"Morning sleepy head.  Breakfast!"  Minty called out.

David heard her in the back of his mind, somewhere.  But for now it was 
too comfortable to get up, and it couldn't be that late into the day, 
could it?

She nudged the still sleeping David with her bare foot, and then placed the
tray she was carrying on the table before seating herself cross legged on
the couch.  His only answer was an unintelligible mumble before he dived
deeper beneath the blanket, and began snoring gently.   She finished her
toast before deciding that he'd slept long enough, and with a mischievous
smile she whipped the covers from his curled body.  

David suddenly realised that it had gotten a bit chilly in the room, and 
opened one eye to stare at a grinning Minty holding a blanket.  Rubbing 
his eyes, he made a grab for her, but she just laughed and moved away.  
"Whoa!" He cried out as he found his feet tangled in a throw rug, and 
pitched forward onto the couch.  Reflex kicked in, and his hand shot out, 
capturing his elusive mate, pulling her down with him on the couch.

"So ye think et's funny do ye?"  he mock growled as she struggled to escape
his arms  "Forfeit time love..." He then brought his lips to hers in a 
passionate kiss.

Breathlessly she stopped her struggling and kissed him back, desire 
building within her as he ran his hand downwards to caress the soft swell 
of her behind......
With a muttered curse he pushed her gently away, grinning wryly as she
clung to him for a few precious extra seconds.

"Not fair love."  she sighed dreamily "I want....."

"I know what et is ye want."  he said huskily, eyes half closed as he
watched her fight for control of her senses.  It brought a grin to his 
face.  That would see her for waking him up so early. "Tis what I want 
too...."

She followed his lithe movements as he stood up, her eyes widening as she
saw the truth of his desire fro her  in his pulsating manhood.  Without
another word she turned and scooped up her jacket and boots, racing from
the room before she could forget everything but him.  His soft laughter
followed her into the dragons sleeping chamber....... 

Realising that he had no chance of getting back to sleep, David looked at 
the breakfast on the table, and sighed contently.  He was very lucky to 
have such a loving mate...  'Kiri, tell Minty that I love her and thanks 
for breakfast.' He sent to her dragon as he heard her take off from the 
ledge.

[... Coming Back from the Med Center, after the twins births ...]

*I won't tell him.*  Kiri promised as she settled herself into the sandy
depression she used for sleeping  *Now be quick or he'll know anyway.
They're on their way up.*

Needing no further urging Minty hurried into the bathroom to wash, and was
ready to face David composedly when he finally finished settling Kaylin.....

Kalyin landed on the ledge gently, and yawned.  *It has been a long day.* 
He said, and David nodded.  'Aye, it has.  Minty is back...' He said, 
looking at Kirimith, who looked a bit down.

'Kirimith, is something wrong?' He asked, and the dragon just looked up 
at him and sighed.  As David dismounted, Kaylin went over to cuddle his 
mate, crooning softly as he settled down next to her.

David walked into the apartment to find Minty on the couch, a book in 
hand.  "Hello, love." He said, and sat down next to her. "What be wrong 
with Kiri?  She seems a bit down..." He asked, and Minty just shrugged, 
and layed her head on his shoulder.

David put his arm around her shoulder, and ran his hand through her hair. 
"Do ya be all right?" He questioned, knowing that she must have heard 
about Diana and the twins.  She had been upset throught their friends 
pregnancy because of their own lost child... he should have expected this.

She just nodded, and David kissed her on the forehead.  "Ye know I love 
ye, Mint." He said, and held her.  She would talk to him when she felt 
comfortable, he was sure of it.  It had been hard on her... and it was 
his fault...

[... following day ...]

David awoke suddenly as her realised that Minty was tossing in her 
sleep fitfully.  She had had a very restless night, and he put an arm 
around her, waking her gently. "Wake up love, it be only a dream."

Minty woke from an uneasy sleep, filled with dreams in which she was being
pursued by all the devils in nine hells.  Shuddering with remembered
horror, and jumping at shadows for no reason she could fathom, she snapped
at David when he asked her if there was anything wrong.  She quickly
apologised when she saw the hurt look in his eyes, and made an effort to
listen attentively as he told her of his plans for the day.

They shared breakfast together, though Minty wasn't much conversation.  
David was about to ask her what was wrong, but a glint in her eye told 
him to do so would be un-wise.  Afterwards, they got up, David going to 
change while Minty saddled up Kirimith.

