**Danika**

Danika left Jayleigh's office and headed toward the dining hall to get
something to eat. Her mind swam with everything that had been discussed
that afternoon.

She went and filled her plate, careful to be good and choose meat and
broccoli and other things high in iron. She wrinkled her nose as she did
so.

She sat down next to her father and ate in relative silence. Finally
R'ven could take it no more.

"So???"

"Hm?" Danika quirked a delicate eyebrow as she cut off another piece of
meat.

"What did Noni say. I was right, wasn't I?"

"Mmm... No, Da, not at all."

"Huh??? What do you mean?"

"Noni didn't find a thing, except that I need to eat better." She
diligently ate a piece of broccoli.

"So that's why the new diet?" He gestured at her plate.

Danika grimaced and nodded. "Da, do I seem very stressed to you?" she
ventured.

"Why do you ask, Kitten?

"I talked to Jayleigh, she thought it was stress, that I maybe sleep
walked???"

She watched as R'ven furrowed his brow in consideration.
"Sleepwalking??? He wasn't sure if he believed it, he was so convinced
his daughter was drugged. "Maybe the tests were wrong..."

Danika stood up, her attitude that of desolate resignation, "Da, Noni
ran them twice to be sure. Nothing was found. I need some sleep, I'm
going to bed."

***

**Kalindeth**
** Sometime in the middle of the night **

Here time was here! She was so excited, but Danika needed her rest.
She'd laid eggs once before, there was nothing to it, and she'd lay eggs
again so there was no need to wake Danika or the rest of the warren.

<Besides,> Kalindeth thought smugly, <I'd love to see the look on Troy's
face when she wakes up to a cavern full of eggs. I'll just keep this to
myself!>

One by one they plopped out, large and beautiful, not a runt among them,
and a whole rainbow of colors... 

25, 26, 27... She arranged her clutch carefully around her as they
came... 

45, 46, 47, 48, 49... There was one more in there, she was sure of it! 

50!!! Kalindeth turned around to inspect the last egg, make sure it was
just as perfect as all the others. Her eyes sparkled with glee as it
glistened in golden splendor in the moonlight. 

<Oh, my, a queen egg!> she rejoiced privately, careful to keep from
broadcasting. She could barely contain her glee, though.

Carefully, quietly she rolled the beautiful golden metallic egg to the
front of her, careful to stay within the invisible boundaries the two
queens had set up the day before, where it would where it showed best
and she could keep the best eye on it. Oh my, wouldn't everyone be so
surprised when dawn broke and the warren came to life! She knew Danika
would be proud of her, and Victroy envious! For some reason the thought
pleased her to no end.

***

Dawn came and Kalindeth could take the suspense no more. <Wake up, my
rider, I have something to show you!>

Danika groggily rubbed her eyes. <What is it?>

<I can't tell you, you must come see!>

<If this is some joke you and Flerrion cooked up...> Danika threatened.
She'd noticed the two getting close the day prior and was concerned what
effect the mischievous dragon would have on her queen.

<Oh no, no joke,> Kalindeth promised.

Danika slipped on her robe and went down to the hatching cavern, to find
out what the fuss was about. 

<This had better be good!> 

<Oh, it is, it is!> Kalindeth chortled.

She carefully picked her way past the sleeping senior queen Victroy. 

<What???> Danika's eyes grew wide with amazement. <When did you do
this???>

<While you slept,> Kalindeth confessed, <You needed your sleep, you've
been stressed.>

<But... you should have told me! I should have been here for you!> Guilt
pangs wracked through the young queenrider. She surveyed the hatching
ground, <There must be...> she tried to do a rapid count.

<50! And they're all perfect!Did you see?> Kalindeth boasted.

<See? The eggs, yes I see!>

<No, look here!> she gestured with her head to the area between her
front talons where lay a beautiful golden queen egg.

<Oh my word! We've got to celebrate! I'm not dressed!>

<Go change! I'll alert the warren when you get back!> Kalindeth told
her.

Danika hurried up the stairs and quickly changed and fixed her hair. She
put on her prettiest party dress.

<Okay, I'm ready!> Danika told her. <Oh, and tell Realee to make a
special breakfast party ready!>

With that Kalindeth finally trumpeted her joyful cry, notifying the
warren of her accomplishment.

***

NRPG: We have eggs! Let's have a breakfast party!





                \=/,         _-===-_-====-_-===-_-==========-_-====-_
                |  @___oo   (    Submitted by:                        )
      /\  /\   / (___,,,}_--=    Jacqueline "Morgan" Allgood          )
     ) /^\) ^\/ _)        =__    morgie@iquest.net                     )
     )   /^\/   _)          (_                                         )
     )   _ /  / _)            (      Danika/Kalindeth of Daere        )
 /\  )/\/ ||  | )_)            (_    Xanthia/Maxima of Whiteriver     )
<  >      |(,,) )__)             (   Kattibrie/Calishandra of Telnor )
 ||      /    \)___)\             (_ Yasmine/Starlin of Marrid       )
 | \____(      )___) )___           -==-_____-=====-_____-=====-___==
  \______(_______;;; __;;;

Morgan's World http://members.xoom.com/Morgie/home.html

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