** Trouble From All directions **
"Jadain I know you're upset that Cal'an is away right now, but there are other's you used to play with," Jayleigh was saying to her son as the two of them sat talking in her office. "Why don't you see if Garnat wants to go with you to the swimming hole. You can even ask Gramps if Banta can take the two of you there."
The boy brighten a little at the offer of a dragon ride. He knew his grandfather wouldn't mind if the red dragon he'd was joined to gave them a ride. Banta was used to it with him and Cal'an. Though he didn't over use the privilege.
"Do you think Gar's mom would let him?" her son asked.
"I don't see why not. Banta's a steady dragon and will be there for protection if ..anything should happen.." she didn't like adding that last, but after the attack on her son's friend Cal'an last year, all the parents were still worried, for the attacker had never been caught.
"Not that you can't call out to any dragon in the Warren in the Warren if there is trouble," Leigh added quickly, not wanting her son to think him a baby. After all he was 13 now and old enough to stand on the hatching sands for the first time the next time there were eggs to hatch. "But just to be on the safe side.
Jadain grinned at her, knowing his mother well enough by now to know what she was doing. "Don't worry mom. I don't think you're treating me like a baby.. After all even the females riders don't go down there any more unless someone is with them.. Most often their own dragons or mate.."
Then the boys face took on the look. The one that Leigh had come to recognize as her son about to be funny. "Besides. I'm not afraid to go down there by myself. there are others things even scarier then that!"
"And that would be?" she asked dryly, knowing she'd likely regret it.
"Being invited to dinner and finding out that you cooked it!" he giggled then, reminding his mother that even though he was of age to stand his first hatching, he was still her little boy. "Boy am I glad Dee moved in with us! I'm not afraid of being poisoned any more!"
"Oh you!" she was laughing along with him when she first noticed the signs of strain coming over his young face.
<I NEED A HEALER, ~NOW!~> the shout entered the young telepath's mind causing him to freeze up in unexpected pain from the send.
"MOOMMMmm," he moaned.
Quickly she was up and around her desk, kneeing by his side. Her hands went up one on each side of his face and in a soothing voice she began to go over the drills that T'rell had taught them both. Drills meant to help the boy keep calm and keep the pain in his mind from making him pass out.
"Easy now Jadee.." she coaxed. "Let the thought flow. don't fight it son....Breath Jadain... Do the breathing like T'rell taught you."
It took several minutes but finally Jadain's body seemed to relax and he was able to tell his mom what had happened.
Troy in the mean time had filled her in. Leigh was torn between leaving to over see the strange dragon and staying with her son, but her father showed up just then and nodded towards the door with his head.
"Thanks Dad," she said exiting the office and running out front to find Troy waiting for her.
<<Have you found out what's going on my love?>> she asked the Queen as Troy lifted just high enough in the air to quickly glide to where the commotion was happening.
<They say a dragon is going crazy.. yelling for a healer but no one recognizes her.> Troy replied and then Leigh felt the slight movement as Troy began to land, and that was when she caught her first sight of the strange dragon.
Others were already coming up quickly as they landed and Leigh slipped over the side of her Queen.
She saw Lexi and T'rell hurrying up from one direction followed by the Head Healer, who looked to have just arrived back in Daere after an emergency trip to Cleft Warren.
Out of the corner of her eye, Leigh saw the tiny darting body of the little Queen running to duck behind her own Queen, and wondered just what part if any the little Queen had in the trouble taking place now.
She was still watching as the little Queen poked her tiny head out around Troy's flank and growled at the much larger tan dragon threatening everyone in sight.
The Queen, Viktroy would have found the little Britches' actions slightly amusing if it wasn't for the dragon posing a danger to everyone around.
<Get her Lady Troy!! You can't let her come into *your* Warren and treat someone as small as me the way she did!!>
The bluish green Queen looked down at her new charge and sighed kindly. <No little one... we can't... but maybe we had better ask her what she wants before sending someone to eat her? Humm?>
<Boy oh boy are you in trouble now!> Almantha gloated at the tan spotted dragon.
Troy looks down.. Sighs... and thinks to herself.. *Now it's MY Warren*
<She's not in so much trouble as she seems to be in trouble for reasons we don't yet know off,> Troy told the little Queen. <<It is the job of the Warren Queen to *calmly * find out what the trouble is and deal with it without having to resort to beating the dragon up.>
<But but.. but she hurt me!> Almantha cried, very much the two day old dragon now. Had she been a human, Troy knew there would be tears in her eyes.
