(Nrpg: This is to take place after my last tag·where Phaedraâs face has gone
white·.I just didnât want Max to think weâd all deserted him ;}

***************
It was in a somber mood they three young riders left the small meeting room.
The news had not been good, and they all were needing to get to where they
would do the most good, but first they had to take the time to watch as
Goâwayn was lead out to his dragon by his escorts.

Heâd been taken to his apartment and had been given exactly the allotted
time Phaedra had ordered and then they had marched him out to the green
where the others were waiting.

Ghost stood there on the green with her feet planted firmly on the ground,
hands curled up into fist, no emotion showed on her face to give away her
feelings as Goâwayn was marched up to his waiting dragon.

At her side stood her two self-appointed body guards. Both there to see that
no more harm would befall the girl if by some chance the banished rider got
by his escorts.

"You ainât seen the last me be you little bitch!! He yelled when he saw her
standing there. They canât protect you forever.!!"

"Get him out of here!" Mcâkey barely raised his voice. He didnât have to,
the Swords men heard him anyway. 

They turned to look over at Ghost, but her eyes were glued on Goâwayn. Still
there wasnât any change in her expression as their eyes met and a silent
message was past between them. His a promise to make good on his threat and
hers letting him know sheâd be waiting. For she knew she hadnât seen the
last of him.

<< Vasleth, make sure the watchdragonâs know they are to keep their eyes
open should he try to circle back around and land after weâre gone,>> the
acting Wingleader sent the order to his dragon. <<And that Iâm to be
notified if he tries!>

<They understand and will comply,> the dark green dragon replied seconds later.

The three watched until the banished rider mounted his beast and the two of
them took off. Then Mcâkey turned his mind back to the duties at hand.

"You going to be okay?" he asked the small girl walking beside him. 

"I will be now that heâs gone!" she couldnât believe the relief at Goâwaynâs
leaving. Shouldnât she be feeling sad because a rider had been denied his home??

No!! Heâd had only himself to blame. It wasnât her fault!! After all she
hadnât forced him to betray the Warrenâs trust in him. Nor had she asked him
to help Bridgettâs men kidnap her!! 

Heâd messed up all on his own.

"If you need anyone to talk to when this is over·." Mcâkey started to say
but she cut him off.

"Iâll be sure to look you up my friend," she grinned.

A thought came to him. He really didnât want her to be left alone right now,
knowing that she wouldnât be able to quit thinking about what happened. A
plan formed in his mind. S'mil and his dragon, Elsith might not be happy
with it, but there was really no way he could take the pair out on this patrol. 

He was sure the boy would be a brave fighter once he had some proper
training, and he meant to see he got it· but now was not the time to take an
untried pair out. So him plan was making more sense to him by the moment.

"Jilâmae make sure she gets back to the Med Center," Key spoke up suddenly.
"Iâll meet you both there in a few minutes."

"What was that all about?" Ghost asked the other rider as they watched
Mcâkey turn and run of in the direction of the dining hall where Vash told
him the rider he looked for was.

"No telling," Jilâmae shrugged and the two kept walking.

-----------    

(Dining Hall)

He had to look around the room for a minute before he spotted the rider
dumping his used dishes in the dish tubs and made his way across the room to
intercept him.

"Just the man I was looking for," he planted a smile on his face for he knew
the man wouldnât be happy with the favor he was about to ask.

"Got to talk to you about something."

"What about?" the manâs face took on a slight frown, as if he knew something
was up.

"Look...I know you had your heart set on flying with the wing.. but now just
isn't a good time," Key was honest with him, knowing what he had to say
might upset the man. 

S'mil started to protest but was cut off.

"What I really need is for someone to stay here and keep a good eye on Ghost
while we're gone. I don't trust Go'wayn not to try to come back here after
her when he knows we're gone," the Acting Wingleader told the newest rider.
"But I promise that as soon as this threat is over I'll have you placed in a
class so you can catch up on learning what to do when you fly in a fighting
wing."

"But I do know already," the other man said.

"I know you think you do," Mc'key said kindly so the boy wouldn't think he
was just putting him off. "But doing it is not the same as thinking you
know. I want to be damn sure you're ready so that if you ever have to fight
you'll be sure too. Other riders lives may depend on you someday and I have
to be sure you are trained to respond and know what to do."

"But putting me on a baby-sitting detail!!" the man frowned. 

"Ghost is no baby," the taller blonde man grinned. "Stick around her long
enough and I'm sure you'll find that out. Besides...she's very important to
me and I would see your keeping her safe as a very big favor to me."

Knowing he could use all the favors he could gather, the man finally agreed
to the Wingleaders request. "But you will start my training as soon as this
is over, right?"

"I promise," Mc'key agreed. "Ghost has some catching up to do because of the
problems she's gone through here lately so I'll teach the both of you myself
if I have too."

It was a promise he meat to keep.

"All right," Sâmil finally agreed. "But I meant what I said about joining a
wing. I donât want that to mean Iâm always going to be the one stuck doing
these baby-sitting duties."

"Do me a favor," Key asked as the two exited the dining hall and started at
a quick pace towards the med center. "Donât call it that around Ghost·if you
value your life."

"If sheâs tough, why does she need a sitter·ah·I mean a body guard?

"Normally I would say she doesnât," Mcâkey admitted slowly. "But right now I
donât think she needs to be alone. She might need someone to talk to about
what happened, and I think sheâd feel more comfortable around another rider.
Then again her mind might not be all that sharp with everything else
crowding inside there."

"Got ya," Sâmil grinned, finally understanding· "So While Iâm keeping an eye
on her· Iâm also suppose to act like a father confessor and listen if she
needs to talk?"

"Got it in one!" the taller rider snapped off a quick salute.

"Oh·and one more thing·" Key started to say when they neared the door
leading inside the center. ""Make sure your eyes are the only thing you keep
on her!! Understand?"

"Understood!"

It didnât take them long to find Ghost who was still standing beside
Jilâmae, and introductions were made. Mcâkey was right in thinking she would
be to happy to have someone dogging her every step, but she agreed not to
try to lose him when Key held out the promise of more training to get her
caught up with the rest of her hatch mates.

Then the two Dragonriders left the building to find their dragonâs and join
the rest of their flight in protection of the Warren.

Ghost turned to the man when they were gone and flashed him one of her best
smiles.

"So· if you and I are going to be hanging out together for a while," she
said. "Why donât you tell me something I donât already know about you?"

"Who says you know anything about me at all?" he challenged her.

"Well I know about the time when you and your dragon·.." her voice trailed
off as they started walking down the long hall.

-------------------------------------------  

Tag Max· anything exciting she might have found out about?? Ghost is very
good about finding out things others donât want or think are not known·
sheâs very persistent and sneaky.

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

Barbara (a.k.a.

Ghost & Kikeane 
Mcâkey & Vasleth
Goâwayn & Flen
Jilâmae & Ske