D'Altar did not dwell over breakfast and left soon after his oatmeal was 
finished. Kayla looked as if she wanted him to stay longer but he couldn't 
bring himself to be with her. He was still unused to human company, she 
probably wanted to talk to her mate - not him - and he found her too 
attractive. Hopefully, Raven would have found a place for them to stay by 
now.

<Raven, have you found a place?>

<<Yes my rider. The perfect one. It has some furniture, but is not inhabited 
by anyone. One of the other dragons told me about it. It needs to be cleaned 
up, though.>>

<You have been speaking to the others?>

<<One of them spoke to me. He told me I could have this one as the rider had 
not returned from the battle they fought. He had no mate or hatchlings.>>

<Good. Take me to see this place.>

It was almost as good as Raven had said. The dragon had a nice spot by the 
ledge and the three chambers D'Altar wanted were in almost perfect
proportion. He set to work, cleaning and scrubbing. He found some old drapes 
which he used to separate the chambers. The apartment was sparsely 
furnished, but that was how he wanted it. He worked as hard as anyone could 
and after about 1 1/2 hours, the apartment looked inhabitable.

He went into the bathroom and saw a shower system and a bath tub. He turned 
on the taps and was surprised when hot water began to pour from the spout. 
Trying the shower, he found it too was hot and plentiful. As he took off his 
clothes, he noticed for the first time a full length mirror. It had not yet 
steamed up and he could see his body clearly. It told its own story. There 
were many scars, some deeper than others, and he could recall the infliction 
of every one. But it was also trim, fit and strong - and caked in grime. He 
could rarely be off his guard long enough to bath and the pools and streams 
contained their own dangers. He stepped into the flowing water.

Scrubbed and refreshed, he was drying off and once again looked into the 
mirror. This time, he wanted to shave. The bathroom was equipped with a 
razor and leather strap and soap. Strangely enough, D'Altar had always 
shaven, even in the wilds, but with the blade of a knife, so he always 
looked a bit scruffy. He lathered his face and took incomprehensible 
pleasure in scraping his face with a sharp instrument.

Finding a typically dark garb, he dressed and went to stand with Raven on 
the ledge of their new home. As they looked over the splendour of Daere, 
dragon and rider both felt a happiness denied them before. As D'Altar 
scratched the ridges of the black's eyes, they both felt one of their 
moments of tenderness. It was in this pose that Ja'ks found them, having 
made sure Sparroe warned the black of their imminent arrival.

"You've found a place I see?" the young WingLeader asked.

"Yes. I can't believe you have running hot water here."

Ja'ks smiled. As he looked at the man, getting his measure, Ja'ks could see 
some of the vicious scarring on the man's chest. But he was tall and strong 
and if Ja'ks was any judge of character, he was a man of honour.

"I thought we might have a chat before training. Just to see what experience 
you have. Perhaps you could just tell me about yourself."

D'Altar told him of his upbringing. His father, an army commander, his
mother, a gentle woman and lover of the arts. He told him of his father's 
objections to his joining the army and how he had chosen to live alone, 
testing himself to the limits after the despair had finally left him.

"Many of the tactics and formations we use in the air correspond to the 
formations of LandBound armies. I know you don't want to be assigned to 
training, but maybe I didn't make myself clear. We all train here, D'Altar, 
all the time. We must be ready to respond at any time. We must know each 
other and how we will react. There is no room for a maverick in a fighting 
wing."

It made sense of course. The strength of any team was their knowledge of 
each other and their co-operation. He was confident of being able to slot in 
to the man's Wing.

"Many people don't want me here. I see it in their faces."

"People have a suspicion of the Wild men and their beasts. We have had many 
an unpleasant encounter over the years. Be patient - they will get to know 
you in time."

"But now, we must go!" he almost sprang from his seat. "Training begins soon 
and we must fly!"

D'Altar needed no more word. He leapt from his chair and, still running, 
mounted Raven and the black took off in the same movement. Ja'ks knew the 
man would make a good rider.

They went through the training session without incident. Many of the riders 
stared at this tall, dark man and his huge black dragon. When they fitted in 
so well, though - outflying many of the seasoned riders - the men and women 
of the Wing began to be more welcoming. They flew in close formation, a new 
experience for D'Altar, and it *was* different. But the dragons could remain 
in constant contact and, although Raven was unused to so many voices, he 
handled it well.

Soon the Wing was dismissed. Ja'ks and D'Altar flew together towards the 
dining hall for lunch. They dismounted but D'Altar stopped outside.

"What's the matter?" Ja'ks inquired.

"I was wondering if Kayla would be waiting for me again," the man said.

"She was here this morning?"

"Yes. We talked for a while. It made me uncomfortable. I am no man's
substitute. I find her attractive and like her company, but she desires 
another man. Even though she may see him in me, I am not him."

But Kayla wasn't there. The two men took their food to a table and Ja'ks 
couldn't help but notice that the man did not seem to eat what someone of 
his stature would normally have. When he asked D'Altar about this, the man 
simply said, "Raven and I are hunters. It is good to have a change, but we 
shall not forego our skills and habits so easily as we did the Wild lands in 
which we lived".

<Tag Barb! Perhaps Ja'ks and Kayla's chat should come to light?>

Outside the dining hall, Raven stood proudly. His long black neck was
extended and he was making his bulk as obvious as possible. All beasts had 
been a threat to him all of his life and he was finding it difficult to get 
used to the change in circumstances. Many people going into the dining hall 
marvelled at the huge black and many were also afraid of what this 'wild' 
dragon might do if roused.

Sparroe was trying to engage the black in conversation, but it was proving 
difficult. Raven's answers were clipped and he did not appear to want to 
talk. Yet he did. He felt his rider press him into making an effort. With 
the dragon equivalent of clearing his throat, he began to converse with 
Sparroe.

<<Were all of the other dragons born here?>>

<*Most of them. Those that were not have transfered from other Warrens. 
There are none like you here.*>

<<The humans are afraid of me.>>

<*Yes. They can be very silly sometimes.. they can't hear our thoughts as we 
can. Well, apart from a few of them..*>

<<I find it strange to hear voices other than that of my rider. Most of the 
beasts we used to encounter simply directed fury towards us.>>

<*It must have been difficult. Listen, why don't I show you around Daere a 
little more? We dragons have our own favourite places and it would help your 
rider if you knew your way around.*>

With the permission of both riders, Sparroe and Raven took off for a 'dragon 
tour'.

NRPG:

Well, D'Altar and Raven are here to stay but will everyone approve? I think 
they need some action to test their metal and show the WarrenFolk that they 
are worthy of their trust.

Respectfully submitted,

Peter Shillan,
ObjectWiz@hotmail.com

aka

D'Altar and Raven, Beta Wing, Daere Warren.

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