A while later David caught a surge of emotion, accompanied by a few rude 
thoughts... 'Kaylin?' He asked.

*Minty and Kirimith seem upset...* The dragon said, and David walked into 
the dragons share of the apartment in time to see Kiri butt Minty to the 
ground with an annoyed grumble.  "What's wrong with t' pair of ye?"  he 
started, surprised at how they were acting.

Two pairs of accusing female eyes swiveled to meet his gaze.  Minty's
fiercely hissed 'Go away!' coupled with Kirimith's mental invitation to
take a leap without benefit of a dragon beneath him startled him into
silence.

David just held up his hands in surrender and backed away.  He knew 
females had mood swings occasionally... but then again.

> He gasped with shock when Kirimith launched from the ledge her wings still
> tightly folded against her sides.   He raced forwards, and heaved a sigh of
> relief as he watched the dragons wings snap open.  He'd have to talk to
> those two about such dangerous stunts.......

A while later, David was dressed and ready.  He had a few errands to run 
before he went to run through wing drills, so grabbing a notebook he 
climbed up onto Kaylin and they took off...

*town of Helista*

The large shadow of Kaylin made quite a commotion on the ground as they 
decended to the ground outside the Helista chapter of the Guild of 
Swords.  The guards outside looked at him suspiciously as he approached, 
one putting their hand on their sword.  "Hail, dragonrider." The other 
said, and David nodded.

"G'day t'ya brothers." David said, "Lo'stha eha Emond?" [Is Emond here]

Their eyes widened and nodded.  "Aye, sir.  Blademaster Emond es here... 
yer name?"

"David Swordson o'Dragon Sept and Marrid Warren." He said, and they 
opened the door, letting him in.

*...*

"Sir... about te'Ki'lar.  Why have they chosen now for te'comming?" He 
asked, knowing that the last one was only a few years ago.  It was too 
soon.

The old man behind the large blackwood desk leaned back, straching a 
bit.  "It was upon request by Blood Sept, and supported by te'council with
a majority.  I myself have never been one t'break with tradition, but it 
was accepted." He said, and shrugged.  "Fire Sept will be ready in time, 
though I wish we had more notice.  Personally I think Blood has something 
tricky planned... though who am I t'judge."

David nodded, "I was just wondering.  My father Ames hadn't said anything 
about it, but I knew ye would."

Emond laughed heartily, and extended a hand with David shook.  Despite 
the old timers age, his grip was solid and full of strength.  "Tell Ames 
when ye see him next that he should come and visit!  I haven't seen him 
in years."  He started to walk with David out of the Guildhouse to where 
Kaylin was laying, drawing many on lookers.

"David, I almost forgot..." He said with a sly look. "Ye haven't seen my 
daughter Laria in years..."

David held his breath, knowing that Emond and Ames always joked about how 
their two eldest would end up married some day. 

"...I was wondering if ye had found a wife yet?" He finished, his voice 
reduced to a hinting whisper.  "You certainly are Dragon Sept's finest."

David bowed courtiously, and nodded his head.  "Thank ye for thinking 
o'it, but I have a mate already, and..."

*David.*

'Just a second, Kay.' "I love her dearly."

Emond sighed for a second, and then smiled again.  "Well, Laria will 
certainly envy te'young girl then!"

*David!!!  Kirimith is in mating heat!* Kaylin said, and David froze, 
looking towards the black, who had sttod up and was ready to fly.

"Thank ye sir, but I must go.  Warren buisness..." He said, bowing as he 
ran to his dragon.  Emond waved at them as Kaylin took off, and 
teleported in mid-flight.

The sky was filled with brightly colored dragons as Kaylin appeared 
dangerously close to the green, his mind already succumbing to the heat 
of mating.  David jumped off, running towards the group of males he knew 
was surrounding his mate.  Just as he got there, he burst through to the 
center...

*David, I'm sorry...*

D'nar had just taken Minty into his arms, her body pressed up against his 
as they kissed passionatly.  David turned away, not wanting to look.  

*Dav..*

'It's not yer fault Kay.  I was gone... and shouldn't have been.  I knew 
something was wrong, and still... ' He just shook his head, and began to 
walk away, not looking back.  He didn't know where he was going, but soon 
he found himself at the door of his office, holding onto the knob tightly.  
Not wanting to concentrate on the images that kept invading his 
thoughts, he entered and sat down in a chair, holding his head in his 
hands.

