[DL] Waylene

Waylene crawled into bed to wait for Z'lec. She had so much she wanted to
talk to him about. Her eyes drooped and she yawned. Soon she was asleep, her
body finally giving in to the trials of the day. She didn't even wake when
her mate crawled into bed and kissed her gently before allowing sleep to
take him as well.

Morning brought a bright, cheery day. Waylene stretched and wrapped her arms
around the still sleeping form.  Z'lec stirred, welcoming her embrace. "Good
morning, love." she whispered.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked not even opening his eyes, simply enjoying
the feel of her body next to his.

"Yes, I did." She pushed herself back a little, "How's David?"

He protested and pulled her back to him. But as his mind began to dwell on
her question he relaxed and rolled to his back. "David's fine now."

"That's great news.  Why don't' you look very happy?"

"Minty's very ill. She almost died... and she lost the baby."

"Oh.." Waylene slumped back. "What happened."

Z'lec shook his head, "I'm not sure. First David wasn't doing well. Then he
was fine. Then he and C'tain went running out of the building and brought
Minty back. She almost died. But I'm not exactly sure what happened. I only
stayed at the medical center until they stabilized her."

"Poor Minty... and she only found out about the baby yesterday. I'll have to
stop by and see her today." said Waylene sadly.

"How was your day yesterday?"

"Okay. Carie came to see me. I think she'll be okay.... she simply want
Fiera to understand why she's upset. But you know dragons. Even Aura said
she didn't completely understand."

Z'lec nodded, "If dragon's had the same problems as we did, there would
never be any mating flights."

Waylene chuckled, "You're right, of course." Her face became serious,
"Suayla went to Keldarra with Del."

"Del?"

"One of the new transfers from Keldarra."

"Oh, yes, young girl, pretty cream dragon.  Raynod, noticed her." he chuckled.

"She's Al'dairan's sister."

"Oh... I'd forgotten about Al'dairan. Suayla must be devastated."

Waylene nodded, "I do have a pleasant surprise for you."

Z'lec turned to her, "I could use one... Come here..." he pulled her toward him.

Laughing she fell into his embrace, "Not that..."  Z'lec threw her a teasing
frown. Waylene kissed it away, then continued, "Touth is back."

"Touth! I thought he and Yenal..."

Waylene shook her head, "No, it seems they have an understanding. They will
be companions now."

"They bonded?" Z'lec asked surprised.

"No, not quite. I don't understand it, myself. They want to meet us sometime
today to discuss things." She sighed, "Touth refuses to speak more without
Yenal being present."

Z'lec nodded, "That's fine, now how about something really pleasant."

"Is that all you think about?" she teased.

"I can't help it being here with you." He kissed her, pushing all thoughts
of yesterday behind him. She responded, allowing herself to forget her
responsibilities as WarrenLady and simply be a woman.

"I love you," she whispered....

****
Z'lec entered the dining hall with Waylene on his arm in a much better mood.
With the bright day, he felt like there could be a new beginning. He was not
going to allow anyone to spoil his day.

 'Cook' stood at the door leading back to the kitchen, "You two're looking
fine this morning."

"More so now that I see you're back, dear Hanna." laughed Waylene. "I've
been so hungry for some of your cooking."

"I don't doubt it, with what I've seen around here. I'm surprised y'all
havn't wasted away already."

Waylene and Z'lec took a seat and began to eat. Both had to agree, there was
nothing like having 'Cook' back in the kitchen. So far this has been an
excellent day, thought Z'lec. 

Even as he saw Trey enter with Diana, he forced a scowl from his face.
Waylene took note of his expression, "Z..." she whispered with a slight warning.

He looked at her and found that removing the scowl was much easier. "I don't
want her to get hurt, 'Lene." he whispered back.

She shook her head, "Let it drop." Waylene didn't want this beautiful day
spoiled anymore then he did.

He nodded, and went back to eating, trying everything to keep himself from
looking in their direction. He did well until the dragons brought the news.
<Zena and Koroth are going to share an apartment.>

"What!" said Z'lec standing. He started over toward where the two were
sitting, but Waylene was quicker. She stepped in front of him blocking his way.

"Can I speak to you for a moment, outside, please." she said.

He looked at the couple, then at Waylene, "I'm just going to knock some
sense into her." he roared.

Waylene spoke with  great calm and quiet authority, "You are making a scene.
Walk outside, so I may speak with you please."

