She was disappointed when there return trip yielded them no new information,
even worse that their four days together had been ruined by the arrival of
the three dragonriders.

But at lease Mc'key had let her go along on the return trip instead of
trying to make her stay behind. 

She would have hated for them to of had a fight so soon after giving in to
their feelings for each other. Some things were better left for more
important things.

Then there was the way he had made love to her when they had returned. The
helplessness she had felt at not being able to touch him in return when he'd
pinned her arms to the floor, had been sort of erotic in it's own way. 

She couldn't escape his hold and by the look in his eyes, he knew exactly
what he was doing to her. 

"Please!" she begged, but he only smiled in return.

She never knew a person could have so much control over another until her
passions had reached the point where she was begging him to put an end to
the torment his touches had started inside her.

He was wild when he finally moved over her and entered her. She wanted to
touch him. To bring him as much pleasure as he was bring her, but he would
have none of it and she felt him holding her hands away from his body as he
began thrusting maddeningly inside her. Then finally he released her hands
and she reached out to draw him closer...

Lunch later in the hall was uneventful. Few people came up to wish her well,
others stopping to tell her they were glad she'd decided to stay in Geode,
but still some couldn't believe all she'd give up to stay there. 

One look at the man sitting across the table from her, and Ghost knew she
had made the right decision. The rest only time would tell. 

"So what are you going to tell Phaedra about our trip?" Ghost asked when
they were finally alone for a few minutes.

"Well I don't think I'll be telling her about that tiny mole you have on the
inside of your right thigh," he grinned wickedly causing her to blush as she
was reminded of just what he had been doing at the time he'd discovered that
tiny mold.  

"That's *not* what I meant!" she lowered her voice, and turned her eyes to
look around to make sure no one had heard him, causing him to laugh. "I
meant our return trip."

"Oh that trip," he winked. "What can I tell her. We didn't find anything."

"I still think you should have let me try to get inside," she frowned. "I
could have you know. Even with those three dragon's watching the place. I'm
good at things like that."

"I just didn't see the need to chance it," he replied, but she could hear
the words he didn't say.

"I would have been in no danger," she informed him. This over protective
side of him was going to have to change. She'd been taking care of herself
just fine for a long time before she'd met him. She wasn't about to start
making mistakes now.

"Well it's to late now anyway,' he told her. "But we do need to tell Lady
Phaedra what we found.'

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

Phaedra wasn't smiling when they entered her office sometime later. She
spared Ghost a quick look to make sure the girl was all right and then
welcomed her home. 

Ghost smiled in return and then sat back and let Mc'key tell her about their
morning. He explained what had happened and, most importantly, who had been
there.

"Faedos Hithra!" Phaedra exclaimed.

"Yes my Lady. It would seem something may be afoot. We must keep an
especially careful watch on our borders."

"Yes, we can't let them get away with anything."

Phaedra turned to Ghost and had her go over once again the things she had
heard when she had been close to the three riders, but none of them could
make any sense out of it.

But there was not much more to be said. There was no further action they
could take until the rogue riders made some sort of move.

"Before you go, Mc'Key, can you make sure you catch up with our new
Queenrider. Her name is Argent and I would like it if you would let her know
who you are."

"Of course, my Lady. I'll make sure I speak with her."

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

"A new Queenrider?" Ghost asked as they left the Warrenlady's office. "I
wonder what she'll be like. Anything would be an improvement over the one we
have now."

"Ghost!" Key turned to her frowning. "That's not a very nice thing to say. I
wouldn't think it smart to let others hear you talk about he that way."

"I wouldn't speak about her this way to anyone but you my newest love," the
girl said sweetly. "But even you have to admit there is something strange
about her. And you know she's always drunk when ever I see her." 

"I don't know if I'd go that far," Key frowned. 

"Stick around love and keep a watch on her for a while," Ghost told him.
"And I'll be willing to bet you anything you'll find out I'm right. All you
have to do is get near her and you can smell the booze."

"Maybe so.. " he admitted the slim chance. "But I don't want to hear of you
spreading that around."

"As if I would," she pouted at his words. "I wouldn't say it to anyone but
you anyway. I didn't learn everything I've learned over the last year by
telling everyone the good things."

"Just so long as you only say a few other things to only me and no one
else," he tried to look menacingly at her but she could see the smile behind
his fierce scowl.

"Oh... and why might those few things be?" she asked batting her eyes coyly.

"Oh... maybe I love you... I want only you Key...." he did grin this time.

"Well that goes without saying my love," she assured him, reaching for his
hand as they continued on towards the dinning hall. 

They found the new Queenrider, Argent sitting inside with a few others that
were known to both Ghost and Mc'key, so they wondered over to introduce
themselves.

"Ummm excuse us Tak'Chaal," Mc'key cleared his throat as the two drew up
next to the family sitting there laughing over something that had been said.
"I'm sorry to bother you and you're family..."

"No Bother Mc'key," the older man grinned. "We were just filling Argent in
on some of the things her brothers pulled just after they joined."

"Well Argent is the reason we're here," he smiled at the young woman and
moved so that Ghost was slightly in front of him. "My mate and I were hoping
this would be a good time to meet her."

