"...and it was this big, I swear it. Finally the monster bit
through the line and swam away. I would've called Kutath in to help, 
but I was sure the thing could take him on."

        He was greeted by silence. Half of the wing had openly critical
looks on their faces; the other half, amazement that the man actually 
thought they would believe it. Gerald was smiling, about to burst out 
with laughter.

        "Ah, that wouldn't be just a little, ah, exaggerated, would 
it?" he asked.

        "Oh, maybe a little," G'ther said as he winked. Gerald was 
amazed at the change that had come over the man in the last day or so.
Once Gerald had agreed to be the candidate for Gamma wingleader, it was 
as if twenty years had dropped off the man. It did not bode well for 
being in charge, Gerald thought. As the group broke from their morning
after-practice meeting, Gerald stopped G'ther before he mounted his 
dragon.

        "You look really happy."

        "Of course I am, boy. Why would I not be? I'm enjoying my little
self-imposed vacation before I start as weaponsmaster."

        "They may not accept me, you know that."

        "I have every confidence. What's eating you?"

        "Well, its...I know what's involved, but you're acting like
there's this enormous weight off your shoulders. Is there something I
don't know about?"

        "Sure there is." G'ther motioned Gerald to move closer. 
"Responsibility," he said in an exaggerated stage whisper.

        "Responsibility?"

        "I'm getting too old for this. I can feel myself growing more
timid and conservative. An effective leader's got to be able to say 'to 
hell with it' and take chances when he feels the time is right...and I 
can't seem to tell any more. Being a wingleader at a time when wraith 
attacks are picking up, well, that's more of a young man's game. So, why
not enjoy myself? I have placed my worries with a new generation...and I
trust that the decisions you make will be good ones."

        Gerald was stupefied. "But..."

        "You're about to say that you don't have the experience. You're 
right. However, I'm betting that the mistakes you make as you learn will
be small, not huge errors that would jeapordize the wing. I trained you 
too well for that. Now then, will you be stopping by to throw that axe 
of yours?"

        "In a little while. I need to talk to the warrenlady first."

        "Oh, you do, do you? Well, have fun." G'ther left while Gerald 
stood there, trying to decipher the grin on the man's face. He and 
Jayleigh had kept things secret, hadn't they?

        *Want to fly up to the lake after I talk to Viktroy's rider?*

        <We'll be flying up to the lake TO talk to Troy's rider> Random
thought back to him.

        *She's not here? Did anyone escort her?*

        <Not that I know of. Troy's rider was upset after meeting 
Amadith's rider in the medical center.>

        *Wait...Tair'n is in the medical center? Why?*

        <He was stabbed on a personal mission last night.>

        *Is he all right?*

        <Amadith said he would pull through.>

        *When did you hear this?*

        <Last night. Troy's been saying a whole lot more to me than she 
used to, and Salanth wasn't here, so you know I had to find *some*one to 
cuddle with...it's cold out there.>

        *Uh huh. Well, let's go up to the lake...Jayleigh knows better 
than that.*

        Within seconds, the scene changed to the little open rocky area
they had visited the day before. No sign of Jayleigh.

        *Where are they?*

        <Troy is in the water, coming this way. I think I'll join her. 
Her rider is down the beach.>

        *Thanks.* Gerald dismounted, undid the saddle, and watched Random
flounder into the freezing lake water. 

        <You still haven't scrubbed my back,> Random complained.

        *I'll do it this afternoon, I promise.*

        Gerald paced down the beach, grateful for the excuse to come and 
see the warrenlady. To be honest, he wouldn't have had a good excuse to 
see her in her office...he just liked being in her presence. Shaking his 
head at the idea, he pushed back some of the browning vegetation into 
another open area. The previous day had been wonderful, but did he really 
think that she was all that interested in him? 

        Then he saw her, sitting on the beach, being held by a man
dressed all in grey, her head bowed.

        *Oh.*

        <What's wrong, my heart?>

        *She's...with someone. I don't recognize him.*

        <Troy says he is new to the warren. His name is Zert. What's wrong?>

        *I had expected her to be alone.*

        <I'm sorry, my rider. I should have told you, then.>

        He should've known. As exciting as the mating flight and yesterday's
picnic had been, he should have realized that she wasn't really all that
interested in him...just enjoying herself. Once again, his upbringing 
as a landbound had clouded his reasoning, him thinking in terms of pairing
off...wheras in a warren it was simply not like that. He turned to go, his
boot scraping on the rocky ground, the two figures looking up at him...

        "Gerald?!" Jayleigh said as she saw him...

*******************

Tag Barb! 






After wondering around for a while, looking at plant life and animals
and taking more notes, he found a secluded spot by a lake. He was just
about to settle in for a little snack and a nap when he saw the huge
shadow of a dragon fly overhead. The dragon landed on same side of the
lake as Zert, only a little further down. Looking at the two, Zert
realized that it was the Warrenlady, he would recognize that tall dark
haired beauty anywhere. She got off her dragon and sat on the ground,
holding her bowed head in her hands. Curious, he got up, collected his
stuff and walked towards her. As he got closer she looked up at him. 

'Um, are you ok ma'am?" he asked as he knelt down beside her. He could
see that see had been crying and he really didn't know what to do. So,
seeing to knife she wore and hoping he wouldn't be killed by her, he
took her in his arms and held her until she was ready to talk or push
him away or whatever.
-- 

	Respectfully submitted by:
	Allen Veazey
	wolf@dbtech.net
	Warrenlady Phaedra and Melith (Geode); Gerald and Random (Daere)
	Ash'chenon  (Telnor); B'rand and Rook (Cleft)
	Orbus of Amber (Amber)
	Geode Warren Page: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3043/crystal.html
	
     "Fortunately, ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency."
			--Foghorn Leghorn