**The Illusion**



<* Smoke..... Can you hear us? *>

Relief, comfort and an easing of the heart all filled the black dragon when
the females mind finally again touched his own.

<We're here! We're here! Was your rider able to get something to help mine?>
he asked, moving back to the caves mouth as he watched Makayla and her rider
land.

Then he moved back to give them both room to join him.

<* She got what she could and all we can do is pray it'll be enough, *> the
female dragon told him as her rider jumped down and made a bee line to the
man thrashing around on mat in the back of the cave. <* Though she still
thinks he would do better in the human medical center.* >

Smoke sighed sadly as he turn to watch the girl knell beside his rider. Saw
her place the bag she carried beside her and reach into it drawling one
thing then another out and laying them beside her, before leaning over the
man and placing her hand upon his brow.

<I can't tell you why it would be dangerous for him to be seen by other
humans,> Smoke thought to her. <But I swear on the shell I hatched from that
he is not a bad man. He is... he's...  Well let's just say that life hasn't
always been kind to him in the past and he is trying to right a wrong done
to the people he loves. By protecting those who need protecting, even if
they don't know it yet. My rider is a good man with a big heart who cares
deeply for those he loves... Even if they aren't aware of him even being
around. It's safer for all involved this way.>

<* Why is it safer this way? Why must he hide to do what you say he does? *>
Makayla asked settling herself beside the black as they watched her rider
administer to the male together.

<It just is... If others knew he was alive... It could mean great danger to
certain people,> Smoke told her, trying not to let concern for the fallen
man enter his thoughts, but Makayla knew they the feeling was with him.
<Good people who are kind to us dragons would be put at risk. My rider
watches out for them so that they are warned ahead of time if the danger is
getting to close so that they might avoid it.>

Makayla went silent beside him, to think about what the black had just told
her. 

.............  

A cool touch of a hand on a brow.

The man relaxed. 

He had found the light.

His body settled into a restful sleep as the light spoke to him, telling him
all would be well now. The darkness abated in the face of the light, and the
demons haunting his dreams  retreated, lease they be burnt up by the
intensity of the light's goodness.

"They won't have her now," the man muttered, feeling the warmth of the drug
given him spreading throughout his body, but in his delirium not knowing it
for what it was. "She will be safe..."

"Who will be safe..." the light asked softly, and again he felt the comfort
of the lights touch upon his brow.

"She who they have tried to get..." he answered, thinking it was all apart
of the dream. He didn't fear the Light. The Light was goodness... there was
no danger in telling the Light
Images filled his mind. Like a picture book of memories, she was there.....
Images that the black could pick out in his riders mind, but that was a far
as they went. 

Then the drugs finally claimed him, and the man slept, knowing the Light was
there... And would stay with him, protecting him from the darkness while he
healed.

Smoke watched as the girl stood and came towards them. Saw her reach out,
touch the snout of her dragon in a loving caress before she turned to him.
He could see her eyes were full of worry and fell her fears that all she had
done wouldn't be enough. 

Slowly he lifted his head and very carefully touched her, breathing a bit of
warm air out in a sight of deep gratitude for all she had tried to do.

<Please little one... tell your rider that I am very thankful for what she
has done here today... I and my rider will never forget her generous
goodness for aiding us in this way. If she ever needs a favor... The two of
you need only to ask and your kindness will be repaid.>

........... 

The night wore on. Smoke grew even more worried when a time had passed and
there seemed to be no change in his riders condition. 

Several times the man cried out in his sleep, speaking words that Smoke knew
could be a danger to them both and the others if the girl was smart enough
to put it all together. He tried hard to reach his riders mind, to stop the
dreams from shaping. Sometimes it worked, but other times.....

Each time though the girl would move to knell beside the man and speak to
him in a soothing tone. Her presents, and touch seemed to do the most good
in calming him down.

He himself was comforted by the warm body of Makayla beside him. Her own
soothing mind touch that she kept strong between them was enough to keep him
from doing something really stupid. She kept him focused and hope alive in
his heart. Made him believe that his rider would soon be all right.

Then finally after several long hours just as the sun was coming up outside,
the man's fever seemed to break and he slipped down into a deep restful
sleep, haunted by no dreams.

Darlea slept too, protected by the dragons keeping a watch on the world outside.

