Rezsia awoke late that morning, but didn't get straight out of bed as was
her norm. Instead, she laid there just thinking of Ja'ks, Maeve, and herself.

She knew she loved Ja'ks; yesterday had removed all doubts. First how she
had told her secret to him, and then her long talk with Maeve had assured
her of that fact.  Yet, for all intents and purposes, the talks had only
complicated matters.

He now knew her shameful secret. She was relatively certain that wouldn't
turn him away, if she'd read his reaction right yesterday morning; but she
knew also she couldn't give him what he wanted.  He was a man passionate by
nature, as was she; yet, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she
couldn't be passionate in the way he obviously wanted, at least not at the
present time.

But Maeve could be.  Rezsia sighed, rolling onto her side and staring at the
wall there.  Maeve had proven that with her recent mating flight, something
Jezebel had never before done. She knew the talk around the warren, about
how and why Jezebel had never flown to mate; queens were expected to produce
dragons for the warren, and many believed Jezebel infertile. Another story,
which was actually rather ludicrious if one knew Jezebel, was that she
preferred female dragons to male.

Rezsia alone knew the real reason, as did Ja'ks, now.  Jezebel was trying to
save her rider as much pain as possible; refraining from flying to mate did
that.

<Rezsia?> a tired inquiry came.

*Yes?* Rezsia answered, deciding finally to get up and swung her legs around
the edge of the bed.

<I'm hungry.>

*So? Since when have you asked permission to eat?*

<Well.....I'm kind of in the mood for fish.>

*Fish?* Rezsia stood up, stretching, and thought *You want to go to the lake?*

<Yes!> came the enthusiastic reply, and Rezsia smiled, wondering if every
dragon loved the lake so much or just hers.

*Let me get dressed, and I'll be right out* Rezsia thought, and proceeded to
dress as quickly as possible, prodded every second by a very happy dragon.
Within minutes, she and Jezebel were heading toward the nearest lake,
deciding to fly instead of teleport so Jezebel could get the excercise.

As the lake came into sight, Rezsia remembered what the warrenlady had told
her and Maeve the previous day, and thought *Jezzie, could you tell Viktroy
where we are today?*

<Okay> the scarlet dragon replied, and relayed the message to the queen
dragon as they landed on the beach.  When Rezsia had dismounted, the dragon
gave a chortle of glee and lifted into the air, heading out to the deepest
part of the lake.  Folding her wings to her side and curling into a ball,
she dropped about thirty feet into the water, and Rezsia could hear the
mental shout <BANZAI!!!!>

Even from so remote a distance, Rezsia could feel the spray of water as she
laughed. *Only you could think of that* she thought, still laughing.

<Well, of course> replied the dragon smugly.  <Who else is so brilliant?>

Rezsia just shook her head, still smiling.  *Well, you can forget about
fish. You just scared them all away.*

<Oh drat!  I forgot about that> the dragon thought, disappointed.  Then she
sighed and thought <Oh well, I guess this is as much fun.>  To emphasize her
point, she began to frolic in the water, splashing around and just having fun.

Rezsia watched her dragon play for a little while, laughing at times. She
couldn't see how her dragon entertained herself at times; she just splashed
about most of the time.  She looked like a little child, the way she
splashed about.

On impulse, Rezsia decided to go for a little swim.  She looked all around
and, seeing nobody, stripped totally, laying her clothes carefully on a
nearby rock and looked for somewhere nice.  She noticed a large rock near
the end of the beach, perfect for diving, and jogged over. Climbing up the
rock, she looked into the water, trying to gauge its depth.

Satisfied it was deep enough, she leaped off the rock and sliced through the
water.  The chill water revitalized her, waking her up again, and she swam a
little farther before coming up for air. She just swam about a bit more,
then just floated, thinking; mostly about Ja'ks.


***Jezebel***

Jezebel watched as the dragon landed, his rider dismount, and headed over to
the newcomers.  She shook her arms and legs, getting most of the water off
her, and went over to the dragon.

<Hello Sprarroe> she greeted.

<*Hello Jezebel.*>

<What are you and your rider doing here?> Jezebel wondered.

