Nefiri awoke with a start, a montage of frequencies surrounding her, some
of the tones impossibly high and piercing her skull.  She clamped her hands
over her ears as she tried to muffle the dragons' death knoll.

	**Danavin!  What's happened?**

	<A healer has died.  His dragon suicided.>

	**A healer?!  Not that girl...**

	<No, another.  We did not know him.>

	The keening began to fade, and finally she was able to lower her hands.  An
ache started at the base of her skull, and within seconds had wound it's
pound to her temples, and into her sinus cavity.  She moaned in pain and
rolled onto her side hoping it would ease the sense of pressure in her ear
canals.

	<I am sorry.  There wasn't any time to warn you.>

	**It's alright.**

	She opened her eyes and saw her friend crowding into the apartment's
doorway, her neck reaching in so she could see her rider.

	**You're going to get your head stuck again!**

	<No, these doorframes are wider than our last warren's.  I can just squeeze
it through.> Nefiri began to giggle as she remembered the day Danavin had
reached her head into the apartment to see her rider and then couldn't get
it out.  They'd had to call for help and knock out part of the wall to free her.

	Another spike of pain shot through her head and she cringed.

	**Oh!  Don't make me laugh, it hurts!**

	Danavin rumbled in her dragon equivalent of laughter.

	<I'm glad your humor is intact.  And I hope you are well-rested, because a
lot has already happened and more will happen today.> The redhead quickly
sobered.

	**Janellee.**

	<That is one thing.>

	**What else is there?**

	<Official explanations for the healer's rescue.  Jayleigh has already asked
to see us.  The matter of our being improperly equipped last evening, for
which you _know_ that we'll get a reprimand!  I only hope that in light of
the rescue they will be lenient.  We'll probably have to deal with Zert
today, too.> Nefiri groaned and threw a pillow at the dragon.

	**How long have we been here?**

	<One day.>

	"I am in some kind of hell," Nefiri said, reaching her arms toward the
ceiling as she stretched.  "I don't know what kind is it, but I'm there."

	She rose and bathed quickly, changing the dressing for her leg wound and
then mulling over what to wear to her interview with Jayleigh.  On Danavin's
advice she settled on a long fitted dress, dark purple and sleeveless.

	<If you're on leave, you might as well dress nicely,> the dragon explained,
and then they flew quickly to the feeding grounds so she could hunt a meal.

	Nefiri sat on the grass, letting the air dry her hair while she watched her
friend gracefully bring down a deer, trying to hide the despair that was
forming in the pit of her stomach as she considered her options in dealing
with Janellee.

	<You're thinking about the slave girl, aren't you?>

	**I guess I know better than to try and deny it.**

	<You do.>

	**I was thinking that we could let her live.**

	<My human, I don't think that is a viable option.>

	**Why not?  We could explain the situation to her.**

	<And in doing so, you would be putting not only her life in danger, but
those of her family as well.>

	**Ok.  Then what if we convince her to stay in the warren?**

	<It is still the same situation.  If you tell her, it places her in danger.
If you don't, you risk placing yourself in danger, and I won't permit that.>

	**I suppose she's too old to stand on the sands.**

	<I doubt she would make a good rider, anyway.  Too fragile.> Danavin
launched herself unexpectedly and quickly brought down another deer, a bit
violently this time.

	**That was rough.  What's wrong?** The pale one quit eating and looked at
her rider from across the field.

	<I don't like the way that you are trying to talk yourself out of the
necessity of killing this girl.>

	**But what if it's not a necessity?!**

	<Okay, for the sake of argument, lets say you could tell her everything,
and send her home, and you would not be in any danger.  But what about Bren?
Would you risk his life just so this girl could live?>

	Nefiri began to cry, suddenly feeling helpless.  Danavin left the carcass,
flying over to her rider and settling close.

	<Please don't cry.  I don't want you to cry.>

	**I hate this!**

	<I know, beloved.>

	She sniffled, and angrily wiped the moisture from her face, getting herself
under control.

	**I'll use a beppa root.  She'll just fall asleep and...  They'll blame it
on her injuries, and if they don't, it's traceless.  She won't suffer.**

	Danavin nuzzled her rider, then lifted her head to look back at the warren
proper.

	**What is it?**

	<Vicktroy has informed me that her rider had something come up
unexpectedly, so there will be a delay before we can meet with her.  She
said that the healer Kizera recommended us to the Warrenlady to work with
one of the patients while we're on leave, and has asked that we check in on
her at the med center this morning so that we can give Jayleigh a report on
her condition.>

	**Who's the patient?**

	<Alustriel's rider, Fae'Rhee.  Troy said it's important that the girl
recovers.>

	**I'm not a healer!  What good do they think I can do?**

	<Us, my rider.  They want both of us to work with the pair.  We can find
out the details when we get there.>

	Danavin took her rider to the med center, dropping her off at the entrance
and then going to Alustriel where she next to the side of the building.  The
pale one settled down next to the younger female, extending a wing over her
protectively.

