Can someone bounce this to the news group for me... John or Kris????
Thanks
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Big Heart

<*Friend.*>

That's how Teewith heard the new dragon on the green answer the others when
the question of her name was put to her. He could also hear the exhaustion
and worry in her tone and suddenly decided that something had to be done.

He frowned. Or as close to one as the tiny dragon could come to one and
sadly shook his head. 

Why wouldn't they just leave her alone? Couldn't they see how scared she
was. the tealish-green dragon knew his friends loved to hear all the latest
gossip... and tended to be real *friendly*  to new arrivals... but in this
case he thought they were going over board.

Tee hadn't noticed the commotion when he and his rider had first arrived
back in the Warren after their trip for the Warrenlady. Not with the good
news Doshy and Fayloth had imparted to him when they'd popped back into the
skies over the place. 

Tee liked the human girl Cill. She made his rider happy. She was good for
him and he had been sad when he had thought about her. But now that she was
here all Teewith could read from his riders thoughts were happy ones. Happy
feelings... Yes it was good to have the girl here. 

Though he knew his rider was happy at the moment... Tee was sad. He didn't
like the others bothering the new dragon, even if they were only trying to
be friendly. They just weren't realizing that there was such a thing as
being *TOO* Friendly.

Tee wondered when the last time *Friend* had eaten. Did any of the others
even think of that? He wondered if that could be part of the reason she
sounded so ... well not flaky.. but certainly not all there.

It might be, but Tee figured she wasn't all that concerned with her stomach
at the moment what with worrying about her rider and all. Maybe he could do
something to help her.

<I'm going to go to the feeding grounds if you don't need me right now,> Tee
sent the mental message to his rider and then lifted up off his ledge.

<<No we'll be fine Tee,>> Ojean responded. <<You go ahead and eat. I'll call
you later if I need you for anything.>>

Teewith didn't need to be told twice. He wasn't hungry himself.. but he
brought now a nice size buck and then lifted up to carry it back to lay
before *Friend*. 

His smaller body just barely allowed him to squeeze into the space between
Friend and the others.

<Move back you lot! Can't you see she's upset and scared!! give her some
room!> the little dragon mentally scolded the others, never once realizing
how comical he looked standing there glaring at them with the buck still
clenched between his jaws.

The other bigger dragons, though amused, were kind enough not to laugh for
Teewith was well liked by them all. Small as he was. He stood there waiting
until the others backed away, then finally turned back to Friend and lowered
the buck down before her.

<This is for you,> he told her, then stepped back a few feet to allow her
enough room to eat it.

<# Thank you little one, but I'm afraid I'm  not all that hungry  Friend
said kindly.

<You have to eat something,> he told her, sounding like his mother when she
used to try and get him to do something before she moved away from
Whiteriver. <Your rider will need to you to be strong for her and how can
you be strong if you don't take care of yourself and eat?>

He stood there just watching her until finally she reached out slowly with
one claw and pulled the dead animal towards her 

<# You're right little one.. I must stay strong for my rider. You're pretty
smart for one so young. #>

<I'm not that young,> Tee told her. <I'm just the right size for my rider.>

<# Not that young? #> Friend questioned, with just a trace of amusement in
her tone. <# How long have you been out of the egg? #>

<Over a year,> the tealish-green dragon replied, unpreturbed by his new
friends tone. He'd heard all the questions and comments about his size
before.. but he knew it didn't matter to him or his rider. He would grow
when he needed too. But for right now he was just the right size for Ojean.
Any bigger and the boy might not be able to fly him right.

<Maybe it's because my mother wasn't a Queen,> he commented as if that
should explain it all. <But it doesn't matter to my human or me. We're just
right for each other the way we are right now.>

Friend leaned towards him and ran her snout along his. <# I guess that's all
that really matters. Thank you for the buck Teewith. I guess I was hungry
after all. #>

Tee's chest swelled out with pride. He was happy he had been able to do
something for her. then he turned back towards the other dragons, still
totally unaware of how amusing he looked. 

<Now all of you· I know you want to find out the gossip from our new
*Friend* here.. But please, her rider is upset and they both need rest right
now more then they need to answer your questions· So let her rest!>

Then he stood there glaring at them the same way Doshy sometimes glared at
him when he didn't move fast enough to please her. Most of the time she was
okay though. Then he gave a satisfied nod of his head when the others turned
and moved a bit aways from them. 

<There,> he turned back towards her. <Now you should be able to get some
sleep since we know you're rider is going to be okay. You sleep here and
I'll just stay to make sure no one bothers you until you're ready to talk.>

<<Tag Les·. Will *Friend* be kind to the *Little ones* ego? hehe>>

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

Just felt like writing something

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

Teewith (& his human, Ojean)
Jasra Warren

aka
Barbara