Day after the hatching, morning.

>>Jerram strode over and leaned down to that his nose was almost pressed
against that of the street rat.  "I have every right, you little urchin!"
he said gleefully.  "As of this morning, you all start your training as
dragonriders...and *I* am your trainer!" 

Gus didn't seem too happy about this news, but Danis was glad.  She had
liked Jerram right from the start.

The oiling was not quite a disaster, but still, she was wearing as much or
more oil than the little Thalia when she finished.  Sighing, she headed off
with the other newly joined to get cleaned up.

She had just scrubbed the last of the oil away and slipped into a clean
dress when Thalia spoke to her,  *Varaenna's rider wishes you to meet with
her in the office.  Will you have time to feed me first?*

Danis frowned, puzzled, wondering what Tara wanted.  *No, I'd better go
quickly, but I'll be down as soon as I can.. hang around with the others,
and maybe their riders will give you something till I get there.*

Thalia mentally pouted and Danis laughed,  *How do you do that?*

*Do what?*  Thalia asked.  *Get fed?  I don't, it seems, my rider lets me
starve.*

Danis rolled her eyes,  *I'll try to hurry, love,*  she said, her belly
feeling rather empty also.

Bertram the weather watcher spoke to them of the upcoming storm.  Danis had
been through several such hurricanes on her island.  Mostly, their homes
were made from grass and they just rebuilt when the 'cane' passed, but some
places were made just to keep everyone safe until it passed by.  Hurricanes
and storms were a way of life in the islands.

     "We have a weather watcher in the village where I come from," Danis 
said, after Bertram had once again explained what he did here at the warren. 
"A wise old woman who could tell what the weather was going to do by the 
various pains it caused to her joints."

Bertram showed them the weawther glass and Danis looked at it curiously,
wondering if it was indeed as accurate as Old Betisdah's knees.

Danis thought about what it would mean to this warren though.  The islands
expected such and everything they did planned for these types of storms.
But here it would be more difficult.  Everyone on low ground would need to
be moved up into the mountain, and still the winds might cause damage.  

Tara listened to the old man and then turned to Danis.  "Go with Bertram,"
she said, "and have him show you where the bags are.  If they're
twenty-four years old, they might not all be in adequate condition to hold
sand anymore."

"Yes, Tara," she said, standing up pressing the wrinkles from her dress.

"I hate to dump this responsibility on you so quickly," she said.  "But
this is a critical situation.  I need you to lay hands on everyone you can,
and start them getting those sandbags filled and in place by tonight."

Danis left with Bertram, but he turned to check the burlap bags and Danis
went to find all she could, first telling Thalia to pass the word to the
trainees dragons.  It would give them all something important to do.

*But I'm hungry!*  Thalia complained.

*Pass the word, and I'll be there to feed you soon!*  Danis promised.

After a few moments pause,  Thalia reported back,  *Done, now can you feed
me?*

*I'm almost there,*  Danis said as she came around the corner to see Danis
pushing with her nose at a bucket of meet that had been left for her.

She picked up the bucket and fed a juicy chunk of the meat to the little
dragon.  *Is that better?*

*I'm not done yet,  more!*  Thalia said, and Danis laughed.

Soon, Thalia and the other newly joined Dragonriders, along with any other
warren folk that could be spared, were busy filling sacks with sand.  

The bags were far from all filled when Thalia relayed a message from
Varaenna that she was to return to the Dining Hall for a meeting.

She sat next to Tara, trying to look as if she knew why she was there.  It
was all so confusing.  It seemed as if just yesterday she was a stranger, a
wanderer who had happened by.  Now, she was.. well, she wasn't quite sure
what she was.

*I am a queen,*  Thalia broke into her thoughts,  *You are my rider.*

*shhh, Tara is speaking,*  Danis shushed the little voice in her brain and
listened to the Warren's leader.

After the meeting, several riders had questions for Danis about hurricanes,
but she felt that she had little to offer,  "On the islands, any storm can
be fierce and wash away homes and gardens.  We clean it up and go on
afterwards,"  Her voice sounded matter of fact, but she wondered how these
folk, people that were beginning to feel like family to her, would fare..
their homes, their world was not built for these kinds of storms.

After the meeting, there were more sandbags to fill and carry.  The tiny
hatchlings were not much help, and tended to trip their riders more often
than not by getting in the way.  Fortunately none were injured by falling
sandbags.  By evening, Danis had barely enough strength to reach into the
buckets of meat to fill Thalia's empty belly.

Dragging into the mess hall to take care of her own needs, she noticed that
the place was nearly deserted.  Many were busy moving their valuables to
the safer heights and others were away, warning those in the area of the
storms coming and helping them find a place of safety in Jasra's mountain
caves.

She helped herself to cold sandwiches and vegetable salads that were placed
as a buffet for any that needed a meal or just a quick bite between tasks.
Taking her plate, she found a bench in the corner and sat a cup of steaming
hot coffee on the table.  She looked at the food, wondering what was
missing, when she realized that there was no fork for the salad.  Shaking
her head, she moved back to the buffet and picked one up, along with a
napkin turned to go to her seat.

"You look tired, having a dragon is alot of work,"  a voice said behind her
and she turned to see who had spoken.

"It is," she agreed.  "Would you like to join me?"



Later,  Danis stood next to her little dragon.  Jerram and some of the
other riders were fixing a safe place for the trainees and their
as-yet-flightless charges.  Danis had suggested that if the training
barracks weren't strong enough it would be the end of dragon and rider
both.  She wondered where she would sleep tonight.

Respectfully submitted,
Danis and Thalia

<NRPG>  ok, well, not much and doesn't go far, but maybe someone can have
dinner with Danis, I left it open but I think she is hoping for one
-particular- person to join her :)  At least, this week I don't have alot
to do.. that I know about yet, anyway! ;)

Louise