Okay all i hope I fit this all in in the right times.... and that was no
easy task to try let me tell you!!

Barb

====================================================  

Daere Warren #99
09/01/98

Aftermath 

Ja'ks
*******

"Somebody has to pay for this!" T'rell told Ja'ks through clenched teeth,
and saw by the deadly look in the other man's eyes that he was in full
agreement.

"But who did it?" Ja'ks demanded.  "And why didn't Gamma Wing stop them
before they got in here?"

T'rell sighed.  It wasn't his place to answer for the whereabouts of the
wing - let Desr'y do that.  But the first question he knew he could help on.
"It was someone named Da'ntray!"

Ja'ks eyes went wide. "Da'ntray!" he hissed. "Is my sister all right?? I've
got to go to her...gods, Jadain!!"

Ja'ks broke into a run, T'rell alongside him. 

Ja'ks' face was a mask of fury as the two riders ran with desperate speed.

"Ja'ks," he panted, "does the name *Jhezrael* mean anything to you?" he asked.

"No...never heard of it," he yelled as they ran towards Jayleigh's apartment
where he hoped his nephew would be. There was a hidden space there where
he'd been instructed to go to and hide if anything like this should ever
happen. Ja'ks prayed he'd be there now.

<<Sprarroe... can you find him!?!>> Ja'ks sent the message to his brown as
they reached the bottom steps and bolted up them two at a time. Ja'ks rushed
in ahead of T'rell and made a be-line to the hidden panel, but once there he
knew without opening it what he would find.

Jadain wasn't there.

<<Sprarroe?? Where's Jadain??>> he cried.

<I can not find him,> came the browns soft reply. 

"Oh gods no... Jadain... where are you?" 

He turned then remembering T'rell's talent. 

"Can you find him! If you call he may answer... he could just be hiding
somewhere and be to scared to answer right now?" he asked hopefully.

T'rell shook his head sadly.

"I've tried, but I can't *feel* his mind touch," the telepath told him. "I'm
sorry but I should be able to *feel* his touch if he was anywhere inside the
Warren."

"Gods... if Da'ntray has him it'll kill Jayleigh..." 

"Who is this Da'ntray?" T'rell asked frowning. "Why would he do something
like this to the Warren?"

Ja'ks took little time to explain it all to T'rell as they left Jayleigh's
apartment and started towards the med center to check on Jayleigh. 

"Wow... and his own father would to something like that to the boy!! We have
to find him before it's to late!!"

"I've had Sprarroe send out the word that he's missing and for all the
dragon's to be opened to him if he should call out."

He felt helpless. Angry that he hadn't seen it coming.. but how could he?
They'd all though Da'ntray to be dead?

Well that was one mistake he wouldn't make again. The next time he got word
that the man was dead, he would see to it that he saw the body before
believing it. Even if he had to kill the man himself.

................  

"She's all right Ja'ks," Heron assured the Warrenlady's brother after the
man had run in hell bent for leather to check up on her after learning she'd
been injured during the attack and brought into the med center. "She barely
got much of the gas inside her, being so close to the opening of the cave,
so she should be waking up soon."

Ja'ks stared down at the dark-headed woman on the bed and couldn't help but
notice the bruise beginning to color her cheek. 

"I heard it was Da'ntray?" the healer sneered as he said the hated man's name. 

"That's what we are getting from the dragons," Ja'ks replied. "Troy's
confirmed it."

"But how... I thought he was dead?"

"I've no idea but the man isn't going to be alive on this planet for long.
He's just signed his death warrant."

He went on to tell him about Jadain being among the missing and made the man
promise not to breath word of it to Jayleigh when she awoke.

"She doesn't need the added stress right now and we will hopefully find him
before she can find out he's missing."

"Is that wise..." Heron asked.

"What else can we do?"

[[Tag Niki.... where is he???]]

Heron was right in his estimate that Jayleigh would be waking up soon. She
did so not long after Ja'ks had left to search for his nephew. 

She awoke with such a head ache that she wished once again for the oblivion
that would take it away. But a cold towel was placed upon her brow and a cup
was held to her lips and someone was telling her to drink and she would feel
better.

She followed the voices order and drank a few sips of the foul tasting
liquid and did feel slightly better. Enough so that she could open her eyes
without feeling like her head was going to explode.

"I see you're back among the living," Heron was saying as she looked around
the room, for a moment then remembered what had happened. 

Her mind reached out quickly for Troy needing the reassurance that her life
mate was unharmed. Troy's sad thoughts filled her and made her cry.

Heron reached out and comforted her as best he could but knew nothing would
ease the pain she was feeling from her dragon at the moment.

"How many of the eggs were saved? She ventured to ask after a while. 

