NRPG: Sorry if'n you all got this twice.

He still had plenty of time before the meeting with the Warrenlady so he
decided he would go and check on his love to see how she was doing. Maybe
she would even be awake to see him. He hoped she was, he wanted to let her
know that everything was going to be alright and to wish her a speedy
recovery. After getting cleaned up and dressed he was soon on his way to
the Med Center. He headed directly to her room once he was inside the Med
Center and was standing by her bed, over her when her eyes opened and she
pointed at him and screamed...

>She pointed at Zert and screamed, "Dragon! Zert dragon!"
>
>Zert paled and looked at her stunned as if she'd just slapped him.

He was at a loss for words. He didn't know what to do at all in this
situation. Should he try and comfort her or something? Maybe he should
leave her sight. This was highly unusual to him.

>"Zert dragon!" she screamed again, rising off the bed and shaking with the
>effort.
>
>A healer entered the room and demanded to know what was going on. He was
>very put out by the disturbance.
>
>"Zert! Dragon!" Fae'Rhee insisted again.
>
>"Zert, are you Zert?" the healer asked with a scowl.

 His thoughts were interrupted by he healers question.

>Zert nodded wordlessly.
>
>"I have orders that you aren't supposed to be in here. I want you to leave
>now."
>
>Zert turned and left, looking apologetically at the patient in the bed.
>Fae'Rhee relaxed some and laid back down on the bed, exhausted with the
>effort.

So, wordlessly and numb from the incident he left and wandered in no
particular direct. He was running the whole thing over and over in his mind
trying to figure out just exactly had happened and, more important, why it
had occurred. He wondered if that woman from the forest had said anything,
for if she did, that meant her promise was broken and she might have to die
in some obscure and mysterious way so she told no one else. But why would
she just tell one person and Fae'Rhee at that. So far, no one had said
anything to him about anything really. Hmm... he was beginning to think
that it couldn't have been the wood's woman, because it appeared that she
was also fairly new to the Warren. So she would know nothing about him or
Fae'Rhee most likely or what they shared together in their short time with
each other. 

Of course it was obvious that Fae'Rhee wasn't in the best health either,
maybe her mind was causing her to think those thoughts. He had meant to ask
the healer if they had find out why she was sick but with the turn of
events that had slipped from his mind along with numerous other questions
he had about her and her sickness. He just wished he could be there for her
instead of not being allowed to even be around her. But unfortunately the
healer had been very adamant about Zert staying away... far away from
Fae'Rhee. He didn't really like that thought at all, but what could he do.
He would do anything for her... even if it meant not being with her any
more. He hated that idea though and hoped she would recover fully so they
could be together again, and the sooner the better. 

After wandering around for a little while he found himself in front of the
Warrenlady's office door. He knew he was early for the meeting but the
quicker it started the quicker it would end. He wanted to get back down to
the Research Area and continue his investigation of the poison he had
confiscated from the Dragonhunters. He knocked on the door and waited for
her to call him in, hopefully she was there already.

"Come in," he heard her call from inside.

He opened the door and said, "Hello. Sorry I'm early but I wanted to get
this over with as soon as possible. I have a lot on my mind, with Fae'Rhee
thinking I'm and a dragon and I'm also in the process of trying to break
down and, I hope, find something out about the poison used on Noni and Ammie."

"I can understand that. I hope she gets better also," she told him as he
began to pace the office finally settling on lean against one of the
bookcases that was up against the wall.

>"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.

He still didn't know if he could truly trust the woman and her dragon, but
he really had no choice in the matter. Maybe he should have killed them
while he had had the chance out there. Then again that wouldn't be very
fair to either one of them. It really wasn't their fault... it was all his
and he knew it.

>"I got the med center's report that included your injury.  How are you
>feeling?"
>
>"Better, thank you."  The Warrenlady returned to her seated position
>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?>

<Why don't you ask your rider to see if the both of you would like to stop
by my apartment later on and I'd be more than happy to show you,> he told
her dragon with a wry smile crossing his face as he watched the woman for a
reaction.

>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?"
>

"I can really add no more to what she has already told you, except that I
gathered up all the possessions that the Hunters had to bring back here for
examination to see if there was anything that could be discovered about
where they came from, how they got here, and why did they come here. Also,
I'm in the process of examining the poison used on Noni and Ammie as I said
before. I'll be sure to keep you informed of the results of my research on
the Hunters and the poison they were carrying. And speaking of those two, I
understand that Noni is awake now. I'd like to go and see her and speak
with her, to see if she remembers anything about what happened. So, if
you'll both excuse me," he said, smiling at Jayleigh, as he walked toward
the door, opening it.

And with one last glance at that Nefiri woman he queried her dragon, <Will
you stopping over tonight? The both of you? Or just one of you?> And shut
the door behind him.