"Oh that's right... you weren't here when she arrived. Argent, this is our
Beta Wingleader Mc'key and Ghost, rider of the pink dragon you saw arriving
earlier... Mc'key's...ah...mate? " Tak'Chaal grinned causing Ghost's cheeks
to turn rosy. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you," the girl smiled warmly, and Ghost knew
instantly that she liked this girl.

"Heard you asked for a few days off. So how was it... say.. aren't you home
early?" Tak'Chaal asked.

"Had a run in with a few rogue riders showing up..." Key told them. "We went
back with a few riders but were to late to find out why they showed up at
the chalet. Or where they may have went."

"Father.." Argent interrupted them before they could go on. "Would you mind
filling me in before we get to far into this topic of rougeriders? I'd like
to know what's going on in my new home."

"Oh I'm sorry my dear," the older man turned to look at her with a warm
smile on his face. "You'll have to excuse us daughter, but you know how it
is when us riders start talking about Warren business."

"Um yes... But us Queenriders like to be apart of the conversation sometimes
to you know," she reminded him. "How else are we suppose to know what's
going on?"

"Stick around the little one there," Za'kia spoke up for the first time and
pointed at Ghost. "That one always knows what's going on around here. Don't
you M'lady?

Ghost saw the grin being past between the two other men at the table. Za'kia
and Ceth'lith. She didn't know them very well, but they had never paid much
mind to her when they had thought her to be only a child. Or so she thought.

"Please... none of this M'lady stuff you two," Ghost groaned. "I thought I
made that clear."

"M'lady?" Argent asked and nothing would do but for the brothers to tell her
about Ghost's adventures over the last few weeks. 

"And you gave it all up?" her eyes lit up when they had come to the end of
the story. 

Ghost nodded her head and turned to look at the man sitting beside her. "I
found some things in life are worth having more than the things you never
had before."

"I think I can understand that," Argent replied softly, bowing her head for
a few seconds before raising it to look at her. "I think I can understand
that better than most people would."

Their eyes met and for a moment it was as if they shared each others
thoughts. Both could see the other did understand what was going thought the
others mind. 

"Is this what they call a *girl thing* ?" Ceth'lith asked, innocently,
causing all the males to laugh, and the two women to rolling their eyes.

"Men," Argent sighed and Ghost agreed.

They six of them talked awhile longer. Ghost asked Argent what it was like
living in the other Warren and then every once in a while someone would ask
her another question.

Sometime later Tak'Chaal reminded his daughter that she'd had a full day
already and that she should try to make an early night of it. The family
made their good-byes and left the table.

"Well love," Key turned to her after they were gone. "She seems like a nice
person."

"Yes she does," Ghost agreed. "And it looks like she has a head on her
shoulder too. Phaedra should be happy about that."

"Now remember what I said..." he started to say when they heard someone call
out is name, and turned to see Jil'mae and Karine coming towards them.

"So did ya tell the great lady what we found when we went back after your
bad guys?" Mc'key's Wingsecond asked as the two sat down at the table
joining them.

"Just what we know," he replied. "Which isn't much."

"Maybe we can send a few of the flights out tomorrow to have a look around
the area?" Jil'mae said, all dragonrider now. "I don't like the idea of
having rogues so close to the Warren."

"You're not the only one," ghost spoke up and then turned to Karine. "Key
told me you're going to be joining our training class soon."

"I'm hoping too," the girl smiled and glanced in the Wingleaders direction.
"I find I need to have something for that dragonball addict of mine to do to
try to wear her out."

"Yea... she's starting to rub off on Skeeter and is giving him some
idea's..." Jil'mae joked. "Do you know how hard I have to fight with him
just to get a ride up to our apartment?"

"And who's fault is that?" Karine asked.

"Who owes the dragonball?" he threw back at her, causing the others to laugh. 

"I like your idea about sending some of the flights out to go over the area
again," Mc'key said changing the subject back to the topic before. 

"I'm going with you," Ghost told him and didn't look away when he turned to
tell her no. "And don't tell me I'm not ready yet for something like this or
I may get Karine to go with me on our own to look."

"You wouldn't?" he asked, then saw by the steady look in her blue eyes that
she might. "We'll talk about this later."

"Yup!"

Jil'mae and Karine had to fight to keep from laughing as the y past a look
between them as if to ask the other if Mc'key knew what he'd gotten himself
into with the stubborn little rider.

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

They got home that night and climbed into bed, Mc'key pulled her close and
cuddled her next to his body. She fit so perfect against him, as if she was
made for only him.

"Key..?"

"Yes Ghost."

"Please say I can go with you tomorrow?" she asked softly. "Don't leave me
behind just cause you feel like you want to protect me. I'm not fragile you
know. Or I wouldn't have made it this far on my own."

He didn't bother to tell her that she had never for one moment since showing
up in the Warren, been on her own. He'd always been there in the back ground
keeping a watch on her well being. 

"I'll think about it," was all he'd tell her, then pulling her tighter,
drifted off into dream land.

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

Nrpg: Peter & Paula... you can add anything to this you both might want. I
figure Jil'mae might... ask if Karine can go with him in the morning.... as
long as she follows orders when they are given... and the same with Ghost....

One never knows when one will run into a rogue rider with something nasty
planned for the Warren riders ;):)  ((hint hint...)

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

Barbara (a.k.a.

Ghost & Kikeane 
Geode Warren