Darlea
***
<<Before and During the wraith battle - Day 6>>

Darlea, along with a long time rider from Jasra named It'ru, coasted along
the shores of the great expanse of water as the skies darkened and the winds
picked up. Makayla's wings beat against them, as she fought to maintain her
altitude.

Many of the people they found along the shores had holed themselves up into
high caves .. not all of them safe. Darlea and It'ru were easily able to
convince them they would be safer in the Warren. With little more then a
call by one of the dragons, a transport dragon was called, and Darlea and
It'ru continued on their search.

Small farm houses were deserted. Fishing boats were tightly bound to docks
in covered coves .. it was clear the shore folk were at least somewhat
prepared for what was coming. Bertrum must not be the only weather watcher
in the area ..  even if he was the most sophisticated.

<Ask Mizote if hurricanes hit here often?> she asked Makayla trying not to
let the chilling willing into her riding jacket. She couldn't help but think
that perhaps Jasra was not the safe place Makayla had hoped.

<He says this is the first in his lifetime, Darlea-pet, but that his rider
remembers one from when he was a very small child living in a fishing
village to the south of here.>

Well that was at least good news, she thought. She wasn't a good judge of
age .. few 17 year old were .. but she figured him to be in his late 30's at
least.

<Mizote's rider would like to circle back around the eastern ridge of that
range on the way back to Jasra.>

Darlea nodded, and held on tightly as Makayla swerved in the wind to follow
the dark dragon in front of them.

***

By the time the two made it back to the warren Darlea was unable to see,
relying completely on the emerald green dragon's special senses to guide
them. The wind whipped around her, and the rain stung at any uncovered skin.
She could never remember being this cold .. which seemed odd considering how
warm Jasra was normally.

The Warren seemed deserted as well, but Makayla told her the people were
barricaded into shelters the water and wind could not get to. Many of the
dragonriders still in the warren were holed up into their own apartment,
which is where Darlea and Makayla headed.

<What about Firey and Lesta?> she asked.

<They have not returned yet ..> Makayla told her.

Darlea frowned, and sat down beside her dragon, safe in their apartment. The
wind still swished around her, but the apartment was turned just so that it
was not getting hit with the brunt of the storm. She could see the long
trunked palms being blown nearly to the ground by the wind, and the rain
which was coming down so hard it must surely be washing away all the grit of
the sand that seemed to be perpetually everywhere at Jasra.

<I feel useless, Makayla.>

<You are not useless ..>

<I should be helping them.>

<Close your eyes, Darlea-pet .. close them and think about a wraith. Think
about a hundred wraiths coming straight at you.>

Darlea's sucked in her breath at the very thought. <Don't be silly,
Makayla.>

<How do  you feel ..>

<I .. I feel fine!> she insisted.

<Are you sure?> Makayla asked.

Darlea was about to assure the dragon that she was when she realized her
heart was pounded a mile a minute. And even as she protested she could feel
a cold sweat breaking out over her. <Gods! Makayla whats wrong with me??>

<Panic attacks. You get them at the thought of wraiths, Darlea-pet .. you
always have.>

<But why??>

<I don't know .. but see it is best we are not there. You get so scared you
can't even breath ..>

Darlea nodded, shaken at the thought. <I'm sorry for doubting you, Makayla.
So what was it we did do ?>

<It doesn't matter, Darlea-pet. Those days are gone, and we are making a
fresh start.>

<I want to know ..>

Makayla was silent for a moment, <It's for the best ..>

Darlea knew better then to try and get anything out of the closed mouth
dragon when she set her mind to it. She'd always been that way .. at least
she thought she had .. No matter, she'd just have to do it on her own ..

Saul
***
<<After the wraith battle>>

Saul went to Dontey and Tahsa's, after helping transport a few injured to
the med center. Fayloth let him know that was where his family was. The wind
was beginning to die down a bit and he was glad for it. Still maneuvering in
flight had been very difficult. And he'd been warned by Bertrum and by
others that this meant nothing. It was what they called the Eye of the Storm
.. and from what he'd heard the other other side of the eye could be worse
then the first. That thought shook him, considering he'd never seen a storm
as bad as this one in all his life!

