(NRPG: Still at the site of the battle)

Z'charai
--------

As he watched Jismin disappear into the void, Wade and the infant on her
back, Z'charai frowned.  His emotions were a mixture of relief that Wade
was finally on her way back to Jasra as well as a strange emptiness to
have her out of his site.

"Z'charai."

He turned to see Wynn standing there, hands on his hips, still surveying
the carnage around them.  The man was distracted, a sour look of disgust
on his face.

"Yes, sir?" Z'charai turned and stood next to him, following his gaze.
They were surrounded by bodies, some of which his wingmates were beginning
to set in a line nearby.  Some of the buildings around them were still
burning, others were just piles of ash.  The sight was enough to make
anyone shudder and want to hold their loved ones close for protection.

"If we can get these bodies buried, we can get out of here quicker.  Let's
get the dragons to assist by digging the graves." Wynn turned as he spoke,
making eye contact with Z'charai.

Z'charai nodded, "Understood, sir."

*Did you hear that, Eolanth?  Can you tell the others, please?*

Eolanth rumbled an affirmative <Of course, my rider.>  Even the
flamboyant, arrogant purple dragon had been stunned by this battlefield.

Z'charai moved over next to G'mit and the two of them joined the others,
hauling the bodies up and adding them to the line.  It wasn't too long
before they came to what appeared to be the schoolhouse of this small
village.  

As they approached, Z'charai caught sight of a small body.  He was the
first to arrive, falling to his knees over it.  As he turned the body
over, he saw it was a little girl, no older than four or five years old.
He slowly picked her up and cradled her in his arms, tears of grief
finally beginning to stream down his face.  His shoulders shook as he
tightly gripped the small body to his chest.

G'mit watched as his friend sobbed, standing there silently for a moment.
He then made his way over to Z'charai and squeezed his shoulder as he
moved past, dutifully retrieving the small bodies one by one and adding
them to the line of corpses.

"Don't cry..."

A hand on his shoulder and the voice of a child shook Z'charai out of his
sorrow.  There standing beside him was a tiny girl, mirror image of the
body he held in his arms.  He blinked at her.

"You don't need to cry.  Dragonriders aren't supposed to cry," she stated.

He set the body carefully down and turned to the girl, gripping her arms
lightly, "We aren't?"

The girl shook her head, blonde hair so much like his own bobbing with her
movements, "No, you're supposed to be the strongest and the smartest and
the best of all the people!"

Z'charai smiled at that, his first smile since he'd gotten there, "What's
your name?"

"Terany... is Casey going to be alright?" She gestured to the girl's body
that was now on the ground again.

He shook his head, "I don't think so, Terany.  She's gone away..."

Tears welled up in the girl's eyes, "Casey can't go away!  She's my
sister!  We was borned at the same time!" She made a move towards the
body, but Z'charai stopped her.

"No, Terany.  No.  You come with me, now, okay?" He took her hands and
looked directly into her eyes, big pools of bright blue innocence.

"I have to go home.  Momma is waiting for me.  And Poppa will be home in
time for dinner.  He promised!" She tried to pull out of Z'charai's grip,
but he held her firm.

"No, sweetheart.  They're gone."

She stopped, trying to comprehend, "Gone with Casey?"

He nodded, "Yes, gone with Casey."

Tears welled up again in her liquid blue eyes, "You mean, they're all
gone?"

Z'charai hesitated, then nodded.

She threw herself into the Dragonrider's arms, sobbing wildly.  He picked
the tiny form up and made his way over to his Wingleader.  Wynn's eyebrows
shot up and he hurried over.

"Another survivor?" he asked.

Z'charai nodded, "Aye, sir.  Another."

"How'd we miss this one?" Wynn questioned, more to himself than anything
else.

"She was in the schoolhouse, sir.  Looks like her twin sister was killed
trying to escape..."

Wynn sighed, "Dammit, and I need you here...."

Terany lifted her head to look at Wynn, but only for a fleeting moment.
Behind him she caught sight of the dragons and her eyes widened with
innocent curiosity.

<I can watch the girl, my rider.  We have more than enough graves.>

"That's okay, sir.  I'll leave her with Eolanth for the time being.  He'll
tell me if she needs anything..." Z'charai told Wynn.

Wynn looked dubiously at the large purple dragon, then back to his rider.
He'd seen them both with the Warren children in the few days he'd been
there.  In fact, he'd rarely seen them without a child nearby.  He nodded.

"Alright, but as soon as we can spare you, you'll take her back to Jasra."

Z'charai nodded and set the girl down on her feet.  She was still staring
at the large form of Eolanth.

