Day 3
Late Afternoon

The wraiths were swarming in patterns that Bohoc had never before
encountered.  It was as if they "knew" what they were doing, and not just
mindlessly feeding or fleeing.  He had driven wraiths before him many times,
and was familiar with their two modes of existence.  They either fed on the
biological material before them, or they fled from dragonfire, one of the
few enemies that they had.  These wraiths, though, attacked the dragons as
if they had a purpose!

But suddenly there was a change in the wraiths... they were disorganized,
some fleeing, some stopping to graze... why?

<It is Triss, my rider!  She's disrupting wraiths!>  Bohoc cried as he dove
to flame a small horde, but as he turned to thank the pearlescent female he
noticed that her flight pattern was erratic... and then that she was
dropping!  Breaking away from the Cleft defenses, Bohoc turned swiftly
towards his friend.

Andahar could see Trevor waving, <*Bohoc!  We have to do something to help!
Triss is out of control!*>

<I know!  but... we'll never reach her... unless...>  Bohoc sent a mental
image to Andahar showing Trissana only feet away instead of yards.  Andahar
immediately understood and, holding the image in his mind, they teleported.

In the beat of a wing, they were only a few feet from the plummeting dragon
and rider.  <TRISS!>  Bohoc mind shouted.  He had a flashback of the mating
flight where Triss had similarly been falling out of control.  Her mind was
as blank as if she were asleep!

Bohoc matched her rate of fall, and knew that they had only seconds before
it would be too late to prevent a fatal accident.  If he went below Triss,
she'd crush Andahar... if he want above, Trevor would have the same fate!
What could he do?  He was now falling nose to nose with Triss and he
recalled the kissing lessons that they had previously enjoyed.

The kiss sparked a memory in Andahar of a legend about a the daughter of a
chieftain who had fallen under an enchantment.  Only the kiss of a brave man
would awaken her.

<Well.. it can't hurt!>  Bohoc brought his lips against hers and mind
shouted directly at her, <TRISSANA WAKE UP!>

A huge shudder went through Triss as she felt the warm, familiar pressure of
Bohoc's snout pressing against hers, his tongue pushing in to twine with
hers.  A spark of awareness spread outward from that contact, and she became
dimly aware of her rider's mindshouts...and she became aware of the awful
burning pain that lanced through her head every time she even tried to
think.  <It hurts!> she cried, then gasped as her attempt to mindspeak sent
a fresh wave of pain surging through her head.

<It's going to hurt a lot more when you hit the ground!  Now wake up!>
Bohoc responded.

Triss moaned, but automatically started to beat her wings.  Slowly,
erratically, she regained something like level flight.  But so great was the
pain in her head that she couldn't open her eyes to see where she was.  She
passed this along to Bohoc, despite the pain that mindspeech caused her
right now.

Bohoc somehow managed to stay with Triss as she swerved and pitched.
Stunned to realize that she couldn't navigate without sight, yet needed to
land before she started another tumble, Bohoc sent a steady stream of
pictures at her, guiding her slowly to the sand below.  It was a bumpy
landing, but they did it... only to note the wraiths moving into position to
attack.

<Thank you!> Triss mindwhispered at Bohoc, ignoring the pain it caused her.
She stretched her neck to nuzzle him gratefully as she felt her rider
dismount from her back.  <Hurry, go...before the wraiths...attack...it's
safer...in the...air!>

Bohoc hesitated only a moment.  Yes it was safer in the air, but more
importantly, he could protect Triss from any wraiths that might come after
her.  <I will not abandon you, Triss!  If I have to give my last flame for
you, I shall!>  And with that Bohoc leapt into the air and, with a roar,
aimed straight towards the oncoming wraith.

*****
Respectfully submitted by
Arlene Jacobs
AKA Andhar of Anavasha, rider of Bohoc of Cleft Warren.

With thanks to John Pepper for his writing Trissana's reactions to the kiss.



 

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