[DL]

Darlea had just come from an afternoon with Almiron. Her hair was pulled
back in the lovely barrette he had given her and she felt life was good.
V'rdeen had been avoiding her lately. Or was that the other way around...
Well, it didn't matter, since finding out that he had lied to her about
apologizing to Almiron, she didn't care whether she saw him again or not.
And since the hatching just yesterday, everyone seemed much more cheery.

She spotted Minty just outside the records room, her face looking shattered.
She quickly ran up to her. "Minty are you alright?" she asked concerned.

"I... I'm fine." she whispered, trying to keep the tears out of her voice.

"You don't look fine, come on, lets go to the kitchen. Mama can get you a
cup of tea to help calm your nerves. And you won't have to see everyone with
tears on your face."

Minty nodded and the two young women slowly walked toward the kitchen. The
older girl leaning on the younger one to keep from falling.

As they approached the kitchen, Sheltie came out and saw the sobbing girl
with Darlea. She quickly helped them into the kitchen. "Are you alright?"
she asked with her normal mothering tone. Darlea released how comforting her
mother could be when she wanted. 

"I thought maybe some tea would help, mama."

"Of course, that's the best thing for her." said Sheltie, running to fix her
a cup. Darlea helped Minty to a chair in the back of the kitchen. 

"Now can you tell me what's wrong? What's happened?" said Darlea attempting
to use the same comforting tone her mother had with limited success.

"Oh Darlea, I've made a horrible mistake."

"I don't believe that, Minty. What mistake could you possibly make that
would be so horrible." Darlea said running her hand comfortingly on the
girls brown curls.

"I kept silent, that's what. I should have told David.... I should have told
him... but now it's too late." This brought a fresh rush of sobs.

"I'm sure he'll understand, whatever it is. Why don't you tell me about it.
I'll make you feel better."

"It's... V'rdeen!" The hatred in the girls voice sent shivers down Darlea's
spine. This wouldn't surprise her, not after everything he had done.
Especially not after they way he had tried to manipulate her.

Sheltie brought the cup of tea and Minty began to sip it, allowing the hot
liquid to flow through her body and calm her nerves. Darlea and her mother
watched as the upset young woman slowly drank her tea. They could both tell
she was struggling within herself for answers which neither knew the
questions for.  

Sheltie patted Minty on the shoulder and went back to her own chores, as the
lunch hour was quickly approaching. Darlea sat down next to her to wait for
the girl to get her resolve one way or the other.

*It's.... V'rdeen!* she had said.  Darlea hadn't thought much about him for
a while. She hadn't seen him much and she certainly hadn't sought him out.
She was fairly certain he knew that she had been spending a lot of time with
Almiron. In which case he probably knew that she was aware of his deception.
But what had he done to Minty. And why?

Darlea waited for Minty to decide what she wanted to say.

--Darlea & Makayla
****
NRPG:  Okay, soon the trial of our dear V'rdeen should begin!

Kristen
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Kristen and Scott Gant
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/gant.htm
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