Day 4

Madyllin stifled a groan and forced herself to get up.  I canât believe I
actually slept on the floor, she thought.  And in my clothes, moreover.  Of
course, she wasnât the only one.  Virtually everyone who had quarters on the
lower levels of the warren had had to find some sort of makeshift sleeping
arrangements last night.  Madyllin had made sure she found a place to sleep
where there was access to the warrenâs inner steps - she wasnât about to get
caught if Ayesha was still unwilling to move herself.

Quietly, she slipped out of the room and down those stairs.  There was still
plenty of extra work due to the flood - and with Kellie in the Med Center,
Cynthia would likely be distracted and need more help.  

Standing at the bottom of the steps, Madyllin gazed at the Warren in dismay. 
Though most of the water had drained away, the lower levels looked like hell. 
Mud, silt and other debris had been left in every corner possible.  There was
going to be a lot of work to do to get the place cleaned up.

Madyllin slipped into the Dining Hall to grab at least a quick cup of coffee
before Ayesha woke up and she had to get back to work.  She noticed Cynthia
sitting at a table with Katrina and moved to avoid them.  She knew Kat was
worried about her sister, and thought she had gone with Vorbis.  Madyllin
didnât know Vorbis that well, but she knew if he had taken the young Silvera,
it was already too late.  Not knowing what she could say that would make Kat
feel better and feeling somehow guilty by association, she chose to avoid her
- at least for now.

Sipping at her coffee, Madyllin was aware of Ayesha stretching and coming
fully awake.  She was somewhat startled by the unladylike snarl of hunger
coming from her dragon.  Although, she thought, after yesterday, Ayesha had
almost certainly earned that hunger.  Blushing with the sudden wayward trend
of her thoughts, Madyllin quickly finished the coffee and headed out of the
Dining Hall.  This would be a good time to start inventory so they could
determine how much the warren would need to replace flood losses.  

It didnât take her too long to find the paperwork.  Despite the urgency, the
packing had been reasonably well done.  Grabbing up the sheaf of papers, she
headed off to the storage caverns to get some work done.  Along the way she
ran into the other queenrider.  Isara looked altogether too cheerful for this
hour of the morning - and she, apparently had access to clean and dry clothes
that fit her.  Madyllin stifled both a sigh and a snarl.  

ăMorning, Isara,ä she said, almost managing a pleasant tone.

ăMorning, Madyllin.  I look for you.  Andorra ask question, need dragonrider
answer.ä  Isara turned and pointed at the other Nomad woman who had been
following her.  The woman stood, anxiously waiting for Isara to return to her.
 Despite her anxiety, though, she fairly glowed.  Isara continued.  ăWe not
know what woman wear for dragonrider wedding.ä

Wedding? Madyllin nearly choked with laughter, but managed to turn it only
into a smile.  Had no one explained to Isara that riders did not marry?  Or
possibly, the Nomad simply hadnât understood the admittedly subtle differences
between marriage and the mating of riders.  

ăMay I ask who Andorra is marrying?ä

While Isara told her story of Andorra and the blaster, Nikol, Madyllin
covertly watched the Nomad woman.  Never mind that she was a savage - it was
clear from looking at her that she loved this man - and judging by the look on
her face, that he loved her in return.  She knew for certain that she wasnât
going to be the one to tell her the truth.

ăCynthia will have to approve this - uh, as tribe leader.ä  When Isara nodded
complacently, Madyllin knew she was on the right track.  ăSince you understand
better what Andorra expects, Iâll let you do the talking.  Besides, Iâm going
to have to get to work on this inventory.ä

Isara nodded and they headed for Andorra to escort her to the Warrenladyâs
office.  Madyllin left them at the door and tried once again to get to work. 
Unfortunately,  she was unable to  resist the temptation to stop in her
quarters.  Maybe, just maybe, there would be something to wear that had
escaped the flood.  

Standing at the doorway to her quarters, though, Madyllin realized that this
was a futile hope.  The place was a wreck.  Forlornly, she wandered about her
rooms, cataloguing what was damaged beyond hope and what might still be
salvaged.  Most of the furniture was solidly made - but the couch cushions and
the bedding were a lost cause.  Steeling herself against the tears that
threatened, Madyllin reminded herself that they were only warren supplies and
easily replaced.  It wasnât like they were anything irreplaceable.  It was
then that she turned and saw that the long shelf on which she had placed her
figurine collection was empty.  Swept clean in the flood, apparently.  She
took several deep breaths to try and keep from crying, but it just wasnât
working.  Realizing that no one could see her anyway, she surrendered.
<My rider, have you SEEN the Hatching Grounds?>

Madyllin jerked out of her grief at the sound of her queen.  Finding that
Lonnieâs tunic that she still wore had large pockets, she stowed the papers
away and wiped her face.  She was a queenrider and a DâAvorre, she was NOT
going to sob here like some half-witted scullery maid!

