Scene: A path back to Keldarra Warren
 
        "Dinner, with Evelle?"
        
        <I had thought you liked her.  Was I wrong to agree?>  Malekith 
asked, the two of them walking back towards the Warren.  The sun was 
beginning to set, and darkness was fast approaching.
 
        Wynn shook his head.  "No, little one, I just didn't expect it.  
And you should know how I feel."
 
        Malekith eyed him.  <Yes, but do you know?>
        
        Wynn fell silent to that question.  How did he feel about 
Evelle?  Well, she was a girl, sister to S'brogh.  A friend of his, 
well, more like former friend.  He missed him, actually, at times.  But 
it just didn't feel right to be around him, and he had always been so 
busy with his dragon.  Just more excuses, really.  How did he let that 
go?  Let perhaps his best friend at the Warren just fade away?
 
        But Evelle?  He hadn't really thought about her.
 
        <Not true.>  His dragon's voice said softly in his head.
 
        No, it wasn't true.  He had begun noticing the girl perhaps two 
years ago, perhaps longer.  She had always been hanging around with 
S'brogh, and at times Wynn had been jealous of the brother and sister.  
He had been an only child, and then he was wisked away to Keldarra.  She 
had been annoying at first.  All girls were at first, he grinned to 
himself.  He had just grown used to her, and even became to like having 
her around.  As far as annoying girls went, at any rate.
 
        But then one day, he had found her not so annoying.  But then, 
two hatchings ago, her brother bonded to Iganeth.  Wynn was left to 
continue with the Warren chores, while S'brogh began training with his 
dragon.
 
        <Jealous, weren't you?>  Malekith asked, nuzzling Wynn gently.
 
        "I'm afraid I was.  I see it now, but then ..."  But then, he 
was younger, and more impetuous.  His whole life had been taken away 
before, and he had built up a new one, only to see it forever changed 
too.  Wynn shook his head.  He would have to apologize to S'brogh, and 
hope he could be forgiven.
 
        And now he was going to dine with Evelle.  He had spied her 
once, swimming in her favourite lake, Lake Sharrel.  He felt ashamed 
ever since.  He was still not entirely used to the freer nature of 
Warren life.  Perhaps it was him more than anything.  That image came 
back to him from time to time, leaving him slightly flushed.
 
        "I have an idea for dinner, little one.  Shall you help me 
prepare?"  Wynn asked.  Time to get his mind off the past.  Time to 
build a new future.
 
        <Of course.>  Malekith agreed readily.  The two soon reached the 
Warren, and set about preparing for later.
 
Scene: Nightfall, in the barracks
 
        <You can't eat yet, Evelle, Malekith said not to.>  Alicynth 
warned her human.  Evelle pouted prettily, holding her stomach.
 
        "But I'm famished."  Evelle said plaintively.
 
        <Malekith has just called me.  We are going to meet them.>  
Alicynth said happily, nearly bounding out the door.  The dragon was 
quite hungry herself.
 
        "Wait for me, you scamp!"  Evelle called after Alicynth, 
giggling along after the golden dragon.
 
        Outside, they walked the path back down to Lake Sharrel.  Evelle 
was growing more and more intrigued by all this.  She hadn't planned for 
dinner being so ... intimate.  She blushed at that, and caught Alicynth 
eying her as the two walked along.
 
        Around a bend, and the two saw a small fire lit up ahead, just 
off the path.  <There.>  Alicynth said happily, and the two picked up 
their pace until they reached the clearing.
 
        Wynn met them on the path.  "I apologize, Evelle, I didn't think 
that this would take so long ..."
 
        "Nonsense, Wynn, it's been worth waiting for so far."  She 
smiled at him, and Wynn suddenly realized that she was beautiful.
 
        Wynn paused a moment, then remembered himself, and brought 
Evelle closer to the fire.  "I have brought plenty of meat for the 
dragons.  Malekith, please show Alicynth where."  The black dragon 
emerged from the shadows, startling Evelle slightly.  Alicynth nuzzled 
up briefly against Evelle, who patted her gently and sent her on her way.
 
        Evelle sniffed the air lightly.  "Mmmmm, smells wonderful."
 
        "Oh, please, have a seat."  Wynn said, almost boyishly, 
indicating a soft blanket he had lain out beside the fire.  She sat down 
gracefully, noticing a small basket of fruit to one side and plucking 
herself a couple of berries.  They burst in her mouth sweetly, and she 
smiled again.
 
        Wynn sat down next to her, a respectful distance.  Before she 
could say anything, he quickly sat up and checked on the pot over the 
fire.  "I hope you like it.  I'm afraid that I am not the best cook at 
the Warren."
 
        "I'm sure it'll be wonderful, Wynn."  Evelle said softly.  She 
looked upwards into the stars, and couldn't think of a more beautiful 
evening.
 
        He finally sat back down, and Evelle looked up into his face.  
"I didn't expect all this."  She began, drawing his eyes to hers.
 
        "It just felt right."  Wynn said quietly.  His eyes turned from 
her back to the fire.  She was even more beautiful by firelight, and he 
found himself thinking back to that day he spied her.
 
        "What are you thinking about?"  Evelle asked innocently.  Wynn 
just blushed all the more.
 
        "Ummm ... I think the food is ready, actually."  He sat up 
quickly and spooned out two bowls of Rariman; wheat noodles mixed in a 
spicy thick sauce.  He handed her one of the bowls, the steam still 
rising off in slow white wisps.  He reached into a sack next and pulled 
out a loaf of bread.  He broke off an end easily, and handed it to 
Evelle, who accepted it graciously.  With spoon in hand, she raised the 
first morsel to her lips.
 
Scene: The Barracks, the next morning
 
        Wynn heard a commotion from just outside the room he was in.  He 
quickly exited, noticing a young girl huddling against her dragon.  
Araminta, he believed she was called.  One of the many new arrivals to 
Keldarra.
 
        "Is everything all right?"  Wynn asked, coming up to them.  He 
noticed the dragon move protectively between him and the girl.  "It's 
all right, I mean no harm to her.  I would like to help if I can."
 
        Malekith sent much the same to Kirimith, and the dragon moved 
back, her long neck stretching so that she could look out a nearby 
window.  Aramintha looked up briefly to Wynn as he approached, her face 
still red from where her father had hit her.  He knelt down before her, 
peering up at her with a stern look, though she knew it wasn't directed 
at her.  "What happened?"  He asked softly.
 
NRPG: Whew, that should catch me up ... you people just rocketed ahead! 
:)  Malekith can't quite fly yet, most likely the next day.
 
Judi: The rest of the dinner is yours, if you like ... hope the food is 
all right! :)
 
Lesley: Will Mint explain what happened?  Wynn won't take "nothing" as 
an answer, though.  He's just concerned for a fellow dragonrider, and 
showing a bit of protectiveness.  He's funny like that :)

              />   Malekith and his boy Wynn 
             /<      
     O[\\\\\\(O):::<============================================-       
             \< 
              \>   aka Christopher Ackney,
		       yu121874@yorku.ca