[Two days after the disappearance of Zert and Maeve -- afternoon]

The warren was abuzz with rumor. All were talking about the latest
events... And, of course, the stories began to change with repetition. 
Therefore it was almost automatic for Noni to discredit the rumor that 
Zert and that Junior Queenrider, Maeve, were also gone. Soon she 
began to ponder the tale, and she arrived at the conclusion that the 
story could very well be true. After all, she hadn't known Zert to be 
overly cautious with his health and life. He may very well have 
walked himself into trouble. 

[NRPG: Yep. That's what Noni thinks. Put that ball-bat down, Mike...]

*Ammie?*

<Mmmm?> the dragon purred from her sleep. She yawned. <What's up?>

*Where's Maeve's dragon?*

Ammie paused to search. <On her ledge. She is panicking... She can't find 
her rider!>

Poor dear. So the stories must be true, then...

*Has anyone gone out to find them?*

<Yes!> Ammie exclaimed after the emphatic replies she received from other 
dragons in the warren. <No one has found her yet, though.>

Noni briefly entertained a silly notion. Herin could take care of the
center... 
Life was mostly quiet here. He wouldn't mind her absence. The silly notion 
had officially become a plan.

*Ammie, get your wings ready. We're going out into the great outdoors.*

[That night -- campsite]

The fire crackled and hissed as Noni watched it and contemplated some 
very brooding thoughts. She hadn't managed to find anything except a few 
vermin in the woods. Her only consolation was the fact that the vermin tasted

good with the local herbs. Ammie was blissfully content as she curled up near

the fire. 

<Ooooh, this is nice. You really are a good camper, my rider.>

Noni grabbed a small stick and tossed it at her dragon. The twig bounced 
off the dragon's lavender belly. 

<What?>

"Fine lot of good camping does us... We aren't here just to sleep in 
the woods... We're here to find people!"

<And we tried. And we're tired. And it's dark. We'll try again. Face 
it, there's nothing we can do tonight... except enjoy this fire.> The 
lavender creature stretched her forelimbs and legs in pleasure.

Noni sighed. Ammie was right. She sighed again. Sometimes dragons 
had everything figured out before their riders did. 

<Haven't I been telling you that all along? You ignore yet another 
pearl of dragon wisdom...>

Noni tossed another twig. "You remember that bottle of hide oil I 
have for you in our apartment?"

<Mmmm-hmm.>

*I'm going to do something foolish and give it to some other deserving 
beast.*

Ammie rolled over, put her forelimbs down in front of her and put her 
head down between them. She knew by now how to act contrite. 

"Good girl," Noni said with a thin smile. She unrolled her bedroll and 
lay down in it just as Ammie picked up her head and cocked it.

<I hear something!> She turned her head to look around the site. 
<Something's moving around our campsite!>

"Nah. Probably just a few more of the vermin we ate for supper. Relax, 
dear."

The dragon surveyed the surroundings one more time and put her head 
back down.

The next events came with no other warning.

Something whizzed from the trees and hit Ammie. Whatever it was, it 
hurt, as Ammie started screaming on contact. Noni leapt from her 
bedroll.

"AMMIE!" she screamed in terror as she saw the streams of ichor 
coming forth from a wound in the dragon's thigh... with an arrow.

The dragon began to writhe and thrash in terror, panic, and pain. Noni 
struggled to calm her soulmate with little success. Noni searched the 
dark forest with eyes desperate to find the invisible assassin.

Soon Ammie's movements became slow and her struggles became 
more labored. Her breathing slowed and her eyelids began to droop. 

<Noni.... Noni, I feel sleepy...>

---------------------------------------------------------

Clear Skies and Seas,
Paula

Noni/Ammie of Daere