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Day 13
Late Afternoon

Tyler sat in the medical examination room, trying to quell his trembling.
The doctor was very efficient and bandaged up his cuts and put ointment on
his bruises.  Then they left!

What type of place was this that treated a kidnapped Lord's son's bruises
and then left him alone?  He crept to the door.  Maybe they'd put guards on
the other side?  He was surprised when he cracked the door open that first,
it opened, and second, that there was no one beyond it.  The hallway was
empty!

He slipped outside to make a break for it.  There was a crowd outside the
medical center and Grouty decided to blend in with it.  Better to go along
with the crowd while trying to figure out where he was and how to get back
home.

Tyler was jostled and pushed when he suddenly came to a stop, staring at the
entrance to a cavern.  Why were all these humans going in there?

"Come on, buddy, move along, or you'll miss it!"  A voice complained from
behind him.  Tyler found himself being pushed into the cavern.  He scurried
around the side, staring at the incredible art-work.  The cavern was painted
like the sea-scape, complete with birds in the sky.

However, he swallowed hard as he saw a huge, threatening creature standing
on the sands, her brilliant, green eyes glittered menacingly.  Tyler gasped.
Were all these people coming here to ... sacrifice someone to her?

He noticed people approaching slowly and deliberately, skirting the large,
silvery queendragon, and going to... eggs?  baby dragons?  Tyler had heard
stories about dragons as a child of course, but he had not paid them much
heed.  What was going on here?

The remaining eggs on the sand rocked and he watched as yet another small
dragon broke free and stumbled about the sand looking for... someone.  Tyler
couldn't take his eyes off the mosaic of shifting colors that patterned the
young dragon's hide.  They were so beautiful.

<*I am beautiful, yes?*>  The sweet, feminine voice asked.

Tyler shook his head and swallowed.  He glanced about him, but no one near
at hand seemed to have spoken.

<*Come to me, my rider!  For I am hungry.  Come to me and give me food!*>
The soft voice called to Tyler.

His blue eyes locked onto the ever changing colors of the young dragon.

"Go to her," someone behind Tyler pushed him slightly, "she's chosen you."

Everyone could see the hatchling struggling across the sands to where Tyler
Grouty stood.  They could see the deep bond that was already forming between
the boy and the small, female dragon.  But it was also clear that the boy
was not going forward to meet his dragon, but standing, dumbfounded.

Someone else put a bucket of meat into his hands, and he allowed them to
propel him out onto the hatching sands.  He was aware of the withering
glance directed at him by the queendragon, yet... the small, helpless,
mosaic dragon was waiting.

<*I'm Plastyra, and you are my rider.*>

<You are... beautiful, Plastyra!... I am ... honored to be your rider!>
Tyler managed to respond.

<*Feed me, my rider, for I have been in the egg so long... and I am
hungry!*>

Tyler scooped a hunk of meat out of the bowl and dropped it into the open
mouth.  He couldn't help but smile at all around him -- and he noticed that
the baleful glare from Plastyra's mother had turned into amusement.

<*She likes you.*>  Plastyra commented.

<Tell her... she is the most beautiful queendragon I've ever seen.>  He
grinned as Plastyra obliged.  It was of course the truth, as he'd never seen
a queendragon before, but Varaenna was thrilled.

A man with a mustache came up behind Tyler and murmured, "I'm Jerram... I'll
be your trainer.  Congratulations on joining with your dragon.  What is...
her? ... name?"

Tyler grinned foolishly, "Her name is Plastyra, and what do I do with her?"

"Well, you'll follow me to the hatchling barracks, first, and get settled
in.  I'll instruct you in her basic care, and then... you'll join us in the
dining hall for a celebration!"  Jerram explained,  "We'd already planned a
celebration for Ythfaru's feast day... perhaps that's why you are here?  No?
Well, we'll just make it into a combined Feast Day celebration as well as
hatching party!  Welcome to Jasra, rider!"

Tyler stood there totally bemused.  "I can't stay here!  I've got to get
home... and, I've ... joined?   To a ... she-dragon?  This is absurd!"  As
if coming out of a dream, Tyler put down the bucket and began to walk away.
"I've got to get out of here before those two brutes come back who kidnapped
me!  My father is going to be furious!"

The little dragon whined pitifully, <*Where are you going my rider?  I
thought you said I was beautiful!  You can't leave me!*>

Tyler looked down at the dragon, <But... you're a dragon!  I can't have a
pet dragon!  My father would not allow it.>  He shook his head, <No, you'll
just have to stay here.>

"Where are you going?"  Jerram asked in consternation.

"I said, home!"  Tyler Gouty glared, and looked about him, afraid of seeing
the men that had abducted him and headed for the opening of the cavern.

****
TAG John.

****
NRPG:  Short... but he's joined... or is he??

Respectfully submitted by
Arlene Jacobs
AKA Tyler Grouty and Plastyra of Jasra Warren.