<You bit her,> Troy reminded her. <Not once but twice.>
<Well she nearly bit my rider in half and I couldn't let her do that. Not when I'm finally getting my rider trained! Except that she won't listen to me when I tell her that Flerrion is a meanie and she shouldn't have anything to do with his rider!!> the little one went off.
<I only bit her to save my rider.. We can't let her get away with that!!>
<No little one we can not,> Troy agreed. <And the male dragons who just showed up will make sure she doesn't hurt anyone else.. But let's try it my way for now.>
<Hummp!> Almantha pouted. << That's some way to run a Warren... why when I
get older.....>>
<If you get older,> Troy countered.
<<Talk to her!!>> Leigh sent the firm yet quick message to her Queen wanting to restore some kind of order to the situation happening before them. <<Calm her down if you can and find out what it is she wants here!>>
As soon as she had sent the message to her Queen, Leigh turned to T'rell and Lexi who were standing next to her. Koda just behind them and her dragon Ribbon coming up quickly in case the tan dragon tired to do anything to her rider. Everyone had after all heard the Tan dragon yelling for a healer.
"T'rell.. Lexi.. have your dragon get ready to sit on her if Troy can't get her to calm down," Leigh ordered. "And Koda.. take a look at Panda to make sure she's okay."
<<Now would be a good time Troy!>> Leigh quipped when the tan dragon's front
claw nearly knocked aside a human who had walked to close. <<Before she puts
to many others in the med center.>>
The tan dragon however beginning to feel a bit trapped took that moment to charge at Troy, pushing past her and running along the ground, and before any of the Warren dragons could stop her, she was three dragons lengths ahead of them. She hadn't counted on the dragons coming in from the far side and barely managed to turn to the side before they were upon her.
Unfortunately for her, Flerrion was just about able to catch up to her and had her tail in his claw when she turned, but it was just enough to cause her to miss a group of dragons blocking off the direction she was running, and quickly she was covered on all sides.
Unfortunately there was a lone human female standing on the green just a few feet from where the tan dragon came stopped, and before any of the Warren dragons or humans could help... the tan dragon spotted her.
There were worried gasps from the crowd forming as the tan dragon picked the unknown female up in her claws and Leigh had Troy send out the order for the others to stay back when the dragon began waving the screaming girl in the air.
<I don't want to hurt this human but I will!!> the tan dragon shouted at her foes. <If I do not get a healer to help my rider. NOW!>
<What is wrong with your rider?> a purple dragon stepped up next to Troy and asked, her rider moved to stand by her front claw.
<Ribbon...> Troy started, but the purple cut her off with an apology.
<My rider is a healer and she wants to know what is wrong with this dragon's human. She will treat the rider if she can for that is what she has sworn to do.>
<You're rider is a healer?> the tan dragon asked, lowering the human female in her claw just a bit. When Ribbon confirmed it the tan dragon said, <Well then get her and let's go! My rider is very sick.>
"I have to go M'lady," Koda said to Jayleigh. "If a rider is sick then I have to try and help them. No matter who they are."
Leigh nodded, knowing how stubborn the tiny healer could be when it came to her craft. "Fine... but I want to know where this rider is first before I allow you to go, and I want T'rell and some of his rider's to go with you. As escorts."
Koda accepted the offer without question. She hadn't wanted to admit that going with a unknown dragon to treat an unknown human had her a bit nervous.
But when Leigh had Troy send out the order for Flerrion, Samson, and Magpie to land on the green to act as escorts, the Tan dragon reared back threateningly causing the Warren people to become concerned for the girl the dragon was holding in it's claw.
<CALM DOWN!!> Troy shouted moving just a little bit closer. <They are not going to hurt you. They go with you to help the Healer with your rider and to watch for trouble. >
<NO!!> the tan yelled and Troy could hear the fear in her tone. <No males!! Only Female dragons and riders!>
T'rell turned to Jayleigh having followed the dragons conversation and the look in his eyes was a question.
"Tell her we will honor her request Troy and send only females with her as an escort," Leigh agreed both aloud so T'rell could hear and so that her Queen could pass the message along to the tan dragon.
"Allora and Sharees and Kayla will go with Ribbon and Koda," T'rell informed her and seconds later the three female dragons landed on the green a good distance from the Tan.
All four women mounted and after some last instructions about keeping the healer safe at all cost, the tan dragon release the human female it had been holding and allowed other humans to move close enough to help her.
<Tell your rider's that Koda is in charge but if you think anything is going to happen then you are to drag her out of there kicking and screaming if you have too to keep her safe!> T'rell sent the message to all the dragons going.
Then they stood back to allow the four dragons room to lift off the ground and watched until they popped out of sight.
