[DL] Waylene

Waylene looked at the queenrider in front of her. She still was not sure
what to make of the girl. All of the queenriders she had ever known had been
happy fulfilling thier obligations. No, that wasn't true. There was Ophelia,
who had always been vocal in her desire to join the combat wings. Yet she
hadn't.

"I'm not sure that the restriction on combat queens is due to the fact that
everyone feels they can't fly combat, but in the fact that they are the
future of the warrens, and must to protected at all costs. Marrid had been
looking forward to a new clutch of eggs. The loss of our pregnant queen sent
the dragon's minds spinning. So much in fact that it hindered them when the
wraiths attacked, because they were so overcome with grief." Waylene sighed.
"Perhaps it is in a sense unnatural. Queens are larger then most dragons,
and as you have pointed out they often flame much hotter."

"If we were trained, we would not be any more likely to get hurt then any of
the other riders." Carie pointed out.

"Do you know that everytime you hang around the training, Perion about has a
heart attack? He seems to think Fiera distracts those in training."

"His dragon is the only one that is distracted. Probably figures with
training, Fiera would show ol' Gagnith up." smirked Carie.

Waylene couldn't stop the chuckle the bubbled up inside her, remember how
put out Perion's small roan dragon had been when R'nec's blue Taj had won
Larrith's mating flight. Her smile faded, thinking about it again. Had it
only a few short weeks ago? Now all four of them and all of Larrith's eggs
were gone in one day.

"Carie, I can not in good conscience allow you to fly combat, right now. I
will, however, speak to Perion about allowing you to train. As long as you
understand that you are not to fly in any combat situations unless I give
you the go ahead."

Carie smiled, knowing she had won a victory. But Waylene was not finished,
"In return, I will need you to do some of the 'less exciting, diplomatic'
things for me. 

Before Carie had a chance to answer, there was a loud keening.

<Aura?> Waylene called to her Queen.

<It is Yenal, the bond is gone. The real grief has begun.>

Carie and Waylene left the office and headed out to the Warren bowel where
many others were gathering to watch the grief-stricken dragon as he circled
the Warren. Waylene had worried about this from the beginning. Another
dragon to die within the confines of the Warren.

****
[DL] Touth

Touth heard the dragon's grief cry, "D'ssarian." he called weakly. "C'tain,"
but neither healer was anywhere to be seen. He did see the young woman,
Arri, who had just joined the warren. She apparently had some skill in
healing, though he hadn't had any direct contact with her.

The dragon's keening began to seep into his soul and the tears ran down his
cheeks. The sad sound brought more grief to his emotions. He had to do
something to stop it, before it drove him crazy with sadness. He sat up for
the first time since before the Wraiths attacked. The blood rushed to his
head and for a moment he was dizzy.

Forcing himself to stand he grabbed onto a nearby table for support. Arri,
seeing the struggling man trying to stand, headed over to him. "You
shouldn't be up," she said gently.

Touth pushed her away as he began to walk toward the door, each step a
painful reminder of how long it had been since he had walked. But he didn't
care, he just knew he had to stop that dragon.

"Stop..." his words were weak as he reached the door.  <Stop... > it was
easier to think the order. <Stop!!>

The large black dragon suddenly stopped his keening and Touth's head stopped
pounding and filled with a new voice, <Why?>

Touth paused as a black form landed near him, looking at him intently. <I
feel your grief.  It is much like mine.>

<We can grieve together.>

Before he knew what he was doing, Touth found himself on the dragon's back,
the two of them circling the Warren. Yenal began to keen again, and Touth
joined him with his own cry of grief.

--Waylene & Aura & Co.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kristen and Scott Gant
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/gant.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------