After dinner with Sky, Minty had spent some time sitting with David, but
he'd been so drugged against the pain he hadn't really made a lot of sense.
Exhaustion had finally driven her reluctantly from his side, leaving him in
D'ssarian's capable hands.


"And make sure you get some rest.  I don't want you brought back because
you've fainted again." He said as she left  "I'd like to see you tomorrow
about that fainting, I have a feeling I may know what the problem is...."
but he'd refused to be drawn further on the subject when Minty would have
stayed to argue.  He'd merely smiled and chased her away.


 It had taken Minty a long time to fall asleep.  The bed was so big and
empty without David, that eventually she'd given up and gone through to curl
up beside Kirimith and Kaylin.  It wasn't quite the same as sleeping in his
embrace, but it wasn't as bad as sleeping in their bed alone.


The restless twitching of the two dragons brought Minty awake, and she sat
dazed for a second until she remembered where she was.


*What's wrong Kirimith?* she asked her agitated friend  *Dreams haunting
your sleep too?*


*No.... but they haunt David.  Kaylin says he thinks and dreams strangely....* 


Minty looked towards Kaylin, who was shifting uneasily, eyes whirling
frantically.  Minty was frustrated at not being able to offer the poor
dragon any comfort... 


*Sometimes I think it would be convenient to be able to talk with all
dragons...* she thought at Kiri  *Then I wouldn't have to wonder what was
going through Kaylin's mind, I could just ask.  What's happening?*


Kaylin came to his feet and headed out to the ledge, where he stood with
wide-spread wings looking towards the Medical Centre.... almost straining to
see or hear anything from his rider.


*David is worse Minty.  Kaylin says he has re-opened the wound and is
bleeding heavily......*


*Get up Kirimith!  Take me down there....*  Minty interrupted as she
clambered onto Kiri's back, clumsy in her haste.  *I have to be with him.....*


******************

<Medical Centre>


The light and noise emanating from David's room told her that Kaylin hadn't
been concerned over nothing.  There was a constant stream of people in and
out and she had to force her way into the room.  Once in, she stood in a
corner trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, not wanting to interfere
but needing to be close to him....


His face was so pale, but the bandages covering his shoulder were
crimson..She was shocked at how much blood he'd lost, and moved closer
trying to see why he was bleeding so much.... Mistake!  The sight of the
open wound in her beloveds flesh made her clammy and sick, and she had to
fight off a wave of dizziness.  


*Don't you dare faint again, Minty!*  Kirimith's tone was stern  *Kaylin
needs to know that David is alright... he's frantic with worry, but can't
reach David's mind at all.*


Minty made an effort, relaying all that was going on to Kirimith so she
could pass it on to Kaylin.  Finally D'ssarian's tired voice cut through the
clamour;


"OK, thank you people.  We've done just about as much as we can for now.
Tidy things away and get some rest.  Someone will need to sit with him, just
in case he gets restless again."


"I'll stay with him."  Minty said quietly  "I should have stayed with him
before."


"You've no training for medical work."  D'ssarian objected  "You wouldn't
know what to do if he started pulling at the stitches, or tried to get out
of bed...."


D'ssarian carefully explained everything that had happened, and all the
complications that could result.  He was obviously hoping she would be
scared enough to leave, but she was adamant


"I'll call for help if needed, but I'm staying with him.  Leave a healer
here if you want...  I stay too!  You'll have to have me carried out
D'ssarian... "  Minty warned  "And then I'll make enough fuss and noise to
wake the dead."


Seeing that she was serious with her threat, D'ssarian gave in.


"But make sure you call someone at the first hint of trouble.  No 'wait and
see what happens' please.  I'll have someone look in every half hour, just
to be sure."  He checked David one last time before he left  "He still has a
very high fever so make sure you call if anything happens."


Minty nodded quickly, and settled into a chair beside the bed.  With a
slight smile for her stubbornness, D'ssarian left her to her self-imposed
vigil......


Submitted by


Araminta, Kirimith's rider


NRPG

She must have fallen asleep... or she'd have stopped David going out to talk
to Yenal the following morning... LOL!
-- 
Les

the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  CMO    USS Javelin
T'beth  Counsellor     USS Magellan 
Lillith the Mage          Broken Lands
Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands