The welcome given by the dragon riders was warm and friendly, if
perfunctory.  A bowl of stew and a mug of good ale were provided, together
with a place by the enormous kitchen hearth.  Apparently a great celebration
was in the making, and the kitchen was filled with noise and scurrying people.  

Minty settled her father into a chair close by the fire.  He had caught a
chill in the last rains, and she was wanted to stop it becoming more
serious.  With each bout of drinking and fighting his health became poorer,
and Minty was beginning to realise that one day he just wouldn't be there
any more.

Suddenly the air was full of trumpeting and cheering, and the kitchen
emptied of it's occupants as they hurried to be in time for whatever the
fanfare heralded.  Minty drew into a corner, not wanting to be in the way of
the rapidly moving exodus, but curious as to the cause.  Ah well, she'd find
out in time.  Must be something to do with the feast being prepared.....

She looked around the now empty kitchen.  It was warm and bright, and the
smell of roasting meats and breads made the atmosphere welcoming. *It must
be so good to know you belonged to this place* she thought, as she poured
more ale from a flagon on a nearby table and handed it to her father.

"Where'd they all go girl?  I was hoping to persuade them to let me do some
work for them.  You be nice to the head man, do you hear me girl?  They'll
maybe let us winter with them, if you're nice to him....." Guy was well on
his way to a drunken stupor, and Minty hoped he'd not cause a fight here.
Maybe they could slip away whilst everyone was occupied.....

*Araminta?  Minty?  Where are you?*

Startled by the call, Minty looked round.  But there was no one there.
Again her name was called:

*Minty? I need you... NOW!* the voice was soft and insistent.  Compelling,
demanding. *I'm hungry Minty*

"Da, did you hear that?"  Minty was becoming frightened.  No one here knew
her name.  Who called her?  Her father's drunken snores were her only answer.

*Now Minty!*

The compulsion to find the owner of the voice was too strong for her.  A
sudden overwhelming hunger struck, and she picked up a plate of the meats
prepared by the cooks.

*Where are you?  Who calls me?*  Minty followed the gentle, but urgent voice
out of the kitchen and across the courtyard.

*Here Minty.  I am here.  Come to me.  I am -so- hungry.*  

Minty suddenly realised she was surrounded by dragons.  Dragons!  She looked
around wildly at a sea of faces. How had she come to be here?  Where was the
caller?

Something nudged her leg, and she looked down.....Into the swirling eyes of
a small midnight blue dragon.  A small, beautiful, wonderful, miraculous....

*Yes, yes.  Compliments can wait.  I'm hungry*

The small creature butted her impatiently and Minty dropped to her knees in
front of her.  Carefully, but with great haste, the dragon snatched the meat
from the plate in Minty's hands.

*Was it you who called me?*  Minty asked when the meat was all gone.

*Yes, it was me.  You weren't here, so I called you.  I am Kirimith, and I
love you.*

With a feeling of joy, Minty flung her arms around the dragons neck.  The
waves of love and acceptance flowing around her brought tears to her eyes...

*Oh I love you too, Kirimith!*  


Respectfully submitted

Minty and Kirimith

NRPG

Hi all.  Nice to be with you.

Susan.  I took your advice and changed Kirimith's colour.  She still has a
patch of white hide under her left wing, but she's now midnight blue not
green.  Info for the roster.... I'm in London, England.


--

If life's a bowl of cherries
How comes I get all the pips?