(morning after Maeve's and Zert's disappearance)

*This is absolutely beyond belief. Just what the hell else can go
wrong?*

<I don't know what to tell you...I don't know why they left the warren. I
don't know why they took Krith's rider, either. I don't understand what 
Keppo's rider is thinking.>

*At least- finally! -I managed to get a decent patrol schedule out, as
well as dedicate manpower to the search. I need to talk to Jayleigh,
though...where is she at?*

<Umm...she is in the medical center with Amadith's rider.>

*Well, here's the thing that can go wrong. What happened?*

<Well, Amadith's rider hit his hatchling last night and his hatchling 
wouldn't stop bleeding, so he had to be healed. Perhaps his
snout- >

*Tair'n did **what?!** *

<Hit his hatchling. It's all right now, I heard, they healed his hatchling..
What's the matter?>

*Take.  Me.  There.* Gerald wasn't seeing the skies above Daere
anymore; in his mind's eye, he could hear the whistle and crack,
see the cane as it fell upon his shoulders and back...and above it
all, his father's face, suffused in anger, a sneer on his lips as he
raised the cane again.

[That'll teach you to laze about! I told you to get this thing built by
tonight! You worthless...pathetic...damned child!!]

The rise and fall of the cane as it moved faster...

Gerald's hands were grasping and relaxing, remembering the
fresh pain as each blow hit. Seeing the smile on Eric Cartwright's
face, the pleasure written there as he inflicted new agony.

He was off of Random's neck as soon as they touched the ground.
Near running, he barely saw people standing as he shouldered
his way through them. A turn, another turn, then Tair'n's face, looking
suprised up at him...

"You son of a bitch!" Gerald's fist pistoned forward, connected with
Tair'n's jaw. Tair'n staggered back a few steps before coming up 
against a wall. Gerald moved past a shocked Jayleigh, grabbing
the Alpha Wingleader by his tunic. 

"How does that feel, huh? Ever stop to think that Cal'an might hurt 
like that?" He had lifted the man off the ground now, held against
the wall, shaking him a little each time he emphasized a word.
"You hit a defenseless child! He can't hit you back! Did you 
enjoy it, you son of a bitch? Answer me!"

"Gerald!!" Jayleigh was pulling at his arm now, trying to lever it 
away, but his maniacal grip was like steel. 

"My father beat me bloody! Bloody! Every...damn...day!" His 
grip tightened even further, raising Tair'n's head exactly to 
eye level. "*I* know how it feels. Your son is helpless. 
*Helpless!* He can't fight you back! Think about how you 
made him suffer! Oww!!" Gerald dropped Tair'n to the floor;
Jayleigh had drawn her dagger, reversed it, and bashed his 
elbow with the hilt. He watched as some of the grogginess 
faded from the Alpha's eyes.

Tair'n spat blood, wiped his cracked lip, looked up at him.
"It's not any of your business, Gerald," he said.

"I'm *making* it my damn business! If I ever hear that you did
that to your child again, I'll-"

"You'll what? Hit me again? Fine way to treat this mouth, now 
that it knows you so intimately, lover," Tair'n said with a smile.
A smile that would freeze ice. "Or maybe you think I'd do a 
better job if I didn't have any teeth."

Rage had stopped Gerald cold; he fairly trembled with impotent
anger. Impotent, since Jayleigh had stepped between them,
even as he advanced again. "Stop it, both of you!" she cried.
"Gerald, go outside and cool off! We'll talk about this later."

"Like hell I will! Fight me, damn you!" Gerald stared into Tair'n's
eyes; he merely shrugged and smiled in distaste. 

"We can wrestle later...perhaps you can show me a few new 
holds," he said. 

It wasn't Jayleigh's presence or Tair'n's remark that held 
Gerald back at that moment; it was the sight of blood, trickling 
from his split lip and over his chin. A bloody, ghastly parody
of itself. A face that could have been Cal'an's...or had stared
back at him from his reflection too many times. Suddenly,
Gerald felt the tingle in his fist, felt the stickiness of blood on
his skin. His anger had made him strong, powerful...an instrument
to deal outf justice...

...or perhaps,  vengeance.

"Dearest gods," he breathed. He was just like his father. Exactly
like him. He had lost his temper, one that he didn't know he had.
He wasn't fighting for a contest, now...he had fought in anger, had
cared for nothing but pushing in Tair'n's face. He turned on his
heel, stalked out. He ignored the people who hurried out of his
way as he passed, even those who smiled in satisfaction at
Tair'n's jaw; a mouse was already forming.

*Gods...Random!!*

<I'm coming, I'm coming, why did you do that to Amadith's rider?>

*He deserved...Gods, he didn't! I don't know! Just take me out of
here, I've got to get away and think.*

<If you ask me, rider against rider is as bad as dragon against
dragon.>

*I didn't ask you. Take me the hell out of here.* A few beats later,
they blinked out of the sky...
__________________________

He won't be gone long, just enough to get over his remorse at hitting
a person in anger for the first time since his childhood...expect some
memory- and soul- searching, too.

Barb...you wanted another bomb? There ya go :)

Gerald and Random







Allen Veazey
wolf@dbtech.net
	
	"I'm not really bad, I'm just drawn that way."
			--Jessica Rabbit