	<She says her rider is ill with fever, and is not thinking clearly.>

	Nefiri left them and entered the building, making her way to the duty
station.  The clerk gave her directions to Fae'Rhee's room, when she heard
commotion from up ahead.

	>"Dragon! Zert dragon!"

	**What in the world...**

	>"Zert dragon!"

	She watched as a healer scurried into the room.

	>"What is going on in here?"

	>"Zert! Dragon!"

	>"Zert, are you Zert?"

	Nefiri stopped a few doors down, leaned against the wall as she listened.

	>"I have orders that you aren't supposed to be in here. I want you to leave
now."

	**Oh, this is just great!  How could this girl possibly know that he's a
dragon?**

	She watched Zert walk out of the room, his face pale.  He paused, then
turned away from her and turned down another corridor.  He didn't seem to
notice her a few meters away.  The voices resumed as she began moving again.

	>"Dragon,"

	>"He's gone now you can relax. You shouldn't upset yourself so."

	>"Fire,"

	>"Yes, your temperature is way up again,"

	**That's not what she's talking about, you twit.**  She thought to herself,
hand on the door.

	>He was about to give her a sedative when the door opened and a rather
large redheaded woman entered the room. Fae'Rhee tensed reflexively and then
relaxed slightly as she saw it wasn't Zert.

	>"I'm Nefiri. Jayleigh sent me here to talk with Fae'Rhee."

	>The healer nodded, "Got here just in time," he said, putting the syringe
away, "She's been going on about Zert and dragons."

	>"I see," Nefiri said, "Now why don't you tell me what this is all about."

	>Fae'Rhee licked her dry lips and the healer poured a glass of water and
helped the raven haired patient take a drink. Her eyes darted nervously at
the healer.

	>"Why don't you let us alone to talk?" Nefiri suggested, noticing the look.

	>The healer left as he began scrawling something down on some paper.
Fae'Rhee flinched again as the door slammed closed.

	>"Now, why don't you tell me what this is all about. You have the healers
here and Jayleigh awfully concerned."

	>"Zert is a dragon. I know it."

	>"How?" Nefiri asked.

	>Fae'Rhee began to tell Nefiri all about the dream and how it kept playing
over and over again in her head. "...and he turned into a dragon and
breathed fire on me."

	**Actually, it's more like a purple flash...**

	>"Please," Fae'Rhee begged, "Nobody believes. Please believe me."

	"Ok, now.  Sssshhhh..."  Nefiri touched the girl's brow gently, pushing
back the dark strands of hair.  "We can talk about this.  But only if your
promise to try and not get so upset."  Fae'Rhee nodded.

	"He's a dragon..." she whispered.

	"How well do you know Zert, Fae'Rhee?"

	"He...he...he's my mate."  Fae'Rhee closed her eyes a moment, for which
Nefiri was grateful as that unexpected revelation caused her eyes to widen
in shock.

	**WHOA!**

	<That's something I've not heard of before...>

	Nefiri managed to recompose herself before Fae'Rhee noticed, and lowered
her voice to soothing tones.

	"Tell me about him."

	(Tag: Morgan!)

	She listened as Fae'Rhee talked, and it seemed to calm the girl.  She even
smiled at one point.

	**You know, I can understand the dragon-human-dragon part.  Really I can.
But how in the world does he manage to couple with a human female?**

	<Magic can do wonderous things.>

	**That kind of wonder I'd pay to see!  Maybe you could ask him how he
changes and add a new dimension to our relationship...**  She returned her
full attention to her ward.

	"Tell me, Fae'Rhee, if Zert really were a dragon, why wouldn't he tell you?"

	"I...fear, maybe?  Maybe he thinks I would reject him?"

	"Would you?"

	"Oh...I...I don't know.  It would...Oh!"  Fae'Rhee began to chew on her lip
in frustration.

	"Tell you what," Nefiri dramatized a thoughtful pose, wanting to be certain
she had the girl's attention.  "If you concentrate on getting better, when
you're released from here we'll sit down and talk to Zert about this.  Seems
to me that the only way to know for certain is to ask him, right?"

	Fae'Rhee relaxed, thoughtful.

	"Yes, I guess so.  But...what if he tries to hurt me?  Tries to flame me
like in my dream?"

	"I will not let that happen, Fae'Rhee.  I will not let him harm you."

	"Or Alustriel?"

	"Or Alustriel.  I promise."

	For some reason Nefiri couldn't figure out, that seemed to console Fae'Rhee
more than any affirmations of belief might have.

	"Will you stay with me?" she asked, her eyes widening again.

	"Just a bit longer, sweet.  I have to meet with Warrenlady soon."

