet state was attributated to the
time she spent out there hauling not long ago. But unlike then, now the
sloshing was louder, and the snadbags damper. All of which told Kat that
the water was rising.

 As Kat listened to the sloshing, she brushed a strand of wet hair
from her face, and looked around. This room was nearly empty. Kat
sighed at this observation though, since it made her think of the
other rooms in need of clearing here. At the rate the rain was falling,
and the water rising she knew everything wouldn't get cleared. But
having considered this earlier, Kat had sent workers to close and
block other rooms with sand sacks, or whatever sturdy debris they could
find to keep water from getting in. Kat hoped that if the water did
penetrate these rooms, maybe some of the foodstuff stored higher within
would be spared. As Kat returned to her task she heard Azure.

 <Ayesha's rider wants you to return to the office>

 <Why>?

 <I didn't asked>, said Azure in a matter-of-fact tone.

 Kat could have asked Azure to find out more, but decided not to. Kat
thought, *Perhaps there was word of Cynthia and Trevor, or perhaps Madyllin
wants a report on my progress*. When Kat finished her thoughts she called a
rider in from the hallway to keep and eye on things while she was away.

---
(NRPG:snips from Katrina's post in this)

 WarrenLady's office

 Kat entered the office just as Farr'in, Dan'yar, and Lonnie left. As
Kat gave her report on the progress in the kitchen and asked if there
was any news about Cynthia, and Trevor, Davyd ran in.

>"Where is Warrenlady Cynthia?" he demanded of Madyllin, Katrina,
>Turner and Kellie.

>"Not here," Madyllin said in a business like tone, that implied she didn't
>have time for idle chatter.

>"Doesn't matter," Davyd replied, "The library is flooding.  We've got save
>the books."

 As Davyd waited for a reply, Kat caught him look in her direction, and
quickly look away. It had been a quick look, but Kat had seen an uneasy
and dark look in his eyes. Kat thought maybe it was just the books that
troubled him, but then again maybe it wasn't. Whatever it was, Kat felt
a wave of uneasiness come over her. Madyllin's voice brought Kat out of
her troubled thoughts.

>ãDavyd, I appreciate your concerns, but unfortunately the library is not a
>priority.ä  When his face darkened with anger she raised a hand before he
>could speak.  ãFeel free to take any of the men your Lord has left here and
>up to 5ä  she held up one hand, fingers open to make her point, ãof our
>unjoined adults.  Box up what you can and move them to second level
>apartments.  We will move them further out of danger when we can.ä

>Davyd glared impotently at her for a moment and then appeared to think things
>through.  He nodded.  ãThank you.  Weâll get right on it.ä  He turned on his
>heel and left quickly.

 >>(snippet with a jump to a short time later)<<

 As an assortment of people came and went Kat considered returning to
the kitchen. But two things kept here from going. First, the number of
people in the office dwindled, which left Madyllin little help to pack
things up. So Kat thought, since the kitchen work was progressing smoothly,
she could spare some time to help Madyllin. Second, Kat noticed there was
something about the queenrider's mannerisms she couldn't pinpoint. Madyllin
seemed flushed, and kept fussing with her clothes. It wasn't long though
before the second reason which had caught Kat's attention manifested itself.

>From outside, they could hear the bugling challenge as Ayesha took to the
>air. Farrâin and Katrina glanced at her in surprise.  She shrugged
>helplessly, trying to clamp down on the desire rising within her.

>ãKatrina, keep things going in here. Someone will be back to help you.ä

>Katrina grinned and nodded as Madyllin headed out the door into the rain,
>with Farrâin right behind her. Her eyes moved upward to track Ayesha through
>the rain as her hands continued unbuttoning her dress. She was vaguely aware
>of other males srrounding her, helping her, but all her attention was
>rivetted on Ayesha

>>(end snip of Katrina's post)<<<

*************
 Later that afternoon
(Near the visitor apartments)

 After Kat had finished helping packing things in Cynthia's office, she
had headed back to the kitchen to see how things faired there. What she
noticed was, that even with the majority of Alpha wing leaving for the
mating, and returning, the kitchen areas had cleared out well. Kat felt
somewhat disheartened though that there had been some spots they had been
unable to clear in time. But Kat knew her crew had done all they could
against the force of nature

 When Kat had finished in the kitchens, she had considerd returning to her
apartment for a bath, and then after a change of clothes, to go get
something
warm to eat and drink. But Kat had changed her mind. Ever since Davyd's
look in her direction earlier, Kat had wondered about Serina and Vorbis.
With all that was going on in the warren, Kat had not seen her younger
sister since late yesterday. Niether had Kat seen much of her brother and
mother to ask if they knew how Serina faired.

 So now, troubled by Davyd's look and not having seen Serina around, Kat
headed to the guest apartments. Some of the lower rooms had taken on water,
but Kat's mom, Serina and Vorbis had been housed higher. As Kat was about
to knock on Serina's room she heard someone behind her. Turning quickly she
spotted Seth heading towards her.

 "Boy you are jumpy sis," said the dark haired twelve year old.

 "Well, it has been a long day."

 "Yeah I know what you mean. I hauled so many sacks of sand today, I think
the weight of them has permanently stunted my growth."

 After Kat laughed at Seth's comment she asked,"Where is Liz?"

 "He's taking a nap. He was quite insistent about helping. So I let him
pull a small sack. Needless to say he spilled most of his sand. But he was
happy to be able to help, and now he is resting from his 'work'. Are you
here to see Serina? I haven't seen her lately."

