On Tue, 3 Dec 1996, Kris & Scott Gant wrote:

NRPG: Forgive me for being away for so long. If I had a nickel for every 
time this past month that something's gone wrong... <sigh> ...illness, 
trouble at the office, legal headaches, triggering all to hell in 
therapy, family, christmas... aCk!!

RPG: A'Rillia

A'Rillia stood idly in the main dining hall and watched the flow of 
people around her. The past weeks had been overwhelming... dealing with 
the wounded from Marsgate, the loss of the wraith-possessed patient, 
trying to find the energy to cope with her feelings for T'rend... 
Daetyn's chiding to take some time for herself before she collapsed was 
becoming a constant litany...

<:You were going for breakfast, Arri... go on...:>

Nodding in absent irritation to the voice in her head, she wove through 
the faces in the crowd, not recognizing anyone and not really caring to. 
Seeing the same wish for death that had been in her heart for so many 
years in Brisse's eyes that day had shaken her to the core, even if the 
girl had found a place later - and losing Sky... Arri made a mental note 
to get out and make sure M'kale was all right after dinner. As she 
entered the kitchen, she pushed a sweat-soaked strand of hair out of her 
eyes and flashed a strained smile to Cook's assistant. Being around 
people, ANY people was a trial not unlike running a marathon...

<Is there any word on David's father yet?>

<:I'm understanding that they're planning on doing some kind of surgery. 
Apparently the new healer... the young one from when you were at 
Marrid... has some ideas about sedation and such...:>

Hearing that David's father had been wraithstruck was hard too. After 
saving him once, she felt particularly responsible for the health and 
well being of the young rider and he had been in much emotional distress 
the past few days. There had not been the time or the energy to 
reintroduce herself to the young woman yet, but that would have to come 
soon, she mused as she speared a drumstick and some warm fresh vegetables 
out of a roasting pan for herself and leaned against a pillar in 
exhaustion for a moment. It was scary how hard every little thing seemed 
suddenly for her... Closing her eyes, she waited for the room to stop 
moving and seriously contemplated going home to bed and asking one of the 
others to look at her caseload for the day. Perhaps if D'sarrian weren't 
already so busy, she'd ask him to have a look at her...

<:Watch out.:>

The sudden sound of feet pounding around the corner woke her from her 
doze with a soft yelp... T'rend dove across the room and grabbed one of 
the uncured haunches off of a hook, still bleeding, and ran back out the 
door, without even seeing her. A flamethrower bounced over his shoulder 
as she watched his ponytail disappear in the crowd. Cook's assistant 
opened his mouth to scream something, but Arri lifted a hand to still the 
small tantrum.

"There's no point. He wouldn't be doing it unless there was a truly good 
reason, trust me." The assistant looked over and, finally recognizing 
her, jumped slightly and tried to half-bow around his full arms.

"I'm sorry Lady A'Rillia, I didn't see you. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine lad. I'm very very very tired, is all."

The assistant stared at her sunken eyes, sallow cheeks, hair astray, 
rumpled clothes and shook his head. He never could understand why the 
dragonriders seemed to take such a perverse pleasure in neglecting 
themselves so badly...

<What was that for?>

<:The surgery starts soon, they're hoping to capture whatever comes out 
of the sick one with that as bait.:>

"Oh hell...." mumbled Arri aloud and stood up, turning to go with a 
drumstick clutched between her fingers.

After what had happened with the last one, she thought it might not be a 
bad idea to be around if they had to sew anyone back up, body or soul.

<:They are here,:> said Daetyn with a mental picture, <:But you should 
not... you are exhausted and you may hurt yourself...:>

<I'll just go watch, okay Mom? I promise not to do anything silly,> she 
reassured her dragon as she set off at a lope for the room indicated. It 
seemed to be the same room Shard was in. That struck her as not good.

Shortly after T'rend's abrupt, if flashy entrance, Arri slid in the door 
to the operating room, unnoticed, and stood to watch the proceedings from 
a safe distance, leaning against a wall for support and periodically 
shoving the recaltrant strands of hair from her eyes with hands that 
smelled of chicken grease and sweat. After this she would sleep. After...

---------------
NRPG: Okee... she's ba-ack, kinda. I'm trying to cover a lot of ground 
here. Whilst you were all away wraithfighting, she's been kind of running 
amok in the Centre. The death of Brisse's dragon hit her hard, but she's 
trying not to admit it, working herself to the point of exhaustion 
because every life she saves seems to be one more step towards making up 
for not doing enough that day outside of the caves. Her and <I've 
forgotten the name - Lakoda?> don't really know each other well, but she 
remembers her, and learned a little beadwork from her at one point. It 
seems more logical that T'lar may have told her about Arri. BTW: Kris - 
we still have to get together and talk about the <koff> meeting, or would 
you like me to merely gloss over that for the sake of expediency? I 
haven't yet decided exactly what that letter contains... <G>

-A-very-tired-Bets-
BTW: Yo, T'rend?? Yer lass in shining-Op-Gown could use a hug when yer 
done hucking 'round bloody meat and blastin' bugs. <heh> 


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"This is who I am, what I do, and what I say. If you like it let it be -
       ...and if you don't, please do the same..."  -Ani DiFranco
     <<<-------------------------------------------------------->>>
Slainte'! (*Shadowsinger*)       //        tlw663@winnipeg.freenet.mb.ca    
              **  Heart and Soul of A'Rillia and Daetyn  **            
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