<<Smoke?...>> Wisp's mind called out when he re-entered the land of the
living sometime later that morning. Then grew concerned when he got no
reply. He tried again, this time sending both mentally and verbally.

Still getting no response, he tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness
assaulted him and he was forced to laid back, eyes closing, trying to wait
for it past.

"Don't try to get up," a kindly female voice told him, and he felt something
cool being place across his forehead. "You've been very sick and..."

"My dragon... is he..." the man choked out of a dry throat.

"He's here... Poor dear is exhausted after worrying about you all night,"
the females voice told him, and slowly he opened his eyes to see who she
was..... and froze.

Darlea... He knew her... What was she doing here?

As her head had been turned to look at the two dragons, he was able to hid
the fear in his eyes before she turned back to meet his eyes.

"You've been very sick," she said again, this time he read concern in her
expression. "We were worried about you. Your dragon wouldn't sleep until he
knew you were going to be all right, then your fever broke last night and my
dragon... Makayla was able to convince him he should get some sleep."

"How long..." the man asked again in a rough, but not unkind voice. A cup
was placed against his lips and the hand setting behind his head helped him
to reach the sweet flavored liquid inside.

He was given a small sip at first, just enough to wet his mouth. "Drink
slowly" Darlea advised, then gave his another longer sip the second time.
She refused to allow him to question her until he'd drunken the entire
contence of the small cup.

"You need the liquid right now," she told him kindly. "I'll answer your
questions in a moment."

"How long..." he asked again after she allowed him to settle to the mat once
again.

"I'm not really sure," she told him honestly. "We only found you last night
when your dragon called out to mine. He was very worried about you when he
couldn't get you to hear you."

Smoke called them? That could mean... He tried to get up again, but was so
weak that she easily pushed him back down onto the mat.

"Take it easy. You're not over it yet!" she scolded, not understanding the
fear welling up inside of him. If she knew where he was then others might
too. He had to get out of there before anyone else came... If it wasn't to
late already.

"Does anyone else know..." he hated to ask but fear drove him to it.

"No." she assured him, frowning slightly. "Your dragon was very adamant
about us not telling anyone you were here even if it would have been better
and safer to take you to a trained healer back in the Warren where we come
from."

Wisp relaxed slowly. If no one but the girl knew then maybe they were still
safe.

"Can't tell..." he looked up to meet her eyes. "Can't tell anyone..... It's
not safe."

"Why?" she asked then rolled her eyes. "You're not going to tell me are you?"

He gave her a ghost of a sad smile.

"Wish I could... but it's safer you forget you ever saw me." He reached out
and caught her arm. "I mean it... I'm not a safe person to know. If others
even suspected you knew me it could get you killed... and that would be no
way to thank you... Darlea for the help you've given Smoke and I."

He said the look in her eyes as her body seemed to freeze up. 

"How do you know my name?" her voice cold with fear now, as she moved away
from him, and he hated to be the one to cause it.

"You have nothing to fear from me Darlea..." he said softly in a gentle
tone. "I don't hurt innocent people, especially ones who save my life. But I
do have reasons for not wanting others... who are less ... inclined to know
where I am... It could bring danger to others who I care about."

"Who are you?" she asked still not convinced about his character. 

"I'm a phantom. A ghost if you will. I really don't exist," he said with a
bitter chuckle. "I once had a family and home, but that's all gone now.
Destroyed by greed and ignorance. I'm an illusion, here one moment and gone
in a wisp of smoke the next. But if it'll make you feel any better then
think of me as a bard. One who listens in the shadows collecting information
and imparting it on those who's lives may be saved by the forewarning."

"That doesn't tell me anything," she pouted, but came back to sit beside him.

"Alas... it's all I can tell you my dear and not put you in any more danger
then you might already be in if anyone finds out you have seen me," he was
sincere in his apology. "I promise you Darlea... I'm not a threat to you. I
would never harm you or the people you care about. I work to save lives...
not destroy them... Not unless they deserve it, my lady fair. But enough of
that right now for I am growing tired... Pray tell me a little about
yourself so that I may fall asleep with visions of your sweet voice on my
mind instead of the ugliness that haunts my world."

[[Tag Kris... anything to say? ]]

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

Wisp & Smoke
Parts Unknown
Jasra Warren

Aka
Barbara