<*He sometimes comes here, to think*> Sprarroe replied.  <*We didn't know
you were here though.*>

<What does your rider want to think about?>

<*Well, it seems he likes your rider, and Krith's rider, and wants to mate
with both.*> The dragon snorted. <*Humans can be so dense sometimes.  He
should just mate with both, that's what I think.  But he said humans can
only mate with one person at a time.*>

<Well, what about Amadith and Jenelader and Zenith? Their riders were all
together.>

<*Hmmm, I had forgotten about that. It would certainly work...*>

Jezebel sighed.  <But my rider wants yours to herself; she doesn't want to
share. And Krith's rider is the same way.>

Sprarroe sighed as well.  <*Like I said, humans can be very dense sometimes.*>

Jezebel could only agree.


***Rezsia***

Rezsia broke out of her thoughts long enough to notice that she was cold.
Evidently, she had been out for a while; and while the water felt good
initially, it was now a little too cold.  She rolled from her back and began
to swim back to shore, eager to put on her clothes which were hopefully warm.

She didn't notice Ja'ks standing there until she was nearly to the shore.
She noticed Sprarroe first, snuggled in with her Jezebel, then her eyes
travelled to where her clothes were, and found Ja'ks.  Angry, she thought
*Jez, why didn't you tell me?!*

<Well, you seemed perfectly content> she answered, <and anyway, Sprarroe
asked me not to. You know I can't say no to him!>

Rezsia could tell Ja'ks saw her; he was staring straight at her.  And, if
the light wasn't playing any tricks, he was grinning! She grumbled under her
breath, calling him everything she would never dare say to his face.

She swam up to the bank where she could just feel the bottom but the water
still covered her, and called, "Ja'ks! What are you doing here?"

His grin widened. "I should be asking you the same."

"I'm swimming," she replied crossly.  "What about you?"

"Just came here to think," he replied, shrugging.

"About what?"

His gaze became hooded. "Just some personal problems."

Which meant Maeve, Rezsia thought bitterly.  Not wanting to stay near him,
she said, "Could you throw me my clothes?"  Getting her dry clothes wet was
a price she'd be willing to pay to get away.

Ja'ks grinned evilly at that and lean against a nearby tree.  Rezsia called
again, "Please throw me my clothes," but to no avail; he just staid as he
was, grinning.

Inwardly, she seethed. The idiot was toying with her!  What did he expect
her to do, just walk over there and get them.....An idea formed in her head
and her eyes began to twinkle evilly.  "Ja'ks, get me my clothes or I'll get
you!" she shouted.

He just grinned more and stood there. So, acting fed up, she stomped out of
the water. Completely naked.  He just gaped as she strode up the beach, his
smile gone now.  He was also...blushing?

Rezsia, herself, was feeling more alive than ever right now. Her whole body
was tingling, no doubt due to her wet skin, and her stomach felt like it was
curdling.  His gaze wasn't doing anything to alleviate those symptoms
either; if anything, his perusal was making them worse.

She did not stop, however, until she was nose to nose with him.  "Next
time," she stated clearly, her face and body only inches away, "when I say
please, I would like to get my clothes. Understood?"

The look in his eyes unnerved her, but she kept staring at him until he
nodded.  Giving a little sniff, she turned around, bent over to retrieve her
clothing from the rock, then jogged behind a copse of trees and dressed,
determined to keep at least a shred of modesty, or the appearance of it, intact.

A minute later, finished dressing, she headed back out to Ja'ks.  He had
moved to the two dragons, and was leaning against a tree nearby the two
cuddling creatures.  He straightened as she approached, his face reddening
slightly. Remembering her actions only a minute or so earlier, she felt her
face grow hot and hoped he didn't notice. "So," she said, propping herself
on the tree with her elbow, next to him, "if you don't mind my asking,
what's your problem?"

****TAG BARB****

NRPG: Only one thing I'd like to say: Barb, what exactly is Ja'ks's
reaction!?  *AGSEIBTM*  (A Grin So Evil It Boggles The Mind*

Submitted by

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~ Sarah Pearson (isolinde@cwnet.com)            ~
* Lyonnia/Dianthus *TELNOR*; Rezsia/Jezebel     *
~ *DAERE*; Tanya/Poldera *WHITERIVER*;          ~
* Cynedra/Jakob*the dog*/Louie*the ferret*      *
~ *MYSTERRA*; Leanna Vere *USS MAGELLAN*;       ~
* Marcail/Gossamer *GEODE*; Linaya *RALENGARDE  *
~ http://www.linux.sfasu.edu/xfiles/xfrpg.html  ~
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Reality is the only obstacle to happiness."  -Anonymous-