NRPG: Note the mailing list above; these should be all that you have.
We'll have more very soon, I hope :)

Barb: just to make sure, you meant Lord Uboe, not Lord Oboe, right?

And for everyone: Geode is laid out a little different from other warrens. 
There really is no 'green', just a flat expanse of bare rock. There is a 
nearby lake, Boiling Lake, that is constantly shrouded in steamy
mist. The warren is situated above the permafrost line on a mountain, 
but at gound level it is heated by geothermal heat. Geysers are common. 
Plant growth here is sparse; the real visual wonders are the rock and 
crystal formations in and out of the caves. Also, many more of the 
craft Masters are represented at this warren than in others; it may help 
to read the warren description and especially some of the first posts.
The nearest town is Greymist, controlled by Lord Uboe. It is a half-day's
walk down the mountain from the warren, or a short hop by dragon :)
______________________________________________________

**V'dar**

V'dar stood and watched as Inagua retched for hopefully the final 
time.  A spasm of uncertainty twisted his features; was this really
necessary? The girl had been through so much, still had so much to
deal with...

No.  This had to be set right, and soon. Wherever the queen rider
went, she did it without an escort, and obviously into danger. He
placed a hand on her shoulder, tried to help her up, but she shook 
his hand off. He watched as she stood, washed her face, then crossed
back into the living room to sit stiffly in his chair.  V'dar sat across from
her, for once having no idea what to say. He felt guilty.

"I did nothing wrong in Greymist," she stated expressionlessly.

"Then why did you look half dead when I found you there?" V'dar asked 
shrewdly.

Inagua scowled indignantly at him. "How I persue my pleasure is my own 
business," she said coolly.

What?

"You're only fifteen!" he stammered.

"I'm the oldest fifteen you'll ever see," she replied.  "Don't make a 
mistake thinking I'm young."

If this...was how she enjoyed it, then it really wasn't his business, after all.
It explained how she turned up missing all the time, but still...V'dar fought
hard not to say something scathing.

"You got your money's worth, then," he replied. "Someone really worked
you over."

"Like I said, that's my business."

*Tekelote, did you find out where they go, like I asked?*

<It's harder than that, my rider. Myacura, as small as she is, is still a
queen. 
She doesn't want to tell me, and I don't want to push it.>

*Coward.*

<I invite you to take a flying leap off of a- >

"It falls out of your business, here," he grated. "Normally, I'd say have 
your fun. Break a few bones, if that's teach you to take it easy. I 
wouldn't care, except for one thing."

"What's that?"

"You're a queen rider."

"So?"

"Don't you get it? You don't fight, you don't even have to administrate.
Your job is to keep yourself alive and healthy-and your queen, too.
She has to be healthy and in high spirits to produce large clutches-
and your state affects that."

Inagua's face darkened with rage. "I resent being described like that!
I'm a human being!"

"Not much longer, if you drink like that. Especially if you screw like 
that, as well. You're hardly in any shape to tell me how indignant you 
are."  

"I don't have to sit here and take this," she said, rising.

"I am not through with you yet!" he yelled at her. He stood from his
chair, leaned over to be almost nose-to-nose with Inagua. From this 
close up, the gaze of her mismatched eyes was disconcerting. "You 
can walk off a cliff, or complain to Phaedra, or whatever, but you...
will...listen!" He could see her struggling not do do something...what?

"You're a human being," he continued. "I'm not saying different. What
I'm trying to tell you is that from the moment that dragon chose you,
your life is no longer your own! You have to take care of the both of
you! People depend on you!"

Was he finally getting through to her? She looked about ready to 
cry. Inagua took a deep breath, said, "Tell that to my sister. I let her
down."

He hadn't expected that. Guilt washed over him again. "I know that,"
he said. "I'd argue with you there. As old as you try to be, you're still 
only fifteen. You can't be held responsible for everything bad that
happens."

"Oh, yes I can."

"You might. No one else will. People care about you," he said.

It earned him a derisive laugh. "Right, sure they do. You just told me
that I'm nothing more than moral support for a breeding machine, then
you dare to tell me that people care?!" Her voice had the edge of 
hysteria to it.

What happened next shocked him as much as it did her. He leaned 
forward, covered her mouth with his. The kiss lasted a few seconds
before he broke it, troubled and astonished.

"What..." Inagua started.

"*I* care about you," he said. Inside, though, his mind was reeling. Why
did he do that? Why, he was old enough to be her-

<Why did you do that?>

*To shut her up, I think.*

<Yeah. Right.> Tekelote's next thought was interrupted by a sudden push
that knocked him off balance; he fell heavily to the floor. He didn't 
remember her pushing him. 

"Ouch," he said.

*********************************
**Phaedra**

"I wanted to talk to you about Ghost. I know it's a private business, but
the girl's been through so much recently. Are you sure she needs another
complication right now?"

"I know what you mean. However, I swear to you that nothing is going to
happen in a hurry. I have loved her for a long time, and I am a patient man.
I will not rush her into anything. She says she loves me. There is no reason
why I should let that go. We'll just have to wait until she gets back from
her landbound duties before deciding on how we'll go forward," Mc'Key
said.

"I just want you to be careful, that's all. Also, I wanted to congratulate
you on your plan. I still think it was a damn fool thing to do, but you
stood up well and the Warren owes you a debt. It seems the best solution
possible has come of it."

"Thank you, my lady." Phaedra watched as he turned and left her office.
The quartz walls reflected her troubled expression hundreds of times
back at her.  After all this, they were getting involved? Well, there were
stranger things in the world. Phaedra hoped that it turned out well.

**************************
(the next day, early)

"It would be best if you and Norik showed up together," Phaedra was 
telling Ghost as Norik's things were secured to Kiki's saddle. "It'll 
do the people a world of good to see that you two are of one mind in 
this matter."

"Yes M'lady, you're right," the younger girl agreed with her, but Phaedra
could see she was distracted.

"Well it's time to load up and get a move on it," the Warrenlady said and
then reached out to place her arms on the tiny girl's shoulders. "It'll be
over soon Bashie, and then you can come home to where you belong."

"It won't take forever Bashie," a voice said from behind her pulling her
back to the two in front of her. Dellanie joined them. "I'll be going with
you, and think I might stay for a little bit longer after you come home.
There are a few people I haven't seen in a long time that I would love to
see again."

<* Speaking of seeing...Melith, where is Merle and her rider? I specifically
asked them to join us today. *>

<<I know, my rider...they are not at the warren.>>

<*What? Why not? *>

<<Merle and her rider have left to visit her rider's kin. Merle told me that
they would return some time soon,>> Melith thought soothingly.

<* Damn it...never mind.*>

<<Never mind?>>

<*For once, I'm tired of sending people tearing off to look for missing 
queens. She can take care of herself. Just keep me posted if you hear
anything. *>

<<I shall,>> Melith replied as Phaedra turned and waved; within
moments, the party winked out. The warrenlady trudged back to her
apartment, vapor hissing from clenched teeth...

__________________________

Tag Bridget...and I'll have a Phaedra-centered story to follow :)
Feel free to use the NPC's, we've got plenty :)

Allen Veazey
wolf@dbtech.net
	
	"I'm not really bad, I'm just drawn that way."
			--Jessica Rabbit