Trevor
(Morning, Day 5)

/snip from Arlene's post/
The two dragons returned with their riders shortly after breakfast, leaving 
Ankara and her two dragons behind. 

Upon landing, Andahar turned to remove the riding leathers from Bohoc as 
Trevor removed his saddle from Trissana. No comments passed between the two 
riders. 

Trevor looked relieved when he was greeted by Cynthia, and the two strolled 
off together.
/end snip/

     "So, how was the trip?" Cynthia asked as they walked into the queen's 
chamber, en route to their own quarters.

     "Ah...fine," Trevor hedged, not knowing what to say.  He felt like he 
ought to tell her about what had happened last night between himself and 
Andahar...he *had* to tell her, in fact.  But how could he?  He didn't 
understand it himself...or maybe he just didn't want to...?

     "Cleft Warren calling Trevor!" Cynthia's voice cut through his reverie.

    "Hm...what?" he asked, blinking in surprise.

     "I've heard of a person leaving a piece of their heart someplace they've 
been," she remarked with a slight smile.  "But a piece of their mind?"

     "It was all I could leave there," he said, covering quickly for his 
lapse.  "I couldn't leave any of my heart you know...you own it all!"

     Gods, how blithely he'd said that!  And it was true, always would 
be...but...if he was reverting to what he'd always feared, did he dare to 
love her?  Did he have the right?  What would she think of him if she knew 
what he'd very nearly done last night?

     "I think you need this," Cynthia said, pressing a cup of steaming coffee 
into his hand.  "I think you and Andahar must have stayed up late carousing!" 
 She then had to clap Trevor on the back to get him over what appeared to be 
a sudden coughing fit.

     "Sorry," he said, having been taken by surprise by her statement.

     "Look, I think you'd better rest a bit," she told him, "while I go and 
deal with some of my paperwork.  Why don't you go and sit with your dragon 
for a bit, and then get some rest?  Who knows what may demand our attention 
later today?"

     "I will," he said softly, watching her head to her office.  Feeling 
numb, he turned and walked out into the dragons' part of the apartment, 
feeling more lost and confused than at any time since his joining.  

     He was almost to the ledge when he heard a voice. [My rider?]

     He stopped, turning back, and saw Trissana reclining on the huge 
dragon-couch, watching him closely. *Oh...hi.*

     She cocked her head, her blue eyes sparkling in the dim light. [Is there 
something that...well, that you would like to talk about?] she asked 
hesitantly.  

     *Well...yes...I mean, no...* Although he didn't want to say it to her, 
he doubted that someone whose mindvoice resembled that of a ten-year-old girl 
could be of much help, no matter how fond of her he might be.   *I 
mean...maybe later, okay?  You probably wouldn't be interested anyway...*

     Her eyes widened just a bit. [My rider...there is nothing you do that 
does *not* interest me,] she reminded him. [If you cannot talk to me about 
what is bothering you, then to whom could you?]

     *Well, I...* 

     [And if not now, then...when?] she demanded. [If you let yourself brood 
on this, you will seal the hurt up inside you...and getting it back out will 
hurt even more.  Varie says that that is what you used to do...that you would 
not even talk to her rider when things bothered you.]

     *Triss, talking about things doesn't always...*

     [Ooh, I have an itch that I cannot reach!  I need you to scratch it!]

     *This isn't a good time for...*

     [My rider, *no* time is a good time to have an itch!  That's why I need 
you right now!  Please?]

     Sighing, Trevor climbed up onto the couch, then made his way across its 
sandy surface to where Triss waited. *Okay, where do I need to scratch?* he 
asked.

     [Um, right under my chin would do just fine,] she said. [Oh, and here, 
you can sit on my blanket while you're doing it...] She indicated that he 
should sit down on the blanket, then curled herself around him and dipped her 
head down so that she could rest her cheek against him. [That's better!] she 
decided. [Now, please...tell me why you are feeling so bad.]

     *You don't know?* he demanded.  He slid an arm as far as it would go 
around her muzzle and patted her gently.  By now, he'd figured that her 
"itch" was just a way to get him up here with her.  

     [I know why,] she told him. [But I don't really understand it...and I 
don't think you do either.]

     *I understand perfectly!* he told her, turning to stare into one of her 
gleaming blue eyes. *And how can you say you don't??  After what Rashevon did 
to you...*

     Triss visibly flinched at the mention of that name, almost as though 
he'd struck her.  Neither of them had mentioned the black dragon's name since 
that terrible night when he'd captured Trissana and attempted to rape her. 
*I'm sorry, Cupcake,* he said softly, hugging her muzzle. *I shouldn't have 
said that.*

     [No, it is all right,] she said, nuzzling him. [He is dead now, 
and...Rashevon...is only a name.  But my rider...you and Bohoc both helped me 
realize that what he did to me was nothing to do with mating.  Neither was 
what his rider did to you.  If it was all right for me to mate with Bohoc, 
when why is it not all right for you to...]

    *Because you and Bohoc are different sexes!* he cried mentally. *Just 
like Cynthia and I are!  But Andahar and I are the same...it would be like 
you and Syren trying to...well, you know...!*

     [Dragons are different,] she admitted. [Dragons don't do that...but many 
humans do.  Many at this very warren, in fact.  Bohoc told me that among his 
rider's people, it is quite common.  Maybe it is time for you to...well, to 
think about how you feel about it.]