"Ja'ks and T'rell figured about 22," the healer said softly. Then hesitated
before going on. "Only one of Troy's survived, the rest were taken or
destroyed. I'm sorry Jayleigh."

"What else happened?" she asked, her voice had gone cold with no emotion.

"I think you'd better wait for someone more qualified to answer that
question," the healer stood up and reached for her chart. "I really don't
know enough about what happened to give you any real information. But I do
have something else to discuss with you. The results of your blood test."

"I don't know if you remember to smoke that was in the hatching caves... oh
you do. Well we determined what it was used and you don't seemed to have
taken in enough to have harmed you." He explained the test results and she
had the feeling there was something he wasn't telling her. But his next
words erased all thoughts but one from her mind. "We don't think the smoke
has harmed the baby."

"Baby?  What baby?" Jayleigh's voice asked, sounding confused.

"The child you carry, Jayleigh.  You didn't know?"

"N-no.  Wh-  How?"

"I'm surprised.  I would put you at about two months along."

Her hand reached up to settle on her stomach. 

"A baby?" she looked up at him. Her eyes full of wonder. "I'm gonna have a
baby? Have you told Tair'n yet?"

He looked confused. "No why should I tell Tair'n ....Oh." the healer
grinned. "So he's the father is he?"

She nodded her head then a sad look came over her face. 

"But with the way things are between us right now, I'm not sure how he'll
respond to the news."

"Well I think you're about to find out as he's waiting outside to talk to
you." Heron told her then moved to open the door and called to someone
outside. "You can come in and see her now."

"Does she know?" she heard Tair'n asking the healer as he left the room. the
door quickly closed behind him so she didn't caught his answer. 

Know what, she wondered and asked him as soon as Tair'n  came into the room.

"What is it you think I should know?"

He looked at her and she couldn't help but notice the sadness in his amber
eyes. Sadness mixed with something else she couldn't figure out.  

"It's Danika. She took a bit more of the same gas that you got and Heron
doesn't think she's going to make it."

He moved towards her and reached for her hand when he saw the shock from his
words settle in over her.

"Leigh I'm so sorry... I know how much you care for her."

"R'ven... does he know?" she looked up at him, her eyes begging him for
answers. 

Tair'n couldn't speak. His head bowed down until his chin  rested against
his chest. 

"Oh Gods how he must be hurting right now," she sobbed softly knowing how
much the news had saddened her it must be killing R'ven. 

She felt his arms come around her pulling her close into his embrace and
didn't fight it. All their differences didn't seem to matter right now. He
was here and comforting her even when she knew he would want to be with R'ven.

"You should go..." she said quietly. "Go be with R'ven. He'll need your
comfort right now."

"No.. he wanted to be alone with his daughter, and I think you need me just
as much right now."

Her arms tightened around him, showing him with her touch how much his
understanding meant to her. It also showed her that in some small way he did
still care about her.

"Tair'n ... can we promise eachother something?" she asked in a small voice.
She had to tell him her news. No matter what was between them, she wanted
him to know. Needed him to know.

"What is it Leigh?" he moved back a bit and tilted her chin up so she was
looking at him as she spoke.

"No matter what.. has happened between us... lately," she tried to lower her
head, but he refused to allow the movement. "I want us to be able to be...
friends... cause you see Heron... well he just told me.. I'm.. I'm pregnant.
About two months now... and well... I want us to get along for our child."

"Our child...are you sure Leigh?" she heard him ask and felt anger at his
words. How could he even think she would....

"I mean Troy did fly about that time and you and C'nis... Not that I
wouldn't want it to be mine...."

Now she understood his questioning her. 

"It couldn't be anyone's but yours Tai... I didn't stop taking the birth
control until a few days after the mating flight, and hadn't been with
anyone else during that time."

She didn't bother telling him about the night of T'rell's party when she
awaken the next morning to find a very naked C'nis walking into her room
claming they'd made love all the night before. 

Not that she remembered... but why else would he have been there if they
hadn't. Her body sure felt as if they had.... Ja'ks had said she had left
the dining hall with him and they had seemed pretty friendly.  He hadn't
been to happy with her getting involved with the man and let her know it.

She'd told her baby brother to but out of her business and had walked away. 

"Your really sure then that it.. the baby is mine?"

His tone didn't sound accusing... rather.. kind of like he liked the idea.
She nodded her head again, and then began to cry. 

"I'm sorry Tair'n ... I didn't know..."

"It's all right Leigh..." he pulled her into his arms again wanting to say
more when the door opened and Ja'ks walked in. 

The Beta Wingleader took one look at his sister crying on the bed and turned
his anger towards the man sitting beside her.