"Terany, would you like to meet my dragon?" He held her hand and gestured
to the opalescent purple form.

Terany nodded mutely, allowing Z'charai to lead her to Eolanth.

After an introduction, and a touching to see that he's real session,
Z'charai left the girl curled up in Eolanth's forepaws yawning sleepily.
The next time he checked, she was sound asleep.

The riders worked well into the night burying the bodies.  Terany slept
on, oblivious and safe in Eolanth's grasp.

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

(NRPG: Back at Jasra)

It was just past midnight when Wynn's wing returned to the
Warren.

Z'charai had Terany curled tightly against his chest, her sleepy eyes
taking in everything new as it happened.  She was clinging to Zach, but
she stared around her in wonder.

"Okay, Terany.  We're home." He gave her a hug with one arm.

"Home?" Terany asked doubtfully, looking around her.

Z'charai nodded as Eolanth landed on the green, "Yes, this is home.  Jasra
Warren."  He handed her down to one of the Healers who was waiting below.
This action brought a wail of protest from the small girl.  She squirmed
and tried to push away from the Healer.

Z'charai was on the ground in a second, taking Terany from the Healer,
"How about if I go with you?  We'll make sure you're all okay, hmm?"

Terany nodded and was perfectly happy once she was in Z'charai's arms
again.  Absently Zach looked around for Wade, but didn't see her.

<She's not here.>

*Where is she, Eolanth?*

<I don't know.  Jismin is too far away to hear.>

Z'charai frowned.  Too far away?  That didn't make sense.  Surely Wade
wouldn't have gone far.

In the Infirmary, the Healer checked for any injuries or pain that the
girl might have.  He shook his head in disbelief, "She's perfectly
healthy, Zach.  One lucky little girl."

Z'charai nodded, then blushed as he asked, "Is... would..." he swallowed
doubtfully, "Do you think it would be okay if she stayed with me?  At
least until we can decide what's to be done with her?"

The Healer shrugged, "I don't see why not.  She needs a bath, but other
than that... but you know how to take care of a little one, don't you?" He
winked and patted Z'charai on the arm.

Z'charai gathered the sleepy little girl up in his arms and she yawned
mightily, "Where are we going, Zach?"

"Back to my apartment, little one." He carried her out of the infirmary
and across the green.

"I want Eolanth to take me for another ride," Terany stated at the sight
of the purple dragon, rubbing her eyes and yawning again.

"A ride up to our apartment, then mayhaps a ride tomorrow, little one."

Terany nodded, then curled up against Zach's chest for the ride to the
apartment. 

Once there, Zach proceeded to bathe her and dress her in one of his
shirts. She made no protest as he tucked her into his bed.

After a shower of his own, Z'charai checked on Terany to be sure she was
sleeping.  He found her sitting upright in the bed, watching him
curiously.

"And what are you doing awake?" He asked, sitting down beside her on the
bed.  He'd put on a pair of comfortable old flannel pants and a loose
shirt to sleep in.

"I woked up and nobody was here and I thought I was all by myself
again..." Tears welled up in the girl's big blue eyes.

Z'charai wrapped her in a warm blanket and gathered her in his arms,
hugging her tight.  He moved to an old, soft chair and sank into it,
Terany still in his arms.  She snuggled up to him, her cheek resting under
his chin and soon was fast asleep.

<You have a good heart, my rider.  I am proud of you.> Eolanth's baritone
rumble entered his thoughts as Z'charai fell asleep. bringing a small
smile to his face.

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

(NRPG:  I'm hoping someone will come into his apartments to find Z'charai
asleep in his chair with Terany curled up in his arms? *hint hint* anyone
:)

Info on Terany:

Name:	Terany
Age:	4 years old
Gender:	Female
Desc:	Light blonde hair, big blue eyes, pale complexion, average size.
Personality:	Very curious 4 year old.  Will be laughing and playing
with the other children before too long.  Clingy to Z'charai and probably
Wade when she meets her, but will loosen up as she meets new people.
Shy at first meeting.)

Respectfully Submitted,

--Lisa (Z'charai and Eolanth)


_________|-------------------------------------------------|_________
\       :| )\   /(                                 )\   /( |:       /
  \     :|  )\_/(	Never Annoy A Dragon	    )\_/(  |:     /
    >   :| (/^|^\)  For Thou Art Crunchy and Taste (/^|^\) |:   <
  /     :|  \*|*/          Good With Ale            \*|*/  |:     \
/_______:|---\|/-------------------------------------\|/---|:_______\
              V     Lisa Klein - lyonesse@best.com    V  
                                                                       



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