Shawnee was not the first to see him .. his sharp-eyed toddler daughter was!
And her cried brought his mates attention to him.

>"Daddy!!! Daddy!!! Save me, save me... wind monster outside gonna git me."
Lynnie squealed as she snuggled in her fathers arms.

He cuddled little Shaulyn tightly in his arms. "That Ol' win' mon'ter can't
get you here, little girl!"

She chortled happily, planting kisses all over his cheek. Saul's eyes looked
to Shawnee who was sitting talking to her father.

>Saul came over to join her. His daughter grinning happily now that he's
reassured her that the *wind monster* couldn't get her if she was inside,
and Shawnee lifted her lips up for a quick, but meaningful kiss before he
settled beside her.

>"So now all we have to do is wait," Dontey asked.

>"Yup, not much else we can do in this wind," Saul told him, then saw the frown
that came over the older man's face.

>"Where's Ojean?" Dontey asked, looking around and noticing his son wasn't among
those waiting out the storm.

>Messages were sent out via the dragons and it was learned that the boy and his
dragon had been sent off to the town to warn them about the storm. Doshy had
been able to contact Teewith, thought the link was weak, and assured her
rider that all was well with them.

>"Teewith told Doshy that they would stay in town until the winds died down
enough for him to fly them back here," Shawnee told her father and saw the
relief that crossed over the mans face.

>"Tee may be young and brave father.. But he's not stupid enough to try and fly
in wind like this." she assured him. Then she had Doshy tell Fayloth about
Smoke and the wilders that went to help out with the wraiths that had headed
for the town.

Saul had known. It was good to see Wisp again, but it was certainly going to
be trouble. He smiled at the thought .. knowing it was also going to be a
hell of a lot of fun!

***
<During the eye of the storm, just before Gus and Ojean return - Morning,
Day 7>

Saul was having a hard time believing that the storm was going to come back.
It was beautiful outside! Why the sun was even trying to shine when Shawnee
crawled out of bed and surprised him from behind.

"Saul? Is something wrong?"

"Huh?" he asked. "Umm, no .."

"What are you doing up?" Shawnee knew her mate well enough to know that
sleeping in was one of his favorite pass-times .. right behind playing cards
and making love!

"Just looking at the sky .. I can't believe that storm is coming back."

She nodded, staring out at the brightening sky herself. "I know, it doesn't
seem possible does it?"

He shook his head, "Ojean and Gus aren't back yet either .."

She grinned .. so that was it. "Ojean will be fine. He's with Gus."

"That's what I'm worried about."

Her brow wrinkled, "What?"

"Gus .."

"What about him? You're the one that brought him here. He's a dragonrider ..
that makes him good people right?"

Saul turned his dark blue eyes on her, "Good people .. like K'leev .. like
Gwyna .."

Now it was Shawnee's turn to frown. She turned away from him angrily, "You
don't have to bring *HER* into this!"

He sighed, "Shawnee, I'm sorry .. It's just that .." He paused. One thing
was sure he did *not* what to fight with his mate.

"That what, Saul?" she asked pushing him.

"I knew boys like that .. Hell, I was like that. Ojean could really get
himself into trouble. And I don't want to see that happen."

Shawnee smiled gently and moved up beside her mate, wrapping her arms around
him, "You don't have to worry about Ojean .. or Gus. They're not going to
get into trouble."

"You have more faith then I do."

Darlea
***

Darlea sat straight up in bed, waking up in a cold sweat, her heart pounding
a mile a minute .. Her eyes frantically searched the room and it seemed to
take an eternity before she realized where she was.

She was not with that man .. the one that had hurt her. She buried her face
in her hands and started to sob. Gods .. if that was remembering .. maybe
Makayla was right.

<Darlea-pet!> Makayla called to her worriedly. One minute the woman had been
sleeping peacefully .. even having warm cozy dreams. They had been dreams
about Almiron, but Makayla had enjoyed the feelings that had been rising in
her human so had not woken her to stop them. But then in the flash of a few
seconds the warm feelings turned ugly .. very very ugly.