"What in the hell did you say to her!!" Ja'ks shouted them moved towards
them intending to remove Tair'n from his sisters side and save her from any
more hassles from the man. 

"I didn't say anything to her!" Tair'n replied, tensing as he watched Ja'ks
advance into the room.

"Oh right... that's why she's crying..."

"Ja'ks leave it alone!! Tai didn't say anything to me or do anything to
me...' Jayleigh spoke up stopping her hot headed brother before he could
make matters worse. "He's just been filling me in on what happened around
here as is his duty and ..."

"And then Leigh told me we are going to have a baby." Tair'n  broke in when
she faltered. "Heron just told her about it a few minutes ago and she just
told me."

That stopped the Beta Wingleader. He stared at his sister, his gray eyes
opened wide in surprise.

"A baby?" his eyes met hers. "You're gonna have a baby?"

She nodded. 

His smile was bitter sweet.

"Some good news to be found in all the turmoil around here today. I'm happy
for you Sis... if you are?" his gray eyes now held a question. 

Jayleigh took a moment to glance up at the man beside her and then turned
back to her brother. 

"We both are, she told him, knowing it to be true. "Now why don't the two of
you tell me what all happened around here today. Who in the hell was that
bastard Da'ntray able to get in and out of here without Gamma Wing cutting
them off or responding to Troy's alerts any sooner then they did!?!"

Ja'ks turned and glanced at his counterpart.

"We don't know for sure Jays... but I think the Wilder attacks were a set up."

Tair'n nodded his head in agreement. 

"They just don't attack townships the way they did... not without good
reason," he commented then she saw the look on his face turn to one of anger
matched by the look on Ja'ks face. 

"As for why Gamma wasn't here when they should have been... I think we had
best call a meeting and find out from Desr'y and Javangath where in the hell
they were when the alert went out."

"I want T'rell called in too," Ja'ks told them and then informed Jayleigh
and Tair'n both what he had learned from several of the Gamma riders about
T'rell being the one to bring the Wing back to the Warren in time to run the
Rogues off.

"I want to know why he felt he had to take charge and disobey a direct order
from Desr'y."

"Fine... I'll have the order written and set up the meeting for tomorrow
right after breakfast." Jayleigh agreed.

They talked for a while longer. But Wingleaders filling her in on what
happened during their time away from Daere and about the attacks themselves. 

Ja'ks told her of the Lord's offer of help to the Warren if any was needed
and for that Jayleigh felt relieved. C'nis, she knew was responsible for the
Lord's change of attitude towards the Warren these days and she have to
remember to tell him how much.

"Okay... See to it that if we require anything in way of supplies to make a
list and get them to C'nis to deal with," she told them. "He'll see that we
are supplied with anything that we may need."

"Oh gods...C'nis.." Tair'n chuckled slightly.

"What's so funny?" Ja'ks asked, seeing his sister was just as confused by
the mirth as he was. 

"Yes Tair'n. Care to let us in on the joke?"

"I... well... I was outside when Heron.. told you about..." he had the good
graces to blush slightly. "Baby....and well C'nis was there and I sort of...
told him .. that.. well..."

"You told him WHAT!!"

"That there was a chance... slim I know now.. but a chance that he might be.."

Jayleigh's eyes opened wide in shock and anger.

"You told him *HE* might be the father of my baby!?!"

Ja'ks couldn't stand it. He broke out laughing. 

"This isn't funny Ja'ks!!" she scolded him.

"Ah but don't you see Jays...?" his smile faded. "It's like it was the last
time..."

"No Ja'ks it's not!" she insisted heatedly. "One of you will find him and
make damn certain that he knows he is NOT the father of my baby. We need him
here in Daere weather the two of you agree with me or not. In the short time
he's been back he's done more for this Warren then I've been able to do with
the Lords over tithes and I will not have him leaving because of this!! We
*NEED* him!!"

Before either man could answer there was a knock at the door. It was pushed
open slowly and a very haggard looking R'ven stepped inside. 

"Ven..." Jayleigh called his name softly and lifted her hand up to him. "How
is she?"

"I came with a request from Kalindeth," he informed them in a very formal
tone, though Jayleigh and the others could all tell he was fighting back his
tears. 

"What is it Ven?"

He explained to them what had been asked of him, and not even Heron could
keep Jayleigh in her bed by the time he had finished. The healer wasn't to
pleased when she threw back the covers and had to be helped to her feet, but
gave in and got her a robe to wear.

"You are to come right back here afterwards!" he told her, glaring at Ja'ks
and Tair'n to make sure she would. "You don't know how dangerous this gas is
and you're not out of the woods yet!"

"I'll be back," she promised, but nothing was going to stop her from being
there by R'ven's side as he made his final fair wells to the daughter he'd
so briefly loved... and lost.