[Tag Jason, Arle, & Joan...]
Leigh could tell that some of the male rider's in the BCS weren't best pleased by the decision, but there was little they could do. Lexi wore a frown as he watched Sharees fly away and then it grew as she watched him walk over towards his sister... Stop and turn away.
She really hoped that Lexi wouldn't have a problem with T'rell seeing Panda. Leigh approved of the couple, even though it was really none of her business.
"You don't think we're going to have a problem there do you?" turn to ask her mate as D'Altar fell into step beside her.
"Between Lexi and T'rell over Panda?"
Leigh nodded.
Dee shook his head. "They'll settle down soon. I think Lexi is just so used to looking out after her, it's hard for him to let go even a little bit to another man. But as soon as he realizes that T'rell isn't a threat to him, he'll be happy for his sister to have found a good man."
"I hope you're right," Leigh sighed and then ducked under the arm he threw around her shoulder. "I know I'm happier since I found me a good man. I'll be even happier still if those dratted women take the hint and stay the hell out of our lives!"
"You and me both."
As they all began to walk towards the dining hall Leigh was slightly amused to her Troy telling the younger Queen, <Now you see... a little kindness and we found out what was wrong with the tan dragon. We didn't need to eat her after all.>
<You'd think differently if she had eaten my rider!> Almantha popped back.
<Yes Britches... I do believe that had she eaten your rider then I would have had to change my thoughts.> Troy agreed. <But aren't you glad I don't?>
<I should have bit her harder!> the little one muttered as she hurried to catch up to the senior Queen. <The next time I will!>
<T'rell?>
<<Yes Troy?>>
<Now would be a good time for a visit from you know who?>> the Queen told him.
<<I couldn't agree with you more.>>
<When they come back I'm going to tell her just who is Queen around here and...WOOOPH!!! OUCH!! Who DID THAT!!> Almantha stopped dead in her tracks
and looked around for culprit.
<When I find the human or dragon who did that I'll.......>
Troy walked on with a dragon size grin on her lips.
============
Once back in her office, Leigh took the seat behind the desk and looked over at her mate and T'rell who had joined them after making sure Panda would be all right. She was to join them just as soon as Noni release her from the med center.
"So how long do we wait before you allow me to send the rest of the team out after them?" T'rell asked, not liking to leave any of his people unprotected Especially not dealing with something so unknown as they faced now.
"We'll give them time to deal with it on their own," Leigh told him reaching for the coffee pot that had replaced the crystal decanter of Brandy that decorated her desk top before C`nis helped himself to it when he'd left the Warren for good.
She motioned towards Dee offering to pour him a cup, knowing she wouldn't have to offer the same to T'rell. For he'd already reached over the top of the desk and had helped himself to the cup she'd poured for herself.
A knock sounded at the door just then and after bidding the visitor enter, Vesta popped her head into the room.
"Warrenlady there are three rider's from Osran Warren wishing for a moment of your time if you can spare it now." The courier said formally and then at a nod from her boss, moved aside and motioned for the three riders to enter the office.
"Our thanks Warrenlady for seeing us on short notice, and please beg our pardon if we've come at a bad time," the first man said motioning back over his shoulder in the direction of the green.
"No please," Leigh said standing to accept the hand the three riders offered. "If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me for not asking you here soon so that we might get to know you better," she said graciously and indicated with her hand for them to take a seat.
"May I pour you a cup of coffee or would you prefer something a bit stronger?" she asked. "I can send Vesta over to the winery for a bottle..."
"No. thank you M'lady, but you don't need to go to all that trouble," the one who spoke the first time assured her. Coffee will be fine for all of us."
After they were all seated. Leigh formally introduced herself and the two men seated there with her.
"This is T'rell rider of Flerrion and the Gamma Wingleader in our Warren. The man next to him is D'Altar, WingSecond to T'rell and assistant trainer."
Though she didn't say he was also her mate, the three men could tell by the way they looked at eachother, and by the way Dee kept looking from her back to them as if checking them out. Though he looked relaxed, Liam could judge very easily what type of man he was.
"I am Liam, Arranger. Lea... Wingleader for Osran Warren in the lost, lost lands by the look of things," he quipped as if still amazed to find himself in the Warren. "And this is my Wing second, Bonsur. Sigath's rider. Our third man is Tavan, Tansard's rider. And you do not know how happy we were to find out that we were not in fact alone out there as we have always believed we were."
"Alone?" Leigh asked. Casting a quick glance towards the two Daere riders. "You mean you have never been outside your Warren's area before?"
"M'lady until recently we didn't know there *was* a way out of the magic pocket that surrounds Osran," Bonsur told her quickly.