     *Never!* he hissed vehemently. * I will NEVER do anything like that!*

     [But you did,] she reminded him gently. [Or, at least, you came close to 
doing it.  Bohoc's rider was eager for you, or so Bohoc tells me...so it 
would not be like what was done to you and to me.  No one would have been 
hurt.]

     *Cynthia would have been hurt,* he said sadly. *She may still be, when 
she finds out about this...and Triss, you are NOT to tell Syren anything 
about this!  And tell Bohoc to keep this to himself as well!*

     [Yes, my rider,] she agreed. [But...I hate to see you do this to 
yourself!  Maybe Syren's rider could help.  She is very smart!]

     *So are you, my little Cupcake,* he told her gratefully, giving her 
muzzle another heartfelt hug. *Thank you for taking the trouble to talk to me 
about this.*

     [You are my rider, and I would do anything for you,] she said, closing 
her eyes and nuzzling him in return.

     Trevor got up. *I need to think this over,* he said. *Right now, I need 
to go and see my mother.  And then, I need to talk to Cynthia.*

     [Perhaps you should also talk to Bohoc's rider,] she suggested.

     *Yeah, I need to do that too,* he agreed.  Trevor had been in such a 
state of shock when he'd returned to the warren that he'd literally left 
Andahar without a word.  The Nomad rider was probably a bit upset at him, and 
rightly so.  But...Trevor knew he'd better get his own feelings clear before 
talking to Andahar, lest he mess things up even further.

     It was only as he was passing under the huge, arched entrance to the 
queen's quarters that something else struck him.  He turned and looked 
closely at Trissana, watching her for just a moment as she carefully moved 
her precious blanket over to the side of the bed. *You sound different,* he 
told her.  

     [Really?]

     *Well....yes, you do, all of a sudden.  You've always sounded like a 
little girl to me...but now, all of a sudden, you sound...well, I don't know, 
older...*

     She smiled at him. [Well, I can't tell any difference,] she said. [Maybe 
you're just hearing me differently.]

     Trevor thought about it for a moment, then nodded and walked out.  He 
had enough on his mind without having to puzzle *this* one out too.

* * * * * * * *
{Kellie's apartment)

     Trevor had been glad to see his mother doing better, and was grateful 
that Turner was here to take such good care of her.  Trevor doubted that he 
himself could have done as well.  

     "It will take more than a little bit of water to get rid of me," Kellie 
said, squeezing Turner's hand as she looked back and forth between her mate 
and son.

     "I'm going to hold you to that, my love!" Turner told her.
     "I will too," Trevor said.  "I'm just glad to see you looking this 
good....both of you, for that matter!"

     Trevor excused himself to try out their much talked-about bathroom.  
While he was in there, he couldn't resist trying out the pull-chain that 
activated the shower, since this one was a bit more advanced than anything 
he'd seen up to now.  He also discovered that it had more water 
pressure...and as a result, it took him a few additional minutes to dry 
himself off before he went back out into the living area to rejoin the 
others.  As he rounded the corner, he stopped abruptly...and just stared at 
the woman who'd joined Kellie and Turner there.  

     That voice...he'd swear it was her!  But how could it be?? *Triss!  
Is...?*

     [Yes!] the pearl dragon cried excitedly. [Blanchie is back!! Isn't it 
wonderful??]

 /snip from Barb's post/
  
Turner seeing the look his brother shot him stood back and waved them inside. 
"Yes she'll likely come out here by herself to see what's taking us so long 
if we're much longer." 

He led them inside and Lenna saw Kellie sitting up on the long couch in the 
living room, but a glance around the room told her the woman wasn't there 
alone.

 A voice confirmed it. "Hello Lenna....." 
/end snip/

     Lenna looked up and saw him standing in the doorway, and her eyes 
widened a bit.  "Trevor...it's good to...well, you know..."

     Despite his own current problems, all Trevor was feeling now was 
happiness and relief at seeing Lenna again.  Before he even realized what he 
was doing, he'd lifted and spun her around once before putting her down.  
"It's good to see you again!"

     "Well, I guess it's good to see you too," she said, grinning.  

     "Where have you been?" he demanded.  "We all looked for you and never 
found you!"

     Lenna blinked, then smiled faintly.  "Well, maybe you should have looked 
harder then!"

     Trevor matched her smirk.  "We looked for you so long that Trissana wore 
her wings down to the nubs.  So that means that I'll be needing a ride again 
to go out and map.  If you and Blanchie are ready..."

     "Sorry," said Lenna, "I think I must have caught a cold somewhere.  I'm 
a little *horse* this morning."

     "Well, then, let's go down to the dining hall and we'll see if they can 
spare you some hay and oats!" he told her.  

     Whatever else might happen, he knew, the warren would certainly be a 
more exciting and interesting place with Lenna a part of it once again.  

(Barb, feel free to add...and Trevor *will* pay for the food should Lenna 
actually decide to take him up on his kind offer! :)

NRPG: This one halfway catches me up...I have another post in the works, 
picking up my remaining tags and also dealing with Amar.  Hope to have it out 
by tomorrow or so.

Submitted by:

John

Trevor & Trissana
Kellie & Varie

Cleft Warren

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