***V'dar***

V'dar stretched tired muscles. Still in the afternoon, and he had already
had one of the longer days of his life. What with Phaedra turning up
injured-despite Kelley's assurances that it looked worse than it was, 
it still looked horrible-and the implication that it had been dragon's
breath that did it, he was lucky that he had managed to get through the 
morning's class at all. Not that anyone had really paid attention to
him; most of the new riders spent the morning jawing among themselves. 
Even V'dar's best glower had failed to work. Well, he thought as he 
slumped in a chair in the dining hall, he had earned a break and by
hells, he would enjoy it!

++ No time for that. Gossamer calls to us, her rider needs help.++

Sure she did. *What's the problem? Where are they?*

++ Gossamer is in the hatchling's cave. Her rider is outside the
human town...she relates that she has found a hurt rider. She does not
recognize him. ++

A hurt rider? A rogue? Could Phaedra have hurt him before she went down?
It was well known what she was capable of when upset.

++ Gossamer says no. She says that the rider is very young, about 15
years. Her rider wants you to meet her south of the warren. ++

*Tell her I'll be there. Tell her to be careful until I arrive with
reinforcements.* Fifteen or not, that didn't mean he couldn't be
involved. Calling to two riders as he ran out of the dining hall, he 
quickly mounted Tekelote.

++ I have contacted the other dragon. ++ Tekelote began a low soft 
keening. 

*What? What's the matter?*

++ I believe he has lost all sense, my heart. He is young, not yet
a full year, and his thoughts to me are wild and jumbled. He keeps 
telling me of another warren they are from, called...Telnor? He
can't tell me where it is, but he says he remembers where it is. He 
is becoming frantic. ++

No! Not with Marcail there! *Calm him down, calm him down. We'll get
to the bottom of this.* Already, their short flight had brought them 
within eyesight of the scene. Marcail was right, he had never seen or
trained the pair before, either. 

++ It is all right, my heart. Kalon has agreed to come with us. ++

*Good.* Dismounting, he ran over to where Marcail was tending to the
unconscious boy. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "That was brave, 
facing a dragon to see after his rider, whoever they are," he said.
Marcail beamed. V'dar picked up the boy and strapped him to Tekelote's
back, as his cover circled overhead...then pulled Marcail up behind him 
for the flight back. 

*Pass the word ahead for Kelley to be ready.*

++ Who's she? ++

*You've seen her...oh, forget it. Just do it, will you?*

Kelley was indeed waiting for them as Tekelote cupped his wings and
alit on the rocky ground in front of the medical center. "Another one?
What is going on out there?!?" she exclaimed.

V'dar grimaced. "Not what you think. he's not from here, and there's 
not a mark on him from what I can see."

Kelley's mouth made an O. "A rogue?"

"That's what I want to find out." Placing the boy on an empty bed, V'dar
stood back to give the healer room. She moved fast, checking his 
heart, breathing, looking for injuries....finally, to their relief,
the boy's eyes fluttered open.

"Where...where am I?" His eyes widened in suprise as he saw the 
amethyst-veined ceiling, then closed in pain. Suddenly he turned 
white and retched; Kelley managed to turn his head to the side just in 
time to keep him from choking. 

"Relax. You're at Geode. Don't open your eyes, that's what making the 
vertigo get worse."

"My head...spinning..."

"Yes, it is. You're suffering from the effects of a bad teleport, I
think. You need to rest now, that's right." Pulling up several large
pillows, she immobilized his head and neck.

"Kalon..."

"Your dragon is safe here." V'dar could see his reassurance was too
late anyway; the boy's head had stiffened in a signal that he was 
communicating.

"I can't stay here, I have to get back to Telnor." the boy started to 
rise, before Kelley firmly pushed him back.

"Forget it. You teleport now, in your state, and you'll be killed for
certain. I take it you messed up a teleport? No, don't nod, keep 
your head still."

"Yes."

"You're lucky you're here." The healer looked up to V'dar. "Look after 
him, please. I have to attend to Phaedra for a bit. Make sure he
doesn't move, whatever you do." She rose to leave.

"Has there been any change?"

"You mean, has she woke up? No. Have I scraped off most of the charred
flesh?" V'dar winced. "Almost, but I have to finish. Watch after him."
She left.

V'dar looked after the boy, who was turning pale again. I don't even 
know his name, he thought.

++ B'rin. Kalon's rider, but you knew that. ++

*Thanks.* Smartass dragon. V'dar watched the boy warily, until his eyes 
fluttered a bit again. "B'rin?"

"Yes..."

"What is a 'Telnor'?"

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

Tag, Lyn!
Sarah, feel free to have Marcail around and interacting if you want.
	
        Respectfully submitted by:
	Allen Veazey <wolf@dbtech.net>
	Warrenlady Phaedra and Melith (Geode); Gerald and Random (Daere)
	Ash'chenon (Telnor); B'rand and Rook (Cleft),
	C'nis and Liupeth (Keldarra), Orbus of Amber (Amber)
	               Geode Warren Page:
        http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3043/crystal.html
	
     "Don't call ME a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease!"
				-C3PIO