Word spread quickly around the Warren and Jayleigh was truly moved by all
the people who showed up to see Danika and her Queen off. She stood there
beside Tair'n as R'ven lifted her body and gently carried Danika out into
the dying day.

As R'ven walked slowly towards the hatching cavern and Kalindeth, a path
opened to let them pass. To his right was Tair'n and on the left was
Jayleigh. Both stepped in behind him as he approached the Queen.

They made their way through the eerily silent warren to Kalindeth. Her hide
had been oiled and, although her scales were dull, she still shone.

There were no speeches, no long pieces of prose, just the soft wind and the
gentle keening of three dragons.

Amadith... the sire of Kalindeth's brood.
Viktroy...  the senior queen.
Zenith...  the soul mate of Danika's father.

Their keening sent cold shivers throughout her body. 

Such a waste, she though. A sad waste of a young woman who'd barely begun to
live and find out who she was. Something else Da'ntray would pay for.

She let her anger fill her as she watched R'ven kissed his daughter for the
last time, then place her in Tair'n's arms as he climbed Kalindeth's out
stretched foreleg. 

Once R'ven was in place, she saw him bent down to Tair'n who lifted the
light rider back into her father's arms. R'ven placed Danika between
Kalindeth's great
wings.

She stood there quietly as the man spent a few remaining moments saying his
own good-byes to the daughter he'd come to love so much, and wondered if she
would be so brave if it had been Jadain who was being sent off to his final
resting place. 

And decided no. She wouldn't.

The small queen waited till R'ven was a wings distance from her and then she
rose with her heavy burden.

The silence was deafening as Kalindeth lifted her wings, the breeze
caressing the faces of those nearest to her. Rising high into the darkening
sky, she let out a final roar before blinking out of Daere.

The keening started as the last echoes of Kalindeth's farewell faded.

R'ven, with tears in his eyes, turned to Jayleigh.

"I won't make the same mistake twice, Jayleigh. Da'ntry is mine!"

Before she could reply, R'ven strode off into the descending night. As she
watched him go she couldn't help but hope he found him and soon. The man had
over stayed his welcome on this earth and she for one wanted to see his body
just once before the flames claimed his evil soul and sent him to hell.

This time there would be no mistaking his death. 

Off to the side she could see Ja'ks had moved over next to T'rell and the
two of them were having a heated discussion. She wondered what it was about,
but then Tair'n placed a hand on her elbow and began to lead her back
towards the medical center.

"No.. I'll find my own way back or wait for Ja'ks..." she told him aware
that his eyes were not on her but following the man walking away. "Go on...
go to him. He needs you right now Tai. <ore then he's ever needed you
before. Comfort him as best you can."

"Are you sure Leigh?"

"Go..."

She made it back to the Med Center and Heron gave her something to help her
sleep that wouldn't harm the baby. 
He wanted to make sure she would stay put and get some sleep.

He'd already talked to Ja'ks and the Wingleader had told him if anything
came up, Jayleigh was not to be woken until morning. If she did and asked
about her son... we she was to be told that Jer'lin had taken the boy away
from the Warren to get him away from there before dragon's thoughts could
over load his young mind again like the last time. 

He knew she'd believe that. 

He'd set it up with his father earlier and now all they had to do was find
out what had happened to him and bring him back....  

He was in the dining hall sometime later when he felt a presence standing
next to him. turning his head slowly, he saw T'rell standing there. 

"Care for some company?"

"Have a seat."

"You look like someone with a problem on his mind."

"It's Jadain... the dragon's still can't hear him," Ja'ks was really worried
now. "Have you tried...?"

"T'rell nodded his head sadly. "Yes and I still can't *feel* him. But I
don't think Nefiri will let anything happen to him. Why you should have seen
how upset she was when we teleported back here and she found out who was
attacking the Warren... she asked for permission to go and find him and I
gave it to her knowing she'd be no good to any of us till she made sure he
was.....What...?"

T'rell stopped suddenly as dark clouds settled over Ja'ks. The Beta
Wingleader's face turning red with rage.

 "You gave her permission to go after him!?!" his voice cold as a northern
wind following an icy storm.

"Sure.. she was worried and I knew...."

"You *don't* know! Oh gods!!! If she took him...." Ja'ks got up from the
table quickly and started out of the hall. 

"I've got to find my father!!"

[[Tag again Niki!!!! Will they find her?? Him??]]

================================
  
nrpg: Hatching will be soon.....

*****Submitted by: *****

Warrenlady Jayleigh & Her Queen, Viktroy 
Ja'ks & Sprarroe
Head Healer Heron
Daere Warren

aka
Barbara