"That's right," Liam agreed taking back the front line of the Osran leadership. We've heard past stories that there were other Warren's outside the pocket, but every rider we sent to try to get through the magic... Was ... lost to us," Liam said sadly. "It wasn't until a hatchling pair on their first teleport lesson panicked and ended up in a Warren he didn't recognize that we found out there *was* a way out for us."
There was another knock at the door and before Leigh could call out for them to enter, Vesta opened the door and came back inside. "M'lady the rider shave returned from their... ah... mission."
"It's okay Vesta," Leigh assured the girl. "Our new friends from Osran Warren already know about the rescue attempt. And how did the rider's fair?"
"They brought both rider and that beast back... and have taken them over to the med center," the girl told her, eyes straying to one of the men seated
behind the other two from Osran.
He was quite possibly one of the best looking men she had ever seen. Not as
filled out in the body as say Lexi, but handsome none the less and she was
wondering how soon she could contrive to run into him.
"Very well... please keep me advised and let me know when the rider wakes."
"Aye M'lady."
As the girl exited the room someone past her coming in. Panda. Leigh stood
and came around the front of the desk to greet the girl.
"How are you my dear?" she asked leading the girl to the seat next to T'rell
who was standing now.
"She was just chewed on and thrown around by a dragon," the Gamma Wingleader
quipped unkindly. "How do you think she would feel?"
Leigh just glared at him as she retook her seat.
"Gentleman this is Daere's Newest Queenrider, Panda... Rider of the little
defender you might have seen out there today."
"M'lady I'm sooo sorry Almantha did what she did..." Panda started to say.
"I just don't know what I'm going to do with..."
"It's okay Panda," Leigh smiled kindly. "She'll learn. She's just hatched so
don't expect her to grow up over night."
"No indeed," Liam of Osran laughed. "Why you should see the trouble our Queens got into when they were born. It's a normal part of their growth cycle. Believe me."
"I'll bet you never had to deal with a queen like Almantha," Panda dared to say and then bowed her head after realizing that she may have spoken out of turn.
"Don't worry about it my dear," Bonsur spoke up for the first time since she had entered the room. "I'm sure she'll be a better Queen for it when she's older."
"I hope you're right." The girl signed still unconvinced.
"Look here," Liam stood as did his men. "I can see that you have some things to deal with around here, so if We have your leave to wonder around the warren and check out the shops..."
"Now that sounds like a very good idea," Leigh grinned relieved. "But I would so love to learn more about this Warren of yours and the people there. How about having dinner with us tonight and we can have a longer chance to talk and build a friendship between our two Warrens."
"Why thank you. We would be honored," he bowed his head over the hand she had held out to him.
"Then we'll see you tonight."
After they had gone, Leigh looked at Panda. "My dear I think tonight would be a good time to start your training in Warren Leadership. You'll join us for dinner of course?
================
[[ Tag Tree..... how will Panda react..... Leigh DOES expect her to be there without fail and no excuse short of *I'm having a baby right now* will work to get her out of it. Besides..... I'm SURE Bonsur would just LOVE to see her..... ]]
================
[Osran Riders after Leaving Leigh's office.]
"Quite a woman that Jayleigh. Wouldn't you say *Leader*? Tavan asked, licking his lips as they left the Warren office complex. "I sure wouldn't mind spending some time getting to know her better."
"Forget it Tav," Liam threw back over his shoulder. "That's one woman off limits. Besides that was her mate back in there. Something you would have noticed if you'd been thinking with your mind instead of the thing between your legs."
"Hey whatever moves you" the man asked. "And how do you know they were mates? She didn't say anything like that."
"She didn't have to," Liam informed him. "You could tell by the way he kept watch over her without appearing to do so. I'd leave her alone if I were you. He might not take it to kindly if you bother her."
Both of the other men laughed. "He's not that much." Bonsur commented with a snort.
"He'll eat you up and have you on a platter before he even works up a sweat," Liam remarked. "I've seen other men cut of the same cloth as this D'Altar and I for one don't want to be the one who pisses him off. He's hell on wheels and twice as hard inside then most of the men you know. Stay away from her... and him."
As his back was already turned towards the other two men, Liam didn't see the look that passed between them, his mind already on the story they would tell at dinner that night.
Somehow they had to tell just enough of the truth without telling it all to get these people to help them out. For with out there help... Osran would die off and the dream of a better life would die with it. Somehow he had to keep the promise he'd made to Loren. The promise that would set her free and their love with it.
****Submitted by: *******
Jayleigh & Viktroy (Warrenlady)
Jadain (Leigh's son)