He looked at her then, noticed that the entire dining hall was watching him.
He threw his hands up in the air and exited the dining hall, with Waylene
close at his heels. Most in the dining hall went back to eating, trying not
to notice the rage of their Wingleader.

Once outside, Waylene led the way, heading toward her office. Z'lec
followed, "Waylene, you can't just sit there and let him take advantage of her."

She turned, "Not yet, Z'lec." she continued to her office, with him following.

The walked the short distance, both fuming. Waylene shut the door behind him
and turned, "What were you thinking?"

"He's taking advantage of her, 'Lene"

"You don't know that."

"I do! I've seen his kind before!" Z'lec yelled.

"Z'lec, you never went with me to a Counsel meeting. You didn't know him
before this happened. I did. No, not well, I suppose. But if you could have
seen the love between him and Ophelia..."

"He's changed, and he's a completely different person now. Why do you insist
that he's not."

Waylene walked around and sat down behind her desk. "Z'lec, the entire
Warren decided to let him stay. Even you agreed to give him a chance. Why
are you going back on that now."

Z'lec dropped down into a chair and sighed. "I did that for you, and for the
Warren, so that they didn't see a divided front."

"And you don't call making a scene in the dining hall a divided front!"

"Darrin was my friend, he wouldn't like Tr'etram anymore then I do. And he
certainly wouldn't want him in Diana's bed!"

"Darrin is dead. Diana has to be allowed to move on. Darrin wouldn't her to
spend the rest of her life grieving."

Z'lec looked up at her, "I'm not saying that, Waylene. I'm saying that she
is going to get hurt by that monster."

"Z'lec, you have got to let this go. If you keep this up, you will lose
everything." Waylene begged him.

"What are you talking about?"

"You are Wingleader, because you are good at and people respect you. But you
are going to lose thier respect if you can't let go of this." She sighed.
"How can you do a good job for the Warren when you are watching Trey like a
hawk. It's becoming an obsession with you."

"What do you want me do? Just let him hurt her."

Waylene nodded. "Yes." she said, "They are both consenting adults, Z. You
have to allow them to make thier own mistakes. And most importantly you have
to allow Trey a chance to prove himself. One way or the other."

Z'lec didn't say anything, so Waylene continued, "If you want to keep the
Warren's respect, you have to give him that opportunity."

"And then when he falls, and hurts someone, it'll be my fault for not
watching him close enough."

Waylene shook her head, "No, it won't be your fault."

"I don't know if I can do what you're asking of me."

"You have to Z'lec. Before everything we have falls apart."

****
[DL] T'rend

T'rend and Mukale watched the Wingleader leave, followed by the WarrenLady.
He shook his head. Knowing Z'lec's temper, he was surprised that he had kept
it in check so well.

"I thought we were supposed to be giving Tr'etram a chance."

T'rend nodded. "That we are. But Z'lec takes the weight of the whole Warren
on his shoulders."

"He's worried that Tr'etram's illness will return?"

"I'm sure he is," T'rend looked at the young rider. "So did you get enough
of 'Cook's' good cooking, M'kale?"

Mukale sat back rubbing his stomach, "More then enough. I'll be as big as
Tarranx if I keep this up."

T'rend laughed, "Very likely. How about we go get some exercise?"

The two stood, and headed out of the dining hall. "Now Lord Uthna is
definitely one of propriety. Though he's friendly enough. He'll probably be
a little put out that Waylene isn't sending a queenrider to chat with him."

"Why isn't she?"

"I'm not sure, M'kale.  Keanne used to do most of these type of trips.
Waylene never liked to do them. Something about her family before she came
to the Warren, though she won't speak of it."

They called thier dragon's and were soon on their way to the nearby town of
Tressa. It was a beautiful day for a flight, thought T'rend. They fixed the
Castle of Tressa in thier minds and teleported over it.  

The dragons landed in the courtyard, sending several of the landbound
scattering. The dragonriders hopped off and headed toward the guards. "We
are here to see Lord Uthna on Warren business."

One guard motioned for them to follow him. He left them in an empty
receiving room. T'rend laughed, "Now we'll see how upset Uthna is at not
getting a queenrider. All depends on how long he makes us wait."

--Waylene & Aura
****
NRPG: All, okay, so Z'lec isn't handling this very well :)

Mike, take it away. Any idea's about what we'll find out??

Kristen
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Kristen and Scott Gant
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/gant.htm
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