[after the party]

Ammie dozed lightly until she heard a rustling of wings and flying gear
outside the Medical Center. Two dragons had just landed, and their riders had
furtively crept into the precincts of the Center.

She was wide awake now, but she felt it best to feign sleep. If she could spy
and have a detailed report for her rider when morning came, Noni would be
proud of her. 

One huge eyeball slitted open, and Ammie took in just who these silent
visitors were. The closer appeared to be Sprarroe, his brown hide immediately
identifiable to Ammie, and the other appeared to be that new dragon...
Flerrion, his name was. 
Now, what would they be doing here...?

Ammie slowly shifted her body for comfort and a better view. Their riders were
Noni's friends, or so Ammie thought. She'd tell her rider, but she doubted
Noni would be very concerned. 

Eventually Ja`ks and T`rell left the Center. T`rell was carrying an item of
some kind as he vaulted to Flerrion's back. As soon as their riders were
situated, the dragons lifted off with as little noise as possible. Ammie
couldn't understand this need for secrecy; after all, if someone needed a
healer's care, they were welcome in the Center at all hours of day or night.
Why the stealth from this crew?

Yawning, Ammie made the effort to wake up her rider. <Rider mine, wake up. I
have something to tell you.>

*Tell it.*

<Sprarroe's rider and Flerrion's rider were just in the Medical Center. They
did not come to you?>

*Huh?* Noni didn't appreciate being awakened from deep slumber just so Ammie
could shoot the breeze.

<They did not. But they left with something...>

*That's nice,* Noni groaned as she lapsed off into deep sleep once more.

Ammie shrugged. Obviously Noni wasn't bothered very much by the whole
situation. With a deep sigh, Ammie settled herself in for a long night's rest.

[later, high morning]

Noni woke up refreshed and ready for the day, albeit late. The stack of notes
on her desk was rather sizable, so she made her way through them quickly so as
to keep from being overwhelmed by the new messages coming in. 

As she read, she found that Bren and Nefiri had been released. Hm. Noni wasn't
so sure she liked that idea, but the matter was out of her hands for now.
Kizera and Herin had signed the release order.

Noni wondered how much of a threat Bren constituted for the warren. He was a
filthy assassin, nothing more, nothing less. He was a wild card, and a
dangerous one at that.

Noni had discussed the situation in detail with Ja`ks the previous evening. He
advised her to hold back; he and Jayleigh would take care of it, he said, but
that Noni should be prepared to put in a presence at short notice. That bottle
label was golden with her knowledge, he noted. 

Ja`ks... Ja`ks... Someone had told her something about Ja`ks a little while
ago...

She shrugged. In a moment of good humor, she decided to pull out her prize
from last night to practice her swing for her eventual targets. She reached
into her desk drawer and grasped... thin air. The paddle was gone.

Noni sat bolt upright. Who could have broken into her desk as she slept?
*Ammie?*

<Yess...?> the dragon answered, bringing a massive eye to bear at the window
to regard her rider.

*What were you trying to tell me last night while I was in a dozing haze?*

<That Ja`ks and T`rell had come into the Med Center, taken something, and not
told you about it? Might that be it?>

Oh. Ohhh. Now Noni understood.

Ja`ks and T`rell had broken into her desk? As soon as she caught them, they
were dead men. How dare they break into her desk?! That was off limits! There
were some very private writings in that desk... If either of them would have
seen what she had written about them, she whould never be allowed to live it
down. Just what she needed!

Noni hugged her journal close to herself. Thankfully, those meddling boys
didn't lay their meddling fingers on this... or so she hoped!

*Ammie,* Noni said, almost as an afterthought, *Don't tell anyone that you
know Ja`ks and T`rell did this. I know. You know. No one else needs to know.
Tell them I'm upset, spook people a little bit, but no hints on what else we
know. All right?*

<Yes, my friend. I understand. No one else will know that we know who did
this.> Ammie's mental words held the ring of truth. Noni would've sensed
duplicity immediately, and now she sensed none. Good.

To the empty office, Noni swore, "Ja`ks, T`rell, as soon as I get my chance,
you've both had it. You're in for it, you two!" 

Outside, Noni could rudimentarily hear the deep chuckle of a dragon.

===============================
NRPG:

Barb, John, I do believe you have two boys who should be running very fast by
now, if they know what's good for them? ;>

Clear Skies and Seas,
Paula Sandusky

Noni/Ammie of Daere
Domaia/Lyric of Norwall
Karine/Andromeda of Geode