<fontfamily><param>Arial</param>Salinda

****


Salinda had sat in her apartment the rest of the morning and on through

lunch still dumbfounded over Almiron's proposal. She couldn't figure 

out

what it was he wanted by asking her such a ridiculous question.  To

mate?

She would never have expected that from him. And what about Darlea. If

he

were to mate anyone shouldn't it be Darlea?


He had said that Darlea knew he was going to ask her. But what did

Darlea

think of this? She had to ask her. She had to know.


<<Dencia, tell Makayla I have to speak to Darlea.>


<<They are not at Keldarra right now,> Dencia said after a moment. <<I

have

been told they went visiting to Marrid.>


Salinda frowned. She couldn't think about this anymore on her own. It

was

driving her crazy. *Not that it matters,* she thought. Kyven had

mentioned

that he could stop the pregnancy should she want him too. 

Unfortunately,

with everything going on he had not yet had time to talk to her about

it.


"Oh, Dencia," she sighed, collapsing into her curled up dragon, "What am

I

going to do?"


<<It is a hatchling, Salinda. There is nothing better.>


"Perhaps nothing better then a hatchling, my love, but this ~isn't~ a

hatchling. It's a horrible, horrible mistake. I can't raise a baby. I

certainly can't save it from the horrors of this world. I couldn't save

myself .. I couldn't save my sisters .." She felt the tears run down 

her

face as she thought about them.


<<But you wouldn't have to do it alone this time. You would have me, 

and

Darlea, and Almiron.>


"But then I would have to trust him. I don't know if I can do that."


As she lay there, she felt the ground shake, "Dencia?"


<<An earthquake, Salinda.> said the dragon in alarm. As the trembling

stopped, Salinda lay listening to the silence.


Darlea

****


Darlea arrived over the skies of Keldarra to see people running around

the

bowl. <<Makayla?>


<<The Earthquake reached this far, Darlea-pet. But there are no injuries

..

>


<<Thank goodness,>


As they circled down toward the green she saw Almiron being helped

toward

the Medical center, his hands over his eyes. She quickly hopped off

Makayla

as the dragon landed and ran towards him, "Almiron, are you alright?"


He looked at her and nodded, and she about burst out in laughter at the

dye

on his face. "I'm so glad," she laughed hugging him. She felt him hug

her

back and her eyes widened as the warmth of his body rushed through her.

What was she doing? She quickly stepped away, looking at him eyes,

equally

startled, "I .. I'm sorry," she quickly ran back toward Makayla and

climbed

on her dragon.


<<Home, Makayla.  Take me home.>


<<Dencia is calling for us. She says Salinda would like to speak to

you.>


Darlea cringed lightly. After what she had just done .. She had made up

her

mind that she would happily accept Salinda and Almiron mating. Now she

had

to prove it. This wasn't going to be easy, but she would do it.


<<Alright, Makayla, I think I can face her.>


<<Why do you need to do this? Why can there only be one.>


<<It's hard to explain, deary. When human's mate there is only one. If

Almiron wasn't going to mate Salinda, it would be different.> Even as

she

said it, she wasn't sure that was being truthful either. She had been

wrong

to think that Salinda's pregnancy wasn't going to change things.


<<Perhaps when I fly again, Darshan will win again. Then you can have

his

rider again. I wouldn't mind.>


<<Makayla, let's not think of that right now please,> she said. She knew

the

little dragon  had what was about as close to a dragon crush as could be

on

Almiron's Darshan.


They landed on Salinda's ledge and the girl headed out to meet them.

Darlea

smiled convincingly. She had a genuine affection for her friend, and

wanted

more then anything to see happy. Perhaps this wouldn't be as difficult

as

she first thought.


"Darlea," Salinda said shyly, "I need to ask you something."


"Of course, anything." Darlea said.


"Almiron .. He .. he wants me to be his mate," she added quickly,

"Because

of the baby."


Darlea nodded, "I know. He told me."


"I'm sorry, I didn't want this to happen," she said sadly.


"Salinda, there's nothing to be sorry about," Darlea said, honestly.


"I want you to know that I'm not going to accept him," she said, "I

can't."


Darlea frowned, "What do mean? You have to.." she hadn't considered

Salinda

turning him down. 


"I just don't think I should. I mean if he should mate anyone, it should

be

you."


Darlea was silent for a while. She knew better then that. "No, we

already

discussed that. It's not meant to be for us. But it could be for you. I

know you're scared about this baby. And I know Almiron can help. This

baby

is going to be so lucky to have both of you around. Something I didn't

really have.'


Salinda looked into her friends blue eyes, "I thought you were happy

with

your life and your parents and the way things were."


"I am, but I miss not having my father around all the time. I miss not

being able to do things as a family, because they can't seem to be in

the

same room together for very long. You have a chance to prevent that 

from

happening with your baby."


"Darlea, I .. I don't think I'm going to have the baby." Salinda said

quietly.


"What do you mean?" 


"Kyven said there was still a way to prevent it. I could have an

abortion."


"An abortion .." Darlea was stunned to silence.


"I just think maybe it would be for the best. I mean then things

wouldn't

have to change. Not for you or Almiron or for me."


"I see." Darlea said weakly.


"Maybe it would be best."


Darlea shook her head, "I don't think so. I mean it's your choice, but

Salinda, think about it. I mean this baby could be the best thing to

happen

to you. I know it'll turn out to be the best thing for you. Babies are

wonderful. You should have seen the smiles on M'ressan and Christalla's

face this morning as they looked at their baby. She's so sweet, and

beautiful."


"She is?" Salinda thought about her own little girl. Would she be as

wonderful?


<<Of course, she would, because she would be like you. And you are the

most

wonderful person alive.> came her dragon's comforting thoughts.


Salinda blushed, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. A second chance

to

make a good life for her own daughter. "Are you sure you think this is

the

right thing, Darlea?"


Darlea smiled, truly believe that it was, "Yes I do."


"I'll talk to Almiron again."


"I'm glad." Darlea hugged her friend, "I'd better go." With that Darlea

hopped on Makayla glad she had been able to help. Her heart still ached

at

the thought of her lost relationship with Almiron, but she was sure in

time

that would fade.


****

Salinda stood watching her go. Then she turned to the large red dragon

huddled on her sad bed in the dragon chamber. "Dencia, tell Darshan that

I

will see his rider and we can start making arrangements."


--Darlea & Makayla

****

NRPG: Have fun, Lyn :}


Kristen

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Kristen Gant

(AKA: Darlea & Makayla,  Waylene & Aura, Meena & Vonn, Saul & Fayloth

Kalewyn & Sabbith, Saul & Fayloth)

http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/kris.htm