	"Alright," she nodded, closing her eyes and within minutes, falling asleep.

	Nefiri sat with her a few moments, watching the rise and fall of her chest,
content in her instinct that this sleep, at least, would be peaceful for the
girl.  She looked full grown, but there was something about her, like she
needed to be protected.  Maybe that was why Zert had taken up with her, so
he could protect her.

	She sighed, and quietly left the room.  She slowly made her way out of the
med center, and over to the two dragons.  Alustriel regarded the human, and
Nefiri reached out to stroke the younger one's muzzle.

	<She is more peaceful now.  She says her rider has calmed since talking to
you.>

	**Good.  Does she know about Zert?**

	<I can't tell.  She can only focus on her rider at this point.  Perhaps
later we can ask her about Zert.>

	**She understands that we have to go now?**

	<Yes, she knows Jayleigh is ready to see us.  She'll tell me if something
happens.>

	Danavin flew her rider the short distance to save her leg the strain of
walking, and Nefiri lurched her way the remainder to the Warrenlady's
office, pausing outside the door at the sound of voices inside.  She placed
a hand in a knock position, but held it back, leaning closer to hear what
was being said.

	"Did Fae'Rhee say anything to you that might indicate what has gotten her
so upset?"

	"No, no she said nothing."  She recognized Zert's voice.

	"I don't know what has come over this Warren in the last few days."  There
was a pause and the sound of someone walking across the room, when the
female voice resumed.

	"Kizera requested that we assign one of the riders to work with Fae'Rhee
and Alustriel.  She recommended Danavin's rider, the girl you met last
night.  I happen..."

	The sound of somebody coming up the stairs prompted Nefiri to knock on the
door, breaking into the conversation.

	"Enter!"

	She opened the door and stepped inside, smiling.  Zert was leaning against
a bookcase by the wall, his arms crossed and a thoughtful wrinkle on his
brow.  The woman was standing behind the desk, and she recognized Jayleigh's
dark features, having seen her in the dining hall during the prior evenings
festivities.

	"You must be Nefiri," she said, coming around the desk to greet her.  "I'm
Jayleigh.  I believe you already know Zert?"

	"Yes, M'Lady.  I hope you rested well, Zert, after last night's ordeal."
She said pleasantly.  He shifted uncomfortably, only nodding while his gaze
became more probing.  Jayleigh glanced between the two of them, then proceeded.

	"I got the med center's report that included your injury.  How are you
feeling?"

	"Better, thank you."  The Warrenlady returned to her seated postion behind
her desk, and Nefiri sat in one of the other chairs.

	"Have you had a chance to check on Fae'Rhee?  How is she?"

	"She's doing better.  I just left her."

	"Any idea why she's been so distraught?"

	"She, ah, had some rather vivid dreams that something happened to Zert.
They've really done a number in upsetting her."  She shrugged, looking at Zert.

	<Do you want me to tell him that you'd pay to see him mate in human form?>

	Nefiri began coughing suddenly, then stopped, one hand placed firmly over
her mouth as she motioned away the concerned look on Jayleigh's face.

	"Are you alright?" the Warrenlady asked.

	"Fine, fine, thank you.  I'm just feeling a bit parched, is all."

	**Don't do that to me!**

	"Alright.  I want to know what happened last night, and the two of you are
the only ones left standing, so to speak, who can fill me in."  Jayleigh
looked from Zert to Nefiri, watching to see who would speak first.  Neither
of them seemed forthcoming.

	"Nefiri," she asked, "would you please fill me in on how you came to find
Noni's campsite?"

	"By chance, really.  Danavin and I were out on a short flight to wind down,
when she heard Ammethyst's call for help.  We spotted the campfire, and she
put me down about twenty meters away and took flight again for surveyance.
I went proceeded on foot the campsite till I got a fairly clear vantage
point.  Zert entered from the opposite end of the clearing, and began
bantering with the group's leader.  I killed one of the hunters in the
woods, and when I fell out of the tree Danavin assumed that the others heard
the commotion, and attacked, killing the rest of the hunters.  Zert was
okay, but Noni must've been caught in the crossfire, because by the time I
got into the clearing she was unconscious.  Then Dyanisa arrived,
and...well, the rest is the rescue."

	"How did you fall out of a tree?"

	"I had climbed into one when I heard the hunter approaching, and leaned off
a branch to kill him."

	"I see."  Jayleigh leaned back in her chair, thoughtful, then looked at
Zert, asking:

	"And your version of events?"

***********************************************************************
Tag: Mike & Barb

I hope I remembered everything.  I realize it ends SUDDENLY, sorry!  I knew
that several people were waiting for some sign of life from Nefiri... <g>

Morgan, please remember - Nefiri will not admit that she knows Zert is a
dragon!  A promise is a promise, after all... <g>

Niki



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