+++Andromeda+++
++++Morning++++

<Skeeter!>

The other dragon popped his head down over the edge of a low stone overhang.
<Yes?> he asked, holding the ball between his teeth.

<Are you playing or not?>

<I am, I am! You just haven't gotten the ball from me yet,> he said, swaying
his massive head from side to side. The sides of his fangful mouth stretched
upward in a draconic grin. With a push he forced his frame from the rock to
glide over the stone plain.

<Oh, no, you don't!> Andromeda exclaimed. Skeeter tried to put his back legs
down for a landing good for running, but he didn't quite succeed. Andromeda
had gained on him, and with a leap she wrapped her forelimbs around his
hindquarters. Both dragons crashed to the ground.

<Oww! No fair!> the victim cried, thrashing his tail. <My wing's smashed!>

<Ah, all's fair in love and dragonball, my sweet,> Andromeda chirped as she
daintily picked up the ball from where the surprised other dragon had thrown
it. <Your wing's fine and you know it.>

Skeeter rolled over onto his side and made a show of being injured. "Sobbing"
loudly, he kicked his feet and thrashed his head and tail. Andromeda, now
actually worried that her playmate had gotten hurt, came over to look at him
closely. In pity she put down the ball and nudged it forward with her nose.
Skeeter refused it.

<No,> he said in a strained tone. <I'm an injured dragon... I can't have this
toy now! I need my rider! I need to give my last will!>

Andromeda looked around. Jil`mae was nowhere to be seen. Again she pushed
forward the ball. She stepped away meekly.

Skeeter emitted a few more loud whimpers, but then he cocked his head to look
from Andromeda to the ball. Andromeda put her head down between her forepaws
as she watched the other dragon. 

Skeeter heaved a sigh, sniffled the ball, and picked it up. In a flash he was
on his feet and trotting away from the gasping Andromeda.

<But you... You... You...> she stuttered.

<All's fair in love and dragonball, my sweet!> he chortled as he hurried away
with the ball.

*Well, you've had enough for today, anyhow,* Andromeda's rider, Karine, said
into her head. *We have a little bit of a trip to take today. No more games,
love.*

Frustrated, Andromeda pawed at the ground. Riders always showed up at the most
inopportune moments...!

<Aww, you have to leave?> Skeeter asked, noticeably disappointed. <Okay. I'll
bounce this around a little bit and then I'll toss it onto your ledge.
Promise. For real this time.>

Andromeda slowly padded her way back to her rider. <Oh, all right... Where do
we go today?>

*We're going on a little trip. You'll see.*

With a sniff, Andromeda helped her rider onto her back, and then she took off
with the other two dragons involved in the day's voyage.

[some time later]

The three dragons landed in the Lago Vista courtyard amid a sea of curious
onlookers. Lord Norik and Lady Dellanie rushed out to greet the visiting
dragons and their riders, and as quickly as they rushed forth, Ghost slid off
Kikiane's back to greet them. Norik soon waved the riders into the main keep
of his holding, and gestured toward a not-so-distant area at which the dragons
would find good sunning grounds.

Ghost and the two shared some familiar talk amongst themselves for a time, but
Karine and Argent were not ignored. All five people sat around a table now,
and all spoke amiably to each other, although not all had known the rest until
now. Karine sat, listening politely, as the people spoke, and answered to the
best of her ability when a question was asked of her. She hadn't lived in this
class of society, so much was unfamiliar to her, but she still managed to
carry herself off rather well. 

After a time, Norik was called out of the room to accept a message. When he
returned, his face wore a most thoughtful expression, as though he had been
given some tremendous news. Karine, unfamiliar with events local to Lago
Vista, couldn't even begin to guess the information, but from the depth of his
countenance, she thought that whatever Norik had been told had been of some
import.

Karine enjoyed her visit with the Lord and Lady of Lago Vista, but soon she
and her compatriots realized that the time had come for them to continue on
their... unofficial... duty. 

Their purpose may have been valiant, but it could have been met with better
ends. The girls found nothing on their quest, save fatigue and a tad bit of
frustration. Ah, well. At least they'd gone out on their own.

Over the next few days, their results hadn't changed much. Nothing was found. 

One night a few days after their original departure for Lago Vista, the
dragons broke into a keening fit to pop the eardrums of every being within
miles of Geode. Karine ran out of her room full bolt until she found Jil`mae.
With alarm she gasped, "What happened?!"

========================================
And here I cut it out because I have several neurons in my skull begging for
mercy. 

Clear Skies and Seas,
Paula Sandusky

Noni/Ammie of Daere
Domaia/Lyric of Norwall
Karine/Andromeda of Geode