 "Yeah I've been wondering what is up with her. When I saw her yesterday
she seemed to be keeping something from me. And then today, Davyd had a
similar look when I saw him in Cynthia's office.

 "Well, it wouldn't be the first time Serina was up to something and kept
us in the dark," said Seth with a scowl.

 Katrina knocked on Serina's door and called to her sister. When there
was no answer Kat knocked a few more times. After again not receiving
replies, Kat tried the door. When she found it unlocked, she pushed Seth
behind her and cautiously entered the room. But there was no sign of her
sister, or anyone else.

  "Maybe she is in Vorbis' room," said Seth.

 And before Kat could say anything the boy ran from the room. Before
catching up with Seth, Kat took in Serina's room. It was empty of anything
that belonged to Kat's sister. A sinking feeling came over the dark haired
rider as she left Serina's room.  Out in the hall, Kat almost ran into
her brother as he came barreling towards her waving a piece of paper in
the air.

 "She's gone Kat!! Serina's gone!"

 Kat snatched the note from Seth and read:

  Dear Silveras,
 I am writing in regards to Serina remaining with me now that my time
 at Cleft is up. She has proven herself a valuable addition to my party.
 I have considered this decision thoroughly and I believe such a decision
 would be beneficial to us all. Serina has given me her consent to come
 with freely. I believe even for one of her years, she is mature enough
 to make this decision. I am sorry for the hasty reply, but time was of
 the essance. Be it known, that I have also sent a copy of this letter
 to Samuel, and I know he will bless this decision.

  Sincerely,
    Lord Vorbis
---

 When Kat finished the letter she wanted to rip it to shreds, but she knew
she had to save it to show her mom. Kat was not only furious, but beset by
an array of other emotions as she stared at the paper in her hand. If she
had something to throw or hit, Kat knew she would have made a mess of the
target. An unpleasent thought came to Kat then ,*Maybe I'll save such an
outburst, and when I see Vorbis again I'll mess up his face!*  Seth's voice
brought Kat out of her vengeful thoughts.

 "What are we going to do Kat? I know there were times when I greatly
disliked Serina, and wished she was else where, but I wouldn't wish her
with Vorbis! He is a lowlife. Scum. A putrid cesspit of..."

 Kat raised her hand to stop Seth. She knew her little brother could come
up with a large assortment of words to describe Vorbis and Kat probably
would agree with all of them, but they needed to find Tess.

 "What are we going to do? We are going to tell mom, then the folks here
that need to know, and then I'm going to have a talk with Davyd," said Kat.

 "Are you going to be unpleasent to Davyd because of his connection to
Vorbis, asked Seth?

 "No, I'm going to be civil with him.  I'm saving the unpleasentness for
Vorbis when I find him and bring back Serina," said Kat with intensity.

 Nothing more was exchanged between the two siblings as they quickly
left the guest apartments. Both were wrapped in there thoughts like the
puddles of water that lapped around their feet, and both shared an intensity
of emotion as furious as the falling rains.

**************
NRPG:
All: Meant to get this out the 7th, but alas it was my birthday and I
was gone. Speaking of gone, I will be gone on vacation from July 13-17th.

 Some bits I did here, didn't transist as smoothly as I would have liked
them to. From Kat helping Madyllin in office to the start of the mating
flight, or from the end of that bit to the start at the apartments. But
such is they way it goes when I'm writing some times.
 Also, I wasn't sure how many rooms the Warren's kitchen would have for
food storage. I chose to use more then one since I figure the warren and
it's people would both be of a fairly good size.

 I wanted to get the missing Serina in here. That took a bit of thought,
since Darren had her leaving on day 2, and I had completed that day before
his came out. Instead of backposting though, I decided with all the flooding
Kat and company would be to busy to notice Serina missing. In addition, the
family never sees much of Serina anyway. So a delay in them finding her
gone would work.

 Darren: As soon as she gets a chance Kat's going looking for Serina.
Perhaps if Kat is intent on getting Vorbis, Amberylle might get wind of
it and covertly want to help(that I'll leave to you if you wish to do so).
Kat will go find Davyd though so she can rant, and ask him where Vorbis is.

 Barb, Katherine, Katrina, and Alton: Those warrenfolk that Kat will tell
about Serina will be Dan'yar, Isara or Madyllin, and maybe P'ker. If any
of you wish to mention such a meeting in a post you may. I wont get to my
next post for at least a week since vacation is approaching and I wont
have access to a computer. If needs be, and time progresses ahead in the
warren while I'm gone, I will backpost since elements revolving around
recovering Serina is an important thing for the Silveras.

 That is all. It looks like the weather is going to get stormy again.

 Oh one last thing. Just checked out the awards and congratulations to
everyone!  And of course I have to add,  I won one!!! Oh wow! Since I've
been with Cleft I haven't won one. So it was great to do so. And I am glad
it was the 'Developements, Dreams... etc.' since I really liked the way it
turned out.
 Also, anyone, can I download a copy of that post from the archive, or
wherever it is, since I don't have a copy myself?  And can somebody
send me the URL. Thanks in advance.

 Finally, I would like to thank all who voted for me, and I'd like
to thank the Academy--oops sorry wrong award. [VBG]

Respectfully,
Kris B
Katrina/Azure
Seth/Alizarine

Also, Samuel,Tess and Serina






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