NRPG: Just a quick one to get Karine officially on the books as interested in
a wing...

==========================
[After Barb's tag and before Mc`key leaves to retrieve Ghost]

"Umm, excuse me, sir?" Karine said, clearing her throat. "Jil`mae suggested I
speak to you about joining a wing...?"

The man turned to regard her with mild surprise on his face. "Um, well, yes.
You're certain that you'd like to join?" 

Karine nodded emphatically. "Yes, sir. I've got to get my dragon doing
something other than batting a ball around the warren..."

Mc`key nodded. "Ah. I see. Have you thought this over and are sure it's what
you want to do?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, though I haven't the time to give you a detailed description of what a
wing's like, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to take it up. Still, it's a
major decision and you might want to take some time to think about it. I'd be
able to sit down and talk to you in a few days, but for now, I have to be on
my way, I'm afraid..."

"Oh!" Karine said, her eyes wide with contrition. "I'm sorry, sir... I didn't
mean to take up your time..."

Mc`key shook his head with a slight grin as he left. Jil`mae chuckled a bit,
his eyes dancing, but soon brought himself to order. "Well," he said, "I guess
I have to tell you all about what you've just gotten yourself and your winged
hussy into, huh?"

Karine's eyes widened a bit. "Hussy, huh! Well, yes, please do tell me what
I've gotten us into!"

"Well," he said, "You've gotten yourselves into some long, hard hours.
Training's a full-time thing. The actual work can be rough, too. It's often
exhausting. You'll sleep quick and soundly whenever you get back from wing
work, that's sure!"

Karine shrugged. "It doesn't matter what happens to me. I can handle it,
pretty much. What I'm worrying about is how much it'll take up Andromeda's
energies."

"Oh, it will. Don't worry about that. She'll come back and drop dead for at
least the first few nights she has to do this kind of stuff."

"Only the first few nights?"

"Well, maybe, and maybe not," he said. "If she's doing something strenuous all
the time, she'll drop dead. If she's just sitting on a cliff and keeping watch
over something, she'll probably recruit Skeeter for a midnight game of
dragonball just so she can work off her energy."

"How does he usually come back after these things?"

"Again, it depends, really. Some nights he's fallen asleep before he has even
hit the ledge. Others, he's wide awake until at least sunrise. Just be warned,
it takes a lot to wear out a dragon like Skeeter. Andromeda's worse, looks
like."

"Just what I need. A solution that solves nothing." Karine chuckled ruefully.
"Well, it's worth a shot, at least."

"Yup." Jil`mae thought for a moment. "Speaking of taking shots at wing work,
what would you say if I offered to give you a little informal training? If
something comes up, and it's not too serious for me to get you involved, would
you be willing to yank your winged hussy out of her dragon games for a little
bit of a taste of what this is like?"

"Sure. I think I could use the preview, too."

Jil`mae nodded. "When something comes up, I'll let you know. Be ready on a
moment's notice, though."

"Sure. No problem, there."

"Good. Very good, that. That's a great start."

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

Clear Skies and Seas,
Paula Sandusky

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