<I'm okay ..> Darlea assured her dragon, <I .. I just started to remember
..>

<Oh no .. no ..> Makayla moaned.

<You were right ..> she sobbed, <I shouldn't remember .. it would be best if
I didn't ..>

<What?> Makayla was surprised, this was the first time she'd really felt
that her rider really meant what she was saying. Before she seemed only to
go along with it. But the dream .. the nightmare .. had changed her mind. It
had terrified her.

<It was him .. remember. The face I was remembering. I thought .. I thought
maybe he was someone who loved me, but .. but he hurt me.>

<Oh .. Darlea-pet .. he didn't ..>

<Yes! .. he did .. I remember ..> Darlea said quickly.

Makayla was feeling horribly guilty. She knew that the face her rider had
been remembering was Almiron .. and she also knew that Darshan's human would
never hurt her rider. However .. if it kept Darlea from wanting to go back
.. then maybe she should let her believe her dreams.

<One minute .. the face was so kind .. and loving ..> the young woman
sobbed, <But then he turned so ugly. He scared me .. and I know .. I know it
was him, Makayla .. I know it!>

In truth, Darlea's fractured memory had reconstructed the nomadic faces all
into one. Almiron .. his brother (who had scared Darlea from the beginning)
and that of her attacker. Makayla knew this .. Darlea did not.

<I told you it was best forgotten ..> Makayla said weakly, hating herself
for what she was doing. But what did it matter. Darshan was most likely
dead, and along with him, his rider .. and if he wasn't he should be for
leaving her alone out there in the middle of no where!

<You were right .. you were so right ..> Darlea sobbed.

***
<< Lunchtime in the dining hall >>

"Lesta!" Darlea called to her friend.

Lesta looked up and frowned. Darlea was pale and it was clear she'd been
crying. "Dar, what's wrong?"

"I started to remember." The words started the tears all over again.

"You did .." Lesta said hesitantly.

Darlea nodded through her tears, "I thought I wanted to. I even went to bed
thinking about .. *him*. You know that face I was telling you about .."

Lesta nodded. She knew exactly who the girl was speaking of.

"Oh Lesta .. I was so wrong! It was him! He didn't love me! He's the one
that hurt me! I remember .. or gods .. I remember .."

Lesta helped the girl into her chair and wrapped her arms around her, "Oh
sweetie .. I'm so sorry .." She held her for a bit longer and when the girls
crying had diminished she wiped away her tears. "See .. it is best that you
don't remember .."

Darlea nodded miserably. "I know."

"You just have to start over .. forget the past. It doesn't matter and your
safe here."

Darlea nodded again, "And I've got you. You've been such a good friend .. I
don't know what I'd do without you .."

Lesta frowned and nibbled at her lip for a moment, "Well, you have other
friends here too .."

Darlea looked up at her, "I know .. but .."

"Dar, you can't just depend on me.. I mean .. what if I have to leave.."

"Leave?"

"Well you know .. Maybe I won't be here forever .."

"Leave? You're leaving?"

"Well .. no .. I just .."

Darlea pushed away from her, "You're going to leave me too aren't you!" With
that she pushed up from the table and fled the dining hall, leaving a
shocked Lesta looking after her.

Saul
***

Saul was sitting with Jerram, near to where Lesta now sat alone, watching
after Darlea, and he had seen and heard the scene between Dar and Lesta ..
he shook his head, "Looks like trouble in paradise."

"What do you mean?" Jerram asked.

"Dar and Lesta .. lover's quarrel .."

"Lover's quarrel??" Jerram looked surprised. "Dar and Lesta??"

Saul nodded, "Of course .."

Jerram shrugged, "I didn't know that .."

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
Darlea & Makayla
***
NRPG: So Barb, does Shae over hear <G>

John, I wasn't sure when the sky would start darkening again after the eye
of the storm, so I didn't go very far :)

Kris

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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Th'rin & Areena,Whiteriver Warren, Head Healer
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                      Saul & Fayloth, Jasra Warren, Searcher
                      Darlea & Makayla
                      Devon & Xanith
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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