Day 2
Morning.

----Seth---

 The wraith bore down on the two from above and behind. Being small in
stature, Alizarine was able to quickly twist and rake the creature with his
dragon flame. Seth cheered, but the victory was short. Another wraith surged
up from below. Unable to avoid this attack, Seth flinched as he waited for
the wraith to hit. When it did, it caught Seth on his neck and cheek. The
touch however, was not hot and burning as Seth thought it was suppose to be,
it was cool and dry. Before Seth had time to ponder this revelation, the
creature came at him again with such strength and substance, that Seth
found himself falling....

 Seth awoke as he landed with a thump on the floor near his bed. "What..."

 <My rider, are you alright>?

 As Seth looked up, he saw the red and purple snout of Liz peer at him from
over the edge of the bed. To Seth, the intense, almost human look of concern
that covered the young dragon's face looked so awkward on Liz's draconian
visage that Seth covered his mouth to hide a smile.

 <My rider, you were so deep in sleep, that I could not get through to you
with mindspeech. I intended to wake you with a nudge. I didn't mean to push
so hard. I am so sorry. Are you alright>?

 Seth, still seated on the floor, felt like playing around with this mishap.

 <I think I'm ok. Let me try a couple steps>.

 Seth got up, winced, and leaned against his bed as he replied, <Oooh, ouch.
I think hurt my leg>.

 With sincerety Liz replied,<I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push so hard. You
must get to the med center. I can call...> began Liz, but then paused as he
noted he felt no pain from his rider. Briefly, Liz considered exposing his
rider's ploy, but changed his mind.

 <Well, since your leg is hurt, you can't mount, so I'll put in that call for
someone to come and get you. Then, since I'm not allowed in the med center,
I'll have to busy myself with something else. What is a shame though, is that
you will probably be held at that center for a while, so I'll have to pick
up the package myself. Now, I'm sure the proprietors will recognize me, but
since
I can't mindspeak to them, maybe I'll get the wrong package>.

 Seth more out of curiosity then anything else replied,<What are you on
about Liz? What package? My birthday is still a couple weeks a way. So, if
I'm not expecting anything, what is this supposed package>?

 <Why our new saddle of course. Remember, you ordered it yourself. You know,
you really should keep up on things better. Anyway, with your leg, you are
in no shape to get the saddle now. But don't worry, I'll take care of it>.

 Motivated at the prospect of the new saddle, Seth replied, <Thanks Liz, but
you know, I'm feeling better. I must of just pulled something, or perhaps my
leg was only asleep>.

 As Seth got up from his bed to show he was indeed fine, he saw Liz cock
his head to the side with a draconian equivalent of a smile upon it. Seth
laughed and sent,<Of course, I should have known you knew all along. I can't
put much by you. Well, let's be off then>.

****************
Still day 2. Mid-Morning
Cleft Green

----Katrina-----

 Katrina returned from doing tactical maneuvers with Beta wing. After she
made a promise to Azure to oil her today, Kat decided to get a bite to eat.
Her plans were disrupted though by the frantic mindvoice of Azure.

 <Falorin's rider has Ayesha's rider at knife point near the med center>!

 "Falorin 's rider! You know, I always thought Feysal was a bad seed,"
said Kat to herself as she hurried for the med center. As she ran, she
check the daggers strapped across her torso. If she was needed to intervene,
she could help without hurting the lad. If position and distance were right,
she could use her keen marksmenship to merely disarm Feysal with a dagger.

 When Kat arrived at the med center however, her talent wasn't needed, since
Andahar had managed to capture Feysal attention. As the exchange between
Andahar and Feysal continued, Kat couldn't help but note that there seemed
to be more going on with Feysal then what was readly apparent. Before Kat
had anymore thoughts on the subject she heard Azure.

 <I have bespoke some of the other dragons and it is rumored that Falorin
said that his rider was acting oddly earlier. Likewise, Alizarine said that
earlier this morn your sibling went to see if Ayesha's rider needed him for
any errands and she was quite irate to him. Your sibling was startled by that
reaction since Ayesha's rider is not usually like that to him>.

 <Where is Seth now>, asked Kat as she thought about Azure's words
about rumors of unusual behaviors.

 <He is out of the Warren>.

 <Did he have a courier job>?

 <No. His new saddle for Alizarine was finished. So the two of them went to
try it out. The two are not far off. They are just out flying near river. Do
you want me to call them back?>

 Kat was about to reply 'yes', but paused as she thought about how Seth
would be quite put out with her if she called him back. He might even decide
to retaliate by refusing Kat's request just to erk her. And Kat wouldn't be
surprised by that since Seth was approaching that age of rebellion. Kat
sighed. She almost wished Tess or Samuel were around so she wouldn't have
to deal with an adolescent Seth when the time came.