A knock on the door came a while later, and Z'lec stepped in.  "David... 
I heard about Kirimith's flight.  You know, it's different in the warren 
and things like this a common occurance." The wingleader offered, "You 
shouldn't blame her."

David looked up, his eyes red with fatigue.  "I don't blame her... never 
will.  I just wanted to belive it would never happen again.  I know how 
I felt after Zena's flight, Minty would feel...." He said, and stopped, 
realizing that the effect on Minty would possibly be devastating.  
Standing up, he looked at Z'lec.  "I have to go find her..." He said, and 
headed towards the door.

Z'lec grabbed his shoulder, and shook his head.  "It's too soon.  Kaylin 
should tell you when it's over."  David hesitated, then nodded.
"I came to tell you that Waylene and I are going to Daere warren.  
Warrenlady Velara has died, and we must pay our respects.  You'll be in 
charge while I'm gone." The wingleader said, and gave a reassuring 
squeeze on the young mans shoulder.  "Everything will be fine, trust me." 
He said, and David managed a hint towards a slight smile.

Z'lec nodded in satisfaction, and turned to go.

"Z'lec," David said, as the man was halfway out the door. "Thanks."

*...*

'What d'ye mean she's missing!' David sent as he ran from his office.  
Porthios had sent to David a message from D'nar that Minty had ran off 
after the flight.  He had tried to stop her, but she clawed him, using 
the distraction to evade him.

'Porthios, tell D'nar t'go t'te'medical center.  I'm going t'look fer 
her.' He sent to the other dragon, and ran outside to where Kaylin was.

'Any luck contacting Kirimith?' He asked.  His mate's dragon had always 
been reluctant to talk with him, but she would almost always talk with 
Kaylin.

*Yes, but Minty had told her not to tell anybody where she was.* The 
dragon answered, his thoughts ashamed.  David rubbed the blacks neck, 
'It's all right... let's find her.' Linking his mind to Kaylin's as they 
took off, David scanned the area for Kirimith.  She would be with Minty 
trying to comfort her...

***** TAG Les, do they find her? *****

[...next day...]

Saddleing up Kaylin, David made a mental note that he needed to see Z'lec 
about the patrol schedules.  Just some minor changes, but he was the 
wingleader and neede to approve the papers.

'Rayond, where es Z'lec right now?' He sent out to the other dragon.

*I just dropped him off at Waylene's apartment.* Came the reply, and 
David nodded to himself.

'Can ye ask him t'meet me in his office as soon as possible?' He 
relayed, but got a delayed message.  'Rayond?' He sent again.

*David, come!* Came the reply, with a mental picture of Z'lec tackleing a 
young man.  David wasted no time in jumping into Kaylin's saddle and the 
two took off.  He jumped to the ground even before Kaylin could land 
completely, and ran towards the door where he heard a struggle taking place.

"Z'lec! Stop it!" Waylene screamed, as the two men struggled on the floor. 
"Tair'n, Stop!"

David opened the door quickly to witness the wingleader getting ready to 
plant his fist into the person he had tackled.  "Z'lec!" He cried out, 
running forward to stop him.  Z'lec managed to get in a couple of shots 
before David grabbed him and pulled him back.

The man was in some sort of rage, and it took David most of his strength 
and a well placed hold to keep him still.  Looking towards Waylene, he 
found her bent down by the young man, checkng to see if he was all 
right.  "Z'lec, get ahold of yerself!" David said, trying to reason with 
the man.  

"Waylene?" He called, wondering what all this was about...

**********SUBMITTED BY************

	    Justin

NRPG:  Ok, this includes two story strings, so I'll reply to each as they 
come.  I was a bit confused, but this should clear things up.  Sorry!  *g*

Justin's Page O'Life!!!!:  www.nevada.edu/home/18/almeidaj/page/penguin.html
Cleft Warren Page:         www.nevada.edu/home/18/almeidaj/page/cleft.html
Private E-mail:            punchingbag@juno.com

       /\   /\--^--/\   /\        "Dragons have existed throughout the 
      /  \  | \   / |  /  \        centuries in peoples minds all over the
     /    \ | O\_/O | /    \       earth, no matter their race, creed, or
    /      \_\     /_/      \      color.  How could such a creature never
    |        =\o o/=        |      have been real at one time so long ago?"
    |/\/\/=___|\_/|___=\/\/\|
          /           \					-Justin
========\/\/\/=====\/\/\/========