<No, darling, I havenât.  Is there a problem?>

<Come and see.>

The hatching cavern was close by, thankfully and Madyllin got there quickly. 
Not surprisingly, it was as messy as the rest of the warren.  Madyllin sighed
and took stock of the damage.  The walls could be swept down without too much
trouble and there wasnât too much mud to clear out.  Really, it wasnât that bad.

<Not that BAD?????>

<Ayesha, dear, must you shout?>

<Feel the sands.>

Obedient to her queenâs demands, Madyllin knelt down and placed a hand on the
sands of the cavern.  It was cold and terribly damp.  She winced.  This was
going to be harder to fix. 

<I CANNOT lay my eggs here.  This is absolutely intolerable.  The sands are
wet - soaking wet and I have eggs to lay.  This must be fixed - at once.  I ->

<Shhh.  There now, donât upset yourself, it canât be good for the eggs.  I
will go talk to Danâyar and we will fix it.>

<There isnât that much time.>

<Look, the upper green didnât get wet and the sun is shining nicely.  Why
donât you go soak up some nice warm sunshine and find a cuddle partner. 
Youâll feel better and I will take care of the sands.>

Snorting in irritation, Ayesha lifted off.  Madyllin watched her go,
backwinging to land neatly on the green.  She rubbed her temples to ease the
headache that was beginning and headed off to find Danâyar.  She found him
talking to the blaster, Nikol. 

"Dan'yar if you've a moment."

As she approached Madyllin noticed several Nomads standing with Nikol.  Among
them was Andahar.  Judging by the looks passing between them, the woman behind
him was his mate.  Madyllin felt the heat rise in her face at the idea of
facing his mate.  It was all well and good to talk of mating flights as no big
deal in theory, but in practice, it just wasnât that easy.

"What can I do for you this fine morning Lady Maddy?" he asked, wondering at
the blush on her cheeks then remembered the mating flight...And who had won
her.. 

"Dan'yar I just did a quick inspection of the hatching grounds with my Queen
and she's in a snit because the sands are all still wet" Maddy told him with
a frown, ignoring the tall nomad standing there with the others.  

"I hadn't even thought about that," he confessed with a frown of his own.
"I'll see what I can do about getting some riders to start working on
getting it replaced with new sand.. or seeing if the dragons can dry it out
by flaming it."

"Well here's a couple of riders who don't look to busy right now," Maddy's
lips turned up in a secretive grin. One Dan'yar thought could have matched
one of Lenna's on a good day. 

"Sorry.. But I've need of them today," he spoke up quickly before she could
say anything. "I asked them here to act as escort for those needing to go
into Ralengarde to get some replacement supplies for Nikol here."

"Why do Lonnie and B`rand need to go with them?" she asked with a slight
pout on her face, that made Dan'yar wonder what his younger brother had done
now to piss her off. "I see two dragons here already. Can't they take Nikol
into the city for what he needs?"

"They could," Dan'yar said slowly. "But Out of the four of them, Nikol is
the only one who has been in a city of that size... and I would feel better
if Lonnie and B`rand went with them to make sure there wasn't any trouble
for the people seeing nomads for the first time..."

"No all right," Maddy agreed. "But they better remember they have work to do
here and had better not stay all day there playing around!"

This last was directed strait at Lonnie, who stood there seething and trying
hard not to let it show that her words had gotten to him. 

"I am first and foremost a dragonrider of this Warren. My .. Lady..." he
said, trying to keep the irritation out of his tone. "I do what I am asked
when I am asked and ..."

"And you had better get everyone on their dragons and ready to go," Dan'yar
broke in and then took hold of the Queenriders arm and began to lead her
away. "We've still a lot of cleaning up around here to do when you get back."
<end snip>

Madyllin let Danâyar lead her away, appalled at what she had just said.  What
was it about Lonnie that brought out the worst in her?  Annoying he might be,
but he certainly didnât deserve her snipping.  She held up a hand before
Danâyar could say anything.

ăI know, that was rude. Iâll apologize when he returns, I promise.ä  She
sighed.  ăI must be letting Ayesha get to me today.ä 
Danâyar nodded.  ăIâll send some riders over there before I leave myself. In
the meantime...ä

Madyllin interrupted.  ăI should go find something to do away from people
before I offend the entire warren?ä  She grinned to soften this statement and
dug out the inventory papers.  ăI think Iâll go hide in the storage rooms and
get some work done.ä

Danâyar smiled and waved as Madyllin headed off - finally - to start her work
of the morning.

__________________________________________________________________
Katrina

Ok, Maddy is a bit snappish, but if anyone wants her, sheâs in the storage
rooms.  :)