 <You know, you should be glad at that oppurtunity. It could be good
practice for when you have your own young ones.>

 <Oh, don't start that again Azure>, replied Kat as she recalled how Azure
was going on about mates and hatchlings a couple days ago.

 Azure however did not continue that train of thought. Instead, the
iridescent blue again asked Kat about recalling Seth and Liz. Kat decided
to let her brother and his dragon remain where they were. Liz could provide
Seth with a good deal of protection. And Seth wasn't completely without
caution. Kat did however ask Azure to keep in contact with Liz, just in
case trouble happened along. With that matter resolved, Kat returned her
attention to the happenings which had brought her to the med center.

 When Kat came out of her exchanges with Azure, Feysal was unconscious
and Andahar was cusing at Maddy. Kat also remained during the conversation
between Trevor, Cynthia, and Andahar. Which ended with Andahar storming
off. Andahar's volatile behavior so soon after Feysal made Kat think back to
Azure's words just moments ago. Then, when Kat caught Cynthia's 'Is everyone
mad' phrase, she found herself wondering that as well. Kat also felt an
inclination to either club Feysal and Andahar, or turn them into pincusions
with her daggers to bring them to their senses.

 <My rider! Don't tell me, you've caught it to>?

 <No. I'm fine Azure. That thought was merely an offhanded response on my
part. Maybe these off behaviors don't mean much. Maybe everyone is just
having an off day. Then again maybe not. I suppose I could keep an eye out
for any more incidents, or quietly ask around>.

 <Can you do that after you oil me. You said you'd oil me. And I need it>.

 <Sure. First I think I'll grab something eat. I'll bring it with me to
the apartment and we can get you oiled after that>, replied Kat as she
headed away from the med center.

*********************
Later that afternoon
Ledge outside Katrina's apartment.

 Motivated by guilt at Azure's bedraggled state when she started oiling her,
Kat went about the task with extra care. She even broke down and gave one of
the cookies she had brought with her from the dining hall to the sweet
tooth Azure. Azure of course loved every minute of extra attention.

 <My rider this is wonderful. You have done a meticulous job on my body.
Now, don't forget the wings>, sent the iridescent blue as she extended a
wing. A wing which would have knocked Kat over if she hadn't ducked.

 As Kat set to work on a wing, Azure added,<Do you think you could
polish my talons too>?

 Kat looked up from under a wing to see her dragon looking at her razor
sharp claws, or talons, as Azure refered to them. The dark haired rider
shook her head and rolled her eyes in exasperation at Azure's latest
request. But before Kat replied, Azure dropped her paw, swung her massive
head around, and gave Kat a grave look.

 <It has happened again. It is Sylois and Bohoc's riders in the med center.
It's bad, we got to go>!

 Kat looked at a saddless and still damp with oil Azure. To speed things up,
Kat took one of the unused oil rags and threw it over Azure. Once she climbed
on, she twisted another rag and wrapped it around one of Azure's neck ridges
so she had something to hold onto. The two then took to the air.

 By the time Katrina arrived to join the other gathered rider, Reain was
injuried and Andahar was in a rage. *Enraged. Just like Feysal,* thought
Kat to herself. Moments later Andahar stormed right past her. When he
passed her, Kat caught a glimpse of the wild look that covered the Nomad's
visage and shuddered. Another thing Kat did out of concern at Andahar's
behavior was ask Azure if Seth and Liz had returned from their excursion by
the river. And Kat was relieved to discover the two had returned while she
had been oiling Azure.

 Soon after Andahar ran off, and Cynthia assigned her to keep watch with
Dan'yar over Saleh, Kat wondered about what had occured earlier. Delayed by
her oiling task, Kat had missed the start of the incident with Reain and
Andahar. So before the rest of the other riders left, she asked around until
she discovered what had happened. The revelation that Reain had tried to
murder Saleh and Andahar's babes troubled her. Now Kat had to admit she
didn't know Reain well, but she didn't think the woman would do such a thing.
Besides, didn't Reain have a little one herself? So why would she do such a
thing to another's little ones?

 Kat sighed. She knew only the barest of facts about the disharmonious
relationships between Saleh, Reain and Andahar. Still, the thought of
innocent babies be murder as a form of retaliation seemed extreme. Such a
thought brought to mind Cynthia's words from earlier about 'Everyone being
mad'. At that recollection, Kat ran a hand across the silver streak in her
hair as she added an uneasy thought of her own,*Could things get any worse.*

****************************
NRPG:
All: Short, and I don't believe one of my better posts. I hope I got the
times right. I believe the coming of the Nomads would follow this. I'm
looking foward to that and the wraiths as well.

BTW: My alternative title was going to be 'By The Pricking Of My Thumb', but
I didn't think I should plagiarize. <G>
------
Respectfully,
Kris B
Katrina/Azure
Seth/Alizarine

Also: Samuel, Tess and Serina Silvera.
Cleft Warren



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